These 11 space-saving items will help me love my tiny kitchen again

When I first saw the 2,000 square foot home, I fell in love with everything but kitchen. I had no idea what I wanted until I started using it, and despite the sophisticated appliances, I wasn't satisfied with the small space. My husband and I often talk about how we can remodel our entire kitchen, but that dream just isn't in our budget yet.

Until then, I decided to make the most of my small room and find some creative storage solutions. For the past 6 months, I've been dedicated to finding all kinds of kitchen organizers and multifunctional accessories. So you no longer feel overwhelmed or frustrated by a messy environment. These 11 solutions have made a huge difference in my kitchen.

11 small kitchen space solutions you can't live without

• Home Zone Living 15.8 Gallon Dual Trash Can, $110 (was $130), Amazon
• YouCopia StoraBag Plastic Sandwich Bag Organizer, $17 (was $30), Amazon
• Utopia Kitchen Clear Soda Can Organizer 4-Pack, $16 (was $18), Amazon
• Yamazaki Lid & Ladle Stand $23, Yamazaki Home
• Yamazaki Folding Bottle Dryer $15, Yamazaki Home
• Our Place Better Bowl Set, $115, Our Place
• YouCopia DrawerFit Sliding Drawer Bin, $20, Amazon
• Beauty Cottage 6-Pack Stackable Organizer Bins, $26 (was $33), Amazon
• Handy Laundry Grocery Bag Holder, $10, Amazon
• SpaceAid 30-inch stove shelf, $13 (was $23), Amazon
• Sesno 24 Pack Airtight Container Set, $30 (Was $35), Amazon

Home Zone Living 15.8 Gallon Dual Trash Can

Our floor space is very small, and the butler's pantry and basement door are on opposite sides, so there's actually only one space for a trash can near the kitchen entrance. We used to have bins and recycling bins, but needless to say we were more likely to encounter one or the other. This compact duo means I have to take out the trash more often, but I don't mind it now because I have enough space to go back and forth.

YouCopia StoraBag Plastic Sandwich Bag Organizer

At one point I got fed up with having four different sized Ziploc bags lying around and threw them all into one cabinet and refused to use them. Now that individual paper boxes no longer clutter my pantry, I've tucked this tidy organizer into my shed to create more space to stack my snacks neatly. It also had a label to remind you what size to reach for when you need it.

Utopia Kitchen 4 Pack Soda Can Organizer

My previous solution was to stack all the cans in the back of the fridge, but of course I often ended up knocking things over while looking for something to drink. Now you can reach for exactly what you need without having to constantly restock shelves or rummage through produce piles to get what you need. I also like to use these to organize canned goods in my basement pantry.

Yamazaki lid & ladle stand

I filed this product under things I didn't know I needed until it arrived. I usually used the spoon rest, but I always felt overwhelmed when cooking multiple dishes and placing the small rest to balance the stirring spoon. This multipurpose stand acts as a lid and utensil stand, and I also used it to prop up my iPad to check recipes. This is one of the items we use often in our kitchen.

Yamazaki folding bottle dryer

I'm always preparing vegetables and cutting fruit for smoothies, but I hate leaving piles of garbage on my cutting board. This bottle dryer also doubles as a bag holder so you can neatly transfer meals into zipper bags. I also use it to hold small garbage bags that I use to throw away scraps while preparing dinner. When not in use, it can be folded flat and stored in a drawer without taking up much space.

Our Place Better Bowl Set

Our Place calls its Better Bowl set an “ecosystem,” and I can't help but agree. I use this set for everything from preserving salads, shredding cheese and carrots, squeezing lemons and oranges, and dehydrating fruits, vegetables, and leafy greens. My favorite part is that everything is nested inside, which saves a lot of cabinet space.

YouCopia DrawerFit Sliding Drawer Bin

Some of the drawers in our kitchen were unusually deep, and I didn't know how to use them except to dump as much as I could into them and hope nothing came from the bottom. These adjustable drawer bins have been a game changer. It makes good use of wasted space and can be resized to fit the size of your drawer, so you don't have to worry about where it will fit.

Beauty Cottage 6 Pack Stackable Organizer Bins

Our refrigerator is always a battlefield. I'm not shy to admit that I got tired of working on his game of Tetris and became so disorganized that I accidentally bought twice as much food. Those days are over, thanks to this stackable trash can. Now that I separate everything by food group, it's easier than ever to make room for leftovers.

Convenient laundry grocery bag holder

The old plastic bag finally got a home. Gone are the days of tossing a bag in a cabinet that would eventually overflow. This super easy to use trash can also comes with an adhesive strip so you can stick it to the back of your cabinet door or use screws if you want to mount it to the wall.

SpaceAid 30 inch stove shelf

I know that probably numerous salt and pepper shakers have been lost to the abyss, but I refuse to look behind the stove. Thanks to this stove shield, that's no longer the case. Attaches securely to the top of your oven with magnets, providing the perfect space for commonly used spices and oils to keep them from cluttering your countertops.

Sesno Airtight Containers Set of 24

These clear airtight containers allow you to instantly see everything from grains and noodles to snacks and dried beans. The transparent design makes it easy to keep track of everything you need to refill. It comes with four size options, so you won't feel like you're wasting unnecessary space in your pantry. Plus, you don't have to save it for food. It can also be used to organize crafts and children's toys.