Since clearing out my kitchen cupboards recently, I’ve been able to move many of the items I used to keep on the countertop into that newly freed up cupboard space. What a difference it made — my kitchen looks bigger and brighter than ever now!
That got me thinking about other ways I could streamline and achieve my goal of an organized kitchen while making my kitchen both easier to use and nicer to look at. After some research and brainstorming, I came up with 9 practical kitchen organization tips to share with you today.
Check them out and see what you might be able to use in your own kitchen!
9 Practical Tips for a More Organized Kitchen
1. Get Rid of Unnecessary Items
Every good organizing effort should start with an effort to identify and get rid of any unnecessary clutter in the area. Go through your stuff and figure out what you can sell, donate, or give away, which will both reduce the amount of items you have to organize later, and make it easier to do so by freeing up some additional storage space.
(Drawing a blank? This list of kitchen items to get rid of should give you some ideas.)
2. Consider Your Countertops
In many kitchens, countertop space is extremely valuable real estate, so be mindful of how you’re using yours. Avoid cluttering them up with too much stuff — a good rule of thumb is to limit your countertop to items you use every day, and keep everything else in a cupboard, drawer, etc.
For more tips that can help you tidy up your countertops, check out my list of what should be kept on the counter.
3. Store Ingredients in Space-Saving Containers
Store bulk ingredients like flour and sugar in neat, stackable containers and label them so you can easily find what you need. These storage containers have saved me a lot of shelf space in my pantry!
Plus, you can refill your containers by shopping in the bulk section at the store. These items are often quite a bit cheaper than their packaged counterparts, so it’s a smart way to save money.
4. Keep Fruit in a Fruit Basket
Corral produce that doesn’t need to be kept in the refrigerator in a wire fruit basket. Fruit baskets not only allow you to easily see what you have on hand, but they also allow for airflow that will keep your fruit fresh longer — a win-win!
5. Hang Things up on Adhesive Hooks
Use adhesive Command hooks to hang your oven mitts or pot holders somewhere near your oven. This will free up space in your drawers and keep your oven mitts closer to the area where you use them most.
You can also use Command hooks to hang measuring spoons and other small items on the inside of a cupboard door or wherever they’d be handiest. It’s a lot easier than digging for them in a drawer!
6. Use Your Cupboard Doors
Speaking of the insides of your cupboard doors, another way to use that space is to hang the lids to your pots there. You can do this with Command hooks by using two hooks at the bottom to support the lid, along with one at the top to hold it in place.
Cookware lids can be one of those things that take up a lot of space when stored elsewhere, so this could free up some very valuable storage space in your kitchen. (And check out other ways to use Command hooks here.)
More Ideas You'll Love
7. Keep Necessities Close
Set up an area somewhere near your stove to store your most-used cooking items. For instance, I keep cooking oils, a ramekin of salt, and a pepper grinder next to my stove, since I use those all the time when I’m cooking.
You can do the same thing with your coffee-making supplies or other often used items. Arranging them on a nice platter (there are some pretty cute ones at Home Goods!) will help keep them neat and organized.
8. Find the Right Organizers
If there’s something in your kitchen that has become an organizational pain point, do a search on Amazon or Google, looking for “[item name] organizer.” You’ll be amazed at the types of organizers you can find for coffee and tea, underneath your sink, and spices and seasonings.
Finding the right organizer can be a game-changer. For instance, this adjustable rack for pots and pans can be configured in a dizzying number of different ways, making it easy to find the ideal setup for your unique collection of cookware.
9. Think Creatively
There are plenty of items that can help you get organized that aren’t considered “kitchen items,” like pegboard, mason jars, and magnets. Pegboard is highly versatile and can provide additional storage space for all sorts of things.
You can use mason jars to corral and store things, and you can use magnets to turn any metal surface (and some non-metal ones!) into more storage space.
Want Even More Kitchen Organizing Hacks?
