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 07/09/20
add hooks for coffee mugs in kitchen

Dream Green DIY 

Kitchen organization can be an ongoing journey. Processes evolve, items rotate, and we make adjustments as we learn better ways of doing things. Just because your kitchen feels like a cluttered mess now doesn't mean it needs to stay that way. 

We've collected dozens of 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 smallest and messiest of kitchens. 

  • 01 of 29

    Choose Kitchen Canisters That Double as Decor

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

    One way to ensure that you keep basic dry products organized is by picking canisters you like. 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

    There are many ways you can add style and function to your kitchen. To recreate this look, hang up three circular corkboards on your kitchen backsplash. Next, print off some fun and inspirational printables. Finally, add on important notes and reminders to keep you on task. 

    Ron Swanson Kitchen Quotes, Free Printable from A Joyful Riot

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  • 03 of 29

    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 digging if you line them up vertically instead. Use a divider to store pot holders 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 the 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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  • 05 of 29

    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 out of control. 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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  • 07 of 29

    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 just throw things in the fridge when you get back from the grocery store without much thought, stop right now. 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 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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  • 10 of 29

    Conceal a Command Center Inside a Kitchen Cabinet

    Hidden organized kitchen command center
    Eleven Magnolia Lane

    Command centers can get real busy real fast. Keep everything organized and out of sight 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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  • 11 of 29

    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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  • 12 of 29

    Use Trays to Keep Countertops Organized

    Organized kitchen counter top and shelves
    Swoon Worthy

    Some people like to keep their countertops completely bare, but those people are missing out on some great organization opportunities. The key to keeping countertops looking polished and neat is to organize different groupings using trays and stands. Notice how all the coffee items are on one tray, fruit is on another tray, and dry good canisters are on another tray. 

    8 Secrets for a Tidy Home from Swoon Worthy

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  • 13 of 29

    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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  • 14 of 29

    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. 

    The New Kitchen: Organizing the Drawers from Organizing Made Fun

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  • 15 of 29

    Add Mug Hooks Underneath a Kitchen Cabinet

    Coffee mugs hanging from hooks in kitchen
    Dream Green DIY

    Leaving things out that you use every day isn't cluttered—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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  • 16 of 29

    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 organized by the kitchen sink: 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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  • 17 of 29

    Utilize All the Vertical Space Inside Your Cabinets

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

    If you like cramming your dishes inside a kitchen cabinet like you're playing a game of Tetris, then maybe this kitchen organizing idea won't appeal to you. However, mugs can get broken if they are stacked too high. Not only that, but it's a pain to pull out plates that are stacked underneath a ton of bowls. To fix this problem, use inexpensive cabinet risers to create an extra shelf. 

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

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  • 18 of 29

    Free Up Counter Space by Hanging Paper Towels

    DIY copper paper towel holder
    Squirrelly Minds

    Many paper towel holders sit directly on the countertop. If you have the space underneath kitchen cabinets or open shelving, hang paper towels there instead. Don't worry 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. Utilize the space by the stove, at the end of a cabinet, or inside a drawer. 

    How to Build a Space Saving Spice Rack from Remodelaholic

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  • 20 of 29

    Store Food on the Back of a Pantry Door

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

    Don't forget to utilize the back of any door inside your kitchen, whether that's a cabinet door or a pantry door. There are specially designed door racks that are made for the back of pantry doors and linen closet doors. Use this area to store food that you eat and restock often. 

    Our Organized Kitchen Pantry Reveal from Four Generations One Roof

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  • 21 of 29

    Use a Piece of Furniture for Pantry Storage

    alternative kitchen pantry ideas
    The Shabby Creek Cottage

    When a kitchen is lacking a pantry, storage and organizing become much trickier. To make up for the lost space, many homeowners have opted for freestanding pantry storage. Think about different pieces of furniture you could repurpose for the task. This blogger uses Ikea storage lockers, but you could also use an antique armoire or a bookshelf. 

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

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  • 22 of 29

    Store Baking Pans Vertically Using a Mail Organizer

    Baking pan and utensil storage
    Polished Habitat

    Any organizer that has vertical slats will work to keep your baking pans accessible inside a kitchen cabinet. Some people have repurposed mail organizers and others have bought specific tools for the job from home improvement stores. 

    Real Life Kitchen and Pantry Organization Update from Polished Habitat

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  • 23 of 29

    Keep Coffee Items on a Cart When Counter Space Is Lacking

    DIY coffee cart idea
    @angelamariemade / Instagram

    Sometimes it doesn't make sense to keep a coffee pot on the counter, and that's okay. If you entertain a lot, it might be more practical to store all your coffee-related items on a rolling cart. That way, you can roll the cart to where the guests are and return it to the kitchen when you're done. 

    DIY Coffee Cart from Angela Marie Made

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  • 24 of 29

    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, opt for wire holders that have a lot of openings for air circulation. 

    Organized Fresh Produce from Home Sort

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  • 25 of 29

    Create a Tea Caddy Using a Tiered Tray

    DIY organized tea caddy
    The Happy Housie

    Tiered trays work well for storing items in your kitchen that you use every day. Depending on your household, what you store in a tiered tray could vary greatly. If you have young kids, perhaps you keep out some healthy snacks within their reach. In this case, the tiered tray is filled with tea-related items. 

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

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  • 26 of 29

    Style Open Shelves With Items You Use Often

    Organized open shelving in a kitchen
    The Green Eyed Girl

    There are pros and cons to having open shelving in a kitchen. One of the biggest cons people complain about is dust build up. To avoid this problem, organize open shelving with items you use and wash often. Dishes that are in an everyday rotation will be cleaned and put away so regularly that they won't need to be dusted. You'll also pay much more attention to cleaning the shelf than if you had just decor on it. 

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

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  • 27 of 29

    Hang Measuring Cups on a Cabinet Door

    Organized measuring cups
    @a.nest.in.birdland / Instagram

    Many people have started hanging measuring cups and spoons on the inside of a cabinet door. One way to enhance this organizational trick is to add common measuring conversion graphics to the door. This way it looks cuter and you won't always need to pull out your phone and ask Google for correct measurements. 

    Hanging Measuring Cups from A.Nest.In.Birdland

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  • 28 of 29

    Make an Effort to Keep Cooking Utensils Organized

    Drawer of organized kitchen utensils
    @ordinary.organised.home / Instagram

    Most kitchens designate a drawer for silverware and go out and buy the appropriate silverware organizer. However, when it comes to utensil drawers, spoons and whisks are often thrown in with no regard for organization. This lack of forethought could be due to how many different varieties and sizes of kitchen utensils we stock. To fix this issue, think about a few different utensil categories and separate a drawer with dividers. Once complete, you'll have a much easier time finding what you need in the middle of cooking. 

    Organized Utensil Drawer from Ordinary.Organized.Home 

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  • 29 of 29

    Organize a Tray With Your Main Cooking Essentials

    Kitchen turntable with utensil holders
    Organizing for Moms

    If you want to cook like a chef, keep a tray or basket next to the stove that will hold your most used cooking items. Pragmatically, this is an ideal way to cook because you won't have to take more than two steps to grab all the necessary tools. Some items to have on hand might include olive oil, salt and pepper, vinegar, and common cooking utensils. 

    Organizing the Kitchen Counter from Organizing for Moms