29 Creative Kitchen Organizing Ideas

Written by
Lauren Thomann
Lauren Thomann is a freelance writer and business owner who covers DIY projects and home renovation on The Spruce. In 2014, she joined Dotdash as an expert writer, focused on fine jewelry topics.
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Lauren Thomann
Updated 01/23/21
add hooks for coffee mugs in kitchen

Dream Green DIY 

Kitchen organization can be an ongoing journey. Processes evolve, items rotate, and adjustments are made while learning better ways of doing things. So if you feel like your kitchen is a cluttered mess, it doesn't mean it has to stay that way forever.

We've collected over two dozen kitchen organizing ideas and compiled them alongside some smart tips. Tackle a few of your trouble spots, and before you know it, you'll have the momentum needed to organize even the messiest of kitchens. 

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The Simple Way to Double Your Under Sink Storage

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    Choose Kitchen Canisters That Double as Decor

    Glass and copper kitchen canisters against a white tile wall
    Sincerely Sara D

    One way to keep basic dry products organized is to pick canisters you love to look at. Implement a design that will function in an organizational capacity, but also act as decor for your kitchen. 

    Inexpensive Glass Kitchen Canisters from Sincerely Sara D

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  • 02 of 29

    Tack Up Inspirational Quotes and Important Notes

    Mini cork board bulletin boards hanging in a kitchen
    A Joyful Riot

    To recreate this style and functional look, hang up three circular corkboards on your kitchen backsplash. Next, run off some fun and inspirational printables. Finally, tack up important notes, shopping lists, and reminders to keep you on task. 

    Ron Swanson Kitchen Quotes, Free Printable from A Joyful Riot

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    Fold Kitchen Towels and Stack Them Vertically

    Kitchen towels folded in a drawer
    Just a Girl and Her Blog

    Stacking dish towels horizontally might seem like an excellent way to keep them in order, but you'll save yourself a lot of digging if you line them up vertically instead. Use a divider to store potholders and other kitchen linens. A word of warning—there will be a lot of wasted space if the drawer is deeper than a vertically folded dish towel. 

    How to Organize a Small Kitchen from Just a Girl and Her Blog

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  • 04 of 29

    Label Contents Inside Your Pantry

    DIY pantry labels on several containers
    Southern Curls and Pearls

    Using bold, simple pantry labels is an effective way to keep dry goods organized. Keep the labels consistent and label everything, even the items you don't think require a label. 

    How I Organized My Pantry from Southern Curls and Pearls

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    Add a Basket to Store Cleaning Products

    Products stored under a kitchen sink.
    Sarah Hearts

    Under-the-sink storage can easily go from under control to chaotic. To keep things orderly, attach a small basket to the inside of the cabinet door using damage-free picture hanging strips. Store items like dishwasher tabs, sponges, and other everyday objects that you don't want to dig around to find. 

    How to Organize Under the Sink from Sarah Hearts

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  • 06 of 29

    Keep Plastic Bags Tidy and Out of the Way

    Plastic bag storage container with blue and cream pattern
    Sunny Day Family

    The most functional kitchens are the ones where there is a designated place for everything. Does your kitchen have a spot for plastic bags? If not, create this clever and compact storage solution out of an oatmeal container. If any bags don't fit inside the container, be sure to recycle them.

    How to Organize Plastic Bags from Sunny Day Family

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    Organize Tea in a Drawer

    Tea organization drawer
    @ashleyjoneshatcher / Instagram

    Tea lovers know how easily an entire cabinet can get filled with bulky cardboard tea boxes. Keep your tea, coffee cartridge pods, and other necessities organized inside a drawer instead. Narrow plastic bins will work well to keep your tea in full view. 

    Tea Organization Drawer from Ashley Jones Hatcher

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  • 08 of 29

    Convert an Open Wall Into a Vertical Storage Unit

    Vertical kitchen storage containers
    A Beautiful Mess

    Utilizing every square inch of space is important in a small kitchen. If you love to cook, but have nowhere to put all your utensils, tackle this DIY project. If this aesthetic doesn't appeal to you, change out the containers to better fit your style. 

