Kitchen organization starts with taking everything out and grouping like items together. What is the first step to organizing a kitchen? The very first step is to completely empty your kitchen spaces—drawers, cabinets, and the pantry—so you can see everything you own. This guide will show you simple ways to make your kitchen neat and easy to use.
Setting the Stage: The Essential First Steps
A truly organized kitchen needs a good base. You cannot organize clutter. You must get rid of things first. This process makes room for the best kitchen organization products later on.
Decluttering: The Hard Truth About What Stays
When you empty a cabinet, you will find things you forgot you had. Be honest about what you use. If you have not used an item in a year, think hard about keeping it.
- Toss or Donate Duplicates: Do you need five spatulas? Keep the best two. Donate the rest.
- Check Expiration Dates: Toss all old spices, expired canned goods, and sticky sauces. This is key to cleaning and organizing kitchen items effectively.
- Broken Items: Get rid of cracked mugs or chipped plates. They are not safe or useful.
Deep Cleaning Before Organizing
Once empty, clean every surface. Wipe down shelves, drawers, and the inside of the pantry. A clean slate helps you see your space better. Use simple, safe cleaners.
Designing for Efficiency: Creating an Efficient Kitchen Layout
The goal of organizing is to make cooking faster and easier. This means grouping items by how you use them. This creates an efficient kitchen layout. Think about the “zones” in your kitchen.
The Cooking Zone (Near the Stove)
This area should hold things you grab while actively cooking.
Essential Cooking Zone Items:
- Pots and pans
- Cooking oils and vinegar
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Stirring tools (spatulas, whisks)
It is smart to use vertical space here. Pot racks or tiered shelves work well for pots.
The Prep Zone (Near the Main Counter Space)
This area is where you chop and mix. Keep sharp tools and mixing bowls here.
- Knives should be in a safe block or magnetic strip.
- Mixing bowls and cutting boards are easy to reach.
- Small appliances used often (blender, food processor) can live here if you have space.
The Cleaning Zone (Near the Sink)
Keep cleaning supplies under the sink. Use bins to keep sprays and sponges separate.
- Dish soap and dishwasher pods.
- Trash bags and recycling containers.
- Gloves and scrub brushes.
The Serving Zone (Near the Table or Dishwasher)
Plates, bowls, and silverware go where they are easy to put away or grab for a meal.
Mastering the Cabinets: Decluttering Kitchen Cabinets
Cabinets often become deep, dark places where things get lost. We need to conquer the depth. Decluttering kitchen cabinets requires smart stacking and storage.
Utilizing Shelf Risers and Expanders
Shelves are often too tall for plates or short spice jars. Use wire shelf risers. These instantly double the space on one shelf.
- Put plates and bowls on the bottom shelf.
- Put serving dishes or less used glasses on the riser shelf above.
Stacking Smartly
Do not stack too high. If you have to use a stool to get the third bowl, it is too high.
- Nesting: Put bowls inside bigger bowls. Put measuring cups inside each other.
- Vertical Storage: Use racks designed to hold baking sheets and cutting boards upright, like files in a cabinet. This stops them from sliding out in a pile.
Dealing with Deep Cabinets
Deep cabinets are hard to reach. Use pull-out drawers or sliding shelves. If you cannot install new shelves, use lazy Susans (turntables).
- Lazy Susans are perfect for corner cabinets or deep storage areas.
- Use them for oils, vinegars, or cleaning supplies. A quick spin brings the back items to the front.
Tackling the Pantry: Smart Pantry Organization Ideas
The pantry is often the biggest challenge. Pantry organization ideas focus on visibility and easy access. We want to see everything at a glance. This is key to maximizing pantry space.
Empty, Sort, and Label Everything
Like the cabinets, empty the entire pantry first. Check dates. Group all like items together—all baking goods, all pasta, all snacks.
Deciphering Storage Containers
Clear, airtight containers are your best friend in the pantry. They keep food fresh and let you see how much you have left.
- Flour, Sugar, Rice: Transfer these from bags to large, square containers. Square containers fit together better than round ones.
- Pasta and Grains: Use tall, narrow containers for spaghetti or long pasta shapes.
Creating Zones in the Pantry
Assign specific shelves for specific food groups. Label the shelf clearly.
| Pantry Shelf Zone | Items Stored | Organization Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Eye Level | Daily snacks, cereals, easy grab items. | Use small open bins for snacks to keep them corralled. |
| Waist Level | Baking supplies, pasta, rice, canned goods. | Use tiered risers for canned goods. |
| Lower Shelves | Bulk items, heavy appliances (like a mixer base). | Use rolling carts or sturdy bins for heavy items. |
Maximizing Pantry Space with Door Storage
The back of the pantry door is often wasted space. Install a shallow rack system here. This is great for small, flat items.
- Spices (if they don’t fit in the kitchen cabinets).
- Small packets (taco seasoning, gravy mix).
- Wraps (aluminum foil, plastic wrap).
Conquering Drawers: Kitchen Drawer Organization
Drawers can turn into messy junk piles quickly. Good kitchen drawer organization uses dividers to assign a specific home for every single item.
Utensil Drawers
Never let forks and spoons mix randomly.
- Expandable Trays: Buy trays that adjust to the width of your drawer. This eliminates wasted space on the sides.
- Dedicated Spots: Have clear sections for serving spoons, tongs, whisks, and standard cutlery.
The Junk Drawer Dilemma
Every kitchen has one. Decide what actually belongs in the kitchen drawer versus what needs to be relocated (like batteries or tape).
- Keep only kitchen odds and ends: oven mitts, twist ties, small gadgets (can opener).
