OMG I have the SAME closet! Although, it is outside of my bathroom, not in my kitchen. It basically fits a vacuum and rack for air drying clothing.... lots of wasted space here. I was considering putting a bunch of hooks inside so I can hang bags of my crafting materials. Still, probably not the best use of space, but it would certainly beat the current state of my weird little closet. Shelves would probably work... though in my case, I still kind of want to store my vacuum in there, so don't want to lose too much space.

Line it with peg board if you don't want to add shelves

Modular wine rack?

I'm also betting you landlord wouldn't mind if you added some shelving - something adjustable would give you the most options. But even if they won't, you could probably find something freestanding to fit - even something shallow that fits along one side, leaving the other open for a vacuum (depending on the size) or brooms and other items that need to lean against a wall, or be hung from hook. It would be a great space for pantry items, table linens, small appliances or large cookware you don't use often...

Oh, and wine.

shelving is a good idea if your landlord is ok with that. If you do shelves these:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=bl_sr_home-garden?_encoding=UTF8&node=1055398&field-brandtextbin=JA%20Marketing%2C%20Inc.
are amazing (expandable) and fit onto wire shelves or wooden ones. And when you move you can take them with you!
A modular wine rack is also a great idea.

I agree with adjustable shelves. You could even do shelves on just the top half so you have space for larger things underneath. You could also install one of those broom wall holders (http://www.amazon.com/Wall-Mounted-Tool-Rack-Broom-Holder/dp/B0001ZL6J8/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1330616479&sr=8-5) on the door so the broom has a place, but it doesn't take up the whole closet and leaves space for shelves.

If your landlord doesn't want anything screwed into the walls, that closet looks big enough to squeeze in a narrow standing shelving unit.

Movable trolly with wheels where pantry items can be kpt

Have always used such a closet for the vacuum and brooms, etc,, but you could take off on the bag idea and suspend them from hanger hooks on wooden curtain rods. Have also seen several similar rods used to store tableclothes and such. Tension rods would work if you don't want to leave them.

If you can find a suspension rod that's short enough but strong enough (might be a big "if"), you could use it as a little coat closet-- that's what we did with our awkward kitchen closet, but it was right by the front door, too, so it just made sense. (Also make sure the closet's deep enough for hangers-- you wouldn't want to track down a rod just to discover too late that you can't hang anything on it!) I'd put the rod just below the shelf, and you could put small baskets on the shelf containing hats, scarves etc.

We also stashed our vacuum in there, among many other miscellaneous things. A bit ramshackle, but it worked.

Please show a follow up picture of how you end up using it! We all love new ideas for small spaces. If you put in a rod I like to hang my table cloths folded over hangers like a pair of pants......less wrinkles!

If you don't need space to store cleaning supplies or a vacuum, I think it would make an excellent pantry.

i love bonus space. i need more closets in my life.

if you can't install shelving, you could put in a short closet rod that you could easily remove when you move out. that plus a hanging organizer like this would create an instant linen closet/off-season clothes storage, with room to shove your broom in alongside.

I had two closets like this in a rental. I added shelves in the smaller one for pantry items. In the one I had that is much like the pictured one here, I screwed in L-hooks to hang my pots and pans (I wish now I'd taken a picture). It eliminated the need for me to use cabinet space for them, along with the annoying nesting of heavy cookware (you always think twice about having to get to that bottom-most pot). Having the pans in the closet also kept them from getting dusty, as they would being hung in the open. When I moved out, I unscrewed the hooks and plastered the holes, and I left the shelves up in the smaller closet. No complaints from my landlords.

I have to chuckle: here in NYC, where people are known to use their ovens for storage, no one would ask such a question! Giggle over, good luck with your project!

I would turn that bad boy into an appliance storage area for my crockpot, kitchen aid mixer, blender, toaster. Just sayin'...

You should brew beer in it! It looks like it'd be the perfect size for a fermentation carboy, as long as the temperature stays moderate. Even better if it's a little cool in there.

I did what Verily says (put in a tall shelving unit) and store my dishes there because otherwise I had to run to the pantry every time I wanted a dish. I have an old fashioned kitchen with a huge pantry and no cupboards in the room with the appliances. I like it, but the dishes were annoying. I'm much happier now that they are right by the stove. I also keep my largest pans there (the others are on open shelves by the stove).

...having said that, I like the idea of brewing beer in it!

I don't have a closet like that, but since we don't have an extra room, I use my kitchen island storage for crafting and art supplies since I tend to do that at the table. You could put shelves in it and use it for something like that.

I can also see putting shelves in, taking off the door, it and using it as cookbook storage and knick knack display. You could use removable wall paper on the back wall. Maybe hang some ball fringe from the top with hot glue or 3M removable sticky foam. That would be adorable.

At the risk of being misinterpreted, that is what we in England would call a 'glory hole'. It's the place where you put everything that doesn't have a place anywhere else - your brooms, dustpan and brush, cleaning materials, dustbin bags, all that kind of clutter that you need to have, but doesn't have a natural home anywhere else. I would use it for that, and free up more useful and better-placed cupboard/drawer space elsewhere in your kitchen.

Install shelves for pantry space. Place a large basket or container on the floor for heavier items/dog food, etc. Perfect pantry space!

You guys all have such Great Ideas. Of course my fave is the wine storage. I am hooked on The Kitchen. Thanks for all your shares.