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Is there anything more disconcerting than an unorganized kitchen? Plates everywhere! Utensils somewhere! When you’re following a recipe and don’t know where the measuring cup you need is, you want to scream!
We’ve done some research and found cheap kitchen organization ideas using items that you probably never even thought of. A lot of these items you’ll probably have laying around the house collecting dust.
17 DIY & Cheap Kitchen Organization Ideas
Kitchen Counters
1. Cake Stand for Dish Soap
I really hate how my dish soap just sits next to my sink. Sure I try to buy beautiful bottles, but the fact of the matter is it’s still a bottle of soap just sitting around.
Did I also mention the sponge sits around as well? Bleh.
Instead, I’ve decided to take the approach shared by Natalme to use a cake stand to keep my dish soap and sponge in a nice spot that isn’t unsightly.
2. Double Your Counter Space
When my husband and I lived in a tiny studio apartment in LA I learned how to make the most of very little space. Unfortunately I didn’t come up with this idea which would’ve saved me a ton of hassle.
3. Painted Mason Jar Utensil Holders
I can’t tell you how many Mason Jars I have in my kitchen.
Okay, I probably could tell you if I took the time to count them but that isn’t the point. I love jars because they are so versatile.
These Mason Jars for kitchen utensils can fit in any type of kitchen no matter the design.
Cabinets & Drawers
4. Baskets for Little Upper Cabinets
Kitchens always seem to come with those annoying little cabinets that you can’t do anything with. That is until Megan introduced me to these wonderful little baskets that fit into those annoying cabinets just right.
5. Water Bottle Holder
I have one million water bottles at my house between me and my kids. They drive my husband and me nuts because they take up so much space and we can’t find the lids we need. So, we got one of these! My favorite of the kitchen organization hacks.
6. Kitchen Drawer Compartments
Deep drawers can seem like a good idea but usually, you just end up with a deep mess of pots and pans.
If you have deep drawers I suggest you take a look at this awesome tutorial showing you how to create compartments for your deep drawer so you never have to deal with messy fuss again.
7. Baggie Organizer
I love this sandwich bag organizer. It’s so satisfying, isn’t it?
Pantry
8. Shoe Organizer For Snacks
I bet you already have one of these shoe organizers. Use it over the pantry door instead for snacks, coffee pods, drink mixes, seasoning packets, and other small items. I prefer one with clear pockets so you can see everything and then you don’t have to label.
9. Food-storage bins
I love these clear plastic kitchen storage bins because they have removable dividers. So, no matter what you buy at the grocery store this week, it’ll fit.
10. Can Rack
Don’t let your canned goods expire because you forgot their way in the back of the pantry. Keep them front and center with this rack that keeps them organized.
Refrigerator & Freezer
11. Soda Holder
No more cans rolling around or boxes taking up too much space!
12. Dollar Tree Refrigerator Makeover
What I love about the world today is that you don’t need to spend a lot of money to make things look good. Brittany found some awesome things at her dollar store and was able to use them to completely reorganize her refrigerator.
13. File Your Vegetables
Look! You can file your frozen vegetables in alphabetical order if you want to. Ok, that was me being sarcastic. But, hey, this works!
Wall Space & Extra Shelves
14. Vintage Coca-Cola Crate Spice Rack
If you’re lucky to come across one of these old Coca-Cola crates let me know because they seem to be impossible to find. When you do find one you can easily convert it into a stylish spice rack done here.
15. Pegboard Stylish Organizer
I’ve come to the conclusion that there are smarter people out there than me. This is living proof. This pegboard organizer not only helps to organize your pans, but it also helps to liven up the room.
16. Using a Stainless Kitchen Cart
I don’t like to throw around the term sexy too often but this is damn sexy.
I want. I want it badly.
17. Using Wire Shelves to Open Up Your Kitchen
I love open spaces. If I could find a way to have everything out in the open in my kitchen without it looking like a cluttered mess I totally would do it.
wired shelving gets me close to that dream but I still need to hide stuff in cabinets and cupboards. Oh well, at least I can get halfway there with this solution.
Full Kitchen Organization Summary
In summary, there are several areas within a kitchen that can benefit from organization. And, you can do it on a budget!
- Countertops: This is a prime area for clutter. Strive to keep them clear except for decor, essential items, or small appliances that are used daily. It’s free to clean them off!
- Kitchen Cabinets: Cabinets are essential for storing dishes, glasses, pots, and pans. Organizers, such as shelves, Command strips, or hooks, can maximize cabinet space and are low-cost.
- Drawers: Utensil drawers, junk drawers, and drawers for dish towels and pot holders all need organization. Drawer dividers can help keep items neatly separated. Or, you can use all those boxes you unnecessarily hoard (*husband giving me side-eye*).
- Pantry: A pantry can be a small cabinet or a full-size room. Clear bins and labels can help be a lifesaver. You’ve seen them on ALL of the shows!
- Refrigerator and Freezer: Regularly clean out and organize your fridge and freezer. Use bins for grouping similar items and keep perishable items that need to be used soon in the front.
