21 clever RV Kitchen Storage Ideas (maximize your tiny space) (2024)

Frustrated with the tiny kitchen in your RV? Do you want some ways to make it more organized and tidy? This post contains 21 items and ideas to help you store things in your RV kitchen.

Some of these items you may already own, but others may be totally new to you.

UPDATED – This post has been improved and updated with more great RV storage ideas added.

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Table of contents

Ways to Store and Organize Things in your RV Kitchen

Below you’ll find a variety of ideas and items that may help you organize your camper kitchen.

But note, not all of these ideas will work for you. Your needs may differ from other RV owners.

You made need options that’ll hold up to rough off-road camping, while other readers may park their RV in one spot all season – or all year – long.

And what works in travel trailer or motorhome may not work in something smaller like my pop up camper.

So make sure to scroll through all the ideas to see what’ll work for you.

1) Adjustable Cutlery Tray

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This little adjustable tray allows you keep your cutlery drawer nicely organized.

It allows you todecrease counter-top clutterby storing everything inside a drawer. This RV cutlery tray adjusts from 9″ to 13″ wide.

This isavailable on Amazonif you want to see more details.

2) Small Dish Drying Rack

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This compact drying rack will fit in most RV sinks, or you can set it on the counter atop its drain tray, and let it drip into the sink.

I realize its only temporary while the dishes are drying, but getting those dishes off the counter is huge!

It will improve the functionality of your RV kitchen.

I use one in our pop up camper and I like it because I can carry the dirty dishes to the campground’s dishwashing station, wash them there, then bring them back to my campsite to dry. (If you have a bigger RV this could help prevent needing to dump your RV graywater tank so often.)

3) Nesting Bowls with Colander Set…a space-saving RV kitchen organization idea

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In a small kitchen like your RV kitchen, you don’t have unlimited cabinet space.

You have to maximize the small space you have.

And that is exactly what a nesting bowl set like this do.

The more things you can have stacked inside each other means the less bulky items taking up your limited cupboard space.

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If you’re not into the rainbow colors of the set you can also buy it in “Sky” colors as well. (The Sky color bowl set is shown below.)

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4) Nesting Cookware Set (for Stove-top and Oven use)

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Here is another great option to maximize the small amount of storage space in an RV.

It is a 10 piece stainless-steel Nesting cookware set made by Magma.

I just mentioned nesting bowls, so why not have nesting cookware too!

It has 3 pots (they call them saucepans), 1 saute pan, and one 5-quart stock pot. Plus, it has 2 lids: one that fits the pots, and one that fits the pan and the stockpot.

There is also two removable handles and a bungee cord to keep it all together.

In the picture above, the left side shows how they nest together, and the picture on the right shows them bundled together and strapped shut.

It is not magnetic, so it doesn’t work on induction cooktops. (But a reader let me know that Magma does make a magnetic set for induction cooktops.)

Want to stop kitchen cabinet sprawl? Check out this nesting cookware set.

5) Wall-mounted Knife Holder (a clever Rv storage idea for your blades)

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Keeping your knives out of drawers and off the counter will not only improve safety but also reduce clutter.

How do you attach it to the wall or inside a cabinet door?

Well you can either use double sided tape or screws. Personally I’d rather screw it to ensure it’s secure.

This product from the company Camco is quite popular and available at lots of different retailers.

You can click here to see more details on Amazon.

Some RV owners choose to mount strong magnetic strips to the wall or to the side of cabinet, then store their knives on the magnetic strip.

And if you have room on the strip, you could store magnetic spice jars on there and not have to buy separate magnetic spice racks.

6) RV Stove-top Covers

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What is the most common complaint in an RV kitchen? –> Not enough counter space, right.

An RV stove-top cover like this helps you use the space above your stovetop range.

It comes with a flexible cutting mat that you can lay down upon the wood and it allows you to cut your veggies and prep your recipes then simply remove the cutting board to complete the cooking.

Some people even use it to help silence a rattly stove top while traveling.

Curious if this will fit your RV stove?

Click here to see the dimensions.

Bamboo Stove Top Cover

If you don’t want a “Bordeaux” version of the stove top cover… Camco also makes a bamboo stove-top cover shown below.

It is also quite popular on Amazon.

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7) Over the Cabinet Door Organizer

Baskets that hang over a cabinet door are a good way to store stuff in a camper. In the picture above you can see a wire basket organizer being used in my pop up camper.


I don’t know the brand that we own, but I’ve found some similar products on Amazon.

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This organizer has a plastic hanger that hooks over the cabinet door and suspends the metal framed holder inside the cabinet space.

