The Stylish IKEA Storage Hack That'll Help Keep Your Kitchen Clutter-Free

Finding space for everything in a kitchen, especially a small one, can feel like trying to solve a never-ending puzzle. With a limited number of cabinets and bulky appliances using up all of your counter space, it's tough to strike a balance between function and clutter. Every item needs a place, which forces you to get creative with storage and prioritize the ones that are used the most. However, there are ways to maximize kitchen space, including your walls, for a more clutter-free environment that still keeps everything you need at hand. There is an innovative, clutter-clearing hack that uses wall space and doesn't jut out like a traditional kitchen cabinet. This involves installing the medicine cabinet-sized IKEA ENHET on your wall. While an ENHET isn't large enough to store dinner plates or plastic storage containers, it's perfect for mugs, spices, and a variety of non-perishable food items.

This IKEA decluttering hack helps your kitchen stay clean by creating an out-of-the-way place on your wall, freeing up space in your drawers and cabinets for some of the clutter currently sitting out on your counter. Since the cabinet is shallow, you can install it anywhere you need without worrying about it interfering with your ability to move around the kitchen. If the minimalist style of the cabinet doesn't match your kitchen's decor, there are ways to customize it.

When it comes to assembling and installing your ENHET cabinet, just follow the instructions provided by IKEA. As far as finding a place for it in your kitchen, that will depend on the space you have available, what you plan on keeping in it, and what area of your wall is convenient for you to access. This cabinet comes in two sizes. Both are six inches deep and 30 inches tall, but one is 18 inches wide and the other is 24 inches wide. Either size works well for mugs and coffee condiments above a coffee bar. The smaller ENHET can also hold mail, keys, and other miscellaneous clutter from your countertops near an exterior door. 

One easy way to customize your IKEA kitchen unit is by applying decorative contact paper to all of the surfaces. Since contact paper comes in styles ranging from floral print to faux wood, it's easy to find something that will blend seamlessly with the rest of your kitchen's decor. It's also possible to paint your IKEA piece. Since the cabinet is made of particleboard, you will first need to sand it lightly so the primer and paint better adhere. Decorative trim can also be easily added to the top and bottom of the cabinet using wood glue. This simple step gives the cabinet a more high-end look.