In a standard home, you can afford to have a "junk drawer." In a tiny house, you barely have drawers at all.
We established in our Kitchen Essentials Guide that you need the right gear. But once you buy that gear, where do you put it? If you leave it on the counter, you have no space to prep food.
At Dream Tiny Houses, our philosophy is simple: Don't build out; build up. Here are the best vertical storage hacks on Amazon to keep your counters clear and your mind sane.
The Power of Magnetism
Walls are often wasted space. By turning your backsplash or the side of your fridge into a magnetic storage area, you free up drawers for other things.
(Pro Tip: Combine this with the under-cabinet lighting we discussed in our Lighting Guide to make your organized tools look like a display piece.)
The Amazon Organization Kit: Good, Better, Best
We have curated three products that utilize "dead space"—the walls, the underside of shelves, and the gaps between cabinets.
🥉 The "Dead Space" Pick: Under-Shelf Wire Baskets
Best For: Lofts and deep cabinets.
Look at your kitchen cabinets. There is usually 6 inches of empty air above your stack of plates. These slide-on wire baskets utilize that air. They are perfect for holding boxes of foil, sandwich bags, or kitchen towels.
Pros: No drilling required, instantly doubles shelf capacity, and is cheap.
Cons: Can prevent cabinet doors from closing perfectly flush if they are very tight.
👉 Simple Houseware Under Shelf Basket (2 Pack)
🥈 The "Sharp & Safe" Pick: Wood Magnetic Knife Strip
Best For: Modern Organic Aesthetics.
Knife blocks are the enemy of tiny living. They are bulky and germy. A magnetic strip on the wall holds your knives safely out of the way. We recommend a Wood-Veneer magnet (Walnut or Acacia) rather than stainless steel, as it fits the "Organic Modern" vibe much better and doesn't scratch your blades.
Pros: Looks beautiful, holds knives/scissors/keys, clears counter space.
Cons: Requires drilling/mounting tape (use heavy-duty 3M VHB tape for vans).
👉 Modern Walnut Magnetic Knife Holder for Wall
🥇 The "Visual" Pick: Gneiss Spice Hexagon Jars
Best For: The Refrigerator Side.
Spices are awkward. They take up cabinet space and are hard to see. Magnetic hexagon jars stick together in a honeycomb pattern on your fridge or a steel wall plate. They look like art, and you can see exactly how much Cumin you have left.
Pros: Stunning design, airtight glass, zero shelf space used.
Cons: You have to transfer your spices into them manually.
👉 Gneiss Spice Magnetic Spice Jars Hexagon Set
Don't Forget Tension
If you have a deep drawer that has become a chaotic mess of baking sheets and cutting boards, buy a few Short Tension Rods. Install them vertically inside the drawer to create dividers. Now your cutting boards stand up straight instead of stacking on top of each other.
Final Thoughts
A tiny kitchen doesn't have to feel cluttered. It just requires you to look at every surface—under, over, and vertical—as an opportunity.
Your kitchen is organized, and your bedroom is sorted. But what about the air you breathe? Stay tuned for our upcoming guide on Air Quality and Dehumidifiers.
