Geraldine Campbell
Geraldine Campbell
Geraldine Campbell was the Managing Editor at The Kitchn. She loves semi-colons, em dashes, and serial commas. She lives in Brooklyn with her dog, Charlie.
updated Oct 13, 2023
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There are few things we love more than a great kitchen organizing idea. An idea that makes you go, doh! A hack or tip that you hear about and you can’t help but wish you knew about it earlier. Whether it requires a little elbow grease or can be done in a snap, there’s no satisfaction greater than saving space or finding the perfect trick for an otherwise underused space in your pantry or fridge. We cover these sorts of ideas on a regular basis — and here, we’ve rounded up 40 of the very best ones we’ve ever found.
Ready? These are 40 of our smartest kitchen organization tips and hacks to help you (and your kitchen) get tidier effortlessly.
1. Use pants hangers for your chips.
Chip bags can be annoyingly difficult to wrangle. Instead of letting them flop around on your pantry shelves (risking breakage!), hang them up with some pants hangers. The clips will keep the chips fresh, too!
2. DIY an organizer for your container lids.
Speaking of things that are hard to wrangle! Set a cooling rack over a shallow plastic container and slide your container lids between the rungs. You can slip the whole thing in a drawer or on a shelf in a cabinet, and the lids are easy to grab when you need them.
3. Store some trash bags at the bottom of your trash can.
The next time you take the trash out, put a few bags at the bottom of the can before you line the can with a new one. This way, you have no excuse not to refresh the bag right away.
4. Fold all your dish towels the Marie Kondo way.
You wouldn’t think that folding your dish towels so they stand up in a drawer or basket would be that life-changing. But it is. Seriously.
5. Use the built-in organizers at the bottom of your freezer.
Prepare to have your mind blown: Did you know that the ridges at the bottom of your freezer can be used to help you file meat?! They hold trays in place so that you can pull one out without sending things tumbling.
6. Use a tension rod to make an extra spice shelf.
Add more space to a spice cabinet by installing a tension rod toward the top. It won’t interfere with any of the storage on the bottom and will create even more space for little jars.
7. Use Command hooks to hang pot lids on cabinet doors.
An avalanche of pot lids is never fun. Keep them all in place (on the back of cabinet doors) with a few Command hooks. This hack is quick and easy to do, and it’s a totally custom solution.
8. Use Mason jars inside a drawer.
We saw this in a recent drawer makeover and were blown away. Put Mason jars on their sides, and they’ll fit in most drawers and help keep utensils nice and tidy.
9. Hang up your foil and parchment paper.
These little boxes don’t take up a ton of space, but there’s also no reason to waste drawer space on them. Instead, hang them up on a cabinet door or on a pantry wall. Bonus: It’ll make pulling off a piece a million times easier.
10. Use a hanging shoe organizer.
If you have a pantry door or even a nearby closet, consider hanging a shoe organizer and using it to hold water bottles, cleaning supplies, or even pantry staples.
11. Use a lazy Susan to corral countertop clutter.
We all have things that never (ever) make it off the counter — salt and pepper, olive oil, maybe sugar or honey for your morning tea — and end up hogging precious space. Here’s what you do: Gather all your oft-used items on a lazy Susan and you’ve got a neat solution to countertop clutter. If you want something more decorative, try a cake stand; it won’t turn, but it sure will look pretty.
12. Make the most of pantry space with a turntable.
Another smart use for a turntable? In your pantry, especially in awkward corners, where it’s hard to reach. Or if your “pantry” is actually your kitchen cabinet and you’re trying to make sure you can get to your cinnamon without taking out all of the spices. Also, put a lazy Susan in your fridge for these same reasons!
13. Add hooks anywhere you can.
Install hooks on the walls, inside cabinets, under shelves — anywhere you can find a spot. You’ll basically create space out of thin air and make a home for stuff that would otherwise take up drawer or cabinet space.
14. Use egg crates to hold your condiments.
When you’re done with an egg carton, separate the top and bottom and use one to line the bottom of the shelf on your fridge’s door, then store condiments mouth-side down.
15. Store leftover condiment packets in a sponge holder.
Be honest: Do you keep those condiment packets you get with your takeout? We have the solution to your tiny-packet storage woes. Put a sponge holder on the inside of your fridge (or your cabinet works too — they don’t need to be cold) and put your packets in (ideally organized by type).
16. Use a baking sheet to create more shelf space in your fridge.
The only problem with making a casserole or a big salad? They take up so much room in the fridge! Create a temporary organizing solution by placing a baking sheet (or even chopsticks) on top. You’ll be able to stack way more stuff in there until it’s time to serve.
