It looks like the landlord chopped off part of the kitchen cabinetry in order to fit in the convenient washer and dryer. Do you have some photos of your dining table area? Sometimes appliances and other kitchen-y things can be moved to the dining area.

Please open the cabinet doors and take some photos to show what kind of items you are storing - perhaps some could be moved out of the kitchen.

Would you prefer counter space next to the stove or over the dishwasher?

This is my dining area (next to living room) and here’s photos of inside cabinets

Thanks for photos. How many people live here?

What is the height of the soffit (vs. the actual ceiling) - and how tall are the people that live here?

My first impression is how cluttered it is. And I'd guess small. If so, I realize you may have space issues throughout the apartment. As for former professional organizer I have some suggestions that you might consider.

First, tackle one room. The kitchen is good to start with. Remove every single item that can be removed and temporarily put them in the living room. Organizing a cluttered space should always start with a clean slate. Once you have done that and wiped down the shelves, drawers, appliances, cabinets and counters. Also, be sure to remove all that stuff on the refrigerator and washer/dryer; it is clutter (even though it may be beloved) and it adds to the messy feeling of the kitchen.

Now you can begin to put things back; do not rush this part of the process. Begin with what you know you need: dishes, glasses, silverware, the cooking utensils you use every day. Don't put back any more than you need. In other words, if you have a dozen place settings but use only two on a regular basis keep two and put the others out for donation. (If you host eight people for the holidays go to your best thrift store and buy those extra settings, then re-donate them back after the holidays.) Keep what is used together also together in the same cupboard if you can or nearby where they are easy to get to.

Do the same for your pots and pans and small appliances. Do you use that microwave regularly? How about each pot and pan, or do you use one or some only on rare occasions (or hope to use them one day, that wishful thinking we all do)? Maybe you only need one small and one large of each. If you use and need more, keep them. The idea is not to get rid of stuff as much as it is to have easy access to what you DO need. Be honest with yourself during this process.

Now look at your edibles including the spices. Do you really use all those? Ask yourself as you pick each container up individually when you used this three times lately? In the last month? The last week? Last year? Never? Heat destroys spices quickly if even if they are not near the stove they simply wear out and get stale. Do not think that you'll just replace those but, again, really ask yourself if you do use them or are just hopeful about using them. (This is a very common issue, and yes, it was at one time with me too. I had a cookbook once that was for those who wanted to cook with all kind of various spices. I bought them all--and never once made a recipe from that book. Talk about a lesson.)

Unfortunately, you can't do much abuot the space. That washer/dryer until is overwhelming but I think once you see it with everything removed it will look a lot larger and cleaner. Be strict with yourself. Many people, including me, believe they love all their stuff and can't bear to toss it. But once much of it is out of sight, it rapidly becomes out of mind. Remember that you are making these changes so that you will enjoy the things you really love without having them drowning in other stuff.

Good luck!

P.S. I have no trouble these days with clutter but I still enjoy watching and reading Joshua Becker of Becoming Minimalist. You may not choose the be one--I'm not because I think of myself as a kind of Goldilocks, that is, what I have now is "just right"--but his ideas and suggestions are interesting and non-preachy. In fact, recently I implemented his idea that I had been resiting for a while of having nothing except maybe tomatoes on my kitchen counter. That's right; all small appliances are now off the counter and into cabinets. It is clean, clean, clean and I love it. Never thought I would but I do.

A kitchen island cart with wheels and drawers would serve you well when prepping and could be moved into the living room.

Maybe the pots and pans can go above the stove and the pantry items over the sink with shelf dividers for all to help utilize the height of each cabinet without stacking things up.

