Kitchen hacks to double space
Tom’s Guide rounded up 12 Ikea kitchen solutions designed to double usable space, a practical set of tips if you’re after small upgrades that improve storage and cookability. (tomsguide.com)
A lot of “small kitchen” fixes are really wall fixes. IKEA’s SUNNERSTA rail is built to move utensils and containers off the counter and onto the wall, and IKEA says it is meant for spots where “every little centimeter counts.” (ikea.com) That shift matters because counters are your workbench. When spatulas, scrubbers, and spice jars leave the counter, you get the chopping space back without moving a single cabinet. (ikea.com) IKEA sells a sturdier version of the same idea in stainless steel. The KUNGSFORS rail is modeled on restaurant kitchens, and IKEA says it can hold accessories, towels, or even pot lids so the flat surfaces stay clear. (ikea.com) The cheapest gains usually come from using the air inside cabinets, not just the floor of them. IKEA’s VARIERA shelf insert adds a second level for bowls, glasses, or spice jars, which turns one shelf into two shorter shelves. (ikea.com) Drawers have the same problem as cabinets: most of the volume gets wasted when everything slides into one pile. IKEA’s UPPDATERA line is designed to split drawers into zones so knives, ladles, and small tools stop covering each other. (ikea.com) That is the difference between “more storage” and “more usable storage.” IKEA’s UPPDATERA utensil trays are built so utensils stay in place, which means you can actually reach the whisk you want instead of digging through a heap. (ikea.com) The most flexible fix is the rolling cart. IKEA’s RÅSKOG utility cart is narrow enough to fit small spaces, runs on lockable castors, and can shuttle ingredients, appliances, or cleaning supplies wherever the bottleneck is. (ikea.com) That is why these lists keep leaning on rails, inserts, trays, and carts instead of big furniture. IKEA’s own kitchen organization pages frame the job as getting more into the same footprint with pull-outs, drawer organizers, and wall storage, not tearing out the room. (ikea.com) Tom’s Guide pushed the same idea from the bargain end in December 2025 with IKEA’s $3 ÖBONÄS triple hook, which the writer used for rags, oven mitts, bibs, and utensils to clear crowded counters. The pattern is simple: hang what hangs, stack what stacks, and roll what does not need a permanent home. (tomsguide.com)