17. Store your stand mixer attachments in the bowl.
Fact: The attachments from your stand mixer are not going to fit into any sort of normal organizer. They’re too big/bulky/awkward. The best spot for them? Right in the mixer bowl! They fit perfectly without taking up extra storage space and they’re right there in the bowl when you want to use your mixer — no hunting around for where, oh where, you put them. We like to throw a clean dish towel in the bowl to protect both the bowl and the attachments.
18. Use a Command hook to wrap up your stand mixer’s cord.
Speaking of stand mixers, even the best-looking ones have a glaring problem: the cord! Keep your kitchen looking more organized by sticking a cord bundler on the back of it and wrapping the cord around it. This also works with other appliances!
19. Use the sides of your cabinets.
It’s amazing how much space goes wasted when you stop to really look at your kitchen. If you have cabinets with exposed sides, use them! Add a rail, hooks, or even shelves.
20. Use the space above the cabinets, too.
It’s kind of a mystery to us why so many kitchens have that wasted space between the upper cabinets and the ceiling. Why not have the cabinets go all the way up? It always seems like, well, a waste — unless you make use of it. Turn it into storage for bulky (and not-often-used) pots, the cookbooks you pull out every once in a while, extra ingredients, or even a spot to show off a collection.
21. Get rid of unnecessary packaging.
Visual clutter can be just as bad as regular ol’ clutter. And half-empty bags of flour, crushed boxes of pasta, and twist tie-closed bags of rice can all create visual clutter. To cut down on that, decant your ingredients into pretty containers. Even if you’re stashing it all away in a pantry, these containers will make a big difference.
22. Add tension rods to your cabinets.
We always think about stacking things, but sometimes the best way to store something to is to file it on its side. Tension rods (so cheap! So easy to install!) turn a cabinet into a file cabinet of sorts.
23. Get an IKEA RASKOG cart.
There are a million ways to use IKEA’s RASKOG cart in your kitchen. It’s only $30 and it looks super smart wrangling everything from cleaning supplies to canned goods to linens.
24. Use some wall space to DIY a pantry.
So you don’t have the walk-in pantry of your dreams — we don’t either! But, even tiny kitchens need to stock basic staples. So think vertical and use whatever wall space you have. If there’s room for it, we love a pegboard pantry, but you can also just hang some regular ol; shelves, which come in all sizes and can fit in any kitchen.
25. Or build shelves into the wall.
Maybe a pegboard or regular shelves will stick out too much? In that case (and if you own your place), try building shelves right into the wall between the studs.
26. Turn cabinets into drawers.
Fact: Drawers are almost always better than cabinets. Add rolling racks to your existing cabinets so that you can easily pull out what you have and see everything without having to crane your neck. If you can’t do anything with actual hardware, try adding some baskets, which essentially work the same way.
27. Harness the magic of magnets.
Similar to that hook idea we mentioned, you can use magnets under your cabinets, too. They’re great for keeping your go-to spices within arm’s reach. Just install a magnetic knife rack.
28. Add counter space by investing in shelf risers.
If you weren’t already hip to shelf risers, this is your wakeup call. Small, cheap, and virtually foolproof, you can place them inside your kitchen cabinets to score double the storage space, or on your countertop to hold your frequently used items.
29. Wrangle baking mats with paper towel tubes.
This reader tip is not only super smart, but it also lets you upcycle the leftover cardboard tubes from your paper towels. Just cut off a section of the tube, roll the baking sheet up tightly, and slip it through. It’s free and makes storage extra easy!
30. Use old boxes in your junk drawer.
Before you run out to buy special drawer organizers, look around your house to see what you can use. That old box from notecards? Use it! Changes are, you have plenty of makeshift organizers already.
31. Store heavy appliances on plastic cutting boards.
Another tip that came from a reader! Put heavy appliances (like a toaster, blender, or stand mixer) on a plastic cutting board. This way, when you need to use it, it won’t skip along as you pull it out from its resting counter spot.
32. Steal space from other rooms.
If your kitchen is truly teeny-tiny, there’s no law saying you can’t extend it into a nearby room. Add a moveable island to a hallway or fill a bookcase in the living room with your favorite plates and glasses. You’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do!
33. Add a pot rail — or 3.
As you’ve probably picked up by now, we love to hang things! And our very favorite way to hang things is probably on a pot rail. In our humble opinion, the pot rail is the MVP of kitchen storage.