All sorts of shelf dividers, so think about starting there? Good luck:)

https://www.target.com/s/cabinet+shelf+dividers

I would put all food items on the stove side (ie no boxes of snacks on the sink shelf) get long, short baskets for above the fridge - for popcorn, bagged chips, etc.

all cups, dishes dishes, bowls, pots pans, on the sink side. . put coffee maker next to microwave-not in front of it. lose the utensil holder, if you dont have room in drawer, put them in a basket on top of microwave (which will have space because food not on top)

looks like there is an empty paper towel holder on behind-sink shelf, you dont need two. get rid of both counter-style holders and get a magnetic paper towel holder and put on side of washer-dryer. i’d also lose the knife block - again again, if no room in the drawers, then get magnetic wall knife holder.

i would only have microwave, coffee maker, and maybe that blender if you use it frequently, on the counter. nothing else. get baskets, containers, shelf maximizing items to best use the space in the cabinets you have. get command hooks to mount things (for example, dont have potholders sitting on counters) certainly on the stove side i would have nothing that lives on those counter spaces

the rolling cart is a good idea to have in the dining area and roll it in if/when you need the extra counter space at meal prep.

good luck! post an after pic!!

Ditto @Andrea, find some kind of square rolling cart with shelves and put your microwave, blender, coffee pot, etc on it. You can roll it close to an outlet when you need to zap something, you can move the appliances to the counter when you need to blend or brew and then move them back when done but having them not live on the counter, just visit, would free up tons of space. Also make a list of everything else that lives on the counter and then rethink/research alternates. Do your paper towels HAVE to live in a holder that sits on the counter? The answer is no, they can hang on a wall or under a cabinet. Also how about a large cutting board that fits over one side of the sink, instant counter space when chopping.

Unless you live more than 10 miles from a laundromat? I would ask the landlord to remove the washer and dryer to his storage,

Then I'd head to Home Depot, buy a tall storage cabinet to fill the space.

Will that help? Maybe. but I see habits tn the photos that might mean.......no. The coat drape on chairs with handbag, multiples of appliances, and no clue what is behind that recliner. .............

The w/d was obviously an add on. My guess is he removed a tall pantry.

Fact is, millions of folks have had to trek to a laundromat. Nobody died. Once a week and done

Is it inconvenient? Yeah...... So is your kitchen .

Or....... show the entire living room. Perhaps room exists for something similar, to act as a food, and appliance cabinet.

I guess until we get some answers from the OP there is no way to help.We don't even know if she rents or owns.

Can you take advantage of space in living/dining room by rearranging furniture and add a cabinet to free up storage space and improve counter usage; gaining functionality in kitchen. If in Canada, this is at Canadian Tire for $250. Can be converted for alternative storage in any room, down the road.

Rethink how you store with organizational inserts. See link below,

https://craftsyhacks.com/organize-kitchen-cabinets/

To improve visually, coordinate/add wall decor, mat and cute pendant. Make it enjoyable to be in.

Do you rent or own? It is so hard to advise you without knowing this key fact. If you own, I would bite the bullet and tear out the cabinets and soffit. Install frameless cabinetry which will give you more space than the framed cabinets you have now. Normally I don't advise a microwave over the range, but in your case it is a necessity. That would free up space. Declutter of course, that is a quite cluttered kitchen with a bunch of redundant stuff.

I feel your pain. I have a small galley kitchen, not quite as small as yours but a cabinet/pantry like maureen posted would make a huge difference. I had one for almost 18 years and I just took it out because it was finally starting to fall apart, but I'm looking to replace it because it really makes a differnce.

See if your landlord will allow you to paint the cabinets. Also, organize things in a smarter way. Why are the pots above the sink instead of by the stove? Maybe your glasses would make sense in another cabinet? And pare down a lot, as other have said.

Aphaea has the best overall advice. Decluttering before reorganizing by taking everything out of the kitchen. I'll add some specifics to that. Everything in/on countertop must be functional and usable. Clear off the top of the fridge and possibly the front.

--Ditch blender and coffee maker. Instead buy an Aeropress coffee maker to make delicious coffee in a mug. https://www.amazon.com/AeroPress-Coffee-Espresso-Maker-Bitterness/dp/B000GXZ2GS/ref=asc_df_B000GXZ2GS/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167147331067&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8239811102628067036&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9004242&hvtargid=pla-77928246566&psc=1

If you must have a coffee maker, then ditch electric kettle and boil water for tea in a saucepan.

