Overcrowded countertops, pots stacked up haphazardly, spices spilling over: in a narrow kitchen, the slightest extra object blocks the flow. Hallway kitchens, very common in apartments, quickly give the impression of cooking in a tunnel, especially when there aren’t well-considered cupboards and drawers.
The American site Apartment Therapy, in partnership with AOL, looked into the topic. Its journalist sums up the problem well: “I know how frustrating it can be to cook in a tiny and narrow kitchen, I do it almost every day.” To address it, she selected 11 IKEA finds under $25, or about €23 each at the current exchange rate (prices observed in late July 2026, subject to change), which genuinely transform a hallway kitchen.
Narrow kitchen: IKEA’s golden rule of storage on a tight budget
In a small kitchen, the priority remains to keep at least 90 cm of clear passage. The focus is therefore on vertical wall storage, the space between upper units and the countertop, the interiors of cupboards, and the gaps between appliances. This is precisely the logic behind IKEA ranges such as HULTARP, SUNNERSTA, HYLLIS or OMAR, designed to free up the worktop without heavy work.
Before buying, it’s best to measure the maximum depth you can tolerate along the wall to avoid bumping into furniture. Several accessories chosen by Apartment Therapy, such as the BEKVÄM wall spice rack or the NÅLBLECKA counter organizer, stay around ten centimeters deep, which is enough to place jars and cups without encroaching on circulation. All the products selected stay under $25 (about €23), allowing you to progress step by step, one module at a time.
11 IKEA finds under $25 for a neatly organized hallway kitchen
On the walls, the HULTARP rail allows you to hang utensils, ladles and towels; the magnetic bar from the same series effectively replaces a bulky knife block. Between the wall cabinet and the countertop, the SUNNERSTA organizer fixed with tension rods, with no drilling, is a boon for tenants. To create a faux pantry, the narrow HYLLIS or OMAR metal shelves slide near the fridge or behind a door.
- Rail HULTARP for hanging utensils, spatulas and towels.
- HULTARP knife bar to free up the work surface.
- SUNNERSTA organizer on a tension rod under wall cabinets.
- HYLLIS three-tier shelf to store tins and jars.
- OMAR steel shelf for a mini vertical pantry.
- VARIERA shelf riser to double the space of cupboards.
- BEKVÄM wall spice rack for spices, oils and small books.
- CHOKLADHAJ stackable crates for visibly organized fruits and vegetables.
- VESKEN ultra-narrow cart to slide between fridge and wall.
- NÅLBLECKA countertop organizer, two-tier, very shallow.
- APTITLIG rotating tray to group oils, sauces and condiments.
According to Apartment Therapy, it’s these small modules, easy to move or reconfigure, that make the daily difference in a narrow kitchen. The idea isn’t to buy everything, but to target the most problematic area: bare wall, forgotten corner, cupboard too tall or overstuffed worktop.
The best IKEA combos to gain even more space
Once the basics are in place, you can combine these storage solutions for an even more striking effect. For example, a HULTARP rail with hooks above the work surface, complemented by a BEKVÄM spice rack underneath, creates a real “everyday kitchen” zone where everything remains at hand. In the cupboards, pairing the VARIERA riser with a few clear boxes or jars clearly separates coffee, breakfast, pastries or kids’ snacks.
On the worktop, the NÅLBLECKA and APTITLIG rotating tray duo structures a coffee or cooking corner without consuming depth, while the mobile VESKEN cart serves as storage for oils, vinegars or flour in the gap between the fridge and the wall. With these carefully chosen IKEA finds, a long-suffered hallway kitchen begins to resemble a thoughtfully designed space, where every centimeter truly counts.
