Not Shelves, Not Cabinets: The Space-Saving Storage Alternative For Kitchens

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In every kitchen, it can feel like shelves and cabinets are the savior of the room. Although they help us pack up and hide away our products, sometimes they get to a point where they're overstuffed and overstocked. Even then, the amount of space they offer in the kitchen isn't enough. That's where you need a new solution, like hanging mesh bags on the wall. You might already own a few, but if you don't, grab ones with handles or loops designed for hanging. Install hooks on the walls of your kitchen to hang these bags up and create instant storage for produce and non-perishable grocery items. Even renters can hang them efficiently without worrying about drilling or any kind of long-term damage to walls. Just stick on adhesive hooks or use over-the-door racks. 

Hanging up mesh bags is a functional idea that also adds stylish storage in your home. This storage alternative works for any kitchen, big or small. They're essentially flexible, netted bags made of breathable, lightweight mesh, normally polyester or cotton. Mesh bags are sometimes made to hang from wall-mounted hooks, or include drawstrings so you can secure them tightly somewhere else. Because of their material, air easily circulates around whatever you put inside them. They also keep kitchen produce visible and organized, so you can view what you have on hand at all times. It sure is a hack that allows you to utilize wall space for extra storage. 

There are a ton of mesh-bag options depending on what you're looking for. Products like these Cotton Mesh Produce Bags from Amazon or these colorful Mesh Kitchen Storage Bags from Etsy come with multiple bags and are designed to hang from the wall. Keep in mind that if you're buying and storing smaller items such as garlic or pearl onions, use bags that have a tighter mesh so that they don't slip through. Bags should be machine-washable so that you aren't accidentally trapping food residue over time. However, the best ones have excellent weight capacity. Some may outline on the tag how much weight the bag can carry. Ideally, you'll want one that can hold more than one pound without overstretching. 

Not only are these easy for produce, but you can keep other kitchen essentials here such as snacks, reusable grocery bags, or even just pantry items that you want within reach such as spice jars. Use them for cleaning supplies that are otherwise awkward to store, such as paper towels or counter spray. In order to have a collected, lived-in feel, hang them in a vertical row on an empty wall. Bonus points if you can find space by your pantry or oven. Mesh bags can even help stylize your kitchen: Choose an earthy cotton material to lean into a farmhouse look, or consider black mesh bags to achieve something sleeker.