    Vertical Kitchen Organization from A Beautiful Mess

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  • 09 of 29

    Organize the Fridge Using Zones

    A well-organized refrigerator
    Suddenly Simple Organizing

    If you throw food in the fridge when you get back from the grocery store without much thought—stop. Some areas of the fridge work better for certain items. For instance, keep items you use often at eye level. Also, milk and other perishable items should be kept on the lowest shelves or shelves nearest the freezer that are the coolest. Organizing the fridge is important because once everything has a spot, scanning for items you need will be a much quicker process. 

    The Most Overlooked Area You Need to Organize Now from Suddenly Simple Organizing

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    Conceal a Command Center Inside a Kitchen Cabinet

    Hidden organized kitchen command center
    Eleven Magnolia Lane

    Command centers that house family calendars, important papers and mail, and charging stations, can get busy fast. Keep everything organized and out of sight until you need it by stationing the center inside a kitchen cabinet. Use magnetic chalkboard paint to get started. 

    Pantry Makeover from Eleven Magnolia Lane 

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    Fill a Blank Kitchen Wall With a Chalkboard

    Chalkboard kitchen wall with grocery list on it
    Almost Makes Perfect

    If you have a blank wall in your kitchen that is serving no purpose, paint it with chalkboard paint. Not only will it serve to keep grocery lists and meal plans organized, but it can also keep young children distracted while you cook.  

    Chalkboard Kitchen Wall from Almost Makes Perfect

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    Use Trays to Keep Countertops Organized

    Organized kitchen counter top and shelves
    Swoon Worthy

    Some people like to keep their countertops bare, but those surfaces can be used for organization opportunities. The key to keeping countertops looking polished and neat is to use trays and stands to organize different groupings. Here all the coffee items are on one tray, fruit sits on another tray, and dry good canisters are found on a third tray. 

    8 Secrets for a Tidy Home from Swoon Worthy

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    Use Removable Storage Bins Inside a Lazy Susan

    An organized lazy Susan with dry food products

    Inspiration for Moms

    Lazy Susans are common kitchen organization tools that are used in a variety of ways. You'll often find them in awkward corner cabinets. To make better use of a Lazy Susan, incorporate some removable bins and organize like items in each bin. This idea will help prevent things from falling over and getting lost when you dig through the cabinet. 

    Organizing the Corner Lazy Susan from Inspiration for Moms

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    Divide the Inside of Drawers Into Sections

    Organized food storage containers inside kitchen drawers
    Organizing Made Fun

    It might seem easier to just throw all your container lids inside a drawer and call it a day. Even if you stack them neatly, opening and closing the drawer will eventually cause them to become disorderly. Prevent this mess by sectioning off the inside of your designated drawer and organizing the containers by size using drawer dividers. 

    The New Kitchen: Organizing the Drawers from Organizing Made Fun

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    Add Mug Hooks Underneath a Kitchen Cabinet

    Coffee mugs hanging from hooks in kitchen
    Dream Green DIY

    Leaving things out in the open that you use every day isn't cluttering—it's practical. Keep coffee mugs organized and within reach by adding hooks to the bottom of open shelving or kitchen cabinets. Make sure you position this DIY project close to the coffee pot. 

    DIY Custom Photo Mug Rail from Dream Green DIY

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    Keep Dish Brushes Together in a Vintage Container

    Kitchen sink with dish washing brushes in a vase
    Miss Mustard Seed

    There are plenty of items to keep clean and organized by the kitchen sink, including brushes, sponges, and dish soap to name a few. Keep all your dish brushes together in a stylish way by incorporating a vintage porcelain container that you can keep next to the sink. 

    The Enameled Kitchen Sink from Miss Mustard Seed

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    Utilize All the Vertical Space Inside Your Cabinets

    Mugs organized in a kitchen cabinet
    Just a Girl and Her Blog

    Cramming plates, glasses, or mugs into your cabinets can result in chipped and broken cups, especially when they're stacked too high. That type of stacking makes them hard to reach, too. Fix this common problem with inexpensive cabinet risers. These inexpensive kitchen helpers create valuable extra shelf space for cabinet organization.

    How to Organize a Small Kitchen from Just a Girl and Her Blog 

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    Free Up Counter Space by Hanging Paper Towels

    DIY copper paper towel holder
    Squirrelly Minds

    Many paper towel holders sit directly on the countertop wasting valuable space. Hang paper towels underneath your kitchen cabinets or open shelving instead. If you can't find a holder that matches your decor it's easy enough to make your own. 