34. Build a diagonal drawer organizer.
Working on the diagonal, instead of right angles, gives you much more flexibility in terms of how you use the space inside your drawers. And while you can buy a diagonal organizer, making one is relatively simple and is guaranteed to fit, no matter what size or shape your drawer is.
35. Use binder clips in the freezer.
Freezers are often messier than our fridges. They’re just frozen tundras where leftovers go to be forgotten about, right? Use binder clips to help restore some sort of order. Mark what goes where and then use the system.
36. Color code your cookbooks.
Most people think visually. So when you think of your favorite cookbook, you can likely picture its color. Which means sorting your cookbooks by color might make sense for you. Not only can doing so help you find a book more quickly, but it also makes for a striking bookshelf display.
37. Use a dish rack to organize kiddie plates.
Anyone who has amassed a random collection of kiddie plates and bowls knows that they don’t always stack up nice and neatly. So use a wire dish rack to hold everything in a cabinet. This way, you can pull out a plate without sending everything tumbling.
38. Turn IKEA’s plastic bag organizer into a cleaning station.
IKEA’s VARIERA bag dispenser (yes, the thing you buy to store your used plastic grocery bags) can be used for so much more. We had a few ideas, but especially like this one of storing cleaning products in some horizontally hung ones.
39. Use your magnetic knife strip for appliance attachments.
Remember that spice idea with the knife rack from above? A magnetic knife strip is also a great thing for food processor attachments. And pot lids. And so many other things.
40. Let yourself have one junk drawer.
Even the neatest people have junk. It’s just a fact of life. So give yourself a cheat drawer — but just one.
Got any of your own tips to add? Let us know in the comments below!
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Introduction
As an expert and enthusiast, I have personal experiences or opinions, but I can provide information and knowledge on a wide range of topics. I have been trained on a vast amount of text data and can generate human-like responses. I can help with various subjects, including kitchen organization tips and hacks.
Kitchen Organization Tips and Hacks
This article is a list of 40 smart kitchen organization tips and hacks. Let's go through each concept mentioned in the article:
1. Pants hangers for chips: Instead of letting chip bags flop around on pantry shelves, you can use pants hangers to hang them up. The clips on the hangers will keep the chips fresh and tidy.
2. DIY container lid organizer: Set a cooling rack over a shallow plastic container and slide your container lids between the rungs. This DIY organizer helps keep the lids organized and easily accessible.
3. Store trash bags at the bottom of the trash can: By placing a few trash bags at the bottom of your trash can before lining it with a new one, you'll always have a fresh bag ready when you need to change it.
4. Fold dish towels the Marie Kondo way: By folding your dish towels in a specific way, such as the Marie Kondo method, you can make them stand upright in a drawer or basket, saving space and making them easier to access.
5. Use built-in organizers in the freezer: The ridges at the bottom of your freezer can be used as built-in organizers. They help keep items like meat trays in place, preventing them from tumbling when you pull out one item.
6. Tension rod for extra spice shelf: Install a tension rod toward the top of a spice cabinet to create additional space for storing small jars of spices. This won't interfere with the storage on the bottom of the cabinet.
7. Command hooks for pot lids: Avoid an avalanche of pot lids by using Command hooks on the back of cabinet doors. This allows you to hang the lids and keep them organized.
8. Mason jars inside a drawer: Place Mason jars on their sides in a drawer to keep utensils neat and tidy. The jars can fit in most drawers and help separate different utensils.
9. Hang foil and parchment paper: Instead of using drawer space, hang foil and parchment paper boxes on a cabinet door or pantry wall. This makes it easier to access and use them.
10. Hanging shoe organizer for storage: Utilize the space behind a pantry door or in a nearby closet by hanging a shoe organizer. It can be used to hold water bottles, cleaning supplies, or pantry staples.
11. Lazy Susan for countertop clutter: Gather frequently used items like salt, pepper, olive oil, and sugar on a lazy Susan to minimize countertop clutter. This allows you to easily access these items while keeping them organized.
12. Pantry turntable and lazy Susan in the fridge: Use a turntable or lazy Susan in your pantry or fridge to maximize storage space and make it easier to access items, especially in corners or hard-to-reach areas.
13. Add hooks for extra storage: Install hooks on walls, inside cabinets, or under shelves to create additional storage space. Hooks can be used to hang utensils, towels, or other items.
14. Egg crates for condiments: Separate the top and bottom of an egg carton and use it to line the bottom of your fridge's door shelf. Store condiments mouth-side down in the carton for easy access.
