Budget kitchen storage has a reputation for being either flimsy, ugly or entirely useless. Often all three. Much of it deserves the reputation, but some pieces are brilliantly practical, especially in small kitchens where every shelf and narrow gap needs using.
The best buys are often the least glamorous – shelf risers, turntables and tension rods cost very little, but make your day-to-day much easier. Plus, they are small and portable, and can migrate around the kitchen as your needs change.
Ahead you’ll find seven examples of cheap kitchen storage that are absolutely worth buying.
1. Shelf risers and trays
Kitchen cupboards waste an astonishing amount of vertical space and filling them with stacks of glasses or tins leaves you with a precarious Jenga tower.
Shelf risers and under-shelf drawers are your low-cost solution, giving you an additional level with a lot more stability.
The adjustable versions are especially handy because they can stretch to fit your widest cupboards. Wood or metal designs usually look a little neater than chunky plastic ones, particularly if your cupboards have glass doors.
2. Over-door baskets
Baskets that hook over the top of a cupboard door can hold shopping bags, cleaning supplies or any accessories that can be chucked in without rattling around, such as chopping boards and pot lids.
Lovely wicker designs can sit on the back of the kitchen door without totally ruining your design scheme and basic plastic or wire baskets can go inside sink cupboards, where packets and bottles tend to pile up. Plus there’s no drilling involved.
3. Turntables for cupboards and fridges
A turntable makes deep shelves much easier to navigate, particularly when you have lots of small jars and bottles. Sauces, oils, spices and condiments can all sit on the same rotating tray, so you can spin it around and see what is hiding at the back.
In the fridge, a clear plastic version works well for dressings and smaller jars, or even loose fruit and vegetables.
4. Slim rolling trolleys
Those narrow gaps beside a fridge or between cabinets can be surprisingly useful once you add a slim trolley. The best versions have several shallow tiers, making them ideal for tins, bottles, baking ingredients, snacks or cleaning products.
Metal frames tend to feel sturdier, while plastic models are often lighter and cheaper.
5. Pegboards and perforated wall panels
A pegboard gives you flexible wall storage without committing to a row of fixed hooks. Utensils, scissors, measuring spoons, small baskets and lightweight shelves can all be arranged and rearranged when your needs change.
Wooden boards can be painted to match your walls too, for something that looks more bespoke.
6. Lid organiser
Pot lids and Tupperware lids are the more frustrating pieces to organise as they never stack neatly and end up sliding around your cupboards or jamming your drawers shut.
A simple rack that hangs over a door or fixes to the inside of a cupboard keeps them upright, and they can often also hold chopping boards, plates and baking trays.
7. Tension rods for cupboard storage
A small tension rod can solve several awkward cupboard problems for very little outlay. Fitted beneath the sink, it can hold spray bottles by their triggers and free up the base of the cupboard for sponges, dishwasher tablets and cleaning cloths.
In a larger cupboard, add a few hooks to your tension rod and you can hang pots, pans and colanders. This is a great option if your mug collection has gotten totally out of hand.
