• In a tiny kitchen, storage space is at a premium.kitchen image by Daria Miroshnikova from Fotolia.com
  
  For the ambitious cook, a small kitchen can present the daunting problem of where to store dishes, utensils, appliances and food. As you plan storage options for your kitchen, take advantage of wall space and other unused areas to create extra space. By making use of all available areas, you will free up countertops and drawers, and add visual interest to the room.
  
  

Hanging Baskets

• In a tiny kitchen, make use of otherwise empty air space with hanging baskets. Suspend a set of hanging baskets from the ceiling in the space above a garbage can, under a cabinet or in the corner. Store fruit, office supplies, kitchen utensils or various cooking implements in the baskets. If you want to store heavier items such as recipe books, be sure to choose baskets with sturdy chains and hang them from a heavy-duty hook.
  
  

Ceiling-Level Shelving

• To free up space on the counters in a small kitchen, install shelving that runs along the top of the room, near the ceiling. Use the shelves to store and display items that are not used frequently, like serving dishes for dinner parties, fancy china and specialty cooking devices or gadgets. Because the shelves are high, they will raise the eye and increase the perceived height of the room.
  
  

Magnetic Strips

• Small kitchens often have narrow drawers and a near-total lack of usable counter tops. When you have limited drawer and counter space, store knives and large metal utensils on the wall with magnetic strips. Because utensils are relatively low-profile, this allows storage without impeding on the available counter space. You can purchase magnetic strips designed specifically for this purpose at any kitchen supply store. Attach it to the wall with a drill and screws or a hammer and nails.
  
  

Wall-Mounted Cans

• If your large utensils are mostly plastic, you can make your own wall-mounted storage unit to free up drawer and counter space. Start with a simple plank of wood cut into a two-by-one-foot rectangle. On the bottom of the long edge, nail three aluminum cans to the board with the openings facing up; you can also use decorative tins or wooden boxes. Nail the board to the wall and store utensils in the cans.
  
  

Sides of Cabinets

• Don't ignore the sides of cabinets when considering where to add extra storage. Often, the space next to the cabinets goes largely unused, particularly when the edge sits only a few inches from a wall. Mount a row of hooks to the side of a cabinet or kitchen island and use them to hang large utensils, pots, pans or towels.