If you have floor space but not enough built-in storage, look at portable
islands, butcher blocks, and bakers racks. All of these are available with top
work surfaces and additional shelf or cupboard space below and sometimes above.
A unit with wheels can be moved to where you need it most, but make sure it also
has a wheel-lock mechanism so you can secure it. Microwave carts with additional
storage are another portable solution.
Food storage
If you are tired of half-empty bags and boxes of food products tumbling
around your pantry shelves, it may be time to organize your cooking and baking
ingredients. First, throw away old or expired items.
Invest in some good plastic storage containers: rectangular ones will allow
you to put the most containers in your space. Not only do containers stack more
easily than the bags that commonly hold flour, sugar, rice, and other staples,
but they also keep food fresh longer and help prevent pest infestations. Make
sure to use clear containers so you can easily identify the food, but clearly
label anything that is ambiguous or has an expiration date you may need to
track.
In the refrigerator, make use of hanging under-shelf racks to contain
beverage cans. Since most top or bottom freezers do not have more than one
shelf, add wire stacking units to create more shelf space. This makes it easier
to remove items from the bottom without unleashing an avalanche. Keep like items
in the refrigerator and freezer grouped together so you can see what you have in
stock at a glance.