In the pic it shows it being used to hold plastic wrap and food storage bags, but you could hold cleaning sponges, small dish soap bottles, or snacks.

This is a good option to store stuff out of sight yet still easily accessible.

Click here to see more details on Amazon… will this fit in your RV?

A full-metal over the door cabinet organizer basket

Below is another basket, but is made of metal. And it has a foam backing so it won’t scratch your cabinets.

You can also use these organizers as garbage cans.

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Will this fit in your cabinets?

Click here to check out dimensions.

8) Use Magazine Holders to hold Tin Foil and Plastic Food Wrap

Another clever way to store food wrap and tin foil is to use a magazine holder.

It helps tidy up your RV kitchen cabinets.

9) Kitchen Utensil Nesting Set (by Joseph Joseph)

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How cool is this nesting cooking utensils set…each utensil sticks together by the magnetic handle and they stand upright in their cradle.

You could toss the set in a drawer on travel days then pull them out at the campsite.

Will these work for you?

If you think they might, click here to see current price on Amazon.

If you need something to help keep your RV organization progress on track, check out this free offer…

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10) Sliding Shelves for RV pantry storage or under sink

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These sliding shelves could work well inside your RV pantry or inside a different RV kitchen cabinet.

Just make sure you have room inside a cabinet (i.e. measure), but if you have the room a sliding drawer unit like the one shown below can really help maximize this space.

It allows the opportunity to use the vertical space that is often wasted inside a cabinet.

You should attach the shelving unit inside the cabinet so it doesn’t slide around.

Check size of this drawer unit.

Simple Under-Sink Storage Idea

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My friends have a rather simple solution for under-sink storage: they use plastic bins.

You can find these type of bins at most dollar stores or home stores.

They’re a great way to store cleaners, rags, and cleaning sponges.

(Click here to see my article on RV storage ideas using plastic bins.)

11) Fry Pan and Cookware Vertical Organizer

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Is your cookware cabinet a jumbled mess? (Do I even need to ask? 🙂 )

A vertical organizer like this one will keep your pans and casserole dishes aligned for easy storage and easy access.

And as you can see by the picture above, it works for pot lids too.

If you’re traveling a lot with your RV you may want to place this in the bottom of a tote so the lids don’t roll out.

Another vertical pan and lid organizer – also made by YouCopia – is shown below. It has non-slip feet so it should stay put during traveling.

And it comes with 10 of the wire dividers that you can move to suit your needs.

The wire dividers are shaped like a capital “M” and the handle of your lids fits right down the center.

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12) Plate Stackers

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The plate stackers shown above are made by Camco (one of the leaders in RV products).

It may not necessarily increase RV storage space, but it should help keep your plates stacked and organized (even when traveling).

I know there are a lot of people out there looking for RV dish storage, and here is a good option.

If you want more RV Dishes Storage Ideas check out our article to see more.

13) RV Fridge Double Bar – stop your food & drinks from shifting around

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This double fridge bar helps keep your fridge items in place and organized during travel.

It is made by Camco and is available on Amazon. (You may be able to find it at local retailers too.)

14) Increase counter space by using a sink cover/cutting board

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This cutting board is also made by Camco and this one goes over top of your RV sink.

It has a space in the counter where you can push the food scraps into the sink for later clean-up.

If you want to see more details of this RV sink cover cutting board on Amazon, click here.

Below is a picture of a trailer with a cutting board that spans both sinks.

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15) Stackable Mini Pantry Can organizer shelf (An interesting RV kitchen organization idea)

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This shelf looks so cool. It will convert your cabinet into a mini pantry.

(I believe most people who buy it are using the shelf at home though. But will this work in your RV?)

If you’re using in your RV you may want to swivel it and push it against the side wall of the cabinet so the cans can’t roll off if you hit bumps: they’ll only roll against the side of the cabinet.

It’s a cool RV storage idea for your canned goods if it’ll fit in your camper.

Click here to see the size of this unit on Amazon (and then you can check if it’ll work in your RV).

Another RV Cabinet shelf organizer

Below is a picture submitted by one of our readers.

It shows the wire rack shelf that she uses to store goods in her RV pantry at a seasonally-parked site.

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It isn’t the same one, but I I found a similar item on Amazon, that you can see by below.

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You can also get some with a flat top – not a wire top.

16) Lazy Susan inside a cabinet

My sister’s 5th-wheel has a lazy Susan inside a cabinet. It is a good place to store canned food and other food items.

Below is another cool option I found that may help you.

