Serena Let’s start with a confession:
I used to hate being in my kitchen.
Not because I didn’t love cooking (I do), but because the space itself felt stressful.
The counters were cluttered, drawers jammed, and every time I needed a spatula, I had to dig through a tangled mess of who-knows-what.
But here’s the thing—I live in a real home.
Not one of those spotless, magazine-perfect kitchens with white marble islands and custom cabinetry.
My kitchen is a decent size, nothing huge, and it’s lived in. It has personality… and a lot of “stuff.”
I knew I didn’t need a full-on makeover.
I just needed a way to make it work better.
So I took it one drawer, one shelf, one little corner at a time—and over the past year, I picked up these 21 storage ideas that genuinely made my kitchen feel lighter, calmer, and way more functional.
These aren’t theoretical tips. These are the things I actually tried—and still use daily.
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The Lazy Susan That Saved My Sanity
You know that awkward pantry corner where jars go to disappear?
That used to be my nightmare. Until I got THIS Lazy Susan. I stuck my oils and sauces on it—and I haven’t lost a bottle of vinegar since.
It sounds simple, but it’s honestly magic.
Drawer Dividers Made Me Feel Like a Grown-Up
I finally stopped the chaos in my main kitchen drawer by adding adjustable dividers. Now my tools—spatulas, tongs, peelers—all have their little homes.
It’s weird how calming it is just to open that drawer now.
The Clear Snack Bin That Keeps Everyone Sane
Before the snack bin, my pantry was a war zone. Chips here, granola bars there, cookies falling out. I got one clear bin, labeled it “snacks,” and trained my family (and myself) to only put grab-and-go stuff in there.
Hung My Mugs and Freed a Whole Shelf
I used these small under-cabinet hooks and hung up my most-used mugs.
They look cute, they’re easy to grab, and I got an entire shelf back for storing other things.
A Hook Near the Sink = My Unsung Hero
I know this sounds small, but I put a tiny adhesive hook next to the sink for my dish towel. It dries faster and isn’t hanging off the oven like it used to. It’s one of those “why didn’t I do this sooner” things.
Fridge Bins Changed How I Grocery Shop
I added three clear bins to my fridge. Now, before I add anything new, I can see what’s already there.
I’ve wasted way less food—and I feel less guilty every time I open the door.
Pegboard = Open Storage That Actually Works
Inspired by Julia Child (and my tiny wall space), I put up a pegboard near the stove. I hang pans, spatulas, and even scissors on it. It’s practical, and it makes me feel a little more put together when people are over.
The Spice Drawer That Finally Works for Me
I moved all my spices into a drawer and labeled the tops. Before, I’d buy cinnamon only to find three more hiding in the back of the cabinet. This way, I can see everything I have with one glance.
Sliding Cart by the Fridge = Bonus Storage
There was this narrow, dead space next to my fridge that bugged me for months. Then I found a skinny rolling cart that slides right in. Now it holds canned goods and cleaning supplies. That little cart makes me feel like a genius.
Bookshelf Pantry Hack
No pantry? No problem.
I turned a tall, narrow bookshelf into extra storage with baskets labeled for pasta, rice, tea, and breakfast stuff. It’s not Pinterest-perfect, but it works so well—and the baskets hide the visual mess.
Wine Rack = Water Bottle Solution
My reusable water bottles used to drive me nuts—falling over constantly.
Then I slid a small horizontal wine rack inside a cabinet. Each bottle now has its own spot. No rolling, no clutter.
Labels = Clarity (and Fewer Questions from My Husband)
This might sound dramatic, but labeling things reduced about 50% of the “where is it?” questions I was getting. I labeled the flour, the oatmeal, the rice. Now people just open a bin and know what’s inside. It feels like a small victory every time.
Tension Rod Under the Sink = Instant Shelf
I installed a tension rod under the sink and started hanging my spray bottles from it.
It freed up space for sponges, dishwasher pods, and other essentials. And it’s easy to move around when I want to rearrange things.
Pull-Out Trash = Less Eyesore, More Space
Our trash can used to just sit out in the open, which drove me nuts. So we installed a this pull-out trash drawer inside a cabinet. Now the kitchen feels tidier—and nobody kicks it by accident anymore.
Magnetic Knife Strip—Why Did I Wait So Long?
This was such a small change, but it made a big difference.
A magnetic strip mounted on the wall cleared out an entire drawer and now my knives are easy to grab while I cook.
The Big Declutter: Goodbye, Unused Gadgets
I had a moment of truth one Sunday.
I looked around and realized I hadn’t used the waffle maker, egg cooker, or spiralizer in over a year. Out they went. I kept only what I use at least once a week. My cabinets have never looked better.
Over-the-Cabinet Hooks for Oven Mitts
No tools, no drilling—just little metal hooks that hang over the top of a cabinet door. I use one for my oven mitt and one for a small trash bag. It’s easy, cheap, and totally functional.
Inside Cabinet Baskets = My Secret Weapon
Inside every lower cabinet, I added little baskets. They hold extra spices, ziplock bags, even appliance manuals (why do we keep those?). Now everything’s grouped and easy to pull out.
Junk Drawer Detox—And I Mean Detox
I set a timer for 15 minutes and just went for it. Tossed dried-out pens, mystery cords, receipts from 2020. Now it holds flashlights, scissors, and batteries—and nothing else. It’s… beautiful.
A Little “Drop Zone” by the Entry
I put a basket and a hook next to the door for keys, sunglasses, and random receipts. It’s not in the kitchen technically, but it stopped all that junk from landing on my counters. Highly recommend.
A “Use It Up” Bin for Random Leftovers
When I find half a bag of pasta or one lone muffin, I drop it in a small bin labeled “Use This.”
Every few days, I check it and plan a meal around what’s inside. It’s weirdly satisfying—and it keeps food from getting forgotten.
Final Thoughts
If your kitchen stresses you out, I want you to know something: You’re not the only one. You don’t need to be a minimalist or buy expensive organizers to get things under control.
What worked for me was starting small. One drawer. One bin. One tweak. And then another.
And over time, my kitchen went from feeling like a junk zone to a space I actually love walking into.
These aren’t fancy hacks.
They’re just real ideas for real kitchens.
📝 Quick Checklist
- ☐ Add a Lazy Susan to the pantry corner
- ☐ Use drawer dividers for utensils and tools
- ☐ Create a single, labeled snack bin
- ☐ Hang mugs under the cabinet with mini hooks
- ☐ Stick a towel hook near the sink
- ☐ Organize the fridge with clear, labeled bins
- ☐ Try a pegboard for hanging your everyday tools
- ☐ Move spices to a drawer and label the tops
- ☐ Slide in a skinny cart next to the fridge
- ☐ Repurpose a bookshelf as extra pantry space
- ☐ Store water bottles in a horizontal wine rack
- ☐ Label dry goods (yes, even the oatmeal)
- ☐ Hang cleaning sprays on a tension rod under the sink
- ☐ Hide the trash bin in a pull-out cabinet
- ☐ Mount a magnetic strip for knives
- ☐ Declutter unused kitchen gadgets
- ☐ Use over-the-cabinet hooks for oven mitts
- ☐ Add baskets inside your cabinets for categories
- ☐ Clean out the junk drawer (just 15 mins!)
- ☐ Set up a ‘drop zone’ for keys and mail
- ☐ Create a ‘Use This Up’ bin for pantry stragglers
✨ Tip: Cross off each one as you go. Progress is progress—even if it’s just one small tweak at a time.
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