With all the ingredients, tools, and gadgets you use on a daily basis, your kitchen can easily fall into disarray. If this happens repeatedly, you need a new organizational system that you’ll stick to. We asked professional organizers about their favorite storage products and kitchen best practices to implement in your home.
Key Kitchen Organization Products
- Lamu 3 Pack Lazy Susan Organizer Turntable for Cabinet, $20 with Prime, originally $26
- Skteet Plastic Storage Bins, Set of 8, $40, originally $50
- Sorbus Open-Front Stackable Storage Bins, Set of 4, $41, originally $45
- Fulpower Over-the-Door Pantry Organizer, $29 with Prime, originally $37
- Chubbiee Removable Waterproof Food Labels, $9
- YouCopia SpiceLiner Adjustable Spice Drawer Liner, $17
- Hleelomi Magnetic Spice Racks, 6-Pack, $25
- Tiopghad Bamboo Silverware Drawer Organizer, $31 with coupon, originally $36
- YouCopia StoreMore Adjustable Bakeware Rack, $20
- YouCopia UpSpace Cabinet Box Organizer, $30
- Delamu 2-Tier Multi-Purpose Bathroom Under Sink Organizers, Set of 2, $30 with Prime, originally $40
- Sywhitta 5-Tier Plastic Rolling Utility Cart with Handle, $33
Storage Tips from Professional Organizers
Ann Lightfoot, co-founder of New Jersey-based Done & Done Home, says her clients’ biggest complaint is a lack of storage space. As Jamie Hord, founder of New York City-based Horderly Professional Organizing, puts it, “It’s more about how they organize to create a functional space.” Basically, most folks just aren’t using the storage space they do have correctly.
Lightfoot and Hord recommend maximizing storage space by implementing a few key strategies, including:
- Using turntables or lazy susans to maximize shelf space
- Utilizing vertical storage with stackable bins or baskets
- Optimizing cabinet space with adjustable shelves and dividers
- Labeling food and spices for easy identification
- Using under-sink organizers to maximize space
- Taking advantage of over-the-door storage options
Product Reviews
Here are the professional organizers’ expert product picks for your kitchen:
**Lamu 3 Pack Lazy Susan Organizer Turntable for Cabinet**: One of Lightfoot’s favorite products is a kitchen turntable since “It works on shelves or countertops to maximize efficiency.” She prefers this bamboo version for its sustainability factor. I love my turntable for oils and vinegars because it lets me easily access all of my everyday bottles.
**Skteet Plastic Storage Bins, Set of 8**: Both Hord and Lightfoot endorse using deep plastic bins on shelves to act like drawers. These help keep items from getting lost in the abyss that is the back of the pantry. This 8-piece set includes two sizes, helpful for keeping pasta, nut butters, or baking supplies together.
**Sorbus Open-Front Stackable Storage Bins, Set of 4**: For snacks and breakfast items, try these open-front bins that make it easy to grab your favorite treats. They’re also stackable, which Lightfoot recommends since you can maximize storage space while keeping everything accessible.
**Fulpower Over-the-Door Pantry Organizer**: Once you’ve tackled your shelves, further optimize your space with an over-the-door organizer. No pantry? No problem. “You might need to think out of the box for a small kitchen,” Hord says. She encourages clients to consider closets just outside of the kitchen as a pantry or bring in accessory shelving.
**Chubbiee Removable Waterproof Food Labels**: If you love the decanted look for pastas and cereals (or just need a reminder of what goes where), labels are a must. As Hord says, “The kitchen is especially important to label because everyone in the family uses this space, and this way everyone knows not only where to find something but where to put it back.”
**YouCopia SpiceLiner Adjustable Spice Drawer Liner**: You have two main options for your ever-growing spice collection: store them in a drawer or on a shelf. If you have a drawer to spare, Hord likes this liner. It can be adjusted to your desired length and has a non-slip base so you won’t open the drawer to scattered spices.
**Hleelomi Magnetic Spice Racks, 6-Pack**: If you’re tight on space but have an open wall or magnetic surface (like the side of your fridge), this spice rack can help you make better use of what you do have. With this trick, you can see the labels on each bottle and put your most-used spices closest to your cooking space.
**Tiopghad Bamboo Silverware Drawer Organizer**: This may be a little more obvious, but your silverware drawer needs an organizer. This adjustable bamboo version is Lightfoot’s go-to. “It’s one item we put in virtually every kitchen we work in,” she says. It’s “perfect for keeping drawers tidy and helps our clients maintain the systems we’ve put in place.”
**YouCopia StoreMore Adjustable Bakeware Rack**: For Hord, this adjustable bakeware rack is a must-have. It makes accessing bakeware, cutting boards, pans, and trays much easier than sorting through a heavy pile. It’s been a game-changer in my own kitchen — it even encourages me to put away my everyday cutting board instead of leaving it on the counter.
**YouCopia UpSpace Cabinet Box Organizer**: To house less glamorous items or backups of your staples, try a small adjustable shelving unit to maximize your space. This organizer’s open sides let you see what’s on each shelf, and the dimensions are tailored to fit common kitchen box sizes.
**Delamu 2-Tier Multi-Purpose Bathroom Under Sink Organizers**: When asked what people don’t realize they’re missing in their kitchens, Lightfoot immediately responded with an under-sink organizer. “So often, storage space under the sink gets wasted because of pipes and hard-to-reach areas in the back, and a good system can ensure every inch gets utilized efficiently,” she says.
**Sywhitta 5-Tier Plastic Rolling Utility Cart with Handle**: One last piece of advice? Take advantage of every inch of space you have. In our pros’ experience, that might mean adding a piece of storage furniture like this rolling cart.
