Maximize Small Kitchen Space With This Cheap Storage Hack

No matter how many massive kitchens they make on HGTV, the fact is that lots of us are still stuck with a limited amount of space. Whether you live in a modest house with an old-fashioned kitchen or a New York City apartment with a glorified hot plate, storage space is always a problem in a tiny kitchen, so sometimes you have to get creative in places like the pantry and the freezer. The key to maximizing space is to choose very small appliances and look for spots where you can add shelving so that you stash things away from the counter. And most of all, make use of open vertical space, such as by adding baskets attached to the side of the refrigerator with magnets.

While you can buy magnetized baskets for storing produce and kitchen gadgets (they sell everything on the web these days), there's no need to spend money on small kitchen storage. With just a couple of plastic or metal bins from a discount retailer or thrift store, plus some magnets and glue, you can have a dedicated space for avocados and bananas for just a couple bucks.

All you need to make your own refrigerator storage is one or two small baskets, a hot glue gun, and a couple of strong magnets. Look for small baskets with smooth surfaces that the glue will adhere to. Plastic and metal are best, like this set made by Mainstays, and you can usually find something suitable among the office supplies or bathroom organizers. Be sure to choose shallow shapes with flat sides; you need one flat side that can run parallel to the fridge and enough space for a few potatoes or tomatoes. Choose magnets that won't scratch the surface of the refrigerator, especially if you're a renter. Hot glue is best for attaching the magnets to the baskets because it'll hold up to heavy objects like a pound of bananas, but if you don't have a hot glue gun, you could also use a strong epoxy, like Gorilla Glue. Once you have all the pieces gathered, simply glue the magnets in a couple of evenly spaced spots on one side of the basket, let them dry, and stick the whole thing to the fridge.

The nice thing about making your own refrigerator baskets is that you can add more as needed for just a few extra dollars. Plus, they're easily customizable with a little spray paint if you want them to match your kitchen decor. And when the time comes to move out, you can pop them off the fridge door and take them with you.