--Ditch blender. Replace with a stick immersion blender to blend things. Put the stick blender in a drawer.

https://www.kitchenaid.com/countertop-appliances/hand-blenders/hand-blender-products/p.variable-speed-corded-hand-blender.khbv53ic.html?productcategory=hand_blenders&cmp=kad%253Awp_sda%25257C01%25257C00365%25257Czz%25257Csh%25257Ct02%25257Cp77%25257Czz%25257Cv04_kasa_ppc%253Aga%253Aps%253Atxt%253Atxt%253Acpc%253Ashop_smartshop_rob%253Ana%253Ana%253A12269786280%253A117807492936%253Ac&gclid=Cj0KCQjwrJOMBhCZARIsAGEd4VFb44qZn4TbH8LnsGM3xGRatYzNTkCO4n4ey2y3yehvG_tyHXUXhVUaApuDEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

--Ditch clunky knife holder. Get a magnetic knife holder that can attach to fridge:

--If you are right-handed, move your utensil holder to the right of the stove.

--Screw mug hooks under cabinet next to electric kettle or coffee maker. Store coffee and tea above or below appliances.

Now you should have some clear counter space. Get some bright colored plastic cutting boards that fit the right and left sides of your stove exactly. This will look nice and you can wash them.

Cabinets:

--Ditch rice maker. Get frozen brown rice you can microwave.

--Get stackable shelves for a couple of the taller cabinet shelves. Start to move some of your food staples to those shelves.

--Put appliances, serving piece in cabinet above fridge, not on fridge.

--Clear pass through. Ditch cardboard boxes and get short, squat glass/plastic containers for all stuff on counters.

--Why do you have two paper towel holders??? Ditch both. Get over-the-door towel paper holder attached to inside of cabinet.

Now you have two much cleared out work spaces next to stove and cleared pass through.

Sink side cabinets:

--Get wire stacking shelves where your pots and pans are and for under the sink.

https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/idesign-trade-small-clear-undersink-shelf/5432041?skuId=69333514&store=&enginename=google&mcid=PS_googlepla_nonbrand_storage_online&product_id=69333514&adtype=pla&product_channel=online&adpos=&creative=224124676749&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=Cj0KCQjwrJOMBhCZARIsAGEd4VHpKe56yMrBG3wOAPN6R6Fq_SPXvEBF8f7YpBPXpyP8WZCVEvYTHHEaAuJaEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

--If you have cabinets below, add stacking shelf and put pots and pans there, not above sink.

--Definitely get stackable shelves for dishes and glassware. Only keep four sets of plates, pasta bowls, cereal bowls, salad plates. Get stackable glassware.

I'm not a fan of buying storage or organizing items until a purge has been down. So do the purging first, then order stacking shelves, plastic storage items that fit inside cabinets in which you can pour contents of cereal, sugar, rice, etc. Put like with like--most canned goods can go on a shelf with another shelf above it.

See how your cleared out kitchen looks. You should have three small work spaces with blender, coffee maker/knife holder gone: each side of stove and longer prep area near sink. You could get an over-the-sink prep board for when you need more space.

You have one open space so think about tackling your dining area. Remove tablecloth--it looks sloppy. Only set table with nice hard back cork wood placematas--cleaner look.

Get a long, low console cabinet to put below your big painting. You can store appliances, big bowls, extra dishes and plans, and serving pieces in there. They don't have to be in the kitchen. Use the console as a buffet if you have company.

Hang up your clothes! Push chairs in! Take all "stuff" off floor. If you really declutter, tidy up, the entire space should work better for you.

So many great suggestions from everyone for you! Yes, it's a small space, but really you do have some good counter space as long as you keep it clear. The key is to only have what you absolutely need so that everything has a place to be put away. I also think it's a great suggestion to consider a vertical cabinet outside of the kitchen space to serve as a pantry and overflow storage if needed. Plan out the organization of the kitchen so that what you need is where you need it (pots and pans near the stove, etc). And literally, keep your countertops 100% clear to maximize the limited counterspace you do have. I have lived in several places where the kitchens were similarly small and it can be done.

