Whether you’re taking full rein of your New Year’s refresh or simply want to reset your space (simply because it’s time), the kitchen is a suitable place to start.
If you have a small kitchen or own too many cooking appliances — from air fryers to coffee makers — you understand the struggle of keeping your space in order.
“Limiting what you have in your drawers and cabinets is a real thing for most of us,” Lindsey Hughes, lifestyle content creator on YouTube, Instagram and Tiktok — and professional organizer — told the New York Post.
“I have to be picky with what fits in my kitchen, and when you can see everything and you’ve narrowed it down, then you can create simple organizing systems to make finding items quicker, cooking go smoother, and provide peace of mind.”
To help you keep your kitchen counter clear and your cabinets organized, we turned to a kitchen organization expert, a professional organizer and our personal research to detail the most useful kitchen storage ideas.
In no time, your cooking space will be in tip-top shape for the rest of 2024.
Not to mention, these organization systems will have your Always Pan (which we reviewed) and baking essentials stored like it’s straight out of your favorite home magazine.
Oh, and if you’re looking for cleaning items for the cherry on top, check out our expert-backed guides to the best dishwasher detergents and all-purpose cleaners. Plus, our in-depth FAQ section — following the below products — highlights master tips from our team of organization experts.
Click to jump to a specific organization method:
- Best Kitchen Organization Items
- Best Pantry Organization Items
Best Kitchen Organization Items
The Container Store Large Stacking Bamboo Shelf
“I use the large size of these in my cabinets on my shelves that need division,” Hughes told The Post. “It’s great for lots of mugs or cups, and separating your plates and bowls.”
With a tool-free assembly, this storage solution folds flat when not in use. Additionally, each unit will hold up to 10 pounds evenly distributed on the shelf. The Container Store advises not to stack higher than two units in a cabinet.
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JoyJolt Reusable Glass Milk Bottle
While you certainly don’t need glass milk bottles, plastic grocery containers are sometimes not the photogenic move. Sustainable, practical and refrigerator-chic, we’ve been loving the JoyJolt Reusable Glass Milk Bottle.
Even better, the brand offers these bottles in a three-pack for both the 32-ounce and 64-ounce sizes — perfect for storing your half-gallons and full-gallons alike. The lid is spill-proof, they look elegant atop our refrigerator shelf and we haven’t looked back since.
amazon $36.95 – $45.95 $18.86 – $21.56
VaeFae Bamboo Drawer Dividers (6-Pack)
“They have these in wood shades and white to match the inside of your drawers,” Hughes explains. “They are probably my favorite organizing product in my kitchen. They’re so helpful and they come in short and long lengths!”
Installation couldn’t be easier, either. Each drawer divider has a built-in spring to keep them in place. Both ends of these wooden drawer dividers are covered with built-in foam pads (three cheers for a nonslip design!) to protect your drawer from scratches.
The Container Store 3-Tier Bamboo Expanding Spice Shelf
“I use this inside one of my kitchen cabinets to store my spices,” Hughes shares. “It fits a lot, and is expandable! I love the bamboo.”
Expanding from 12 to 23 inches, they’re a staple for any kitchen cabinet. For more options, check out our guide to the best spice racks.
NETANY 36-Piece Spice Jars with Bamboo Lids
“These changed my life,” Hughes puts it — straight to the point. And, real talk — when a professional home organizer says there’s a product that, quite literally, is life-changing, we’re all ears.
“Having all my spices be cohesive is so pleasing and beautiful to look at when I open the cabinet!” she continues. “I buy most of my spices in bulk, which is cheaper, so this just makes sense! I promise, it you do it, you’ll never look back!”
amazon $39.99
Brightroom 15″ Lazy Suzan Turn Table
Lazy Susans are useful not just for al fresco entertaining during BBQ season (perhaps with one of the best outdoor patio furniture recommendations we have on deck). Ba-dum-tis.
“I use the big one of these under my sink for all my cleaning sprays and products,” Hughes shares. “It spins and there are multiple sizes! These are also great for oils and vinegars inside a cabinet, or in your pantry for jars and spreads.”