- For even more tips and tricks that can help you keep your kitchen organized, check out these posts:
- 9 Simple Hacks That Will Help You Get Organized In The Kitchen
- 7 Clever Hacks To Organize Your Kitchen On The Cheap
How do you keep your kitchen organized?
I have hoarding tendencies so when I can’t find the ziploc bags or plastic wrap within seconds after searching a dark lower cabinet, I just assume I am out and buy more! Now, I have metal baskets (modified to be removable) attached to the back of the pantry door. Instead of having 6 rolls of aluminum foil and buying more, I can see and reach for exactly what I need. I use the same baskets to store travel water bottles/mugs/pouch which always seem to fall over in my cabinets.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.We love the little spice rack organizers and lazy susans for lots of kitchen things
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I had an extra dish drainer, with slots that looks like this – http://www.walmart.com/ip/16408612 I repurposed it to keep all of my pot lids. The rack fits perfectly in the cabinet beneath the kitchen counter and it’s very easy to pull out any lid. I think that was a very useful idea. I am happy that I could bring that rack to organize the pot lids.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I just setup a pantry in my basement closet using wire cubes. Our kitchen is rather small and there just wasn’t enough space to fit everything but now I’ve got a dedicated space for overflow and I didn’t spend any extra money because I used the wire cubes that used to be my closet.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I am LOVING these organization posts! I have been telling myself and my significant other for quite some time now that we should hang stuff up on the kitchen walls, bathroom walls etc. to use up all of that extra/unused space! But he just looks at me like ‘It’s nice that you are being creative, but I don’t feel like it’ HA! Well, Even though I currently cannot afford to buy some things to accomplish this, I do have some pretty good ideas.. I really like the image in this post of the kitchen tools hanging up on a wall, and it made me think about it… I’m not exactly a thorough duster, and i certainly do not dust on a daily basis… so if I don’t use some things often, but will use them in the future, perhaps I could get/make a medicine cabinet type of deal with clear front to see what i’ve got hung up inside. hmmmm. that could be modified in so many ways! That way they are up and out of the way, organized and protected from the dust or people sneeze germs! Awhile back I realised I wasn’t going to have the space for all of my kitchen utensils, so i cut the top off of a couple of hawaiian punch containers and put them all in there. That helped ease up clutter quite a bit, but now i had decided that I don’t like it that way anymore. SO seeing this post has caused my mind to roll again :D YAY! haha.
Some other things that I found most interesting were the spice rack idea and baking dish/cookie sheet dividers… I may just have to find a way to make something because my cabinets are a terrible terrible mess! BUT with the spice racks, i wonder if you could fit extra unopened bottles underneath the shelves?
I was wondering, appliances such as toasters… When not in use, do you put them away? I used to do this, but then my significant other kept on nagging about it. -_-. ugh. It’s not like we use it daily, why not free up some space? weeeeellll. I may just have to find some shelves or soemthing. I’d really like to have a pot/pan rack above my island to hang up pots and pans items, bit that is for another day i guess. It would help if my other half would let me eliminate extra bowls/plates/silverware etc. It drives me crazy how many extra things we have that is taking up so much space. Anyone have any tips on how i can convince him otherwise? :P
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My best tip would be to keep your sink clean. When the dishwasher is full , (or the sink), wash the dishes & put them away. Having a clean sink and counter tops makes your small kitchen appear larger, and gives you more space to cook!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I like the idea of hanging things on inside of cabinet doors, but if an item is bulky, doesn’t that cut into the space inside the cabinet? The photo with the measuring cups looks like the cups would be pushing into the items placed so near the front of the cabinet. Just wondering:)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I store seasonal items in the high cabinets above the fridge. Seasoning packets (taco, gravies, spaghetti) go in a see through shoe size box. A larger tote holds baking mixes. Staples like oatmeal, pastas, flour, sugar, rice, beans are in gallon jars.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.What wonderful ideas!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I recently moved to a space with a much smaller kitchen but I refused to downsize my spice collection! Magnetic spice holders to the rescue! I used to have metal strips mounted to the inside of a cupboard door to stick my spices, now they are (artistically) stuck on the side of the fridge. Easy to see. Easy to use. My super crafty sister made her own by taking small glass jars (think individual sized jars of fancy jam) and glued a small magnet to the inside if the lid. Screw on the cap and stick it!