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It is a spinning spice rack and cabinet organizer.

It’s cool because the whole unit spins, and the circular inner section spins independently when needed.

There is a video on the Amazon page that shows this in action.

Could this work in your RV?

17) Bamboo Utensil Caddy and Organizer

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This utensil holder would be a great way to organize campsite picnics.

Just grab it and head outside to enjoy beautiful picnics with fellow campers.

My sister has a metal cutlery caddy that holds paper plates too. She stores it inside one of her RV kitchen cabinets where it is within easy reach for an outdoor meal.

If you want to see other RV ideas for outside and around your campsite check out this article.

18) Simple Hooks (Screw-in or adhesive)

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You can screw hooks into the underside of your wood kitchen cabinets so you can hang organizers from the hooks. (Like in the picture above.)

You could also hang your favorite coffee mugs (take down before driving though).

And the 3M company makes an entire line of Command Hooks that you can stick to a variety of surfaces.

RV Bacon Station using a Command Hook

Here is a bacon station.

A silicone splatter guard and some tongs to flip the bacon.

This is all conveniently hung from a Command Hook mounted on the side on the fridge.

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There are a lot of Command Hooks for sale on Amazon and at your local stores. Check them and see how could help you.

19) Tension Rod Ideas

While I was taking pictures of my friend’s trailer I saw a great opportunity. They had the perfect set up for a tension bar.

It fit well between the wall and the edge of their oven fan.

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Now the paper towel is off the counter, and the surface cleaner is within easy reach.

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Tension Cupboard Bars – handy RV cabinet organizers

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Here are some spring-loaded cupboard tension bars made by SIQUK and are available on Amazon.

Tension bars placed along the front of your RV cabinets will help keep your food items from tumbling out after a day of traveling.

They can extend from almost 16-inches to 28-inches.

Do you have opportunities for tension bars in your RV or small kitchen?

For more tension bar ideas click here.

20) Wall mounted Wire Baskets

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Wall baskets – like these ones by Spectrum Diversified – are a great way to get items off your kitchen counters.

It does require screwing into a surface.

But most RV owners screw them into the wooden side panels of their RV kitchen cabinets.

If you screw them in here you won’t damage the walls of your RV and they’ll be secure. (As long as you’re not storing your workout dumbbells in there.)

The photo above is a stock product photo showing it storing cooking oils and stuff, but you can store a huge variety of things in these baskets.

Some people use them as fruit baskets or even spice racks.

They come in different sizes too…click here to see the different sizes on Amazon.

21) Over the Sink Shelving Unit

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This option is best suited for people that live in their RV, or for RV’s that are parked in one spot for a long time because this just sits on the counter – it isn’t affixed into place. (I.e. not a good option for traveling days.)

But if it’ll work for you, these shelving units allow you to better use the vertical space above the kitchen sink.

But make sure you measure the height and width of your sink. I have a feeling that this unit might bump into the bottom of your upper kitchen cabinets. So double-check.

22) Instant Pot Multi-use Cooker…an RV Kitchen Organization idea (?)

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I realize that an Instant Pot isn’t exactly an RV kitchen storage idea or “organization” idea…but having this handy multi-functional device can replace a lot of other kitchen appliances that may clutter up your RV.

Weekend warrior campers will scoff at this, but people who live in their RV or have a seasonal site will appreciate it.

These things put the “Pot” in potential!

There are so many recipes you can make.

I’ve made everything from delicious butter chicken to bone broth to steamed broccoli and beef. Extremely versatile device.

You can get these at most retailers, or you can

click here to see more details about the Instant Pot on Amazon.

Thank you very much for checking out these different ways to store things in your RV kitchen.

I hope at least one of them will work for your RV.

Below we have some additional articles that may help you out too! Check them out.

Need a place to store your paper towels? Check out these 13 Proven RV Paper Towel Holder ideas

Up Next:

27 Simple RV Bathroom Storage Ideas (to finally get that small bathroom organized)

13 Great RV Bedroom Organization Ideas (is your camper bedroom already organized as well as it could be?)

Massive List of 75 Clever RV Organization Accessories

Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to read this. Hopefully at least one of these ideas will help you get your RV more organized.

by Tim from LearnAlongWithMe.com

Tim worked in construction for a few years before going to university. Then he worked as a community pharmacist for 10 years and now works as a full-time writer and online publisher. He has experience in several different, far-reaching lines of work.
“I sincerely hope you find the articles helpful and informative.”
Tim from LearnAlongWithMe.com

Plus, check out:

19 Popular RV Accessories [you’ll see these around the campground]

Make your RV feel like home with these 11 RV Decorating Ideas

11 Handy RV Storage Ideas on Amazon Canada

Here is the old Pinterest pin before I updated the number of RV kitchen organization ideas in this article.

