6 Brilliant Organizing Ideas to Steal from These Real Italian Kitchens

Try to imagine an Italian kitchen and you might picture a rustic Tuscan kitchen with exposed beams and terracotta tiles. Maybe you envision something sleek and modern, with clean lines and a sober color palette. Or perhaps you think of something in between. There is one thing, however, that most Italian kitchens have in common: They tend to be short on counter space, cabinet space, and pantry space. This is partially because Italians tend to move their kitchens with them — cabinets, appliances, and all — so you won’t find a lot that’s built in or bolted down. You also won’t find a lot of open Italian kitchens; instead they tend to be intimate and cozy. 

The silver lining? Italians have gotten very smart about using what they do have to stay organized. Here are six ideas to steal from real-life Italian kitchens. 

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Your walls are the kitchen space you’re probably not using to the best of their abilities. A good rule: When in doubt, hang it. Pots, pans, utensils, dish cloths, aprons — really, everything, anything, than you can possibly hang should be on your wall instead of in a drawer.

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We’ve seen decorative fireplaces used as storage in a few Italian homes now — and it totally works! While you might not have a quaint nonworking fireplace in your kitchen, the idea remains: Use any available space as storage. The corner around a bump-out, an alcove, a little hallway … you get the point.

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With limited counter space, you’ll want to keep your counters clear of everything except the essentials — including at least one wooden spoon. If you really to do it the Italian way, you’ll have an entire canister of wooden spoons at the ready. 

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Again, the Italians keep their counters relatively clutter-free (note the crock of wooden spoons here, too!), but this kitchen also has a smart storage idea for serving trays. See it? To the right of the stove? They’re all lined up and put on display, allowing for easy access without taking up a lot of space.

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Short on counter space? Get a big table. Imagine using it to roll out pasta dough with your family, or as a work station while you shell fava beans, or as a place to hang for hours after dinner is over. You get the idea. 

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Apertivo hour is part of Italian culture, so consider dedicating a space for your bar (even if it’s in another room). We love this hammered-bronze bar, which was originally a communion altar. 

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