YouCopia StoreMore Expandable Cookware Rack
“If you’re limited on kitchen cabinet storage, a divided rack to hold your pans and lids will be a game changer!” Hughes says. “Just make sure you measure correctly. It really utilizes the vertical space in a cabinet.”
Not to mention, YouCopia is both a prized and trusted brand for home organization, for both kitchen and bathroom storage alike.
ClearSpace Plastic Storage Bins
“There are so many of these on the market, but clear cabinet bins are helpful in so many different rooms and spaces — under your sink, to hold smaller appliance parts or water bottles, in the pantry if you like!” Hughes lists. “Try to find ones that fit your cabinet measurements nicely.”
These bins are available in packs of two, four, six and eight to customize your space *exactly* how you see fit.
amazon $24.99 – $69.99
The Home Edit 10-Piece Clear Plastic Drawer Organizers
“It says they’re for bath, but they are amazing for any drawers with little or medium items,” Hughes says, recommending The Home Edit’s 10-Piece Clear Plastic Drawer Organizers. “This is amazing for a utility or junk drawer that most us have in our kitchen!”
Namely, this is perfect to stash all of your pens, Post-It notes, can openers and any miscellaneous items you want out of sight — but reachable.
Pipishell Bamboo Expandable Drawer Organizer for Utensils
“This silverware drawer organizer is a complete game-changer,” Hughes notes. “This is the first organizing product I bought for my kitchen probably 10 years ago, and I still have and love it! It also fits kitchen utensils and some knives, too.”
With a dreamy bamboo aesthetic and more than 38,000 rave reviews, this item is one we have our eye on just as much as Hughes.
Best Pantry Organization Items
Brightroom Expandable 3-Tier Shelf
“I use this in my pantry to store my canned goods,” Hughes shares. “It’s expandable depending on what size space you have to work with. If you have a walk in pantry or a good amount of canned goods, this is completely worth it!”
Additionally, the Brightroom Expandable 3-Tier Shelf is budget-friendly (less than $15!) and offers a pedestal on which your spices, condiments and small jars can thrive.
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OXO Good Grips 20-Piece POP Container Set
Aren’t these *so* satisfying? We used them in our college apartment (right above the stovetop burner) and we loved opening the cabinet doors to see a neat row of linguine pasta, rolled oats and almond granola — all in a well-organized line.
We found them durably made and equally as great for a spare storage closet or pantry you may have. As their name suggests, all you do is pop open and press down the top lid and you’ll find your ingredients and pantry items airtight, fresh and uncontaminated.
“I just got these for my bigger bulk goods, like flour, sugar, and brown rice,” Hughes shares, also recommending the brand’s products. “They are a little more expensive because they’re airtight, so they’re great for baking items, cereal, things that can easily go stale. They are a perfect size for me, but they make these airtight containers in many sizes too!”
More, the brand also sells a five-piece set ($55) and 10-piece set ($113), should you not want the full throttle and desire to save a bit more.
amazon $229.95
Brightroom Woven Hyacinth Milk Crate
“These hyacinth baskets from Target come in two sizes and hold snacks, crackers, chips, baking supplies, and single serve items perfectly!” Hughes says. “I like a neutral basket in the pantry compared to a big clear bin, because it helps everything look clean and not visually loud. These are a little pricey, but worth it!”
Though an investment, you won’t have to worry about the quality dipping off after only a few weeks of use. Plus, as you reorganize, you may place them in another room — possibly beside your coffee table to store magazines and other reading material.
The Container Store Deep Stacking Natural Bamboo Bin
“I love how versatile these are!” Hughes says. “I use these stacked in my pantry for grab and go items like protein bars and popcorn bags. They are so helpful and utilize that vertical space on a shelf beautifully!”
The Container Store offers these bins in small, medium, large and divided-large sizes — all at reachable price points. Oh, and you’ll appreciate how each bin was designed with thick sides and a raised base for secure stacking. This allows you to personalize your storage options for nearly any area of your home — kitchen included.
Brightroom Clear Plastic Food Storage Container
“I use these to store dry bulk goods,” Hughes notes., “They’re great for pasta, rice, nuts, sugar. etc. There are a few different sizes, too!”
From our research, they’re affordable alternatives to some similar options you may find elsewhere.
