Go up. Use cup hooks or racks to free shelf space. Hang knives on a magnetic bar on the wall rather than in a knife block on the counter. Hang peg-board panels, stainless steel wall systems or pot racks to get cookware out of crowded cabinets and drawers.

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Storage is essential when trying to maximize space.

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Go sideways. Add racks to the sides of the island to hold tools and utensils used there. Install a flip-out drawer in front of a sink or a shallow storage drawer in the toe-kick of a cabinet.

Go around and out. Put carousels in corners and slide-out shelves in cabinets to make space more accessible.

Square beats round. Square or rectangular food storage containers fit better in a cabinet or refrigerator, are stackable and make better use of corners.

Corral the clutter. Use dividers in drawers to keep contents tidy. Put pasta, beans and other staples in clear containers where it's easier to keep track of how much you have.

Ditch the detritus. Give away or throw away anything you haven't used in a year. Check the expiration dates of everything in your pantry and dump the old stuff.

Source: "Classic Kitchen Style," Woman's Day Special Interest Publications, $16.99