The kitchen is the heart of the home, where meals are prepared and memories are made. However, it can also quickly become a cluttered and disorganized space, filled with pots, pans, gadgets, and other items that make life easier but also take up valuable space.

Start with the Basics

The first step in organizing the kitchen is to clean off the counter and declutter any unnecessary items. This can include moving decorative but rarely used appliances, such as bread makers, ice cream machines, and waffle presses, to a secondary location, such as a garage or basement shelf.

• Consider storing items in a pantry or on a garage shelf if available.
• For tiny apartments, consider using upper closet space or under-bed storage.
• Move items to a secondary location if there’s no space in the kitchen itself.

Instant Gratification

While the basic white, plastic cutlery organizer remains a staple in many kitchen drawers, there are more expansive and attractive options worth considering. Multi-piece drawer trays can be used to create a custom layout that adds structure to cluttered drawers.

• Clear plastic, wire mesh, and wood trays offer various options for customization.
• Many designs work equally well in bathroom drawers.
• Consider the design and functionality of the tray when choosing.

Spice of Life

When it comes to organizing spices and seasonings, there are several clever solutions. Drawer racks keep bottles slightly tilted to fit efficiently in even shallow drawers, with labels easy to read. Most systems are expandable, if desired.

• Consider a simple spice riser for increased visibility and accessibility.
• Two-level, pull-out spice racks fit more spices onto a standard cabinet shelf.
• Mounting snap-in spice racks to the inside of a cabinet door is a convenient option.

Curated Cabinets

Turning jumbles into joy doesn’t have to be expensive. Set a pan drying rack in the cabinet to create instant raised storage and separate the pans. Match it with a lid holder mounted to the cabinet door, and one for cutting boards as well.

• These items can often be found at dollar stores.
• A less permanent solution for rental tenants is a large, over-the-cabinet door organizer with hooks.

Food Storage Containers

Food storage containers in the kitchen are like socks in the laundry – one half of each set is at hand, but its mate is often missing. Solutions range from lid organizers with adjustable dividers to those that store both lids and bottoms.

• Consider a specialized water bottle holder to keep water bottles from rolling out.
• Repurpose an old wire or plastic wine bottle holder for a unique solution.

The Big League

Items lost to the back of deep cabinets can easily be a thing of the past with full-extension pull-out shelves. These shelves come in full-drawer widths as well as two- or three-pack slide-out cabinet organizers.

• Full-extension pull-out shelves are a game changer for cookware and pantry storage.
• Come in solid bottoms (like a cabinet shelf) or vented bottoms for more airflow.
• Consider organizing these shelves with kitchen drawer organizers.

The Frustrating Area

The hard-to-access storage space where the lower cabinets are on the inside of a corner can be a challenge. However, DIY blind corner pullouts make even those tough areas fully functional.

• Consider a left, right, or universal option for blind corner pullouts.
• DIY blind corner pullouts can be a cost-effective solution.

Efficient Eats

When organizing food storage, put the snack foods out of sight to lessen the temptation. In your storage area, put healthy favorites up front.

• Keep like items together, whether it’s canned fruit, veggies, pasta, or baking supplies.
• It’s efficient when planning meals and cooking, but best of all, it allows you to keep an eye on inventory and stock up on sale items.

Savvy Shopper

Keep like items together to make meal planning and cooking more efficient. It also allows you to keep an eye on inventory and stock up on sale items.

• Cabinet alternative: consider a rolling kitchen cart for added storage.
• Vertical storage: hang an over-the-door pantry organizer for canned goods and other excess items.

Cabinet Alternative

Wish you could add more cabinets? Consider a rolling kitchen cart. Designs range from wire basket shelves for produce storage to small mobile islands with chopping board tops for additional prep space.

• Rolling kitchen carts can be a convenient and space-saving solution.
• Choose a design that suits your needs and style.

Vertical Storage

Lucky enough to have a separate pantry? Hang an over-the-door pantry organizer for canned goods and other excess items.