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21 clever RV Kitchen Storage Ideas (maximize your tiny space) (2024)

FAQs

How do I maximize space in my small RV? ›

Use Vertical Space

When you can stack bins or install wall shelves, this will really help you maximize your space and keep things off the ground. Use hooks and over-door hangers to hang jackets, towels, hats, dog leashes, even musical instruments and workout equipment.

How do I stock my RV kitchen? ›

Consider stocking the following:
  1. Nesting bowls.
  2. Cutting board and quality knife set.
  3. Cooking utensils (spoons, ladle, tongs, peeler, whisk, etc.)
  4. Collapsible colander.
  5. Measuring cups and spoons.
  6. Pots, skillets, and baking wares.
Mar 26, 2024

How to make more room in a travel trailer? ›

Install slide-out drawers and shelving.

Slide-out drawers are wood or metal boxes that RV owners can install in their trailer or motorhome's available spaces, such as bed areas and sofas. They are perfect for mounting on a sliding mechanism which gives you easy access to the stored belongings you need to retrieve.

How do I add sleeping space to my RV? ›

If your camper doesn't have a bunk room, garage, or loft, you can create sleeping space for your kids by replacing the built-in furniture with a bed, or by building your own DIY sofa bed or custom-built bunk beds. One family accomplished this by converting the hall closet in their Class A motorhome into bunk beds.

What is the most space saving kitchen layout? ›

The most efficient layout for a kitchen, including small kitchens, is the U-shaped layout. Although this layout produces two, deep corner cabinets, clever cabinet additions such as sliding storage units makes light of these previously difficult storage areas.

What shape is most efficient in small space kitchens? ›

One of the remarkable advantages of the U-shaped kitchen is its ability to make the most of the available space. With its three walls forming a “U” configuration, this design wraps around the cook, creating an immersive and efficient workspace.

How do you store food in an RV? ›

Store Food in Sealable, Stackable Plastic Containers

You should avoid putting the food back in its original packaging. Instead, reach for a sealable plastic container. A plastic container can protect food from humidity, bugs, mildew, moisture, and animals—all of which you could encounter on the average camping trip.

Can I leave spices in my RV? ›

Leaving any food in an RV is just an invitation for bugs and mice and food subjected to moisture, and unregulated high temps, cold temps etc. JMHO. Put your spices in that baggie and leave it in the cabinet in the house and then just take it with when you hit the road.

How do I layout my kitchen storage? ›

Calculate the space

Every kitchen is different, as are the needs of the people using it, but each kitchen will need a certain amount of storage. “A tall larder is really helpful for storing fresh food,” Conor says. “Then add in two standard cutlery drawers and four pan drawers – that's a good place to start.”

What is the best thing to keep items from moving in cupboards in RV? ›

You can also use cut up pool noodles or pieces of poly foam pipe insulation to pad the open spaces between items in the cupboard. Whatever item you choose, they will all do the job of preventing glass and other breakable materials from clacking, bumping, or rubbing together.

How to store dishes in a travel trailer? ›

Use non-slip liners to minimize movement

To prevent this, place non-slip liners in your cabinets. Rubber liners are commonly used in RVs, and they can prevent dishes, pantry items, and pans from moving. Make sure you use them in all your cabinets so that things will stay in place during your travels.

How to decorate the inside of a small camper? ›

10 Ways to Decorate Your RV Interior on a Dime
  1. Pillows. Pillows are a quick way to get those pops of color so easily. ...
  2. Wall Decals. ...
  3. Small Photo or Art Frames. ...
  4. Faux Plants. ...
  5. Placemats or Table Runners. ...
  6. Throw Rugs. ...
  7. Dishes, Plates, and Trays. ...
  8. Bottles or Counter Trinkets.

How do I make my RV self sufficient? ›

Off-grid RV living typically involves using renewable energy sources such as solar power system, wind turbines, or generators for power, conserving water through efficient usage and recycling, and managing waste through composting or responsible disposal methods.

Can you live in a small camper full time? ›

Yes! You absolutely can live in an RV full-time!

Does RV need to be level in storage? ›

Keeping your RV in a temperature-controlled, level, and dry area away from direct sunlight can help protect your tires. Removing as much weight from within your RV as possible can also make a difference. And making sure weight is distributed evenly is always a good best practice.

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