If you are like many people, the kitchen is where you spend half of your life without realizing it. You could be cooking, or just mindlessly staring into your fridge (because maybe it will solve your problems), but it’s basically home base. It also means it most likely also becomes a dumping ground for things to stack up—the spatulas, Tupperware lids that have no match, that one drawer full of crap that you pretend doesn’t exist.
And if your kitchen is on the smaller side, well, forget it! It only takes a couple of items out of order before it feels like the walls are closing in. So yep, it is somewhat imperative to have a system in place for storing all of the randomness—utensils, food, and pans that do not stack right. The good news is there are a million little tips and tricks out there that help make the process less daunting. Nothing earth-shattering, but definitely somewhat helpful when your mind is focused on getting everything in its place and not losing it in the process.
1. Group Pantry Items Together
Use dollar store bins or baskets to better organize your pantry and group similar items together. For example, you can store rice and dry pasta in one bin, baking supplies in another, and sauces in another.
2. Drawer Organizers
Drawer organizers are a must in every kitchen. They make finding utensils that much easier, plus, they just look way nicer. You can buy inexpensive drawer organizers at most home stores, as well as the dollar store.
3. Magazine Holder
Use magazine holders to neatly store your canned goods! This will free up more space in your pantry, and you’ll be able to see exactly which cans you have on-hand.
4. Space-Saving Spice Rack
So, you know that weird little sliver of space between the fridge and the wall where dust and maybe some rogue magnets collect? well believe it or not that weird gap is now gold. If you need some storage – and who doesn’t? – a slim, slide-out spice rack fits perfectly in that space. It’s one of those DIY snow projects that seems difficult but truly isn’t, and when it is finished you are left with a sneaky little shelf that holds way more than you think, without taking up precious kitchen space. This is a total game-changer for small kitchens. I mean, honestly, any kitchen that has too many spices and not enough storage for them.
5. Countertop Tray
Isn’t it funny how quickly your countertop can turn into a disaster? You go from one spatula, to what seems like an army of utensils, oils, salt, pepper, and maybe a half lemon just chilling in a hot mess? A tray fixes that. Really – just get a tray. Throw all of that stuff into it and all of sudden it goes from “messy pile of random kitchen items” to “organized adult who has their life together”. It hardly even organizing. It’s grouping items and tricking your brain into thinking your counter is tidy. And it works.
6. DIY Hanging Herbs
With a couple of hooks and mason jars, you can grow your own indoor herbs for cooking without taking up a ton of space. Click here for the simple tutorial.
7. Towel Bar Pot Holder
To free up room in your cupboards and drawers, use a towel bar to hang your most frequently used pots and pans!
8. Shower Caddy
Use a Command Hook to hang a shower caddy on the side of your kitchen cupboard. You can use the caddy to store spices, veggies, fruits, or anything else that’s convenient.
9. Under-The-Sink Storage
To eliminate clutter from the cabinet under the sink, use a retractable shower curtain rod to hang all of your spray bottles on. This will free up the other space for items that cannot be hung.
10. Cork Board
If your drawers hide a black hole of measuring spoons, potato peelers, and a strange utility whisk that never seems to be there when you need it, this one is super simple and kind of genius. Simply slap a piece of cork board on the inside of a cabinet door—just a square, does not need to be anything more than basic. That’s it! Use thumb tacks or those small Command Hooks to hang things like measuring cups, small utensils, whatever you’re constantly digging for. This hack isn’t going to change your life, but at least opening that drawer won’t feel like an expedition anymore.
11. Cutting Board Storage
Cutting boards are the worst to store. Too ginormous for drawers, too awkward for shelves, and somehow they often seem to be sliding around or buried under all the other things. The fix? Just grab one of those cheap wire organizers from the dollar store—the ones for files or baking sheets—and stand your boards up in it. Boom. Done. They stay upright, easy to grab, and don’t avalanche out of a cabinet every time you open it. Super low-effort, actually works.