Consider getting this magnetic paper towel holder + spice rack or something similar so that you don't have the paper towels taking up counter space. I don't think you have to get rid of all your appliances, but maybe consider which ones you use and see if some can be stored in another location. (And paint. Definitely paint.)

Another option is to add storage on the back wall, like IKEA or a pegboard

https://www.houzz.com/hznb/photos/ny-kitchen-solutions-farmhouse-kitchen-baltimore-phvw-vp~9259215

Here’s a pic of a nicely organized pegboard

https://www.houzz.com/photos/essentials-close-at-hand-with-wall-control-pegboard-kitchen-pegboard-is-great-f-modern-kitchen-atlanta-phvw-vp~35741834

IDK Don, we moved into a home DH 'promised' a larger kitchen yadda yadda. For 30 years I have RESISTED the 'new appliance for every task' phenom that blew through this modern age. Living smaller, fitting within your space is very possible and actually FREEING when you are suffocated by STUFF. The laundromat is my not happening suggestion..but I would like to explore where they could be relocated. A closet near the bathroom, remove a tub, leave a small shower use the space for the stackables? Is there a basement in the building where the land lord could have a laundry room for tenants??? DH moved a washer/dryer from #2DD SMALL small small, new home from the second bedroom to the basement where they belong!!

Telling people to get rid of their washer, dryer, rice cooker, blender, coffee maker so their kitchen will be more organized is literally the dumbest ever."

It said ONE rice maker, one coffee pot, out. . The dumbest, is thinking walls will move, ...that there will BE more space........unless you move the walls or create the space with a reduction in possessions or a relocation to a place of lesser importance or, or or,\

Dumbest ever? Ask for help, and listen to none of it, or come back with all the ways it will not work.

Hiring a local organizer and/or doing what Aphaea suggested is the best solution to start.

As a landlord I would not remove the washer dryer if I supplied it. Having in-unit laundry is a tremendous value in marketing the unit. As a tenant I would not ask for the laundry to be used. Who wants to spend $50/week and two hours going to the laundromat? Plus the effort to haul it out and back. I would at the very least get a cabinet or cart for the dining room to put the microwave on.

@Maureen gave you great advice!

If you can get a narrow pantry near your dining area and store things that are needed for your dining area, dishes, bowls, silverware, cereals, snacks, etc. That will help clear most things out of your kitchen for extra space in your kitchen.

As also mentioned above, if you can fit a rolling cart in the kitchen also, that has room for some of your smaller appliances, that will help empty your counters for more work space.

Please post pictures as you go along creating a family space that you are happy living in. We all love watching the progress.

I see a dishwasher and a drying rack in the sink. Use the dishwasher, either for its designated purpose or use it for dish drying and storage. Get rid of the dish drainer as the only thing you really need to handwash is large pots and pans

You are going to be busy, all so much good ideas. One of the first things i noticed was the spices behind the stove. I got little baskets with handles and put my spices in the fridge. Actually as i sorted through them some had super expired, or if not i combined same spices. I had several hubby had opened when there was already opened :). I just keep mostly used in front of fridge, top shelf. Hanging coffee cups under cabinets is good idea too. Not sure if would work for you but my hutch in my dining room is where i keep my pots and pans, of course it’s closed doors on the bottom. Some of my baskets in fridge.

Some organization ideas, that can be found at many price points.

Spice rack for Kitchen wall.

Magnetic knife storage.

Sink soap and sponge

Counter drying mat, easily removed for extra counter space. I hate dish racks. This works for me. Dishes and pots dry easily and its easy to clean to! Just throw into the washing machine.

Looks like you could really use a some sort of pantry as well. A small one even. You can get a lot in even a small one.

