21 Brilliant Hacks for an Organized Kitchen

Is your kitchen’s hallmark feature its chaotic cabinets, overcrowded counters, or limited space for meal prep? Get cooking on one or more of these 21 organizational solutions to minimize the clutter while maximizing surface and storage space!

By Manasa Reddigari | Published Jun 08, 2016 11:46 PM

Living on the Ledge

1/21
Store Your Recipe Books on a Picture Ledge

Create a portrait of perfection and tidiness in the kitchen with this slim line recipe rail. Mount a repurposed picture frame ledge or a strip of painted scrap wood to an empty wall or pantry door and line it with recipe cards and lightweight cooking books to instantly cure cabinet and countertop clutter.


Related: 11 Cheap Cures for a Cluttered Kitchen

ikea.com

Dine ‘Til You Drop

2/21
Dine in With a Drop-Leaf Table

Think you don’t have the kitchen space to both wine and dine your guests? This drop-leaf table for your kitchen or dining room proves otherwise! The space-saver (and party-saver) effortlessly folds up at meal time, and down when guests depart.


Related: 13 Seriously Doable Ways to DIY a Kitchen Table

ikea.com

Island Fever

3/21
Make a Kitchen Island with Side Storage


If you’re relying exclusively on kitchen counters and cupboards for surface and storage space, you’re missing out on a precious hidden workspace. A kitchen island with built-in shelves can pick up clutter where countertops leave off—creating a focal point that is equal parts fabulous and functional.


Related: Spreading Out: 14 Ways to Get More Counter Space

remodelandolacasa.com

Spiced-Up Storage

4/21
Store Spices Over the Stove

Does preparing dinner feel more like performing a juggling act of pots, pans, and spices? This over-the-stove storage unit, comprising a spare wood plank with built-in hooks, creates ample space above and below for securing spices and cookware as you create a culinary masterpiece.


Related: 10 Clever DIY Ways to Store Kitchen Spices

ikea.com

Hamper Clutter

5/21
Clear Space by Storing Over Kitchen Cabinets

When counters and cabinet shelves grow full, take clutter-clearing to the next level. Here, bargain baskets are hoisted atop cabinets to lend sky-high storage potential without requiring you to install or extend new or existing shelves.

Related: The Best 9 Storage Spots You Aren't Already Using

atypicalpea.com

Hooked to Perfection

6/21
DIY Ladder Pot Rack

If you have an extra leaning ladder in the garage, upcycle it into this quick-and-easy vertical storage solution. Simply lean the ladder against a spare section of the kitchen wall. Then, hang large S-hooks on the rungs from which you can stash pots, pans, and homegrown planters. If you don't have a spare ladder on hand, learn how to make your own decorative version here.


Related: 18 Clever Storage Solutions You Can DIY for Free

abeautifulmess.com

Hot Rod

7/21
DIY Window Storage for Cups

Good for more than hanging a shower curtain in the bathroom, tension rods can also help you get a handle on kitchen cupboard clutter. Fitted snugly into a window pane and hung with S-hooks, the rods instantly transform into a space-saving floating cupboard for your favorite mugs.


Related: 15 Sneaky Tricks to Double Your Storage Space

auntpeaches.com

Double Down

8/21
Seating with Hidden Storage

In a pint-sized kitchen, forego clunky chairs for stylish seating options with hidden storage. This ground level drawer topped with butcher block serves as a handsome place to set groceries or essentials. But that’s not all! When covered with a throw and pillow, it instantly transforms into a chic and cozy seat for weary guests.


Related: 14 White Rooms We Love

myparadissi.com

Round of Applause

9/21
DIY Lazy Susan Cabinet Storage

Plastic storage containers of assorted shapes and sizes are tricky to organize in a corner cabinet shelf. The solution? Add a wooden round, adorned with patterned contact paper and door handles. Then, top the round with loose knickknacks to put the lazy Susan to work!


Related: 23 Clever Ways to Beat Clutter

iheartorganizing.com

On the Bright Side

10/21
Store on the Sides of Kitchen Cabinets

Turn a do-nothing space on the side of a kitchen cabinet or island into a practical storage nook for essentials. Here, minimalist spice racks are mounted against the side of a cabinet and filled with toys and electronics to create an awe-inspiring activity and charging station for the whole family.


