I didn’t realize how frustrating a messy kitchen could be until I lived with one every day.
No matter how often I cleaned, the counters still felt crowded, drawers were always stuck, and I could never find what I needed when I needed it.
I searched for kitchen organization ideas, but most of what I found looked beautiful online and didn’t actually work in real life—especially in a small or lived-in kitchen.
What I really needed wasn’t more containers or expensive organizers.
I needed simple, practical ideas that fit into daily routines and didn’t require a full reset every week.
If you’ve ever opened a cabinet and felt overwhelmed, or avoided cooking because your kitchen felt chaotic, this post is for you.
These kitchen organization ideas come from real problems and real trial and error.
They’re meant to help you create a kitchen that works for you—one that feels calmer, easier to manage, and finally makes sense for how you actually live.
1. First Hang Pots and Pans:
Pots and pans take up a lot of space, and when they’re stacked inside cabinets, they often turn into a messy pile that’s hard to manage.
Hanging your pots and pans on wall hooks, a rail, or a simple rack frees up cabinet space and makes everyday cooking easier.
This setup works especially well in small kitchens or apartments where storage is limited.
Keeping your most-used pots within reach saves time, reduces clutter, and helps your kitchen feel more open and organized.
It also turns functional items into part of your kitchen’s decor, making the space feel more lived-in and intentional.
2. Use Drawer Dividers for Utensils:
Drawer dividers keep forks, spoons, knives, and cooking tools in place.
This makes drawers easier to use and prevents everything from mixing together.
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3. Add DIY Pull-Out Organizers in Cabinets:
Deep cabinets can quickly become the most frustrating part of the kitchen.
Items get pushed to the back, forgotten, or piled on top of each other, making even simple tasks feel annoying.
DIY pull-out organizers solve this problem by bringing everything forward with one easy slide.
You don’t need custom cabinets or expensive systems to make this work.
Simple pull-out baskets, rolling trays, or drawer-style organizers can be added to existing cabinets and make a huge difference.
They help you see what you have, keep things organized, and use every inch of space—especially in small or rental kitchens.
Checkout This Amazing DIY Pull Out Organizer For Your Cabinets:
4. Use Clear Containers in Cabinets & Pantry:
t’s hard to stay organized when you can’t see what you have.
Bags get pushed to the back of cabinets, food gets forgotten, and things expire before you ever use them.
Clear containers solve this by letting you see everything at a glance.
Using clear containers in cabinets and the pantry helps keep dry goods, snacks, and baking items neat and easy to find.
They also make shelves look less cluttered and more organized without much effort.
When everything has a visible place, it’s easier to keep the kitchen tidy and restock only what you actually need.
5. Use Shelf Risers For Max Use Of Vertical Space In Your Cabinets:
Shelf risers are versatile organizational tools used to instantly double storage space by creating vertical tiers on shelves, in cabinets, or on countertops.
They are ideal for organizing kitchen items (dishes, spice jars), elevating items in cabinets for better visibility, and displaying retail products
6. Use Stackable Bins:
Stackable bins are versatile, vertically oriented storage containers designed to maximize floor space by nesting or stacking on top of one another.
7. Use Wall-mounted Shelves For Extra Storage:
This shelving unit turned out to be a great storage addition to my kitchen, especially for organizing everyday items without taking up cabinet space.
The shelves feel solid and sturdy, with a faux wood and metal design that looks much more expensive than it is.
I really like that the middle shelf can be flipped downward, which gives flexibility in both storage and styling depending on what you want to place on it.
It mounted securely on standard drywall, and the included hardware worked well for holding kitchen items like jars, dishes, and decor.
I tried it with both two shelves and three shelves, and both setups looked good and worked well for kitchen storage.
It also blends nicely with the rest of the kitchen, so it doesn’t feel like an afterthought.
8. Organize Under the Sink :
L-shaped design with narrow top and wide bottom, leaves space for plumbing and garbage disposal, maximizing the vertical space of the sink.
And the bottom tier leaves a suitable space for your tall bottles, which can solve your cabinet storage troubles.
The under sink organizer is designed as a sliding drawer with handles, can be pulled out smoothly, allowing you to easily access the items stored at the bottom.
9. Use Tension Rods:
Tension rods are versatile, damage-free, and inexpensive tools for maximizing kitchen storage.
