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if you have any extra wall space, you could put up some shelves (or even more cabinets--just go to a home improvement store, they have diy cabinets--might be more expensive, though).

Something my in-laws did with their pots and pans--put nails in the wall and hang the pots and pans up (i don't recommend it cause i think it looks tacky, but it's an idea and it does allow easy access for cooking)

I believe Wal-mart (i know, i know...so many people don't like wal-mart) has some rolling kitchen islands--some even have cabinets Look Here OR a really lovely way (if you have the space of course) is a hutch or curio cabinet (this is my personally favorite way, which i plan on doing once i have a house to display my china)

You probably don't even have to go to wal-mart if you don't want to. It was just an example wink

You could explore antique shops if there are any around you (there are tons where I live)

You know what would look really nice? I'm not sure what they are, but you screw this metal type thing under a shelf or a cabinet and you can hang things from it. It would be a nice decorative not just sitting there look.

They make cup hooks now that are lacquered so you can hang cups on decorative hooks so the look less slapdash.

Also, fi you're any good with woodworking I would build shelves on top of your cabinets. That way you can custom fit them so they are both stable and look like they belong.

Also, you might want to check the library for books using the keyword "Small Spaces" there are a wave of new decorating books designed at living in small houses and how to maximize space without having things look cluttered.

Good luck!

Another thing you could look for is a "mug tree." It looks a little like a wooden Christmas tree or coat rack. It sits on your counter and usually holds about 6-8 mugs. My grandmother had one and I always thought it was cute.

I'll let you know if our mom ever gets around to getting a new one, she doesn't like the one we have... and she might be willing to give it to you cheap. wink

Have you already looked into the wire shelves for putting in your cabinets? We have a million mugs as well, and they only take up half the height of the shelf, so my mum picked up some of those, and we were able to store them in almost half the space without stacking the mugs. That also works for storing several kinds of dishes that don't stack well on top of each other and what have you.

I would say if you have storage space elsewhere (a closet, the garage, the living room), put some of the less-used items in a cabinet or somesuch there. That way they don't take up space in the kitchen cabinets, but they're still more accessible than if they were tucked away in a box somewhere. That's especially good for non-perishable food that's taking up tons of space in your cabinets - we have a storage cabinet in the garage that we have extra cleaning and cooking supplies in, as well as most of the canned goods and pasta, peanut butter and only occasionally used bits (like breadcrumbs) that would otherwise take up a full cabinet in our kitchen.

Also, if you have space above your fridge, that's a good place to store things. You can use little decorative bins and baskets, or just make a large, deep tray, or whatever else might look good. Erm... if you have one of those counters that's meant to be used as a bar type thing, we have a cheap short bookcase under there for putting cookbooks in, but I suppose you could use it for mugs or what have you as well.

I really can't think of anything better without seeing the space... I'm much better at coming up with ideas when I can see what there is to work with, since I tend to come up with fairly custom off-the-wall ideas.

I got little wood hangers that you can buy and nail on the bottom of the cabinets and hang them by there handles.I painted the hangers to a cherry color to match my kitchen,but you don't have to paint them.

I like IKEA. But unless I wanted to hang this is my living room, I don't have room for shelving in the kitchen unless it's tiny and crammed between the lower cabinets and the upper cabinets.

I ended up buying a small wire wall "coat hanger," which I am currently painting with the help of stencils, to hang my coffee mugs. It's not up yet; but if it turns out like I'm thinking it will, it should be pretty cute and won't look like I should be hanging up my coats in the kitchen sweatdrop