Creating a well-organized kitchen isn’t just about keeping things tidy – it’s about making the space work for you, making cooking, eating, and even cleaning easier and more enjoyable. Kitchens can get messy quickly, with pots, pans, spices, and food all competing for space, so a few smart tricks can go a long way.
Start by emptying your kitchen cabinets and drawers one by one. Place the items on your countertop or table so that they are easy to reach when rearranging. Try to organize each item into three piles, one after the other – for donation, for trash, and for storage in your kitchen drawers and cabinets.
This step will help you get rid of unnecessary, lost items, and broken items that are unnecessarily taking up valuable space. Also, during this time, you will be able to differentiate between what you actually want and what you don’t. Donating extra items saves space in your tight kitchen cabinets and helps those who need it.
Here are some easy, practical steps to help you organize your kitchen and make it a truly enjoyable space.
1. Group Items by Category
Start by categorizing everything. Keep baking supplies like flour, sugar, and baking powder together in one place, and cooking essentials like oil, vinegar, and sauces in another.
The same goes for utensils—keep spoons, spatulas, and tongs together. When things are categorized, you know exactly where to look when you need them, which reduces those frantic searches in the middle of cooking.
2. Use Clear Storage Containers
Clear containers are a game changer for dry goods. Pour pasta, rice, cereal, and even food into containers so you can see what you have at a glance.
Not only does this keep everything neat, but it also helps you avoid buying duplicates when you already have plenty of stock. If you want to go a step further, consider labeling each container—it makes life a little easier and looks nice too.
3. Maximize Cabinet Space with Shelf Risers
Cabinets often have a lot of unused vertical space, and shelf risers can double the capacity of each shelf. They are especially useful for stacking plates, bowls, or mugs and making better use of the space. By giving each type of item its own space, you can avoid that messy pile that can be frustrating to dig through.
4. Add Drawer Dividers
Drawers can get messy without dividers. Using them, you can separate cutlery, measuring spoons, and even odd items that are in the same drawer. Dividers give each item its own little “home,” so everything stays in its place without moving around. This makes finding what you need much faster and helps avoid the usual clutter.
5. Create a Center for Daily Essentials
If you have everyday items you use – like coffee, tea, or spices – then designate a place for them. A small tray or bamboo box on the counter can work wonders here, keeping everything in an easy-to-reach place without taking up your workspace. This way, your everyday essentials stay accessible and your countertops stay clean.
6. Hang Pots and Pans or Use a Pegboard
If you’re short on cabinet space, hanging pots and pans can be a lifesaver. Using hooks or even a pegboard will help you keep these bulky items within reach without taking up shelf space. Plus, it can give your kitchen a cozy, homey feel, like the kitchens you see in magazines where everything is within easy reach.
7. Utilize the Inside of Cabinet Doors
Cabinet doors are an often overlooked storage space. You can add small hooks or adhesive racks inside to store things like measuring cups, pot lids, and even spices. It’s out of sight but still within reach, and it frees up drawer and shelf space for other essentials.
8. Rotate Items Seasonally
If you have seasonal items like holiday cookie cutters or grilling tools, consider storing them in the back of a cabinet or in another room when they’re not in use. Keeping only the essentials within reach throughout the “season” will keep your kitchen free of unnecessary clutter.
9. Set Up a Small Pantry Station
If you don’t have a dedicated pantry, you can create a small pantry with shelves or even a rolling cart. Store food, canned goods, and other non-perishable items here so they’re organized and easily accessible. This can keep cabinets from getting overcrowded and make it easier to find your groceries.
10. Designate a Spot for Recycling and Waste
Instead of letting waste and recycling bins pile up in your kitchen space, find a specific spot for them. A pull-out cabinet works well, but if that’s not possible, simply putting them in a designated corner will do the trick. When they’re out of the way, your kitchen feels less cluttered.
11. Store Heavy Items down Low
It’s best to store heavy pots, appliances, or large mixing bowls in lower cabinets. Not only is this safer (there’s no risk of something heavy falling when reaching up), but it also frees up the upper cabinets for lighter, easier-to-reach items.
12. Keep Counters as Clear as Possible
If you use your countertop every day, try to keep only the essentials, like a toaster or coffee maker, on your countertop. The fewer items on the counter, the more open and organized your kitchen will feel. This will give you more space for cooking and prep, which will make spending time in the kitchen much more enjoyable.
13. Prioritize Your Storage Based on Frequency of Use
Keep the items you use most often in easy-to-reach places, such as the front of a cabinet or drawer. Items you use less often can go up or to the back. This saves time and effort, because you don’t have to constantly reach or dig for the items you need.
14. Group Similar Items Together
Keep similar items in the same place. For example, keep all your baking tools in one cabinet and your cooking spices in another. This way, you can easily find the items you need.
15. Frequently Used Items
Keep frequently used items in easily accessible places. Keep everyday items like plates, glasses, and utensils within easy reach.
16. Use Vertical Space
Utilize the full height of your cabinets by adding shelf risers or stackable storage. This maximizes storage capacity and keeps things organized.