Key uses include installing them under sinks to hang cleaning bottles, using them inside cabinets to separate baking sheets/lids, creating spice racks, holding paper towels, or hanging utensils with S-hooks to free up counter space.
10. Keep Countertops Simple:
Limit countertop items to daily essentials like a utensil holder, coffee station, or fruit bowl. Fewer items on the counter instantly make the kitchen feel more organized.
11. Utensil Holder:
A kitchen utensil holder (or crock) keeps essential cooking tools like spatulas, whisks, and spoons organized, sanitized, and within easy reach on the countertop.
It reduces drawer clutter, saves counter space, and prevents cross-contamination, while also serving as a decorative element that matches kitchen aesthetics.
12. You Can Use Rolling Cart For Different Puporses:
A rolling kitchen cart enhances kitchen functionality by providing, portable, and flexible storage, serving as extra counter space, a mobile kitchen island, or a coffee/liquor station.
These versatile units help reduce countertop clutter, organize ingredients, and provide easy mobility, making them ideal for small kitchens and apartments
13. Use Of Refrigerater Door As Storage Option:
Magnetic Shelf For Refrigerator Is Ideal For Fridges, Iron Oven And Other Metal Surfaces, Keeps Spices Conveniently Within Reach And Keep Your Kitchen Looking Organized.
Keep all your spices, salt shaker, olive oil, seasonings, tea, coffee syrup organized in one spot with this magnetic shelves, which hold free up precious countertop/ cabinet space and keep them clear of clutter.
Keep spices conveniently within reach and your kitchen organized.
14. All Spices and Small Items In One Place:
When kitchen space is limited, keeping spices organized can be a real challenge.
This compact 20-jar spice rack is a smart solution for small kitchens, especially in apartments where drawer and cabinet space is already tight.
Its vertical design and rotating base allow you to store a wide variety of spices in one small footprint, making it easy to find what you need without digging through crowded cabinets.
The rotating Lazy Susan base adds everyday convenience, letting you quickly access spices while cooking and keeping countertops or pantry shelves neat.
With commonly used spices and seasonings included, it’s a practical setup for anyone starting fresh in a new apartment or looking for a space-efficient kitchen upgrade.
Overall, it’s a functional, organized way to save space while keeping essential spices within easy reach.
15. Label Everything:
Labels help maintain organization over time. They’re especially useful for pantry containers, storage bins, and shared kitchens.
16. Use Baskets for Grouping:
Baskets help group similar items like oils, spices, or snacks. They also make shelves look more organized and styled.
17. What You Can Say About Over The Door Pantry Organizer:
An over-the-door pantry organizer is designed to make the most of unused space, turning the back of a door into valuable storage.
Instead of taking up shelf or cabinet space, it allows you to store spices, jars, snacks, and small pantry items vertically in one compact area.
This type of organizer is especially helpful in small kitchens or apartments with limited storage, where every inch matters.
By keeping items visible and easy to reach, it reduces clutter and helps you stay organized without adding bulky furniture or extra cabinets.
18. Kitchen Sink Caddy Organzier:
A sink caddy with multiple compartments helps keep your cleaning tools organized in one place.
It lets you separate items like dish soap, sponges, and scrub brushes so they don’t pile up around the sink.
Everything stays neat and easy to reach when you need it.
Most sink caddies are made from water-resistant materials like stainless steel or durable plastic, which makes them easy to clean and long-lasting.
Some even have adjustable sections, so you can fit different-sized items and make better use of the space around your sink.
19. Kitchen Tool Organizer Wall Hanger for Home Goods:
This Type Of rack is sturdy and versatile, effectively holding brooms and mops, Helps like how it keeps cleaning tools organized Using Less Space.
20. Magnetic Knife Block:
A magnetic knife holder is a wall-mounted or freestanding strip used to securely store knives, metal utensils, and tools, saving counter space and protecting blade edges.
It promotes hygiene by allowing air circulation, prevents dulling caused by drawer storage, and offers quick, visible access to tools in kitchens.
21. 3-Tier Spinning Organizer
This spice rack comes with the high-quality ball bearing at the bottom, allowing for a smooth 360° rotation in both directions.
A gentle spin provides easy and quick access to items, saving time as you season each meal.
Place the lazy susan on the kitchen countertop to keep spice jars handy and the cooking area less messy.
22. Countertop Organizer If You Have Corner Shelf:
Corner cabinet organizers are a great way to utilize that small, unused space in your kitchen.
