18 College Apartment Kitchen Ideas for 2023

Use a mini fridge.

If you’re looking for a more compact solution to your kitchen woes, consider purchasing a mini-fridge instead of a full-size refrigerator. This device can be kept in any room in the house, including the bathroom or closet. You won’t have to get up every time you want a snack, and you can even keep it next to your bed, so that it’s right there when you wake up!

Kitchen carts

• These carts are easy to move around, so you can take them out of the kitchen when you’re not using them. That way they don’t take up valuable space while they’re idle!
• They can be used as a prep station. With some room on the top and space underneath for storage, it’s a perfect place to chop your vegetables before transferring them over to the stove or oven.
• You could also use it to hold appliances like blenders or mixers that might otherwise get in the way somewhere else in the kitchen when they’re not in use (like on top of a counter).
• Some come with drawers and shelves so they offer extra storage space too! Just remember that most carts aren’t built for very heavy items since their legs aren’t usually made out of metal which makes them more fragile than regular furniture pieces like tables or cabinets – so use caution when loading up your cart with anything beyond light dishes/utensils.

If you’re looking for something more simple than an island, but still want some added kitchen storage space then I recommend buying one at any home improvement store (like Lowe’s!) because there are lots of different styles available there – from modern minimalist designs all the way through traditional-looking ones too!

Utilize magnets

• Use magnetic strips to keep your knives within easy reach. If you have knives that aren’t magnetized, it’s easy to get a magnetic strip from a hardware store and make sure they are safely stored and out of the way.
• Organize small items with magnetic strips. People tend to forget that there’s a lot of metal in kitchen utensils—from spoons to whisks to apple corers, everything can be kept track of with magnets.
• Use magnets for notes and reminders (e.g., “Please do not use my tea towels for napkins”).
• Keep your spices close at hand with some cute jars attached magnetically to your fridge or wall.
• A cute magnet board can also be useful for keeping track of grocery lists, calendars, anything you want close by!
• The next time you want wine but don’t have any, try this trick: Put two empty bottles on top of each other with their corks facing down into an empty glass bottle so they create an airtight seal around it! Then simply fill up this makeshift carafe using whatever bottle is closest by – whether it be champagne or vodka 😉

A foldable cutting board

A foldable cutting board is a great addition to your kitchen because it can be stored in the drawer and pulled out when you need to cut up fruit or vegetables. It can also double as a cheese board if you’re entertaining guests. Plus, if you have limited counter space at home, then this type of cutting board is perfect for protecting your counters from knife marks and stains that might occur with other boards. This product makes life easier by making cooking more efficient — it’s functional innovation in action!

With all its benefits, it’s easy to see why a foldable cutting board is one of our top picks for college apartment kitchen essentials in 2022. Not only does this handy tool help you prepare healthy meals, but it also saves time with less clean-up required afterward!

Spice shelves

• Spice shelves
• Spice shelves are great for storing all kinds of things, including your spices! They can be mounted to a wall or used as a stand-alone unit, and they come in different sizes. You can use spice shelves to store small appliances like your coffee maker or toaster, or you can hang one on the wall and use it to display pretty dishes and decorative items. Some people even use them in their bathroom!

Two-in-one cutting boards

We’ve all been there. You want to make a sandwich, but you don’t want to be bothered with the plates or bowls. You go straight for the cutting board instead, only to realize that it’s dirty and unwashed from last night’s meal. Now you have to deal with washing dishes before you can eat your sandwich, and that sucks.

Enter these two-in-one cutting boards/serving trays that are perfect for college apartment kitchens! They can be used as cutting boards or serving trays, depending on what your mood is in the moment. They’re also perfect for both meals or snacks—we love using ours for cheese and crackers or sandwiches (like I mentioned previously) but they’re also great for appetizers and desserts!

Install a slide-out pantry

Install a slide-out pantry

A slide-out pantry can be purchased or created from scratch. You can build your own by rigging a set of shelves to a pullout drawer mechanism (this will require some DIY skills). It’s an ideal solution for storing spices and cans, because it allows you to see everything at once while also making use of vertical space. Plus, it’s got that carousel/conveyor belt effect that makes it feel like fun instead of work.

Prefab cabinets or storage units

Another easy way to store your things is by using prefab cabinets. Even better, they’re not as expensive as you might think. You can purchase a few and stack them up to make a countertop or an entire wall of storage. You can also add some extra shelving by placing a board across the top and fastening it with brackets.