15. Store condiment packets in a sponge holder: Use a sponge holder attached to the inside of your fridge or cabinet to store and organize condiment packets. This keeps them easily accessible and prevents clutter.
16. Use a baking sheet for extra fridge shelf space: Place a baking sheet or chopsticks on top of items in your fridge to create additional shelf space. This allows you to stack and store more items.
17. Store stand mixer attachments in the bowl: Keep stand mixer attachments in the mixer bowl to save storage space and keep them easily accessible when needed.
18. Command hook for cord organization: Use a Command hook on the back of appliances like stand mixers to wrap and organize the cords. This keeps your kitchen looking more organized.
19. Utilize cabinet sides for storage: Take advantage of the space on the sides of your cabinets by adding rails, hooks, or shelves. This creates additional storage space for items that would otherwise take up drawer or cabinet space.
20. Use space above cabinets for storage: If there is a gap between your upper cabinets and the ceiling, utilize that space for storage. You can store bulky pots, cookbooks, or display a collection of items.
21. Decant ingredients into pretty containers: To reduce visual clutter, transfer ingredients such as flour, pasta, and rice into attractive containers. This makes your pantry look more organized and visually appealing.
22. Add tension rods to cabinets: Install tension rods inside cabinets to create a file cabinet-like storage system. This allows you to store items vertically and maximize space.
23. Use IKEA's RASKOG cart: The versatile RASKOG cart from IKEA can be used in various ways to organize kitchen items, such as cleaning supplies, canned goods, or linens.
24. DIY pantry using wall space: If you have limited pantry space, consider utilizing vertical wall space by installing pegboard or shelves to store basic staples and keep them within reach.
25. Build shelves into the wall: If you own your place, you can create built-in shelves between wall studs to maximize storage space. This is especially useful in small kitchens.
26. Add rolling racks or baskets to cabinets: Improve cabinet storage by adding rolling racks or baskets. These allow you to easily access items without having to reach deep into the back of the cabinet.
27. Use magnets under cabinets for spices: Install magnets under your cabinets to hold magnetic spice containers. This keeps your go-to spices within arm's reach and saves countertop space.
28. Shelf risers for extra counter space: Place shelf risers inside kitchen cabinets to double the storage space. You can also use them on the countertop to hold frequently used items.
29. Use paper towel tubes for baking mats: Cut a section of a cardboard paper towel tube and tightly roll up baking mats. Slip them into the tube for easy storage and organization.
30. Repurpose old boxes for junk drawer organization: Instead of buying special drawer organizers, repurpose old boxes, such as those from notecards, to create makeshift organizers for your junk drawer.
31. Use plastic cutting boards for heavy appliances: Place heavy appliances, like toasters or blenders, on a plastic cutting board. This prevents them from scratching or sliding on the countertop when you use them.
32. Extend kitchen space into other rooms: If your kitchen is small, consider extending it into a nearby room. Add a movable island or use a bookcase in the living room to store kitchen items.
33. Install pot rails: Pot rails are a versatile storage solution for hanging pots, pans, and kitchen utensils. They can be installed on walls or the underside of cabinets.
34. Build a diagonal drawer organizer: Opt for a diagonal drawer organizer instead of traditional right-angle dividers. This allows for more flexibility in utilizing drawer space and can be customized to fit any drawer size or shape.
35. Use binder clips in the freezer: Use binder clips to label and organize items in your freezer. Mark what goes where and use the binder clip system to maintain order and prevent food waste.
36. Color code your cookbooks: Sort your cookbooks by color to create a visually appealing and easy-to-navigate bookshelf display. This can help you find a specific book quickly.
37. Wire dish rack for organizing kiddie plates: Use a wire dish rack to hold and organize kiddie plates and bowls in a cabinet. This keeps them neatly stacked and prevents them from falling over.
38. Repurpose IKEA's plastic bag organizer: IKEA's VARIERA bag dispenser can be repurposed to create a cleaning product storage station. Hang it horizontally and store cleaning products for easy access.
39. Use magnetic knife strip for appliance attachments: In addition to holding knives, a magnetic knife strip can be used to store food processor attachments, pot lids, and other metal kitchen items.
40. Allow one junk drawer: Designate one drawer as a "junk drawer" for miscellaneous items that don't have a designated place. Keep this drawer organized to prevent it from becoming too cluttered.
These are just a few of the kitchen organization tips and hacks mentioned in the article. Let me know if you have any specific questions or if there's anything else I can assist you with!
