These kitchen organization hacks will not only help you manage your small spaces better, but it will actually draw you in—compelling you to spend some time in there! Think about the places where you love to be. Draw what you can from those to make your kitchen a place of joy for you! For me, it’s cozy lighting, music, and a clutter-free area that smells delightful. (Sounds like my room when I was an esthetician, set up for facials! Washing dishes in your kitchen / hanging out in a spa all day… same thing, right!?)
1) Neutralize the Unnecessary Clutter
I learned this term from the Homemaker Chic podcast— one of the hosts is a designer, and, in regards to decorating, the first step is always “neutralize the ugly.” If your walls are an offensive orange, paint them white, and you may find that you actually like the couch you thought you hated. (That was a very dramatic/generalized example— you get the idea.)
The same goes for your kitchen! I once lived in a house where the only space available for a pantry was under the stairs. It was dark, cluttered, and became a catch-all for anything we didn’t know what to do with. A space like this doesn’t necessarily need to be beautiful, but man… what a difference a fresh paint job, some open shelving and maybe a light shade would have made! Notice where your “sticking points” are (another Homemaker Chic term). The cluttered mess that you walk into and immediately feel overwhelmed or uninspired. Rip it all out, start with the bones, freshen up what needs it, and only bring back the items that you will actually use. Using bins and buckets is a great way to store items that are on the floor.
In this picture, the “counter” underneath is the wobbliest brick job you’ve ever seen. It is very thick and was no good for anything! Home Depot had this 2’x2’ tile for EIGHT DOLLARS. I couldn’t believe it! I used rubber protectors on the bottom for some grip, and had to stack the back corner 4 rubber protectors deep to make it level. I’m so glad to have a solution to the ridiculous excuse for a kitchen countertop that it was before! We will only be here another year and a half, so it’s not worth Charlie’s time to frame it in like I had envisioned. Regardless, I’m still happy with this cheap, but GAME CHANGING upgrade!
2) Use Mason Jars to See What’s Inside
Nothing like a plastic bag of with only 6 raisins left that gets shoved to the back of a cupboard! Eliminate the problem of endless plastic bags containing a handful of morsels by utilizing glass jars or clear containers. They make it easy to see when you’re running low and need to refill, as well as provide a quick visual on what to offer for snacks. When packing snacks/lunches for outings, I’ll be sure to grab the last little bits and pieces in mostly empty jars.
3) Label Mason Jars with a Sharpie
Especially when it comes to spices and grains, labeling exactly what is in each jar is imperative! I have used wet-erase markers (always wiped off!), kept rolls of tape in the junk drawer for labeling, but have landed on just writing on the jar itself. It scrubs off easily with soap and water or magic eraser. I always keep a sharpie in my “miscellaneous items drawer” (renaming the junk drawer, because everything in there is useful!) and it couldn’t be more simple to label. There’s never an excuse! Even if you don’t like your handwriting, I promise that if you use the same marker and write in relatively the same size on all jars grouped together, it will have a pretty, uniform look!
4) Utilize Bookshelves
If you read this post, you already know I’m a fan of bookshelves for creating extra storage space. We move so often and rarely have a new home that supports our needs in the kitchen. Bookshelves always come to the rescue! They can be styled in a beautiful way, but in our case, they are always loaded with glass jars. Thankfully, I find that lovely! Bookshelves are a great storage solution for a small kitchen because there’s usually a wall available between the dining room and the kitchen, so it doesn’t look too out of place, even if it’s not in the kitchen. With cute baskets and bins, you could hide a myriad of unsightly kitchen gadgets and small appliances.
5) Use Bins for Extras and Get Them Out of Your Kitchen
We buy bulk items to save money, and bins are the best way to keep all of that organized! We have turned our garage and large closets into food storage. Ours are full of extra beans and grains, freeze dried or dehydrated food, or extras of food items we regularly purchase. Think outside the box for additional storage space so your kitchen is not overflowing with things that do not get regular use!
6) Save Rubber Bands
Pulling a Grandma Snyder here! Whenever I buy flowers or vegetables that come with a rubber band, I save them in a little jar in my kitchen drawer full of miscellaneous items. You would be amazed at how many times I find that a rubber band is just the tool I need! Any time there’s leftover chips in a bag, I fold it up and keep it tight with a (loose) rubber band. I’ll use one to seal the cheese wrapper in place once it’s been open. We have endless bouquets being made over here and rubber bands make any size vessel a perfect vase for them!
