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Stow vs Show: Kitchen Storage

Holly Honeycutt

By Holly Honeycutt
Updated December 9, 2022

Never seem to have enough storage in your kitchen? You might just need to look at the problem differently. Rather than cramming cookware and utensils in cabinets, consider making them part of the design. We call it stow vs. show.

Hang It Up

Mason jars with magnets on the lids suspended from a metal sheet on the underside of a cabinet.

Countertop clutter not only looks messy, it also limits your workspace. Consider hanging items, such as food storage jars, above your counter. Attach a sheet of metal to the underside of your cabinets with screws, and glue magnets to jar lids. Then mark the jars with labels.

Hang utensils using magnetic hooks to free up additional counter space.

Store More

Measuring cups and recipes hanging from corkboard on the inside of a cabinet door.

Your cabinet doors can be used to store lots of things. Attach curtain rods inside, and use clip rings to hang utensils and measuring cups. Add corkboard to tack up your favorite recipes.

Use a curtain rod under the sink to hang cleaning sprays. Keep a roll of trash bags within easy reach by hanging a paper towel holder on the inside of a cabinet door.

Think Vertically

A person repositioning an adhesive wall hook on the side of a cabinet.

Utilize the sides of your cabinets. Adjustable adhesive hooks can be moved around as needed. Just pull the strip to remove them.

Show Off Your Cookware

Pots and pans hanging from copper pipe.

Cookware that’s just as stylish as it is functional can be hung up high using copper pipes. Secure the pipes with small clamps, and use S-hooks to show off your favorite pots and pans while keeping things in order.

Then use the side of a cabinet and drapery rods to store lids. You can also hang pegboard to show off your bakeware.

Use Curtain Rods

Tension rods used to separate cookie sheets and cutting boards inside a cabinet.

Keep your baking sheets and cutting boards organized by storing them vertically inside your cabinets. Simply add tension rods to keep like items together.

Change Your Cabinet Fronts

Three wall cabinets with doors removed to display dishes.

Cabinet storage doesn’t mean you can’t show off your favorite items. Remove the doors to display items you use on a regular basis, such as dinnerware.

Add an Island

A kitchen island with two shelves storing dishes and bowls next to a kitchen window.

Whether modern, rustic or traditional, an island reflects your kitchen style. Not only does it provide additional work space, it's a great place to store extra dinnerware and supplies.

Utilize Every Inch of Space

Cookbooks displayed on the top of kitchen cabinets.

There are a couple of other kitchen locales that you may not have thought of, but can help with your storage challenges. The first area is the space above your cabinets. Two feet in height is perfect for decorative dishes, artwork, cookbooks, or any combination of the three. The trick is to use the entire space.

Another useful storage saver is a workstation sink. Workstation sinks can perform double or triple duty. They often include kitchen tools, such as cutting boards, strainers, drying racks and more. The ledges on the back of these items fit into the sink, so that you can prepare meals and make clean-up a breeze.

With a little planning and creativity, your kitchen storage problems will be a thing of the past.

Under-Sink Organization

Cleaning supplies, kitchen towels and other essentials can be unsightly and add to kitchen clutter. We'll show you how to store everything neatly under the sink to keep them organized and at your fingertips.