Throw in the Towels
Make room for everyday meal prep by moving your paper towels out of the way—and out of sight. Hung on the back of the cabinet door, this chrome rack keeps a roll accessible for spills and splatters, meaning it won't compete with cutting boards or the all-important coffeemaker for valuable kitchen real estate any longer. Available on Amazon; $13.83.
Related: 9 Handy Under-Sink Organizers to Buy or DIY
Shelf Help
Double the storage behind cabinet doors simply by sliding hanging baskets over each existing plank in your pantry. Their simple design enhances adjustable and non-adjustable wooden shelves alike, finally filling the wasted vertical space above a collection of short food cans or stack of plates. Available on Amazon; $16.87 for two.
Related: 13 Unexpected Uses for Baskets
Get a Grip
The fridge, for many households, is a convenient destination for notes, reminders, and greeting cards from Not so convenient is the clutter that your icebox memo board brings to the kitchen. Tame the mess with a sleek, magnetic fridge organizer that's long and sturdy enough to hold all of your important stuff in one place. Available on Amazon; $24.95.
Related: 9 Terrific Tools Every Neat Freak Needs
For Good Measure
Good cooking doesn't have to be complicated, and neither does kitchen storage. Press down, and these collapsible measuring cups shrink down to fit into any crammed cabinet. And since they're made of non-stick silicone, the entire set is dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup. Available on Amazon; $7.99 for set of four.
Related: 12 Bite-Size Projects to Rescue Your Tiny Kitchen
Drawer Dreams
Maybe this sounds familiar: Seemingly as soon as you unpack from a trip to the market, the built-in drawers in your refrigerator get packed to the brim—so packed that they're difficult to open and close. Have you ever wished there were additional storage compartments at your disposal? Here's an easy way to make your dream of more drawers come true. Simply retrofit your fridge with pull-outs that fit snugly over the shelves, giving you extra spaces to put the loose items threatening to clutter the main compartment. Problem solved! Available at Amazon; $31.99 for set of two.
Related: 14 Instant Fixes for a Total Pantry Makeover
Two Birds
Oh, the joy of killing two birds at once: Free up space where you need it most—on your countertop surfaces (or in your cabinet drawers—while keeping your everyday kitchen knives within arm's reach. It's as simple as mounting a magnetic knife holder like this one. Place the strip in whatever position would be most convenient for your cooking habits, be it adjacent to the stove, behind the sink, or on the side of the refrigerator. Available at Amazon; $17.99.
Stack Attack
Plastic storage containers are a necessary evil of the kitchen. While we need them to house our leftovers and lunches, its almost impossible to keep each base matched with the proper lid—not to mention finding a successful organization strategy for inside the cabinets. Eliminate the madness with these classic versions from Rubbermaid. Not only are they shaped to hold maximum food in the smallest amount of space, but they also boast easy-find lids that snap together as well as on their specified containers. A clear cabinet has never been so easy (or inexpensive). Available on Amazon; $29.85.
Related: Recipe for Success - 10 Easy Kitchen Storage Hacks
Turn a New Leaf
Spices, condiments, and other cooking ingredients can get lost in tall cabinets or deep in corners. Enter the lazy Susan, which serves as a rotating shelf that allows you to quickly and painlessly locate everything you need. This Crazy Susan Turntable is made with corner cabinets in mind, and features slide-out shelves to make access even easier. Available on Amazon; $39.99.
Related: 16 New Ways to Store Kitchen Necessities
Divide and Conquer
Hailed as the champions of conquering clutter, there’s no better way to corral a drawer than with adjustable dividers. Snap a few in place to keep utensils organized and at hand, or use a few to delineate writing utensils, keys, or other little extras in the junk drawer. Whatever your method, their low price tag and streamlined results will save you some sanity next time you’re ruffling around for a spatula. Available on Amazon; $21.23.
Related: 10 Surprisingly Smart Solutions for Junk Drawers
Rinse and Fold
The only time that colanders are convenient is when they're being used to rinse fresh fruits and vegetables or to strain pasta. The majority the time, however, these essential tools are taking up precious real estate on a shelf or cabinet. Never so with these 4 quart and 2 quart silicone colanders that fold into flat discs that can be hung on the wall, or slid into a kitchen drawer when not in use. Available on Amazon; $18.99 for three.
Related: 5 Things to Do With... Colanders
Put a Lid on This
One of the home cook's greatest challenges comes before dinner's even on the stove: Where's the lid for this pan? When finding exactly what you need in a cluttered cabinet becomes a chore, it's time for organizational intervention. This clever organizer is a great place to start. Its shelves can expand to fit lids or bakingware of varying sizes, making dinner prep a whole lot easier. Available on Amazon; $17.99.
Related: Buy or DIY - 8 Clever Solutions for Storing Pots and Pans
Don't Miss!
If you have the money to hire a handyman for every household woe, go ahead. But if you want to hang on to your cash and exercise some self-sufficiency, check out these clever products that solve a million and one little problems around the house. Go now!