Buy a small wired pantry on wheels. Do not ask your landlord to remove washer/dryer, he never will and it’s convenient! You could use some shelf dividers and stack things much better. This is an apt. Save your money and buy a condo. Even the stuff on top of it was in wire bins sorted by same items would look better. Enjoy being young!!

Personally, either as a renter or owner, I'd rather have the washer/dryer in unit, even if they're in the kitchen and I would pare down on everything, Every. Thing, than go to the laundromat weekly. We were renting an apartment in the Bay area last year and it had a common laundry area. It cost $4.50 per wash and dry. That adds up. Plus the inconvenience if it's not in the apartment bldg.

You can make this work, but it'll take downsizing and organizing:

- Yes, the washer/dryer is taking up a whale of a lot of space, but you can't change that -- and I wouldn't give up a washer/dryer in my own space anyway.

- Get a cabinet of some sort to place in the dining room. Store food in that, leaving all the kitchen cabinets for cooking equipment.

- The microwave is eating up a lot of space -- can you do without it? I honestly don't use mine much.

- Keep out 4 plates, 4 bowls, 4 glasses. Store away the rest in a box in your upper closet.

- Get a magnetic strip knife holder and install it UNDER your upper cabinet.

- Get rid of as many small appliances as you can. Someone else mentioned the rice cooker -- it's a nice thing to have, but you CAN make rice on the stove. If you don't use the small appliance three times a week, I'd get rid of it.

- Get two good-sized baskets that'll fit on top of the refrigerator. Things stored in baskets are neater than things just cluttered around.

- I like that spice rack that someone else posted above ... and it would look nice on the back wall of the kitchen. And it wouldn't be squished in /cluttery above the stove now.

OP has not returned. Has never answered the question whether home is owned or rented. Not sure that it's worthwhile to spend more time on this, or whether better to spend time on other posters on this forum who need help more.

Will that big green piece of art cover the "window" between kitchen and living room? If it works, then buy some air tight canisters and offload the cereal boxes into them to sit on the "windowsill." With the dining room wall available for some storage, open that closet door and measure the space remaining between it and the window for a cabinet to store duplicates and kitchen items you don't use daily. Items used once a year could go in the cabinets above the fridge Try pegboard hanging storage on that end wall in the kitchen. Buy drawer organizers and shelf stretchers for the taller shelves if they can't be adjusted. Looks like those are all "dummy" drawers at the sink, so be judicious about the ones flanking the stove. That's where the peg board will be handy for cooking utensils. You could leave the silverware in the dining room cabinet if that's helpful. Rather than ditching appliances that you love and use, I would get rid of the mix and match dishes and mugs. You can seat four, so buy sets of four and store them together in the cabinet above the dish washer for ease of putting them away once washed/dried. Looks like maybe you need a little drop spot by the front door with hooks for purses, coats, etc. Just changing a few daily habits can make a difference. As others have said, clearinig surfaces, using magnetic devices to attach things to other metal appliances in the kitchen will help a lot.

PegBoard MX™ · More Info

I commend you on asking for help to organize your kitchen and "find" work space! Looks like your cabinets are being under used, and not organized. I agree with getting rid of all the items you really don't use. Here's a few suggestions:

1) Install a peg board on the back wall to hold all the pots and pans and utensils used. Donate the ones you don't need or use.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Wall-Control-2-Piece-Steel-Pegboard-Storage-Kit-Actual-32-in-x-32-in/1000728678

2) Buy bins - all the same style and size, for over the top cabinets. I like to put baking stuff up there as I don't bake that much. It also holds my extra sugar, flour, tea, etc.

3) Now you can put the oils, oil sprays, etc in the cabinet on the left of the stove. but all boxed goods (now on the shelf of the pass thru) and that large bag of popcorn? in the overhead cabinet over the sink. It's tall and perfect for all those boxes.

4) Now the fun part: Get a free dining hutch on craigslist and repurpose for a coffee station in your dining area. This cabinet can hold your coffee cups, coffee maker, and microwave, plus laundry detergent in the cabinet below. Drill holes in the back of the cabinet for wires.

