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Creativity happens in the kitchen, but often, this fundamental space remains a losing battle. A National Association of Professional Organizers survey mentions that 54% of Americans feel overwhelmed by clutter in their kitchens. The survey also found that 78% of respondents don’t know what to do with all the clutter or find it too complicated to deal with. With the right hacks, you can transform your kitchen from where you dread spending time to where you look forward to going.
Here are 15 genius kitchen organization hacks to save space, be more efficient, and ultimately create a kitchen you love to spend time in. These hacks are designed to get the most out of your kitchen and make it the ultimate room in your home.
Use Drawer Dividers for Utensils
Drawer dividers are the kitchen’s fairy godmother. They are compartments for utensils, cutlery, and other small things. The trick is to organize and categorize. Organization and work expert Marie Kondo says this dramatically reduces stress and increases productivity in the kitchen.
If you replace your drawers with adjustable dividers, everything will be in place. This not only saves time but also prolongs the life of your utensils by preventing scratches and wear. When everything’s where it should be, cooking is less stressful.
Add a Tension Rod Under the Sink
In most cases, the area under your sink is a black hole where you occasionally see things you’d like to clean and can’t find anymore. Mounting a tension rod on the wall frees the floor space needed to house spray bottles and cleaning tools, making it easy to hang things.
This simple trick will help you find what you need when you need it and save you time shuffling around in the bottom of your dark cupboard. According to a report in Real Simple magazine, vertical space under your sink can double your storage capacity. Hanging items keeps your kitchen neat and leaves room for more oversized items.
Use Magazine Holders for Food Storage
Magazine holders aren’t just for offices; they’re also an incredible hack for the kitchen! Use them to vertically store aluminum foil, plastic wrap, and Ziplock bags. This clever trick saves space and makes these kitchen essentials easy to access.
According to Good Housekeeping, vertical storage increases cabinet space by 30 percent. By thinking vertically, we can fully utilize the most miniature kitchen.
Install Hooks Inside Cabinet Doors
Hooks are an organizer’s best friend. They make otherwise small spaces work for you, keeping your counters clear of clutter. Professional organizers often use this technique to fit more stuff into a home’s space. As Homes and Gardens reports, this little hack can give you an extra 15 percent on your storage area, with your kitchen essentials at your fingertips.
Use a Lazy Susan in the Fridge
You can add a lazy Susan to your fridge. Well+Good notes that it enables you to open condiments and small jars easily without having to fish out things from the back of the shelf. In this situation, you’re less likely to forget the yummy treats hiding in the dark.
Store Pot Lids Vertically
Potlids are notorious for causing chaos in cabinets. To save space and keep them organized, store them vertically using file organizers or tension rods. This hack looks tidy and prevents pot lids from getting scratched and damaged.
Use Clear Storage Containers
Transferring dry goods into clear, airtight containers is a win-win. It keeps the food fresh, and you can see when it is running low.
A Journal of Consumer Research study found that households that kept food in clear containers wasted less of it. This allowed them to keep track of their inventory more efficiently. Clear containers also keep your pantry neat, and they’re a treat to look at.
Add Shelf Risers
If you can’t find room on shelves, shelf risers are a great way to double your vertical storage space. They are also instrumental when stacking plates and bowls in cabinets. Shelf risers help you best use your cabinet space and maintain order in your kitchen.
Hang a Magnetic Knife Strip
Those magnetic knife strips attached to the wall can help by opening drawer space and giving your knives a designated place. Just make sure you mount it securely! This will keep your knives close at hand (and give them a more professional appearance).
Use a Pegboard for Pots and Pans
Hanging pots, pans, and utensils along a pegboard on the wall makes them accessible while freeing up cabinet space. This method, popularised by chefs such as Julia Child, is functional and decorative. The pegboards make it easy to set up a flexible kitchen for whatever needs you may have in the future.
Store Baking Sheets Vertically
Instead of stashing baking sheets and cutting boards sideways, purchasing file organizers or dividers to store them vertically allows you to remove the right one without unstacking easily.
This prevents you from pulling out the whole stack of baking sheets to get the one at the bottom. It’s an easy changeout that can improve the effectiveness of any kitchen.
Use a Wine Rack for Water Bottles
Repurpose a wine rack for reusable water bottles. This prevents them from rolling around inside cabinets. It also makes your water bottles look tidier and makes your kitchen look sleeker. According to Better Homes & Gardens, upcycling might be the most significant trend in home organization.
Add Drawer Organizers
Small drawer organizers are great for spices, tea bags, or other small stuff that needs to be stored in deep drawers. On average, a person can use drawer organizers to save about 10 minutes daily.
Install Pull-Out Organizers
Deep pull-out organizers in the cabinets optimize space and allow you to easily reach things at the back—perfect for pots, pans, and appliances. This method is a lifesaver, especially for deep cabinets where everything gets lost.
Use Over-the-Door Organizers
Install an over-the-door organizer inside your pantry door and store spices, snacks, or other small items using unoccupied space. Professional organizers use this trick to create additional storage space without overwhelming the main kitchen area.
Solve your kitchen storage needs with these 15 genius kitchen organization hacks to help you turn an area into the functional space you always dreamed of. Pick a tip or two from this list, and see your kitchen quickly become better organized and more of a joy to spend time in.
