58 Kitchen Organizing Ideas to Make Your Space Less Cluttered and More Inviting

Create an Open Pantry

Store frequently used pantry items in identical glass jars and display them on shelves at the short end of a kitchen island to keep them accessible, like this kitchen from Velinda Hellen Design. Install brass railings to keep storage jars securely in place.

Add Hidden Storage

Look for hidden storage opportunities to keep your kitchen organized and tidy. Jessica Nelson Design added storage drawers under the corner banquette seating in this cozy eat-in kitchen that is painted in the same color and finished with the same hardware as the base cabinetry for a cohesive feel.

Add a Spice Shelf

In a smaller space, hang a narrow shelf above the range to keep spices and seasonings within arm's reach, like this space from Velinda Hellen for Emily Henderson Design.

Style a Marble Board

Use a marble cutting board to organize items on a kitchen countertop, like this kitchen from Fantastic Frank. There's also a wall-mounted mini pantry which is perfect to store all cooking ingredients like spices and dried goods in plain sight while keeping kitchen countertops clear.

Use a Tiered Fruit Basket

Organize fresh produce in a simple tiered fruit basket that you can keep on your countertop to add color while reminding you to use it up, like this kitchen from A Beautiful Mess.

Add Floating Shelves

If you are a maximalist who likes displaying decor objects alongside kitchen items, install floating shelves that you can style with everything from cookbooks to family photos, plants, and storage vessels, like this boho-style space from Casa Watkins Living.

Try Hanging Shelves

Keep everyday items organized and visible while preserving a light and airy look by hanging shelves from the ceiling in place of upper cabinetry, like this farmhouse kitchen from Becca Interiors.

Use Every Inch of Space

Maximize vertical space with narrow floor-to-ceiling shelving that doesn't waste an inch of square footage and will allow you to quickly locate and grab items, like this hidden pantry from Michelle Berwick Design.

Add Double Height Cabinets

In a smaller kitchen with high ceilings, optimize vertical space by hanging double height cabinets that reach the ceiling. Becca Interiors added a library-style ladder to reach the upper storage in this New York City apartment kitchen that is both stylish and functional.

Add Cookbook Shelves

If you like to keep your cookbook collection nearby, display them in all of their mutli-colored glory on built-in shelves at the front of a kitchen island like this London space from Studio Peake.

Create a Cabinet Pantry

Save space in a small kitchen or reduce clutter in a larger one by turning a base cabinet into a pantry stocked with daily essentials in clearly labeled jars and baskets, like this space from NEAT Method.

Add Freestanding Shelves

If you live in an apartment without a pantry, create an open pantry using freestanding shelves, like this eat-in kitchen from Fantastic Frank that is decorated in black, white, and silver for an industrial farmhouse feel.

Install Pull-Out Drawers

Turn a deep and narrow built-in into a functional storage space with pull-out drawers that will ensure you can easily access whatever you need without the risk that it will get lost at the back of the closet, like this kitchen from Tina Ramchandani Creative.

Mix and Match Shelving

Optimize a small or irregularly shaped kitchen pantry with a mix of affordable store-bought and DIY shelving to maximize every inch of the space.

Most Lovely Things mixed free-standing IKEA shelves to house large glass storage jars with narrow custom-built corner shelving above. A chalkboard for keeping a grocery list adds a practical and homey touch.

Choose Monochromatic Pieces

If you like a lot of stuff but want to cut down on visual clutter, stick to all-white dishware and tableware.

Thistlewood Farms added wrap-around U-shaped shelving painted white and stacked with all-white dishware that accommodates a stockpile of items without looking cluttered in this kitchen butler's pantry.

Organize a Baking Pantry

If you're an avid baker, organize supplies together, like this space from A Beautiful Mess that includes a section devoted to a collection of colorful sugar cookie toppings stored in glass jars and displayed on risers.

Install an Appliance Garage

If you use your mixer and your blender on the regular but don't like the look of them cluttering up your countertops, consider installing a countertop appliance garage.

In this kitchen designed by Julie Rose for Velinda Hellen Design, the appliances are housed in a countertop cabinet with a door that folds up and out of the way for easy access, and hides bulky appliances when not in use.

Use Drawer Dowel Organizers

Drawers are a small kitchen's best friend. Emily Henderson Design stored a set of matching white dishware in pull-out drawers using upright dowels that keep everything in place, a good solution for those who don't have the space for upper cabinetry or prefer a more minimalist look.

