The kitchen is arguably one of the busiest rooms in the house and it’s also one where you keep the most stuff. Cookware, dishware, appliances, and so much more. How are you supposed to keep it all organized?
If you struggle with this, trust me, you’re not alone. Keeping a kitchen organized is tough, especially since it’s constantly in use. And if you have more than one chef in the space? Well, you know what they say about that.
That said, not all is lost. Organizing your space doesn’t have to be difficult. It takes a little effort upfront, but it pays off in dividends—like always being able to find your special knife or that pan that cooks eggs just right. Here are some ways to get started.
Riser Shelves for Cabinets
If your kitchen cabinets look anything like mine used to, you’re gonna be really happy to hear that riser shelves can give you even more space. They allow you to use more of the vertical space.
I use them to create more space for dishes and pantry goods. You can find them at your local big box stores and online in different sizes and materials.
Coordinate Your Tupperware
Tupperware is great for storing leftover food, but have you ever tried to store it? In the beginning, it’s easy because everything matches. Then, over time, you lose pieces, and the Tupperware drawer or cabinet becomes a big, giant mess.
By coordinating your storage containers, meaning using the same type, you can easily nest them for simple storage. No more messy drawers. Personally, I’m a fan of the ones with lids that snap together.
Nest Your Pots and Pans
Food storage containers aren’t the only things you can nest. Pots and pans often fit neatly into one another, especially if they are part of the same cookware set.
You can also nest specialty cookware items and accessories, like your strainer, steaming baskets, and frying pans. Taking just an hour or so to clean out the space will have you feeling much more organized.
Use Stacking Baskets or Drawers Under the Sink
The space in the cabinet under the sink is already limited. You have to work around piping and wires and it may seem like it’s useless for storage. But you’d be wrong.
Take a trip to the dollar store or your local big box store for some baskets or acrylic drawers and stack them in the space, using them to store simple things like sponges, dishwasher tabs, and cleaning supplies. You’ll be amazed at just how much you can fit in your newly organized space.
Drawer Organizers
If you just throw your silverware and cooking utensils willy-nilly into a drawer, you’re gonna have a whopper of a time trying to dig out what you need. Instead, use drawer organizers.
You can buy individual ones or a full-size one to fit the drawer with multiple slots for your spoons, forks, knives, chopsticks, and more. I have one that is expandable, so it works in multiple drawers, giving me a very versatile storage option. And speaking of drawers…
Ditch the Junk Drawer
You know which one I mean, too. It must be some universal law that every home must have a junk drawer where you just throw little odds and ends like matches, lighters, screwdrivers, random hardware, and, ooh, look, there’s that birthday card I meant to send out months ago…
The problem is, while we rarely venture to this drawer —except when we’re looking for something really specific and swear it must be in there — it’s taking up valuable storage space. You might feel better if you clean it out and actually use the space for other things.
Pull-Out Storage Options
If you live in a smaller home and can’t seem to find the space to store your basic essentials, it might be time to look into pull-out storage.
These are units that fit into those smaller spaces, like between the cabinets and fridge. Some might only be thin enough for you to put a pull-out spice rack, but imagine the space that will free up in your pantry cabinets. Some might be even large enough for canned goods. The kits are available at most hardware stores and are relatively simple to install.
Install Magnetic Knife Holder
If you have little counter space to work with, this will be a game changer for you. Get rid of the bulky knife storage block and install a magnetic strip on the kitchen wall.
Now, you can easily access the knives while cooking and see which one you’re grabbing without having to pull it out of the block first.
Use Plastic or Glass Containers for Pantry
A quick glance in your pantry will likely reveal mix-matched size boxes that take up more space than necessary. One solution for that is to buy glass and plastic containers designed to hold your pasta, cereal, rice, and other dry goods.
You can buy them in various sizes and place them in the pantry by size. Plus, you’ll be able to see at a glance just how much of each item you have left. You can also do this for your spices, to create a more uniform look.
Install Open Shelves
I love the idea of a working kitchen that looks like something you’d find in a restaurant, with shelves lined with all of the essentials you need when cooking or plating food.
Open shelves, whether over the sink or against one of the walls, are a great way to make use of space that wouldn’t otherwise be used. In a small apartment or home, this can be a frustration saver.