17. Clear Containers
Use clear containers to store dry goods like pasta, rice, and cereal. Clear containers help you see what you have at a glance and make your pantry look nice.
18. Label Everything
Labeling helps you and your family know where everything is. It also makes it easier to find things quickly.
19. Purge Regularly
Go through your cabinets regularly and remove items you no longer need or use. This keeps your kitchen clutter-free and ensures that you are only storing useful items.
20. Adjustable Shelves
Use cabinets with adjustable shelves to hold items of different sizes. This flexibility allows you to customize your storage space to your needs.
21. Drawer Organizers
Use a drawer organizer to neatly organize utensils, tools, and gadgets. This keeps drawers from becoming cluttered and makes it easier to find specific items.
22. Consider Flow
Arrange your cabinets according to your cooking tasks. For example, place pots and pans near the stove and cutting boards near the prep area.
23. Child Safety
If you have small children, make sure dangerous items like knives and cleaning tools are kept out of their reach or in child-resistant cabinets.
24. Compartmentalize
Modular kitchen drawer systems are sturdy and can be adapted to different sizes. They allow for a variety of storage options, whether it’s bulk storage or can be easily fitted into your cupboards. Choose drawers that can be fully extended, meaning they open their full length and allow easy access to items stored behind.
25. Pull out Shelves or Drawers
Use some type of pull-out shelf or drawer. You can buy something like this to retrofit them to existing cabinets. If you have a garbage disposal, height may be an issue. In that case, you can use a single-shelf model and place a narrow basket behind the door. Make sure that whatever you put in can be easily removed so that it is convenient for plumbing services.
26. Roll out Drawers
Roll out drawers are a great idea. They reduce the hassle of stretching and bending for supplies and keep your belongings organized. They can be customized to fit around your plumbing.
27. Wire Shelf
You can add a white wire shelf and place white wire baskets of different sizes on both the shelf and the wire base. You can put small items like sponges, brushes, etc. on the top shelf and bottles and cans in the bottom basket. This way, tall bottles don’t keep falling over.
28. Organize kitchen drawers and cabinets
A new and well-organized kitchen can easily declutter the entire house. Even after doing it over and over again, people get confused. It won’t be difficult anymore with the right instructions. Whether you’re preparing dinner or everyday meals, as an experienced tool, kitchen drawers and cabinets will help you. So learn with us how to organize kitchen drawers and cabinets.
29. Spread liner for higher protection
Having gripped shelf liners under cabinets and drawers is a necessary step before you plan to add durability to your kitchen cabinets made of wood or any other material. To ensure excellent stability at the base of cabinet drawers to prevent kitchenware from falling and slipping and to protect against water damage.
We recommend using a strong bead grip liner to prevent slipping, and a ribbed shelf liner can be a great choice for pantry shelves where you usually store plates or dishes that don’t require much grip and are used frequently.
30. Wipe down cupboards and drawers
Clean the surface of all corners and crevices with a damp cloth to remove dirt and debris. If there are any spills or stubborn grease on your cabinets and drawers, you must use a solution of warm water and dish soap to get a shiny effect. Conversely, do not hesitate to clean with warm water and dish soap using an all-purpose brush to remove any debris stuck to the surface of the shelves. After wiping, you should use a clean and dry cloth to dry all surfaces to prevent additional water damage.
31. Some More Things
Robe Hook: Add hooks for dish towels, oven mitts, or scrub brushes.
Label: Label containers or baskets so items are easily identifiable.
Dish Rack: Use a soap dish to air dry dishes and keep them organized.
Dishwasher Dispenser: You can add extra beauty to your sink area by using a dishwasher dispenser.
Daily Maintenance: After use, wipe down the sink area and return items to their designated places.
Accessibility: Keep frequently used items within easy reach.
Categories: Keep similar items together, like baking supplies or spices.
Declutter: Throw away anything you don’t use regularly.
Use organizers: Invest in shelf risers, pull-out trays, and dividers.
Adjust shelves: Customize shelf heights to fit your items.
Prioritize zones: Designate zones for prep, cooking, and storage.
A kitchen with well-organized drawers and cabinets is incomparable. However, you should have a solid idea about how to organize kitchen drawers and cabinets, which we will discuss in detail later in this article. Dishes, cooking utensils, ingredients, and other items are stored in your kitchen cabinets and drawers, just like in the rest of the kitchen.
There are a few things you should keep in mind while storing and organizing, such as easy accessibility. You should make sure that your kitchen drawers and cabinets are organized smartly and conveniently to make your kitchen the perfect place for cooking, eating, and entertaining. You can make sure that your kitchen drawers and cabinets are organized smartly and conveniently. You can hold items or keep them close by to complete the kitchen task of cooking or serving clutter-free.
It can seem difficult to choose where to start and which steps to follow one after the other. To help, we’ve put together a quick guide to finding the best ways to organize your kitchen drawers and cabinets without making the entire process overwhelming for you.
By thoughtfully organizing every part of your kitchen, you’ll find it easier to keep things tidy, know where everything is, and even enjoy the space more. A little attention to layout, storage, and accessibility can help transform your kitchen into an organized, functional space that works with you, not against you.