There is one thing I’m always trying to find more of in my small kitchen: counter space. Between preparing meals, setting down groceries, and dealing with the inevitable pile of dishes, even a few inches of extra room can make the whole space feel more functional.
That’s why I was immediately drawn to IKEA’s LILLHAVET multifunctional dish rack. At just $19.99, this compact kitchen organizer is designed to fit over the sink or sit on the countertop with its removable draining tray, giving you more flexibility than a traditional dish rack.
It may look like a simple kitchen essential, but its clever, space-saving design makes washing up feel a little less chaotic – especially if you want to declutter kitchen countertops or have a small kitchen with limited countertop space.
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IKEA
Lillhavet Multifunctional Dish Rack – Anthracite
A Clever Way to Use Sink Space
Most dish racks take up a surprising amount of room. Once you add dinner plates, glasses, mugs, and cutlery, they can quickly dominate a countertop – and that is particularly frustrating in a small kitchen where every surface needs to work hard.
The LILLHAVET dish rack offers a more flexible alternative and is replacing the traditional dish rack. You can place it directly over the sink so water drips straight into the basin, or use it on the countertop with the included draining tray underneath.
That over-the-sink design is what makes it especially useful. Instead of losing valuable prep space to a bulky dish drainer, you can make use of an area that would otherwise sit empty.
The rack is also narrow enough to fit comfortably beside a sink without overwhelming the countertop. Measuring approximately 18¾ inches long and 6¾ inches wide, it has a slim profile but still holds up to five plates at once.
(Image credit: Darren Chung)
Despite its compact size, the LILLHAVET is designed to accommodate more than just plates. Its metal rack provides slots for dinnerware, while the removable plastic section can hold cutlery and collect excess water.
I particularly like that the design keeps different items separated. Plates can stand upright rather than being stacked in a pile, while glasses and mugs can be placed alongside them. This allows more air to circulate around each item, helping everything dry more efficiently.
The rack is made from steel with a protective coating designed to help prevent rust, while the draining tray and cutlery holder are made from polypropylene plastic containing at least 20% recycled material.
It also comes in a dark anthracite finish, which gives it a more streamlined, modern appearance than the shiny chrome dish racks that can make a kitchen counter look cluttered.
The Flexible Design Makes It Ideal for Small Kitchens
The LILLHAVET’s biggest advantage is that it can adapt to the way you use your kitchen. If you need as much countertop space as possible, place the rack over the sink and allow water to drain directly into the basin. If your sink is too small or you prefer to keep the rack beside it, use the included draining tray to protect the countertop.
The individual pieces can also be separated, which gives you more options when you have a larger load of dishes. You could use the metal rack for plates and place the draining tray elsewhere for glasses or mugs.
That flexibility makes this feel less like a basic dish rack and more like a small kitchen workstation. IKEA also designed the LILLHAVET to be combined with other accessories in the same collection, allowing you to create a more organized setup around the sink.
A Simple Upgrade for a More Organized Kitchen
Kitchen organization does not always require a major renovation or a complicated storage system. Sometimes, the most useful upgrades are the small, inexpensive additions that make everyday tasks easier.
The LILLHAVET dish rack helps keep wet dishes contained, frees up countertop space, and makes better use of the area around the sink. Its compact footprint also makes it a practical choice for apartments, studio kitchens, dorms, or any home with limited countertop space.
Of course, it is designed for smaller dish loads rather than a full family’s worth of washing up. If you regularly wash large pots, pans, and multiple place settings by hand, you may need additional drying space. But for everyday dishes – or as a compact secondary drying rack – its slim design is a smart solution.
If the LILLHAVET isn’t the perfect match for your space, there are plenty of other well-designed dish racks worth considering. Here are a few of my favorite alternatives.
Shop Alternative Dish Racks
Joseph Joseph
Joseph Joseph Expandable Dish Drying Rack
Proof that even the smallest kitchens can work harder. This compact dish rack expands when you need extra drying space, drains neatly into the sink and keeps everything from plates to cutlery organised – so your countertops stay as tidy as your washing-up routine.
Target
Oxo Large Capacity Dish Rack
For those days when the washing-up seems to multiply. With room for everything from dinner plates to serving platters, this spacious dish rack keeps dishes draining neatly while thoughtful details – like an adjustable drain tray and removable cutlery holder – make post-dinner clean-up feel a little less daunting.
Wayfair
KitchenAid® Full Size Dish Rack
A dish rack that makes the most of every inch. With clever open-sided design for larger pots and pans, a roomy cutlery caddy and an angled drainboard that keeps water flowing straight into the sink, it’s the kind of kitchen upgrade that quietly makes everyday clean-up easier.