Kitchens can collect a lot of clutter. Save space (and a little sanity) with these genius kitchen storage ideas.
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Any home cook will tell you that kitchen organization is crucial. After all, you need to know where to easily find ingredients, gadgets and cookware before whipping up a delicious meal. That’s where these kitchen storage ideas come in.
We scoured the internet and our own kitchens for smart solutions that won’t break the bank. After thorough review (and testing a few ourselves!), these are the containers, shelves, organizers and gadgets that will help you make the most of your cabinet and counter space.
Caraway Glass Food Storage Set
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Yamazaki Kitchen Appliance Drawer & Slide Table
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Water Bottle Storage Rack
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OXO Expandable Utensil Drawer Organizer
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Cutting Board Organizer
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Keeki Bread Bag
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Stove Shelf
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Lazy Susan
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Spice Organizer Drawer
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Sliding Pan and Lid Organizer
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Pantry Door Utility Rack
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Shelf Riser
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Sliding Cabinet Organizer
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Dry Goods Containers
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Mudeela Pots and Pans Organizer
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Paper Towel Holder with Spray
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K-Cup Carousel
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Tea Bag Organizer
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Snack Organizer
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Caraway Glass Food Storage Set
Can food storage ever be elegant? It can if it involves this 13-piece set from Caraway. Deputy Editor Katie Bandurski has been using her set for about three years, and it’s held up beautifully. “I love how nice these containers look. I can easily store and serve in the same container. Although it’s a splurge at this price point, Katie says it’s worth it. “The included dividers make it easy to keep organized. And the dot inserts are great for storing dressings, sauces or ingredients you don’t want to get soggy, like croutons.”
Yamazaki Kitchen Appliance Drawer & Slide Table
As much as we love our kitchen appliances, we hate losing precious countertop space to them. Problem solved with this genius storage solution from Yamazaki. It provides a sturdy platform for a small appliance like a toaster or microwave while adding back storage and counter space with a drawer and sliding table.
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Water Bottle Storage Rack
We’d never say that you have too many water bottles, but we might nudge you (and remind ourselves) to find a better way of organizing them in your cabinet. This nifty three-tier shelf from YouCopia does the trick nicely. Each shelf holds up to four water bottles for a total of 12. Permission granted to buy yourself another Stanley tumbler.
OXO Expandable Utensil Drawer Organizer
If your utensil drawer is starting to resemble your junk drawer, you need this OXO utensil organizer. It has all the caddies you need to keep utensils stacked, plus a larger area for longer items and gadgets. It expands to fit your drawer perfectly, and you can easily remove the trays for cleaning.
Cutting Board Organizer
If you’ve got a teetering stack of cutting boards, we’ve got the solution for you. This handy organizer keeps boards standing at attention on your counter or in a cabinet with ease, much like a stand-up desk file. Taste of Home contributor Barbara Bellesi Zito stumbled upon this solution and has recommended it to everyone. “I love how I can stack my cutting boards in the corner of my counter and they’ll stay put. I should probably pare down on my collection of boards, but at least they’re neat and organized!”
Keeki Bread Bag
Editor Emily Way is an avid bread baker and loves using the beeswax-coated Keeki bread bag to store her loaves. She says, “I love that the bags are cute on the outside, yet functional on the inside,” she says. “I never have to worry about opening up a bag of stale bread, which is the most disappointing surprise ever. Plus, it looks so cute on the counter with its crosshatch pattern!”
Stove Shelf
This smart stove shelf creates extra space out of thin air. The magnetic shelf sticks onto the top of the stove, creating a home for frequently used spices and oils. One writer tested the “TikTok Made Me Buy It“-worthy product and says it’s the kitchen update she didn’t know she needed.
Lazy Susan
We could go on and on about our love for Lazy Susans. They’re a genius kitchen counter organization idea because they corral all the essentials: olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, you name it. This plastic option has suction cups on the bottom, which is perfect for organizing the fridge with frequently used items. Content Director Nicole Doster uses hers for condiments.
Spice Organizer Drawer
Stuck learning how to organize your spices? This three-tiered spice shelf transforms cluttered cabinets in seconds. Just pull out each shelf to access your spices. No more fumbling around with the kitchen step stool to find what you need! I’ve used mine for about a month and love the way it’s uncluttered my messy countertop. Plus, the cute look adds flair to otherwise ordinary counters and cabinets. It’s a genius spice storage idea!
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Sliding Pan and Lid Organizer
If you’re frustrated with the way you’re currently storing cookware lids, this sliding lid holder is the answer. Vertical dividers prop lids on their sides, freeing up extra space in cabinets. The best part? It slides forward so you won’t find yourself digging in the back. It’s one of the best pots and pans organizers money can buy—and our Test Kitchen approves!
Pantry Door Utility Rack
Here’s a pantry organization tip you’ll wish you’d known sooner: Over-the-door organizers are a convenient way to add space. We love this pick for pantries because it includes large baskets for holding canned goods, large chip bags or beverage bottles. Plus, the baskets can be rearranged without taking items out of their holders.
Shelf Riser
One of the hardest parts of organizing kitchen cabinets is making sure you’re getting the most use out of their space. And if they’re tall or deep cabinets (or an awkward mix of the two), it’s an even bigger feat—until now. These stackable corner shelf risers instantly add vertical space to kitchen cabinets and countertops, making them ideal for storing serveware or food.