Brightroom Small Clear Plastic Food Storage Container
And, here are the small ones. “I use these small ones to store baking powder, baking soda, pine nuts, little things like that,” Hughes explains. “They match the medium sized ones and store nicely in front of them, so you can see everything!”
Because of their fun-sized nature (and, only $4 price tag), you’ll find yourself buying them in bulk (which is what we recommend, too).
Brightroom Wire Natural Wood Handles Milk Crate
“I adore these bins!” Hughes says. “I use the larger white ones to store my snacks and sweets. They are so cute and also fit a lot!”
We particularly love these baskets as well for their open-concept design so you can easily reach for and grab whatever’s stashed inside.
Brightroom Rectangular Wire Natural Wood Handles Basket
These are a smaller, narrower version of the milk crates above. “They’re great on a pantry shelf to hold mac and cheese, rice boxes, or bread and bagels,” Hughes lists. “They also look great inside a kitchen cabinet!”
Because of their long-form design, they’ll house well on a rolling cart as well — think: your home’s cleaning cart — to store laundry detergent, hardwood floor cleaners and more.
Yazi Hanging Pantry Onion Basket (Set of 3)
Hughes recommends hanging baskets to store additional items, though the Yazi Hanging Pantry Onion Basket are what caught our attention — and, a space-saving option that Hughes certainly approves of. Not to mention, they’ll store your onions and shallots wonderfully, allowing you to pick them up when you’re cooking.
“I use baskets to store some of my back-stock items on the floor of my pantry,” Hughes notes. “If you have the space for something like that, they are beautiful and add some decor, and are very functional!”
amazon $24.99
Seseno Can Organizers (Set of 4)
“These hold nine cans comfortably, but you can stack them up higher, too,” Hughes explains. “I use one of these inside my fridge but also four of them in my pantry to hold our canned drinks. We always seem to have a lot and it is a good use of floor storage space if you have room!”
Hint hint: you *may* want to pick up some OLIPOP. The brand is one of our favorites.
amazon $11.99
The Container Store Bin Clip Labels
“These are amazing if you want to label your baskets and bins,” Hughes recommends. “They fit nicely on most containers and come in many colors! I use the black ones in my pantry.”
The Container Store offers these easy organization essentials in either a three-pack or a 10-pack to best coincide with your pantry size and how many bins you’d like to label.
An FAQ on Kitchen Storage Items
Ahead, seasoned home organizers share all the secrets for tidying up one of your most-frequented spaces in your humble abode.
“Organizing is a process. It can seem overwhelming to start. I suggest working in not only one room at a time, but one area at a time. One week you could focus on your under-kitchen sink storage area, and the next week your cabinets, one at a time.”
Lindsey Hughes, lifestyle content creator on YouTube, Instagram and Tiktok — and professional organizer
How can I maintain a well-organized kitchen?
You can begin implementing several Marie Kondo-quality tips, but it’s best to start by decluttering and categorizing what you already have, per Hughes.
“You don’t have to do this all in one day; take it one area at a time,” she told The Post. “Start with drawers, move to cabinets, or whatever you have time for. This is how we begin our process at the organizing company I work for. Once everything is laid out, take inventory of what you have, and I encourage you to try and donate or sell some less used items.”
And, if you haven’t touched it in a year, or have many multiples of the same thing, Hughes encourages you to edit it down. “It makes such a difference when you can see everything that you have,” she emphasizes.
Next, decide if you’d like to use organizing product. “You can get creative if you don’t want to spend a lot, or slowly add products to help you organize over time,” Hughes says. “Start placing your items back, one space at a time, with like categories together. Put your more used items at the front of a shelf for example, and try not to overcrowd your spaces too much.”
As for maintaining, a rule Hughes tries to implement is as follows: if something new comes into the kitchen that you already have multiples of (water bottles, mugs, wine openers), I try to let one go if I bring a new one in.
“I love donating things and clearing out space!” Hughes says, enthusiastically. “I find I never miss the old item once it’s gone. Check-in with your categories every three to six months. You can touch up your organization, tidy up inside your drawers and take stock of what you have accumulated since your initial organization.”
How do I organize pots and pans?