A cheap, quick solution for storage is to use plastic bins or baskets with labels on them. This helps you keep everything organized and makes it easier for you to find what you need later on. If you have a lot of food in your apartment, then hanging shelves can be another great option for keeping everything organized, especially if there’s not much room on your counters or in your cupboards.

You could try hanging baskets from the ceiling or attaching hooks underneath cabinets so that they are out of sight but still accessible when needed

Pot racks or pot hangers

For reasons of space, many college apartments have limited, or even no, kitchen cabinets. While you can leave your pots and pans stacked on the countertop or under the sink, that’s not always an appealing option. Pot racks (or pot hangers) can be a great solution to this problem; aside from storing your pots and pans, they can also store cooking utensils (spatulas, ladles) and other long-handled tools like wooden spoons. Your rack can be mounted on the ceiling or on a wall for easy access to all of your cookware without having to hunt for it in a cluttered cupboard underneath the sink.

You can purchase ready-made pot racks online or at stores like Home Depot and Bed Bath & Beyond. If you’re feeling crafty (and maybe want some bragging rights), you could build one yourself out of wood pallets like the one shown here:

More counter space with a wall-mounted microwave.

Adding a wall-mounted microwave is the perfect way to create counter space, without sacrificing your food warming capabilities. If you’re looking to get one of these bad boys, then you’ll want to do some research. Your best bet is going with a brand that sells units that are specifically made for wall mounting. In other words, don’t try and mount your existing oven on the wall for added space.

Once you find the right microwave, there are some other things you should consider. First and foremost, make sure the unit has enough power to actually cook your food in a reasonable amount of time. Second, measure the space so you can ensure it will fit as desired! If you have an outlet behind or beside where it will be mounted, or if there is an electrical source nearby—that’s even better! This makes hooking it up easier than ever before. Some microwaves even come with brackets for easy installation! The only complaint we have about this set up? No oven mitts here—be sure to have a hand towel available if you need grab the door and open it with hot food inside (this isn’t possible from all angles).

Rolling trash bins

Rolling trash bins are a good choice for your dorm or first apartment kitchen because they’re easy to move from the counter to the sink or outside. The wheels make it easy to clean up spills that don’t go down the drain, and most of them come with a lid so you can keep odors contained. You can also use this bin as a recycling bin or compost bin, which will help you stay organized and help make your apartment more sustainable.

Over the sink drying rack.

If you have a little bit of counter space in your kitchen, a drying rack can be a great option. You place it on the counter and let clean dishes air dry. They are also easy to put away when not in use, either folded up or stored in a drawer. They’re particularly useful if you have room for them next to the sink, as then you can use the drying rack for draining purposes without taking up much-needed surface area.

Build counters into an overhang in your dining area.

Here are some tips for building counters into an overhang:

• Ensure your living space is large enough to accommodate the added units.
• Have a professional contractor build these, as they’re complicated units that need to be built correctly in order for them to work properly.
• Make sure there’s enough clearance so you can sit comfortably at the table below the counters, but not so much that you lose a lot of counter space on top. It’s a tricky balance!
• You may need to have a support beam installed between the counter and wall, to ensure the walls don’t collapse under the weight of all those dishes and mugs (and textbooks).

Wall shelving is another option for storing spices, appliances and other kitchen tools you don’t use frequently.

When it comes to spices, kitchen tools and small appliances that you don’t use every day, wall shelving is your best friend. It will give you extra space, keep your counters clutter-free and help you avoid the temptation of keeling over from exhaustion every time you’re faced with opening a cabinet door. When considering your options for style and placement, there are several things to consider:

• Who will be regularly using the shelves? If other people live in the apartment with you, think about their needs as well as your own.
• How much space do you have? Consider how high up on the wall you can put them so they won’t block anything else nearby.
• Will it be easy to reach what’s on them? You’ll want something that isn’t so far out of reach that it becomes useless.

If all else fails, consider hiring a contractor to install custom shelves for your kitchen walls! This way they can work around any obstacles such as windows or doors while still providing an attractive functional storage option (and saving countertop real estate).

There are many options to get the most out of your kitchen space.

There are many options to get the most out of your kitchen space. Some people are interested in certain ideas, but it’s important not to be attached to any one thing. When you’re able to let go, you’ll find that there are so many more possibilities and opportunities. Let the creativity flow!

Some people have a hard time with this idea and that’s OK. The goal is not to stress yourself out over having a million things going on at once. Just take it in stride and do what feels right for you and your apartment.

To make your kitchen truly yours, think about what it says about who you are as a person and how you want others to see you. Take stock of your situation: how do things look? How do they make you feel? Is there anything else that could be added or removed?