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Sliding Cabinet Organizer
Take advantage of unused space under the sink with this two-tier sliding kitchen organizer for organizing cleaning supplies. Or pop it into a cabinet to easily access gadgets and pantry ingredients. Our Test Kitchen loves how it screws right into the cabinet base, making it much more stable than similar sliding storage units. Also, don’t sleep on adhesives, as noted by Mindy Godding, Certified Professional Organizer and past President of National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO). These can be used in conjunction with sliding organizers like this one.
“The space under the sink is a notoriously under-utilized area for storage,” explains Mindy. “One hack we love to use is to optimize the space on the back of the cabinet door for storage. Adhesive bins are an easy solution for items like dishwasher pods, sponges, scrubbers, soiled reusable towels and rags.”
Dry Goods Containers
Ditch the flimsy packaging and save space with a set of pantry storage containers. Each container is built with an airtight seal and secure lock, ensuring your baking supplies or other dry goods don’t go stale. I use my 10-piece starter set for pasta, flour, sugar, oats and beyond. Grab a brown sugar bear to soak up any moisture and you have the perfect brown sugar container. Pro tip: Add some character to the containers with pantry labels.
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Mudeela Pots and Pans Organizer
Not only does this kitchen cabinet organizer safely store pots, pans and even their lids, but it’s also adjustable to your space. Assemble it one of three ways depending on the size of the cabinet: horizontal with pan handles sticking up (best for organizing baking pans, frying pans and cutting boards); vertical on one side; or vertical on both sides (this takes up the most cabinet space, but it’s best for fitting both pots and pans). Plus, the racks are adjustable, so pots and pans of all sizes can fit. You’ll be thanking yourself for installing the editor-tested Mudeela pots and pans organizer every time you go to grab cookware.
Paper Towel Holder with Spray
There’s really no reason to keep paper towels loose on the counter when there are smart solutions like this paper towel holder. The spring-loaded arm helps tear away exactly the right size. And—get this—it comes with a spray bottle in the middle that you can fill with your own cleaning solution or cleaning tablets! I love how easy it is to spray and wipe the counter when I’m cooking or cleaning, especially since my entire toolset nests together. Choose the metal finish that matches your kitchen aesthetic and instantly free up counter space in the process.
K-Cup Carousel
The Keurig is one of our favorite single-serve coffee makers, but K-cups can quickly turn into an unsightly mess. The solution? This K-Cup carousel. It’s made of sturdy metal, holds a whopping 36 cups and has completely transformed my space. I love that it easily rotates, so you can put out a variety of pods to pick and choose from. It brings a little joy to my mornings to spin the pod holder and decide on my flavor mood.
Tea Bag Organizer
This handsome wood drawer looks like a nice piece of furniture, but it’s really a tea bag organizer. Those subscribed to tea of the month clubs (or who simply enjoy stocking up on their favorites) can stow a generous amount of bags in the eight compartments. Organize by flavor, type or color to easily find your preferred blend. And if you’re not a tea drinker, the insert is removable to fit coffee bags, K-Cups or other kitchen accessories.
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Snack Organizer
This snack organizer works great for keeping counters tidy. Pop in pre-packaged items for a quick bite, or use it to organize kitchen utensils or cleaning supplies. I keep mine on my coffee cart and use it for filters, cones and other odds and ends. It’s also versatile—the interior dividers come out, so it’s easy to personalize to your needs!
Produce Keeper
Produce keepers don’t just keep the fridge nicely organized. Most are specially designed to keep greens fresh for far longer than the crisper. This OXO produce keeper is our favorite of all the options we tested. Not only does it offer an easy guide for figuring out ventilation depending on what’s inside, but it also comes with a charcoal filter. This stops odors and other gases from affecting the produce inside. Talk about a Green Saver!
FAQ
How much kitchen storage do I need?
“Always measure your drawers, shelves, and cabinet dimensions before buying kitchen organizers and look for high-quality, durable products that will stand up to the demands of daily use,” says Mindy. “I also recommend that people look for products that have a similar look and feel to the overall design of their space so that storage solutions are aligned with their preferred style. Solutions that are aesthetically pleasing are more likely to be appreciated and used.”
She also mentions that organizing solutions are meant to improve accessibility and visibility, or to increase capacity in the space. If the product doesn’t help in those areas, it may not be worth the investment.
How do you plan kitchen storage?
“We recommend you start by considering how the layout of your space will impact function,” notes Mindy. “Identify different activity zones based on the placement of major appliances, counter space, storage and outlets: Food prep by the largest section of counter surface, cooking/baking by the range, food storage by the fridge, dishes and flatware by the dishwasher, coffee/tea station by the countertop outlet, lunch-packing station by the pantry, etc.”
What are some kitchen organizing tips?
“Most drawer organizers come in dimensions that are multiples of 3 inches (3×3, 3×6, 3×9, 6×6, 6×12, etc.),” says Mindy. “If you have leftover space in a drawer, use museum putty on the bottom of drawer organizers to keep them fixed in place so they won’t slide around when the drawer is in motion. This technique allows you to use leftover inches in the negative space on the outside of the organizers for storing slimmer items.”
Why You Should Trust Us
When it comes to kitchen storage, you can consider us experts at Taste of Home. We have ample experience reorganizing our kitchens to fit our overflowing spice racks and jam-packed countertops. After all, you can’t store a huge Ninja Creami and a collection of the best stainless steel without a little organizational finesse! Most of the picks on this list were tested by editors in their own homes, ensuring that they’re attractive, useful and—above all—high-quality.
For this piece, we also spoke to Mindy Godding, Certified Professional Organizer and past President of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO). Mindy provided guidance on what to consider when organizing a home kitchen, along with expert insights and tips.
