It’s time to open every cabinet, drawer, and door to show how we organized our smaller kitchen after a slow renovation over the last two years. This walkthrough highlights how much more functional the space has become since we first shared our storage solutions nearly two years ago. We also made a video tour that shows the whole layout and teases future plans for two outdoor cabinets we plan to add to the nearby kitchen porch. There’s a lot to cover, so let’s dive in.
We’ll start with the video tour because it’s the clearest way to see exactly what goes where in our updated kitchen. The video also includes some footage of Penny and a peek into the utility closet, which looks completely different than when it only housed an HVAC system and a large water heater.
When we first documented how we organized this small kitchen back in September 2020, we’d only lived here a few months and were cooking nearly every meal at home. At that time, we were thrilled to have downsized our belongings from our previous kitchen and made the most of what we had. Over the years we slowly added a pantry cabinet, secondhand appliances, updated cabinet fronts, and a tile backsplash to the ceiling on the back wall. The full renovation now makes the kitchen far more functional and better organized.
Below is the updated kitchen after those changes. We made deliberate choices to maximize storage and accessibility while keeping the space feeling bright and cohesive.
Next, I’ll walk through the three main storage zones: lower cabinets, upper cabinets, and the pantry. The video goes into even more detail and also shows the outdoor cabinet plans, so watch it when you have a chance.
Organizing The Lower Cabinets
During the renovation we actually removed some lower cabinet space to convert a window into a door that opens to a kitchen porch. Although it sounds like a loss, we gained a floor-to-ceiling pantry cabinet and four upper cabinets, so the net storage and function increased dramatically.
Converting that window to a door gave easy access to the porch where we now keep a grill and an outdoor table. For climates that allow it, a small outdoor extension like this effectively increases usable kitchen space and can store items like grill tools in future outdoor cabinets.
Before the door, the lower cabinetry had thick framing that made storage awkward. Shelves were narrow, required bending to reach the back, and couldn’t accommodate anything wider than about 12 inches. Replacing that set of three skinny cabinets with a proper 24″ base cabinet unlocked much more practical storage in what had been a dead corner.
The new 24″ base cabinet is designed with pull-out drawers rather than deep fixed shelves, which makes accessing items far easier. The top drawer serves as our junk drawer and is outfitted with bamboo trays that organize small essentials like keys, a dog leash, and a wallet—handy because this drawer sits right by the door we use most.
The middle drawer holds tools we use frequently for quick fixes around the house. It may seem odd to have a tool drawer in the kitchen, but this habit has followed us through several homes because it’s convenient for small jobs.
The bottom drawer is deep and includes a hidden compartment where we store glass bakeware, food containers, and school lunch supplies. We installed a pegboard organizer to keep containers tidy and prevent rattling or digging for lids.
Overall, the new 24″ cabinet performs far better than the old boxed-in cabinetry ever did.
The Under Sink Cabinet
Under the sink we kept the cabinet width the same but replaced the central divider and two small doors with full-height, single doors that are easier to access. We reuse existing storage bins where possible rather than buying new organizers, and relocated a few cleaning supplies that had been stored elsewhere so everything now lives in one convenient spot.
Lazy susans and wire door shelves continue to be useful here for everyday cleaning supplies and small items. The result is a flexible, condensed storage area that keeps frequently used supplies within easy reach.
The Cabinet With Our Utensils and Pots & Pans
To the right of the sink we store flatware, pots, pans, and bakeware so everything is close to the stove. The cabinet is slightly narrower than before but gains usable storage because modern drawers have thinner framing and pull-out access.
The top drawer uses a bamboo tray to organize utensils and serving tools. A middle drawer stores the pans we use most frequently, and the bottom drawer features another hidden compartment for metal baking sheets and specialty pans, reducing stacking and the need to remove multiple items to reach one at the back.
Replacing awkward fixed shelves with drawers that pull out has vastly improved ergonomics and made the kitchen more pleasant to use.
The “Oil Drawer” Cabinet
A narrow cabinet to the left of the stove used to be almost useless because thick framing left only a few inches of actual storage. We replaced it with a 12″ two-tiered pullout drawer that neatly stores oils, vinegars, cooking sprays, and small gadgets standing upright on the top tier and cutting boards and baking sheets on the lower tier.
We added metal partitions to keep boards and tins from leaning into each other, so everything is easy to grab without pulling out stacks. Small changes like a countertop knife block can also free up drawer space and improve daily function.
With lower cabinet organization addressed, let’s move to the upper cabinets.
Organizing The Upper Cabinets
When we first moved in, the kitchen had its soffit removed and we lived with open shelves for a long time. We love open shelving, but for the final renovation we added upper cabinets for a cleaner look and additional hidden storage. Oddly, the upper cabinets help the ceiling read taller and make the room feel more composed.
One upper cabinet holds plates, mugs, and mixing bowls on the lower shelves while the top shelves store decorative serving pieces and extra vases. Moving decorative items into kitchen cabinets also freed up space elsewhere in the house for truly bedroom-specific items.
Bowls and drinking glasses remain on the open shelves near the kitchen table where kids can reach them easily. Other upper cabinets house spices, baking supplies, and overflow items. We’ve ordered additional shelves to better use a corner upper cabinet, which will further improve organization.
Some items, like grill tools, are temporarily stored in an upper cabinet but will move outside once the outdoor cabinets arrive, freeing more indoor space.
The Pantry Cabinet
The pantry cabinet is the biggest single storage win in this renovation. Before it existed, we used freestanding bookcases for pantry items. Building a floor-to-ceiling pantry around the refrigerator created much more flexible, consolidated storage for food and household supplies.
The upper shelves hold surplus and backstock items—things we buy on sale—while the cabinet over the fridge stores paper towels, coolers, and even the microwave. The lower drawers are snack and dry food central, making it easy for our kids to prepare school lunches independently each morning.
Creating smarter storage in the kitchen also helped reorganize adjacent areas of the home. Keys and the dog leash no longer live in the laundry closet because the side-door drawer is a convenient drop zone. The revamped utility closet in the kitchen is a dramatic improvement too; what used to be dominated by a water heater is now a functional storage space.
If you’d like to see sources for items we used in the kitchen or want to explore past organization posts, we have resources and older posts that document our previous kitchens and renovation costs. Those posts go deeper into specific layouts, product choices, and the decisions we made to make this small kitchen feel roomy and functional.
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