25+ Must Make Kitchen Projects

Submitted by Ana White on Sun, 01/09/2022 - 11:35

Make your kitchen perfect for your family by adding inserts, drawers, and shelves. 

Save hundreds of dollars by tackling the projects yourself using inexpensive scrap wood and basic tools.

Here are my favorite small kitchen projects that have changed our lives, with links to free plans and tutorials.


 

 

In Drawer Knife Block

In Drawer Knife Block plans

Store those knives in the drawer safely and securely.  This in drawer knife block works with almost any sized drawer, is easy to build, and inexpensive.

VIDEO TUTORIAL


 

 

Convert a Shelf into a Pull Out for $10

diy kitchen cabinet rollout shelf

Instead of throwing a shelf away and buying an expensive pull out drawer, just use the existing shelf to create a pullout!  This is the easiest and least expensive way to add pull out drawers to your kitchen cabinets.

You can add sides to the top of the shelf if you want. Works in frameless cabinets and with minimal modification, face frame cabinets.

VIDEO TUTORIAL 


 

 

Pull Out Pot Rack

pull out pot rack

Tired of stacking and unstacking pots and pans?  Or digging for a lid?  Our pull out pot rack (with lid storage) changed our lives, and it can change your life too!

VIDEO TUTORIAL 


 

 

Double Pull Out Trash Recycling Cabinet

pull out double trash bins

Build a standalone trash cabinet or modify and existing cabinet with our pull out recycling cabinet plans.


 

 

Behind the Door Spice Rack

behind the door spice rack

Never look for that one spice ever again.  This pull out spice rack is easy to build and mounts to the back of your pantry door.  


 

 

Double Sliding Door

double kitchen drawer how to

Too deep drawers?  This double sliding door modification can be added to any deep drawer to double the depth.  


 

 

Behind Cabinet Door Paper Towel Storage Organizer

paper towel storage organizer

I love this project on cabinet sink doors to keep cleaning supplies and paper towels within easy reach but out of sight.  It's an easy to build organizer - add a paper towel holder to make it even more functional!


 

 

In Drawer Tiered Spice Organizers

in drawer spice rack

You won't believe how easy this project is!  Adjusts to fit different height spices and different depth drawers.


 

 

Full Pull Out Organizer

pull out cabinet doors

Turn an shelf cabinet into a pull out drawer organizer with our tutorial.  It's easy to do and you can use your existing cabinet door and shelves for materials.


 

 

Add a Drawer Anywhere

add a drawer in your kitchen

In this tutorial, Ana shows you how to add a drawer, just about anywhere, with no math, no figuring, and no adjusting!

Use this tutorial to convert a toekick into a drawer, or add a drawer inside a cabinet.

VIDEO TUTORIAL 


 

 

Vegetable Bin Cupboard

Vegetable Bin Cupboard

Store produce in this vegetable bin cupboard.  We love the enclosed sides to keep the produce out of the sun, and the easy flip down doors for accessing (and cleaning) out the shelves.


 

 

Wall Bins

wall mounted produce bins

Use your walls to store produce!  I love these wall mouted bins so much, I've since made another one to hold more produce.  Easy to build, easy to mount, and oh so functional!

VIDEO TUTORIAL 


 

 

Pantry on the Wall

wall kitchen shelves

Build a row of these beautiful shelves to create a pantry on the wall!  We love these shelves filled with simple bins with pantry staples.


 

 

Wall Plate Rack

wall plate rack

Make dishes easy to reach and put away and free up cabinet space with our wall mounted plate holder.  We love this project because dishes are accessible - you don't have to ask the cook to move out of the way to get a plate.

Easy to build with simple off the shelf materials.


 

 

Wall Mounted Can Organizer

Can food organizer

Shop in bulk?  I do, so I built a wall mounted can organizer so I can put everything away, and know when I need to buy another case.  

VIDEO TUTORIAL


 

 

Re-useable Container Storage by The Handyman's Daughter

reuseable container organzier

Never search for a lid again with this reuseable container organizer!  Features and adjustable base design and lid sorting too.