Add hooks on the wall for potholders.

Add a magnetic knife wall rack (like the one in the other post) to get the knife block off the counter.

Add undercounter lights for task lighting.

Change the cabinet pulls to chrome to update the cabinets.

Install a paper towel holder under the cabinet over the sink.

We all work on tiny counters, unless we are lucky enough to have a big kitchen. The trick is to keep the counters clear all the time. So we have to come up with inventive solutions. Hope this helps!

Denise, i love that peg board idea especially! You can paint it any color for fun or blending in and it is not permanent for the renter and just about anything can be hung in a kitchen, lol

Hi everyone!!! I’m sorry for the late response! Life was happening a bit more then usual this week. Thank you, sincerely, to everyone for the EXTREMELY thorough and detailed and helpful advice!!! Honestly as a new user to this app, I wasn’t sure what to expect but based on this post and the amount of support and help I’ve been given- Im so grateful for every response.

Answers to questions-

It’s a rental!! 3 bed/2 bath.

Apartment is approx. 1050 sq ft, kitchen is about 8’3” x 8’7”

The amount of people is 3, sometimes 4 people. It’s my Roommate and I, and my boyfriend just moved in. Her fiancé is in the navy so he’s here a lot as well when he’s not working (but doesn’t officially live here). We also have a full grown husky.

We’re all full sized humans, shortest being 5’ tall, tallest being 5’9”. Husky is tiny for her age but still a full sized adult dog.

I’m not sure what a soffit is.

I can’t ditch the coffee pot unfortunately, it’s used far too often and IMO is the most used appliance in our kitchen. I DID have my coffee pot in the living room in the past on a side table but felt it was silly to be there. However, the amount of suggestions telling me to move kitchen things into that area is questioning my original judgment.
So many of you are saying to move stuff to be not in the kitchen and it’s just something I’ve never done before. I’m going to try it out and keep everyone updated but it seems so odd to me. Why would my pots etc., be anywhere but the kitchen?! Clearly, all of you seem to know something I don’t in this regard so I’m gonna try it! Haha please be patient with my ignorance here.

Everyone keeps mentioning a rice cooker but we don’t actually have one of those??? The appliances seen in my photos don’t show a rice cooker so I’m confused on that.

The issue I seem to keep finding while trying to tackle this apartment is that we both (roommate and I) have double of things because we’re two adults living together. (Hence the two paper towel holders, etc.) My roommate and I are close enough with each other that we can share food, cleaning, cooking supplies etc etc, whatever it may be so while we don’t NEED two of everything, my issue is where do the doubles go??
Obviously neither of us want to get rid of our belongings just to save space. (if she or I move out, are we supposed to just buy everything all over again??) we don’t really have a place to store doubles unless in the same place as the other? This is where I’m struggling. We’ve got a closet I guess we can put that extra stuff in but as far as the kitchen goes, does it not make sense to just keep them in the same place? (Genuine question)

I’ve attached a pic of the rest of the living room area for any further (& much appreciated!!) suggestions.

To be honest: you’re all correct. My roommate and I are both fairly clutter-y people, and neither one of us really mind if the other leaves things around or doesn’t clean up right away. But I promise we really do clean!!! Even though my pics show differently. The issue is when were both doing so, it just gets messy and it gets messy FAST.

I really love the pegboard idea and the mugs underneath the cabinet on hooks so I’ll do that today and look into getting a pegboard too. Pics to update will follow!

Thanks so much everybody

With duplicates of most things, try adding two cabinets with doors in the dining area to hold what isn't needed. You can also store food in the cabinets. One cabinet per official roommate would prevent mistakes about whose food that is. One tall cabinet with labelled shelves would work, too.

You could also go through what you have duplicates of and agree on who is storing that item. Look at space under the bed, etc for these things you will use later in life.

I see a blender out too, how often is that used? Anyway somebody’s stuff has to go in storage. You cannot possibly keep 2 sets in that kitchen. Tell your roommates bf thank you for his service!!!!