This post shows you 17 kitchen storage organization hacks to keep your space clutter-free
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If you are anything like me, the kitchen is the heart of your home where everything happens: cooking, cleaning, and often times even gathering with family and friends. It’s an important part of your home, but it can also become a cluttered mess if not organized properly. Whether you’re working with a small apartment kitchen or a spacious kitchen, storage can be a major challenge. Fortunately, there are a lot of creative ways to maximize every inch and keep your kitchen organized, functional, and, beautiful.
Below are 17 kitchen storage organization hacks to keep your space clutter-free. I rounded up these ideas over time, and each of them has really made a difference in my kitchen by helping me stay organized without getting rid of functionality or style.
1. Create Hidden Storage Using Extra Space
I know this is an obvious one, but people do not use the space over their kitchen cabinets! This is a great place to store items like seasonal items, or items you don’t use as much but still want access to, like if you have extra dish sets, baking dishes you rarely use, or big appliances. For organization, I like to use labeled bins or decorative baskets so I can easily access them.
I also like to store extra sets of mugs and holiday-themed kitchen accessories up there. It keeps them out of sight but within reach when I need them, and it avoids the “what do I do with this unused stuff?” problem.
2. Overhead Pot Rack with Multi-Level Hooks
I know, hanging pots and pans from the ceiling isn’t anything new but instead of using a basic rack, an overhead multi-level pot rack can be a game changer. Hang pots, pans, and hang utensils by placing them over your head using storage; this keeps that area clear with a lot left over.
I had a custom multi-tiered rack installed above my island; this helped me keep heavier pots on the bottom and lighter ones towards the top. This gives the kitchen some design flare while keeping items accessible and tidy.
3. Hidden Drawers Inside Cabinet Doors
Instead of setting up an over-the-door organizer for spices or cleaning products, take it up a notch and set up hidden pull-out drawers inside your cabinet doors. These slim, custom pull-out units are the perfect solution to store your everyday spices, small jars, and cleaning tools in a way that is hidden yet accessible.
This has been a lifesaver in my own kitchen—I no longer have a cluttered spice drawer, and the best part is that the pull-out drawers are hidden from view when the cabinet doors are closed.
4. DIY Repurpose Old Drawers
If you have old, unused drawers lying around, you don’t need to throw them away. Repurpose them as inside drawer dividers for your kitchen. Cut them to size, and use them to organize either kitchen tools or utensils, and you can create small sections inside large drawers. It’s a smart way to recycle and save on buying new organizers.
I used an old drawer to create dividers in my main utensil drawer. It holds all my spoons, spatulas, and knives separately, which gives it a clean and organized look.
5. Multi-Tiered Drawer Units
Pantries can often turn into a chaotic mess. Instead of just piling items, invest in multi-tiered drawer units that let you organize cans, boxes, and snacks into neat rows. This vertical storage method keeps things stacked but easily visible, so you can grab what you need whenever you need it.
For my pantry, I replaced traditional shelving with adjustable, multi-tiered drawers that optimized space and made it so much easier to find items. I also added some clear acrylic bins to group similar items like pasta and grains.
6. Under-Cabinet Storage with a Sliding Tray
Generally speaking, the area under your cabinet isn’t always organized, and items buried in those corners can make it difficult to access. Placing sliding trays or pull-out platforms to your lower cabinets helps you access every inch of that space. These are great for storing heavier stuff or less used kitchen items that usually can be out of reach.
I added sliding trays to the very bottom of my lower cabinets and I can now reach my bulky appliances, like my stand mixer or air fryer easily and without a hassle.
7. Vertical Plate Rack on Back of Your Cabinet Doors
Most people use either shelves or drawer space for plates, but a vertical plate rack mounted inside of a cabinet door can help free up space while also keeping your plates organized and accessible. The vertical set up adds a factor of design to give your kitchen an organized and neat look.
I used to have a vertical plate rack inside of one of my pantry doors in my kitchen. It looked neat and it maximized my space, it kept plates from stacking up and taking over much needed shelf space.
8. Make a Pull-Down Drying Rack
While most drying racks sit on countertops, a pull-down drying rack that attaches to the underside of a cabinet or wall is going to save you sooo much space! This lets you keep your drying rack hidden when not in use but still have it be readily accessible when you need it.
9. Use Ladders or Stools for Top Cabinet Access
Instead of stacking items up high on cabinets and reaching for them, try out hanging decorative ladders or a small stool you can always put away when you don’t need it. This makes it a lot more safe and easier to access when reaching for those higher-up shelves.
I keep a little step stool next to my pantry, this is a game changer for when I reach for anything that’s sitting on my top shelf like kitchen appliances that I don’t use on a daily basis.
10. Hide Small Appliances in Pull-Out Drawers
Instead of unnecessary clutter on your countertop, store your small appliances in pull-out drawers. A custom built pull-out drawer can be designed to fit a toaster, blender, coffee machine and other kitchen appliances to keep them out of sight but still within easy reach when it’s time to use them.
11. Spice Jars and Magnetic Storage
It’s time to toss out the big and bulky spice rack and to instead use magnetic spice jars that attach right on the side of your fridge or a metal panel on your wall. You can easily find magnetic jars online or even DIY by attaching magnets to small glass jars (and add your spices!)
I recently added a magnetic spice rack to the side of my fridge, and not only is it functional but it’s also stylish. It keep my spices handy and it adds a touch of personality to my kitchen decor.
12. DIY a Wine Rack for Extra Dish Storage
A wine rack doesn’t have to be just for wine, you can also use it as a dish rack for plates, bowls, or any small kitchen appliances, even things like as napkins or dish towels. You can use either wall-mounted wine racks or ones that sit on the counter depending on your preferences and how much space you have available.
13. Under Cabinet Lighting with Hidden Storage
When you think of under-cabinet lighting, you probably think of task lighting or accent lighting. But what if you combined lighting with hidden storage. Use the space under your cabinets for a slim pull-out drawer or hidden shelf that stores baking sheets, foil, or cleaning products, all while keeping them out of sight.
My under-cabinet drawers became the perfect place for storing my baking essentials, and the hidden storage design gives my kitchen a smooth and clean look.
14. Storage Containers for Pantry Organization
If you have a small gap between your refrigerator and your pantry or cabinets, use it to add tall, slender storage containers. These can help store some pantry items, like cereals, pasta, or snacks that fit into tight spaces.
I had found a set of narrow, stackable containers that fit between my fridge and pantry. It was the perfect place to store items like pasta and rice, which always take up room for no apparent reason.
15. Drawers on Your Kitchen Island
If your kitchen has an island, don’t just think about it as extra counter space, think about adding drawers or sections that you can pull out where you can store your flatware, kitchen towels, or extra appliances. Doing this can reduce clutter by keeping all your essentials within easy reach but still out of sight.
16. Trash and Recycling for Cleaning Countertops
A pull-out trash and recycling bin placed inside of a cabinet is an super practical way to keep your kitchen clean. This keeps your trash can out of sight and reduces the chance of trash accumulating on your countertops.
I set up pull-out bins in my kitchen, this makes taking out the trash so much easier and keeps my space from looking cluttered or dirty.
17. Customizable Drawer Inserts
Sometimes, organizing isn’t just about adding more storage, but instead, it can be about using space to the best of your ability. You can customize drawer inserts to be used to keep your cooking utensils, or even baking equipment for better and efficient organization.
These 17 kitchen storage organization hacks offer more than just creative ideas, they can help you organize your kitchen in a practical and space-saving way.