- Spice Storage: Spice containers can be kept in a drawer, a special spice rack, or in a cabinet. The key is to keep them organized and easy to access.
- Under the Kitchen Sink: This area often becomes a catch-all for cleaning supplies. Use bins or pull-out drawers to keep it tidy. This spot gets out of hand quickly I feel.
- Appliance Garage: If you have one, this is where smaller appliances (toaster, blender, mixer, etc.) can be stored to keep them off the countertops.
- Pot Racks: Pot racks, whether wall-mounted or hanging from the ceiling, are a good solution for organizing pots and pans if you’re short on cabinet space.
- Baking Station: If you do a lot of baking, having a dedicated area for baking supplies like measuring cups, mixing bowls, and baking ingredients can be helpful.
- Trash and Recycling Bins: Have a designated area for your trash and recycling that’s out of the way but still easily accessible.
- Dish Rack/Dishwasher: Keep this area tidy. Empty the dishwasher promptly to prevent dishes from piling up in the sink.
Remember, an organized kitchen will vary based on individual needs and the size and layout of the kitchen. It’s important to create a system that works best for you and your family.
How can I organize my kitchen cheaply?
Declutter: Start by getting rid of items you don’t use or need. This includes duplicates, broken items, or things you haven’t used in the past year. Less clutter equals more space.
Use what you have: Before buying new storage solutions, see what you can repurpose from around your house. For example, old mason jars or glass jars can be used to store dry goods like pasta, rice, or beans. Baskets or boxes can be used to group like items together in your pantry or cabinets.
Label Everything: Clear labeling helps keep things in their place and makes it easy to find what you need. You can use a marker and tape, or buy a cheap label maker.
Use the Door: The inside of cabinet doors can be a great place to store small items or spices. Get an over-the-door rack.
Use Vertical Space: If you have room, consider adding a shelf or two to take advantage of the walls in your kitchen. This can create a lot of extra storage space.
Tension Rods: Use tension rods to create dividers for baking sheets, cutting boards, or pot lids. You can also use them under cabinets and sinks for paper towels or trash bag rolls.
DIY Projects: Use your imagination and create your own kitchen and pantry organization ideas. Of course, there are limitless ideas that other people have come up with too that cost next to nothing. Copy off of them!
How do you organize a simple kitchen?
Step 1: Purge: Start by decluttering your kitchen. Remove everything from your cabinets and drawers. Go through each item and ask yourself if you really need it. If you haven’t used it in the last year or it’s broken or outdated, consider donating or disposing of it.
Step 2: Categorize: Sort everything left into categories. This could include cookware, bakeware, silverware, dishes, food storage, and so on. This will help you see what you have and how much of each category you need to store.
Step 3: Prioritize Placement: Consider how frequently you use each item. Items that you use daily should be placed in easy-to-reach locations, such as lower shelves or front parts of the cabinets. Less frequently used items can be stored in higher or more remote cabinets.
Step 4: Utilize Organizers: Use organizers to keep your items neat and easy to find. This could include drawer dividers for utensils, a spice rack, and so on. You can often find inexpensive organizers at discount stores or even repurpose items you already have.
Step 5: Maintain: Once you’ve organized your kitchen, make an effort to maintain it. Try to put things back in their place after you use them. It can be helpful to spend a few minutes each day tidying up to keep everything in order.
What is the most efficient way to organize your kitchen?
Consider the workflow: It’s important to think about how you use your kitchen. This involves considering the tasks you often do, such as prepping, cooking, baking, and cleaning, and setting up your kitchen in a way that facilitates these tasks.
Group similar items: Organize your kitchen items by category. All baking items together, all pots and pans together, and all glassware together. This makes it easier to find what you need quickly.
Place frequently used items within reach: Items that you use regularly, such as certain dishes, utensils, or appliances, should be easily accessible. This might mean storing them on a lower shelf or near the front of a cabinet.
Store items by frequency of use: Items that aren’t used as often can be stored higher up or in less accessible areas. For example, holiday dishes or special occasion glassware don’t need to be in prime kitchen real estate.
Use multi-purpose organizers: Multi-purpose organizers, such as over-the-door racks, magnetic knife strips, or adjustable drawer dividers, can be used in many different ways to help keep your kitchen organized.
Label containers: Especially when it comes to keeping an organized pantry, labels are key. This way, everyone in the household knows where things go. Labels can also help you keep track of when food items were purchased or opened.
Optimize cabinet space with risers or turntables: Shelf risers can provide additional storage space in your cabinets, and turntables or lazy susans can make it easier to access items stored at the back of deep cabinets.
Rotate perishables: Regularly rotate perishable items in your fridge and pantry, moving older items to the front so they get used up first. This helps to reduce food waste.
Embrace uniform storage: Uniform storage containers not only look neat and tidy but also make efficient use of space. This is especially useful in the pantry. Consider using clear containers so you can easily see what’s inside.
Establish a routine to reassess and maintain organization: It’s not enough to just organize your kitchen once – it requires ongoing maintenance. Establish a routine to reassess your organization system, declutter, and deep clean. This might be seasonal, monthly, or whatever works best for you.