Enter your kitchen organization era, with these 18 effective kitchen organization ideas.
Say goodbye to the stress of searching through piles of utensils and cookware, and hello to a tidy and functional kitchen. With pro ideas and expert tips, you'll be able to optimize your storage, create more counter space, and make cooking an enjoyable experience again. Don't let a chaotic kitchen get in the way of your culinary dreams - take control today! Plus, the finished product is so much more aesthetically pleasing, you may feel a little smug.
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1. Inventory, categorize, and determine supplies you'll need
First, get everything out and divide into 3 categories. Keep, donate, and trash. Things accumulate and this is the perfect time to discard extras, from 100 pens in the junk drawer, to the 40 cups that are multiplying. You only need a few pens, and unless you're hosting a dinner party for 20 people, you don't need that many cups and they're utilizing precious cabinet space that is needed elsewhere. If an item is broken, past its expiration date, those stained dishtowels- trash it. If it is simply outdated or you have too many, donate it. After you have sorted through everything, you will have a lot less to organize and be well on your way to reducing the clutter.
2. Spice organization
To organize these little troublemakers, you have a couple of options. My recommendations are a turntable or a spice drawer. Either of these will eliminate the problem of reaching for the salt and inevitably knocking over three other spices.
3. Install slide-outs to double storage space
The upper half of cabinet space is wasted if you don't have a way to utilized it. Shelves are an option, but personally, I like these shelves that slide-out which makes them much more convenient.
4. Contain those containers
Food storage containers can easily get out of control and take up too much room. The containers are easy to stack and for the lids you can try a kitchen organization tool like this one, or simply stand them vertically in an empty larger container.
5. Bakeware
Stacking bakeware is out and standing them in a rack for easy access is in.
6. Clear storage containers
I love clear storage containers in the kitchen because its easy to see when you need to restock. They also keep foods sealed airtight so they stay fresh longer. Plus, they create a more organized, uncluttered look than random packages, and having matching storage containers with matching labels will create continuity. There are tons of choices in these, but keep in mind to verify they are food safe and free of any toxic chemicals. If this is a priority for you, consider glass options over plastic.
7. Command hooks for lid storage
Trust me, this is life-changing. Stick command hooks onto the inside of cabinet doors so that lids will fit. This will free valuable cabinet space.
8. Stack 'em up with can holders
Stacking canned foods can save cabinet space as well since its utilizing that wasted vertical space.
9. Combination garbage and recycling bin
Anytime I can do two things at once, I'm down. Enough said.
10. Add risers inside cabinets
I know you're tired of hearing me say it. Wasted vertical space. We really need to get cabinet makers to address this issue. They need to do better! Risers will give you lots of options to layer and add shelving to utilize this space. If you've got it-use it.
11. Acrylic drawer dividers
Drawer dividers are usually seen in closet organization because they work beautifully on shelves, but they also work in kitchen drawers!
12. Magnetic knife holder
It's time to chuck that old knife block that is chipped and collects dust. Free up counter space by hanging tools on the wall.
13. Dish Drawer
If you're building or remodeling most cabinet makers will add a dish drawer for you, but if not, you can purchase a kit to hold the dishes in place to prevent sliding or breakage. Benefits to using drawers to store dishes are: drawers provide easy access for reaching items in the back of the cabinet, efficiently use every inch of space, and storing dishes in the lower cabinet drawers frees up space if you have open shelving or glass cabinet doors on top for more decorative items.
Kitchen drawers efficiently holding dishes, in a photo from IKEA. (Image credit: IKEA)
14. How to store meat in the freezer
This was news to me. But apparently those plastic ridges in the bottom of freezer shelves are for holding packages of frozen meat upright, making it more easily accessible and saving space. (I think they also prevent things from freezing to the bottom of the freezer, but its a great space saving idea)!
15. Drawer organizers for the junk drawer
I believe even organization freaks (such as myself) need a junk drawer. There are just some items that have no other home. But even junk drawers can be tidy.
16. Label maker
I promise you will use this ALL the time. It's great for making labels for all those pretty new containers you just bought, and even the junk drawer. It's great for labeling in the laundry room, the bathroom, the medicine cabinet, garage, and the linen closest.
17. Paper towel holder
Free up countertop space by moving the paper towels to inside the cabinet. This paper towel holder has an adhesive back so its super quick and easy to install. I recommend installing this on the inside of the cabinet beneath your sink for easy access.
18. Help for that under-the-sink-jumble
This under sink drawer is your knight in shining armor when it comes to containing your under sink chaos. The lower drawer slides out, and the layered shelves holds smaller items such as dish scrubbers, you know I'm gonna say it-utilizing the vertical space;)
For more home organization ideas, be sure to check out GWS's HOW TO DECLUTTER YOUR CLOSET, and HOME ORGANIZATION BEDROOM TIPS-HOW THE ORGANIZED GIRL KEEPS IT ALL TOGETHER AND YOU CAN TOO.