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I added tiered pull out drawers to the inside of my cabinets. Just having a second shelf on top increased my spaci inside two fold, and being able to pull out the drawer enables me to reach items in the back without taking everything in front out.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I try to stay organized by using baskets for the little items. I also try to keep the things I use all the time in easy to reach places.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use a lazy susan for my spices. I put them in alphabetical order and then I can easily rotate it around to find the spice I am looking for.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I keep all my dry goods in glass jars if I open a package and don’t use it all. It makes it easier to see when we are running low and the kids can see what snacks they want. I also started using the storage baskets in the fridge and it keeps the bottles organized.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have reduced the amount of space that plastic grocery bags take up by flattening them and rolling them up, layering them over each other and securing with elastics.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I LOVE my recipe box. It’s a rubbermaid under the counter opaque box which I spray painted black to match my appliances. The box measures 11″w x 8 1/2″d x 4 1/2″h. You can fit two rows of 3 x 5 cards in it. It’s under the counter, out of the way but yet so handy. I also, spray painted a magnetic metal clip which I attached to my vent hood to hold my recipes.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I definitely need to get a shoe organizer for my pantry. That would free up space and make it much neater to get rid of the little things everywhere. My kitchen is kind of a mess right now, but I do like to keep my bulk items in storage containers. It is so much easier to get flour out of there than from the bag. Thanks for all the tips!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have for 30+ year placed lazy susans in my fridge. At one house i have a side by side. One lazy susan on the top shelf and one on the second shelf. Great for jars, butter tubs, parmesan chese etc. The other house fridge is freeze on the bottom so on the top shelf i have two lazy susans and used for the same thing. This has been a life saver for all these years. Nothing is hidden anymore and i use everything now. Husband loves it and also puts. Thing back now where they belong. Good luck people. Kat
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I reorganized and added more shelves to my pantry last spring, best thing I ever did!
Then I got 3 gallon food grade buckets from my local bakery (for free) to put all my loose baking goodies in. I put the muffin papers, chocolate chips, bags of nuts, decorating sugars and sprinkles, etc… all the stuff that doesn’t stack well by itself into the buckets, labeled the side of the bucket and I’m able to find what I need quickly now. I ended up using 4 buckets and some other small boxes for gravy mixes, rice or noodle packets, etc. It has really helped me stay organized in the pantry!
My next projects are the office and our unfinished basement in the next couple of weeks. So this article and the upcoming ones came at the perfect time!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love my pull out drawers in my lower cabinets. I can hoard all I want and pull out the drawer to see everything and grab just what I need without it getting lost.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use white plastic storage bins and containers but this article provided lords of great ideas. Just realized how unorganized I am.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.We too, have a small kitchen. I have 2 lazy susans for my spices and 2 tool turnabouts on my counter. I use a silverware tray on top of my microwave since I don’t have a drawer wide enough to hold it. I also have bulk containers of dry goods in my pantry.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.These are some great ideas! My favorite organization tip is I installed a small wire basket on the inside of the door, under the kitchen sink. It is big enough to hold the scrub pads, brush for thin/long containers that need cleaning, rubber gloves, etc. It is so nice to have everything in one spot and it not taking up precious drawer space. Plus, since it is a wire basket, the wet items will dry quickly!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Cut down on the number of cookbooks. Most just sit on the shelf so unless they have sentimental value or have a large number of recipes that I use, out they go.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The best part of this is – this email came in on the day i was setting up plans to revamp the kitchen organization LOL. To keep the kitchen flowing now; i run hot soapy water while I’m cooking so I can wash the utensils and such used to assemble the meal prior to eating; which saves cleanup time and leave counter space available for further cooking/assembly
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