7) Fold Grocery Bags
See this post for the details. This has got to be life changing! Most people I know have a big, bulky grocery bag full of wadded up plastic bags hanging out in valuable real estate in their kitchen. Who has cabinet space that they can devote entirely to plastic bags!? There are entire kitchen drawers devoted to these. Endless inventions promising to take the annoyance out of them. There are unlimited hacks with junk from the dollar store offering the ultimate solution to this necessary nuisance!
I have good news! Nothing beats taking a few minutes to fold these into a small, organized roll. I throw out any with holes, because, for the majority of my plastic bag uses, a hole could make for a really disgusting surprise!
8) Reserve Extra Space for Backup Items
There are things that I always have a backup on hand for. Peanut butter, maple syrup, canned tomatoes… pantry items that I would be frustrated to reach for and realize I was out of! I keep a bin or kitchen cabinet full of these backups, and when I take something from there, the replacement immediately goes on my shopping list.
9) Use a Rolling Cart for Produce
I don’t even know where people put their produce if it’s not in a kitchen cart. (Seriously, where do you!?) It’s probably not the only place to put it, but it’s the place that, house after house, is our top choice for produce! We store fruits on the top, potatoes/avocados/squash in the middle and onions on the bottom. It holds the Costco-sized portions perfectly, keeps counters clear, and makes choosing a healthy snack the obvious choice.
10) Separate Regularly Used Utensils from Those Seldom Used
Drawers with cooking utensils are an easy frustration! I finally made having two places for kitchen tools a priority— regardless of the size of my drawer. Whether the lesser used items go in another drawer, or in a bin in some cupboard, I keep the drawer with the tools I reach for every day separate from the rest.
At our current house, my daily-users are in a drawer that is relatively empty. That prevents me shuffling through too many things when I’m in a hurry, looking for a simple rubber spatula. And the obnoxious potato masher? Or, just as bad, the spaghetti strainer? Those things never show up unless I’m intentionally seeking them out.
Giving the first drawer so much room does make for a more disorganized lesser-used drawer, but for me, it is worth it to have so much space in the first one. Do yourself a favor and simplify your commonly-used utensil drawer!
11) Non-Permanent Dish Rack
In using a towel or mat instead of a permanent dish rack, I have found that I’m far more likely to put my hand washed dishes away. Little psychological tricks help so much! If I know I’m not going to gain any extra counter space, why bother putting the dishes away? But! If I know that I’m going to gain a good 18 square inches of clutter relief entirely… you bet I’m going to be putting those away! (Side note: I saved brown kombucha bottles and tried a generic pump and spray lid… it totally worked! I paid less for these “amber glass cleaning bottles” than the empty ones sell for, AND I got a few kombuchas out of the deal!)
12) Shelf Above Oven for Cooking Essentials
I love having this shelf for my cooking oils and salt and pepper. They aren’t taking up any extra counter space, but are always right there! Having salt and pepper in jars, that I can easily grab a pinch or get a tablespoon in, streamlines cooking far more than having shakers for cooking. The hooks came with the house, so of course I had to find pretty measuring cups to hang! The jar on the right is full of tallow—I’m trying to be better about utilizing our free cooking oil with prices the way they are. Having it out on this shelf is helping!
13) Baking Soda in Cupboards
If you live in an old house, or if you are the owner of an instant pot (specifically: the instant pot ring) you know the need for this little deodorizer! It is something we all know, right? But I had to have a friend remind me when I was whining about my stinky instant pot cupboard, so I’m here to remind you. Baking soda is the easiest way to eliminate odor! And put a little lemon essential oil in there… mmm mmm FRESH! It adds to the overall atmosphere that makes being in my kitchen a joy!
Don’t Grow Weary.
I don’t normally comment on big influencers posts, but a mom was teasing about how her kids act like it’s a surprise every morning and every night when she tells them to brush their teeth. Like they did it once, and figured it was going to buy them some time. I commented that I actually feel that way about feeding everyone! Sometimes I feel shocked that I have to get in there and make yet another meal. And then clean it all up on top of that! A lot of people resonated with me— I think my comment got as much attention as her post did!
So if that’s you, take heart. This is truly holy work we’re doing. I know “trad wife” is trending in good and bad ways right now. But nothing about serving our family with a cheerful heart is a trend. We work heartily in all that we do, as if we are doing it for Jesus Himself. (Colossians 3:23) Having your kitchen, the heart of the home, set up in a way that suits your needs, taking care to have the little things that bring you simple joy, makes serving your family in such an endlessly consistent way a life-giving sacrifice to the One who is beyond worthy of it all.
Please share below ways that you keep your kitchen organized, and what your biggest takeaway from this blog post is!
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