    Suspended Copper Pipe Paper Towel Holder from Squirrelly Minds

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  • 19 of 29

    Get Creative With DIY Spice Racks

    DIY organized spice rack
    Remodelaholic

    If your spices need a place to go, there are hundreds of spice rack options on the market. If you are lacking space and want to build something, consider making a custom spice rack. Get creative with spice storage and use the space by the stove, at the end of a cabinet, or inside a drawer, for example. 

    How to Build a Space Saving Spice Rack from Remodelaholic

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    Store Food on the Pantry Door

    An image of an organized kitchen pantry wall
    Four Generations One Roof

    Use the backs of your kitchen cabinet or pantry doors for storage. Specially designed door racks hold more than shelves in some cases. Use this area to store food that you want readily accessible, such as snacks for the kids.

    Our Organized Kitchen Pantry Reveal from Four Generations One Roof

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    Use Furniture as Pantry Storage

    alternative kitchen pantry ideas
    The Shabby Creek Cottage

    Storage and organizing become much trickier when a kitchen lacks a pantry. To make up for the lost space, opt for a freestanding pantry. Repurpose a piece of furniture, such as a storage locker, chest of drawers, bookshelf, or armoire that will give you all the space you crave.

    Creating a Pantry When You Don't Have One from The Shabby Creek Cottage

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    Store Baking Pans Vertically

    Baking pan and utensil storage
    Polished Habitat

    Any organizer that has vertical slats, such as a sturdy mail or file organizer, will work to keep your baking pans accessible inside a kitchen cabinet. Also look for inexpensive vertical cabinet dividers in a home improvement store that you can easily install.

    Real Life Kitchen and Pantry Organization Update from Polished Habitat

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    Keep Coffee on a Cart With Limited Counters

    DIY coffee cart idea
    @angelamariemade / Instagram

    Sometimes it doesn't make sense to keep a coffee pot on a counter crowded with other appliances. It might be more practical to store coffee-related items on a small rolling cart. You can roll the cart to guests and return it to the kitchen when finished. 

    DIY Coffee Cart from Angela Marie Made

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    Store Fresh Produce in File Holders

    Storing fresh produce in file holders

    @thehomesort / Instagram

    File holders and magazine organizers are the perfect desk accessory to use for kitchen organizing. If you plan on storing produce in them, opt for wire holders that have plenty of openings for air circulation. 

    Organized Fresh Produce from Home Sort

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    Create a Tea Caddy on a Tiered Tray

    DIY organized tea caddy
    The Happy Housie

    Tiered trays (especially if they twirl) work well for storing everyday kitchen items. Keep items such as snacks and teas on tiered trays to give your kitchen a bit of a café vibe.

    Our Kitchen Tea Station and Tiered Trays for Kitchen Storage from The Happy Housie

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    Style Open Shelves With Everyday Items

    Organized open shelving in a kitchen
    The Green Eyed Girl

    There are pros and cons to having open kitchen shelving. The benefits include quick and easy access to items and a place to show off your prettiest kitchenware. One big con: dust. Avoid the problem by using open shelves for items you use frequently. That way dust doesn't have too much of a shelf life since items are quickly rotated.

    Three Ways to Style Open Kitchen Shelving from The Green Eyed Girl

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    Hang Measuring Cups on a Cabinet Door

    Organized measuring cups

    @nest.in.birdland / Instagram

    Make your hanging measuring cups and utensils more useful by adding common measuring conversion graphics to the door. It looks cute and you'll have the correct measurements at your fingertips.

    Hanging Measuring Cups from Nest.In.Birdland

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    Keep Cooking Utensils Organized

    Drawer of organized kitchen utensils

    @extra.ordinary.home/ Instagram

    A typical utensil drawer is a mishmash of various sized spoons and whisks that require digging to find. Fix the issue by adding dividers to the utensil drawer, just as you have in the silverware drawer. You'll have an easier time reaching for what you need in the middle of cooking.

    Organized Utensil Drawer from Extra Ordinary Home 

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    Organize a Tray With Cooking Essentials

    Kitchen turntable with utensil holders

    Inspiration for Moms

    Cook like a chef by keeping a tray or basket next to the stove that holds your frequently used cooking items. Items you might keep nearby include olive oil, salt and pepper, vinegar, and common cooking utensils all tidy and grouped on a tray. 

    Organizing the Kitchen Counter from Inspiration for Moms

    8 Ways to Declutter a Small Kitchen