Related: The 6 Best Reasons to Renovate Your Kitchen

ikea.com

Keep an Open Mind

11/21
Try Open Storage

Attract attention to your color-coordinated cooking essentials and crockware with a cleverly organized open shelving unit. By grouping together similar items into units, you can create a storage solution that is both accessible and artful.


Related: 8 Rules to Break for an Organized Home

homepolish.com; photographed by Claire Esparros

Reduce, Reuse, Reinvent

12/21
Keep Your Recyclables Off the Floor

A bare wall may seem like an unlikely place for a recycling station. But when adorned with bargain cotton totes for stashing paper, plastic, and glass, the humble hallway transforms into an eco-friendly solution for reducing kitchen waste.


Related: 14 Ultrafunctional Ideas to Steal for Your Entryway

ikea.com

Hit a Wall

13/21
Install Wall Shelves

Do you value clear countertops but lack cabinet space to keep clutter off your workspace? Look no further than this off-the-wall storage idea. Mount a scrap wooden plank above the window atop L-brackets to create a space-smart unit for stashing seldom-used dishes and decor.


Related: 10 Lazy Tricks for a Clutter-Free Home

tinyheirloom.com

Color Coordination

14/21
Paint Shelves to Match Cabinets and Walls

A harmonious color scheme for corner shelving units draws the eye away from clutter and helps your storage blend seamlessly into the space. The key is to choose colors and accents that match surrounding cabinetry and walls.


Related: 10 Extras to DIY for Your Kitchen

homepolish.com; photographed by Cody Ulrich

Across the Board

15/21
DIY Kitchen Pegboard Storage

Pegboard may be known for its skill in the garage at holding tools, but it also acts as a capable organizer in the kitchen. Mount the pegboard to the wall and fill it with S-hooks to put measuring spoons and salt shakers at your fingertips for easy meal prep.


Related: Trading Places: 9 Reasons to Steal Furniture from Other Rooms

inspiredbycharm.com

High and Dry

16/21
Clear Counters by Hanging Up the Dish Rack

Stop wasting space with a countertop dish drying rack, and hang it up instead! With the rack’s all-steel assembly and accompanying hooks that hang from a bargain rod mounted above the sink, drip-drying dishes needn't encroach on your personal space.


Related: 10 Space-Saving Ideas to Steal from Houseboats

airbnb.com

On a Roll

17/21
Add Wheels to Kitchen Furniture

Put your reliance in this two-in-one prep station and serving cart for your next barbecue bash. Construction is simple: Attach caster wheels to the feet of a stationary serving table, and voila—you have a portable surface to prep the appetizers and then serve them to your guests!


Related: The 9 Rules for Rugs That Everyone Should Know

homepolish.com; photographed by Claire Esparros

Get Hooked

18/21
Organize Under the Sink with Tension Rods and Hooks

By simply installing adhesive hooks, you can transform the quagmire of clutter under the sink into an organizational oasis. Here, hooks mounted to the sides of the cabinet carry lightweight gloves and scrubbing brushes, while accompanying shelves shelter household cleaners and wipes.


Related: 9 Handy Under-Sink Organizers to Buy or DIY

abowlfulloflemons.net

The Chef Has Arrived

19/21
Store Kitchen Accessories on the Door

From whisks to saucepan lids, non-standard-shaped kitchen tools call for non-traditional storage solutions. This resourceful vertical storage unit, fashioned from towel racks, offers an ideal home for pots, pans, loose lids and strainers without eating up too much space.


Related:  9 Home Organization Secret Weapons

ikea.com

In the Bag

20/21
Easy Upcycled Kitchen Organizer

Some of the best things in a DIYer’s life are free—and these paper bag kitchen organizers prove it. Folded into mix-and-match storage containers, humble paper bags transform into space-smart organizers that can fit—and instantly clear—cabinet and drawer clutter.


Related: 20 Dollar-Store DIYs for Every Room of the House

auntpeaches.com

A Full Plate

21/21
Keep Small Kitchen Supplies Together with Trays

Don’t relegate kitchen essentials like salt shakers or pepper mills to the back of a cabinet. Keep these mealtime must-haves close at hand on a thrift-store tray. Not only will the portable platter catch impending spills, but it can easily be transported between the kitchen and dining room.


Related: 18 Sneaky Ways to DIY Top-Dollar Decor

ikea.com

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