 

 

Drawer Divider

diy drawer divider

This is not limited to kitchen drawers, get those drawers organized with the best drawer divider hack ever!  Using off the shelf C Channel and hobby boards, it's easy to customize and create high end looking drawer dividers with limited budget. 

 

Video Tutorial 


 

 

Stackable Fruit and Veggie Crates

stackable crate stackable fruit and veggie crate fruits and vegetable storage

A great way for storing fruits and vegetables right on the counter, within easy reach, and it looks great too! This simple and inexpensive solution will make you glad you built it!

 


 

 

Narrow Rolling Pantry

narrow storage narrow rolling pantry

This narrow rolling pantry is a great way to add extra storage and functionality to a kitchen. All you need is a few inches between the fridge and the wall, people will hardly know it's there until you pull it out!

Photo and tutorial by Classy Clutter


 

 

Open Kitchen Shelving

open shelving diy shelves rustic shelves

This open shelving looks great and is a simple way to add more storage to a wall. Easy to modify for any space big or small! Another quick an easy project with big impact.

VIDEO TUTORIAL 


 

 

Wood Stove Cover

stove cover stove topper stove top wood stove cover

The stove top can be such a waste of space at times, especially in a small kitchen. A stove top cover can give you some extra prep space and look great when the stove isn't being used!

Tutorial by Woodshop Diaries


 

 

Appliance Garage

appliance storage appliance garage

No place to store your appliances? You know that space between the countertop and the upper cabinets, consider building your appliances a garage! 

Tutorial by Build Basic 


 

 

Under Sink Storage

under sink storage

This easy plan is a no brainer to get the under the sink mess organized. A cheap and quick project to keep your life and kitchen more neat and tidy! 

VIDEO TUTORIAL 


 

 

Tilt-out Trash Cabinet

tilt out trash

The tilt out trash cabinet is a great project for small kitchens or kitchens that don't have great under counter trash space. It takes up hardly any floor space, consider adding a drawer and matching the end of the counter height to easily add some counter space too, like this one HERE .

Photo of this unit was built by a reader of the site, as a first woodworking project!


 

 

3 Tier Can Organizer

tiered can organizer

This 3 tier can organizer is a great way to maximize your cabinet or pantry space for storing cans. The tier design allows you to easily see the inventory and keep the older cans up front and newer to the back for easy rotation. The best part, it can be customized for any size cabinet or shelf!


 

 

Easy Build and Hang Floating Shelves

diy floating shelves

If you have an empty space in your kitchen, floating shelves are a beautiful way to display kitchen accessories.

There's many ways of building floating shelves.  In this tutorial, we build then install - so no need for a major kitchen renovation for a quick and beautiful upgrade.

VIDEO TUTORIAL


 

 

Countertop Potato Bin

veggie bin countertop bin stackable bin potato bin

Features three compartments generously sized, each holding about 10 pounds of produce.  We love that these can stack for even more storage!  Made of solid would, these bins can be easily modified and stained or painted as desired.


 

 

Ziploc Bag Organizer

ziploc bag organizer ziploc bag storage

Simplify your life by building a ziploc bag organizer.  This ziploc bag organizer is super easy and fast to build with basic materials.  It is designed to fit gallon, snack, sandwich and quart sized bags.  It's a solid piece that can be easily pulled from the drawer.  Refilling is easy from the top.  

Can be customized to fit your drawer size.


 

 

K Cup Ladder

k cup ladder holder

For the coffee lover, this super simple project helps store in a beautiful way those K cup coffee pods.  It's super simple to make and costs about $2 in materials.


 

 

Countertop Farm Fresh Egg Storage

countertop egg storage

Build your own wooden egg holder with our free plans.  Display those beautiful eggs on your countertop, and free up fridge space.  No more dealing with recycling egg boxes.  


 

 


Water Bottle Storage Rack

water bottle storage diy

 

For people who haved a lot of water bottles, here is an easy and customizable solution to store them neatly. Place it on the counter for easy reach or in a cabinet or pantry for simple organizatoin.

 

 


 

diy kitchen projects kitchen organization diy