According to Hughes, organizing pots and pans is no easy feat. “I only have one cabinet that can fit pots and pans in my kitchen, so again, my first step is only keeping what I use all the time,” she says. “I use a divider to hold my everyday pans and keep the lids on the side all together and that is really helpful because I don’t have to grab out four pans at once to access the one on the bottom.”
If you’re really short on space, here’s an expert-backed tip: you can nest smaller pots inside bigger ones and organize them back and forth in your cabinet or deep drawer. “I also use the warming drawer under my oven to store all my baking sheets, and if you’re not already utilizing that space, it can be a game changer!” she added. “I never need to use the warming drawer anyway.”
How do I organize my pantry?
We must admit, we become a bit *too* passionate about pantry organization at times. And, we must place (good) blame where blame is due: Pinterest.
However, Hughes says the pantry is her favorite place in her house, so it goes to show how an aesthetically pleasing and practically organized space can make a world of difference.
“Luckily, organizing products can really help you here if you’re short on space,” she notes. “I would again start by taking everything out of the space and getting rid of expired or unused food. Be strict if you are low on storage; if you haven’t used it once in nine to 12 months, donate it to a food bank (if still fresh) or toss if it’s expired.”
Also, you want to make sure you’re caught up on grocery shopping before you organize your pantry, — so do this right after a shop!
Hughes would highly recommend at least some organizing product for your food storage. “If it comes in a bulky box or packaging, it’s likely taking up more space than it needs to be!” she says. “I love the clear food storage container options from Target and OXO, and Amazon has many too.”
Based on your budget and what you normally buy, try to get some containers that will help you save space. “I personally love buying my dry goods and baking goods in bulk, and storing them in clear containers or large mason jars,” Hughes adds. “This way you can keep a ‘back-stock’ if needed, and only keep a small amount in your food cabinet or pantry. If you have more space to work with, you can get more creative about storing cans, drinks and larger items.“
If your space allows, organizing snacks and larger food items like chips and sweets in baskets is Hughes’ method of choice. “I prefer this over clear bins, because it helps to cover up all the visual noise from the colors of packaging,” she suggests. “That is something I learned at my job and it helps to make the space feel calm and tidy. If you want to get really into it, you can add labels to your baskets and clear containers. This is just personal preference of course!”
Lastly, organize drinks in clear can organizers, and use an expandable can shelf organizer for all canned goods. “This helps because you can layer them and really utilize the vertical height of a shelf,” Hughes says.
The best cabinet organization ideas, per an expert
“Cabinets tend to get cluttered quickly, so it’s important there’s a spot for everything,” Kim McGee, chief home officer at Riverbend Home, told the New York Post. “My first tip would be to maximize vertical space on the inside of the cabinet doors.”
Another idea is to store the items you don’t use daily towards the back of the cabinet, that way your go-to kitchen tools are located front and center when it comes time to cooking.
The best pantry organization ideas, per an expert
Pantries are our go-to when we want to keep our countertops clean, so it’s easy to shove things away, however, that stash piles up quickly.
“With a help of a spice drawer, you can stack these drawers on top of each other to allow for more storage space,’ McGee recommends. “You can also insert a Lazy Susan serving tray into the pantry so that with just a quick spin, you can find exactly what you’re looking for.”
The best drawer organization ideas, per an expert
You guessed it: one of the best ways to organize your drawers is to insert a drawer organizer.
“Kitchen drawer dividers are another great option to separate utensils inside drawers, easily separating your forks from your knives from your spoons,” McGee adds. Looking for one made of bamboo ensures a natural, strong, durable and sustainable material will keep all of your items safely organized at arm’s reach.
Hughes also sings praises for drawer dividers in the kitchen. “They have been the biggest game-changer for me,” she says. “They have several colors and a few different lengths to match and fit any drawers. This allows you to categorize within the drawer, and keep items from hitting each other or covering each other up.”
Additional kitchen storage ideas, per an expert
“A storage trend we’re seeing right now is ‘back kitchens,’ McGee begins. “Consumers are utilizing spaces in other areas of their homes to store kitchen items, due to limited storage space in their kitchens.”
Uniquely, you can add a bar cart or wine fridge to other areas of your home to save some kitchen space.
Check out the New York Post Shopping section for more content.