Choose Decorative Canisters

One way to keep basic dry products organized is to pick canisters you love to look at. Implement a design that will function in an organizational capacity but also act as decor for your kitchen. That way, you don't have to take up space with supplemental decor.

Use Wall Space

To recreate this stylish and functional look, hang up circular cork boards on a kitchen wall. Next, print some fun and inspirational quotes. Finally, tack up important notes, shopping lists, and reminders to keep you on task.

Organize Dish Towels

Stack dish towels vertically using a divider to store potholders and other kitchen linens. There will be wasted space if the drawer is deeper than a vertically folded dish towel, so try to pick a drawer that's the right size for your folded towels.

Label Canisters

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. That creates a uniform look and ensures that everything will stay in its place.

Store Cleaning Products

Under-sink storage can easily go from under control to chaotic. To keep things orderly, attach a small basket to the inside of the cabinet door using damage-free picture hanging strips. Store items such as dishwasher tabs, sponges, and other everyday objects that you don't want to dig around to find.

Keep Plastic Bags Tidy and Out of the Way

The most functional kitchens are the ones where there is a designated place for everything. Create a DIY storage solution for plastic bags using an empty oatmeal container.

Organize Tea in a Drawer

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.

Add Wall Storage

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 vertical wall storage project. If this aesthetic doesn't appeal to you, change out the containers to better fit your style.

Organize the Fridge

Organizing the fridge will allow you to scan the contents and avoid food waste. Keep items that you use often at eye level. Store meat on the lowest shelf, which is the coolest.

Set Up a Command Center

Command centers that house family calendars, important papers and mail, and charging stations can get busy fast. Keep everything organized and out of sight until you need it by stationing the center inside a kitchen cabinet. Use magnetic chalkboard paint to get started.

Hang a Chalkboard

If you have a blank wall in your kitchen that is serving no purpose, paint it with chalkboard paint. It can serve to keep grocery lists and meal plans organized. And it can keep young children distracted while you cook.

Use Countertop Trays

The key to keeping countertops looking polished and neat is to use trays and stands to organize items. In this kitchen, all the coffee items are on one tray, fruit sits on another tray, and dry good canisters are on a third tray.

Try a Lazy Susan

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.

Use Drawer Organizers

It might seem easier to 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 drawer and organizing the containers by size using drawer dividers.

Add Mug Hooks

Leaving things out in the open that you use every day isn't cluttering—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.

Repurpose Vintage Items

There are plenty of items to keep clean and organized by the kitchen sink, including brushes, sponges, and dish soap. Keep all your dish brushes together in a stylish way by incorporating a vintage porcelain container that you can keep next to the sink. 

Use Vertical Cabinet Space

Cramming plates, glasses, or mugs into your cabinets can result in chipped and broken cups, especially when they're stacked too high. That type of stacking makes them hard to reach, too. Fix this common problem with inexpensive cabinet risers. These kitchen helpers create valuable extra shelf space for cabinet organization.

Hang Paper Towels

Many paper towel holders sit directly on the countertop wasting valuable space. Hang paper towels underneath your kitchen cabinets or open shelving instead. If you can't find a holder that matches your decor it's easy enough to make your own.

Make a DIY Spice Rack

If your spices need a place to go, consider making a DIY spice rack to store your favorites by the stove, at the end of a cabinet, or inside a drawer.

Use a Door Storage Rack

Use the backs of your kitchen cabinet or pantry doors for storage. Specially designed door racks hold more than shelves in some cases. Use this area to store food that you want readily accessible, such as snacks for the kids.

Try a Freestanding Pantry

Storage and organizing become much trickier when a kitchen lacks a pantry. To make up for the lost space, opt for a freestanding pantry.

Repurpose a piece of furniture, such as a storage locker, chest of drawers, bookshelf, or armoire, that will give you all the space you crave.

Store Baking Pans Vertically

Any organizer that has vertical slats, such as a sturdy mail or file organizer, will work to keep your baking pans accessible inside a kitchen cabinet. Also, look for inexpensive vertical cabinet dividers in a home improvement store that you can easily install.

Store Coffee on a Cart

Sometimes it doesn't make sense to keep a coffee pot on a counter crowded with other appliances. It might be more practical to store coffee-related items on a small rolling cart. You can roll the cart to guests and return it to the kitchen when finished.