- Use small, modular bins inside the drawer to keep the few items separated.
Organizing Spices and Condiments
These items often live in a drawer or a narrow cabinet. Organizing spices and condiments must prioritize quick identification.
For Drawer Spice Storage:
Use slanted spice trays. This allows you to read the labels instantly when you open the drawer. Lay the spice jars flat with the label facing up.
For Cabinet Spice Storage:
Use a tiered riser shelf. If you have a deep cabinet, a small rotating spice rack (turntable) makes access easy. Make sure all spices are decanted into matching jars if possible. Uniformity aids visual organization.
Solutions for Small Kitchen Storage Solutions
When space is tight, every inch matters. Small kitchen storage solutions focus on using vertical space and choosing multi-functional items.
Vertical is Vital
Look up! Walls are often the most unused real estate in a small kitchen.
- Magnetic Knife Strips: Free up drawer or counter space instantly.
- Pegboards: Install a sturdy pegboard on an empty wall section. You can hang pots, pans, strainers, and utensils. You can change the layout easily as your needs change.
- Above the Fridge: This area collects dust, but it is great for storing flat, seldom-used items like holiday platters or extra paper towels in closed bins.
Utilizing Under-Sink Space
This area is usually awkward due to pipes. Use U-shaped or sliding shelf organizers designed specifically for this space. They fit around the plumbing.
Multi-Functional Furniture
If possible, invest in furniture that does double duty.
- A kitchen cart with wheels can act as extra prep space, storage, and can be rolled out of the way when not needed.
- Use shelves that pull down from above the sink or window.
Simple Kitchen Organization Hacks for Daily Maintenance
Organization is not a one-time event; it is a habit. These kitchen organization hacks help keep things tidy day after day.
The One-Touch Rule
When you bring groceries home, put them away immediately. Do not leave bags on the counter to sort later. This stops clutter buildup at the source.
The “Container Concept”
Decide on a limit for certain items and stick to it.
- “I will only keep two bags of chips out on the counter.”
- “My baking supplies fill exactly this one large bin.”
When the bin is full, you must use something before buying more.
Implementing Zones for Charging
If you have a spot where you charge phones or tablets, create a small charging drawer or box. Keep cords contained. Use bread ties or Velcro strips to label and wrap cords neatly.
Daily Reset Routine (10 Minutes)
Spend the last 10 minutes of the day resetting the kitchen:
- Wipe down counters.
- Put away any dishes left out.
- Quickly straighten the spice drawer or utensil drawer.
- Load or run the dishwasher.
This small effort prevents a major mess later.
Choosing the Right Tools: Best Kitchen Organization Products
Investing wisely in the right gear makes a huge difference. Here are some highly recommended items that support excellent kitchen order.
| Product Type | Best Use Case | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Clear, Stackable Bins | Pantry, refrigerator shelves. | Keeps items visible and groups similar things together. |
| Tiered Riser Shelves | Cabinets (for cans/spices), corner cabinets. | Makes deep storage spaces usable by lifting back items up. |
| Drawer Dividers (Adjustable) | Utensil drawers, junk drawers. | Prevents items from migrating into neighboring sections. |
| Lazy Susans (Turntables) | Under the sink, deep corner cabinets. | Provides 360-degree access to contents without moving things. |
| Over-the-Door Racks | Pantry door, utility closet door. | Utilizes often-forgotten vertical space for flat items. |
When buying plastic bins, choose BPA-free and dishwasher-safe options if they will touch food. Match the bin size to the shelf size to avoid wasted air space.
Specific Item Strategies: Organizing Spices and Condiments Recap
Since spices are small and numerous, they cause chaos easily. Organizing spices and condiments is a mini-project within the larger kitchen job.
If you use spices often, keep them near the stove. If you only use them for specific recipes (like baking), keep them with the flour and sugar.
Use uniform jars. When all jars are the same size and shape, they pack much tighter, whether on a shelf or in a drawer. Label the lids if you store them in a drawer, and label the sides if you store them on a shelf.
For heavy bottles like mustard, soy sauce, or hot sauces, use a small, deep tray or bin. This keeps them contained. If one leaks, you only need to clean the tray, not the entire shelf. This aids in the cleaning and organizing kitchen routine.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How often should I completely reorganize my kitchen?
A: A full, deep organizational session is best done once or twice a year, usually before major holiday cooking seasons. However, daily 10-minute resets and monthly spot-checks (like the fridge or a single drawer) keep things manageable.
Q: Can I organize my small kitchen without buying new organizers?
A: Yes, absolutely. Use empty shoe boxes or sturdy cardboard boxes as temporary dividers or bins. Use rubber bands or hair ties to bundle cords. Old spice jars can be cleaned and used for loose nuts and bolts in a utility drawer.
Q: What is the best place to store plastic food storage containers (Tupperware)?
A: This is tricky! Store lids vertically in a separate, narrow bin or file organizer. Stack the bottom containers (the actual boxes) inside each other, from largest to smallest, in a lower cabinet near where you pack lunches or store leftovers.
Q: My cabinets are too deep. What is the fastest fix for decluttering kitchen cabinets?
A: The fastest fix, without installing new hardware, is adding a Lazy Susan or turntable. This immediately brings the back items to the front with one spin, solving the “lost behind the slow cooker” problem.
Q: Where should I store my cookbooks in an efficient kitchen layout?
A: If you use them often while cooking, near the prep area (on a dedicated shelf or countertop rack). If you rarely use them, store them in a living room bookshelf or a high, rarely accessed cabinet to save prime cooking real estate for tools.