Repurpose File Holders

File holders and magazine organizers are the perfect desk accessory to use for kitchen organization. If you plan on storing produce in them, opt for wire holders that have plenty of openings for air circulation. Plus, adding labels can ensure that everything is in its place.

Use a Tiered Tray

Tiered trays (especially if they twirl) work well for storing everyday kitchen items. Keep items, such as snacks and teas, on tiered trays to give your kitchen a bit of a café vibe. It prevents little items from becoming clutter, and it makes good use of vertical space.

Display Everyday Items

There are pros and cons to having open kitchen shelving. The benefits include quick and easy access to items and a place to show off your prettiest kitchenware. One big con: dust. Avoid the problem by using open shelves for items you use frequently.

Hang Measuring Cups

Many measuring cups and utensils already have a hole for hanging, so attach them to the inside of a cabinet door for easy access. Make this setup even more useful by adding common measuring conversion graphics to the door. It looks cute, and you'll have the correct measurements at your fingertips.

Organize Utensils

A typical utensil drawer is a mishmash of various sized spoons and whisks that require digging to find. Fix the issue by adding dividers to the utensil drawer, just as you have in the silverware drawer. You'll have an easier time reaching for what you need in the middle of cooking.

Keep Essentials Handy

Cook like a chef by keeping a tray or basket next to the stove that holds your frequently used cooking items. Items you might keep nearby include olive oil, salt and pepper, vinegar, and common cooking utensils. Arrange them all tidy and grouped on a tray.

Create a Lunch Station

If you pack lunch for kids—or for yourself—it can be incredibly helpful to have everything prepped in a specific zone of your pantry and fridge.

For instance, keep bins in your pantry filled with containers of nuts, chips, and other shelf-stable foods you typically add to your lunch. And designate a space in your fridge for the refrigerated items you typically grab.

Use Transparent Storage

A clear drawer can be a game-changer when it comes to storing your kitchen garbage bags. When they’re stored in the box they came in, it’s easy to accidentally pull out more than one bag. A clear drawer with a cutout handle allows you to see what you’re doing when you pull a bag through the cutout.

Use Stacking Baskets

There are many ways to maximize vertical space in the pantry. And one is simply to add a set of baskets that stack neatly on top of one another. Be sure to use see-though baskets made of materials like wire or plastic that will allow you to see inside.

Add Can Risers

It’s all too easy for canned foods to get lost and forgotten in the pantry. And sometimes that might mean the food expires or you end up buying more than you need.

That’s where can risers come in. They elevate your cans in tiers to allow you to see every single one. As a bonus: They’re inexpensive and easy to fit on most shelves.

Try Label Clips

If you own food storage bins that don’t have an easy way to attach a label, such as a woven basket, consider label clips. These simple clips can be attached to most types of bins. You can write directly on them with a dry erase marker, or use the business card-size paper insert.

Add Under-Cabinet Shelving

If there’s a decent amount of space between your upper cabinets and your kitchen countertop, consider adding shelving under the cabinets. On it, you can store canisters of frequently used items, such as coffee and tea. Or you can use the shelving to keep glasses and mugs easily accessible, to keep small appliances off of your countertops, and more.

Store Seasonings Together

Make your life a little easier by keeping kitchen items as close as possible to where you use them. Store frequently used spices and seasonings in the cabinets nearest to your stove.

Consider an Open Pantry

Consider using open shelving for your pantry items. Due to the added visibility, this should encourage you to “shop” your pantry when you’re thinking about what to cook.

Create a Semi-Open Pantry

If you like the idea of an open pantry but still want your food behind closed doors—for instance, to keep young children or pets out—consider glass doors. You’ll still be able to easily take inventory of what’s in the pantry.

Add Lower Pantry Cabinets

Walk-in pantries often only come equipped with shelving. But if you have the space, adding lower cabinets with shelving above can do wonders for your kitchen organization. You can hide bulky and infrequently used items in the cabinets while still keeping the items you need regularly at your fingertips on the shelves.

Add a Knife Drawer

It can be a bit risky to keep cutting utensils in various drawers among other kitchen items and have to dig through them to find the item you need. Instead, consider dedicating a drawer to all your cutting utensils: knives, peelers, pizza cutters, etc. Add a knife dock to the drawer, which can fit most types of knives even if they’re not part of a set. And add drawer dividers as necessary.