15 Smart Ways to Store the Kitchen Necessities

The kitchen is the heart of the home. When it’s organized, everything from meal prep to homework help goes more smoothly. As it is elsewhere in the house, adequate storage is a must. Kitchen storage solutions run the gamut from completely custom systems to a collection of DIY hacks. By implementing the right combination of kitchen storage ideas, you too can be on your way to a more peaceful meal prep and dining experience—and who doesn’t want that at the end of the day? 

Don’t let any space go to waste in the kitchen. Harness that empty area beneath your base cabinets, commonly referred to as the “toe kick,” into a drawer. Unseen when pushed closed, it’s ideal for wide, flat items, such as baking sheets and roasting pans, or infrequently used items. 

When not in use, necessities like cooling racks and cutting boards typically sit on the bottom of a cabinet or worse yet, take up valuable real estate on your countertops. A cabinet outfitted with vertical dividers stores such items more efficiently while allowing you to access them more easily. They’re also ideal for storing chargers, oblong platters, and serving trays.  

Bigger isn’t always better. Thin cabinets can serve as the perfect place to stash spices and other small pantry items. For optimal convenience, consider adding one next to the oven or range.

Things like kitchen chopsticks and measuring cups tend to live in a jumble. Maximize the space inside your drawers with a stacked organizer. Sort your silverware, cooking utensils, and other supplies into the separate compartments, so you can easily find them while preparing your next meal. 

Finding a spot for all the kitchen necessities helps free up precious countertop space. Case in point: a paper towel holder. Instead of having them hanging around the counter (where it topples over or gets wet from spills) keep them below in a designated built-in cubby. 

A limit does exist for how many more cabinets and drawers you can add to the kitchen, but that doesn’t mean you have to cram everything inside those spaces. Install a bar under your cabinets and use S hooks to hang big utensils, towels, mugs, and more. You can even attach storage bins to the bar for more organization.

A true baker loves a good stand mixer, but it’s a cumbersome appliance to drag out for each use. A base cabinet devoted specifically to mixer storage is a smart solution, especially as hefty hardware does the heavy lifting for you. All you need to worry about is adding the right ingredients!

Stock ingredients like onions and potatoes require specific storage conditions; they do well in dark areas but still need air circulation. A cabinet outfitted with removable baskets delivers bespoke storage for keeping staples fresh.

If you thought putting the toe kick to good use was clever, you’ll love this tilt-out sink drawer. Designed to store and hide sponges, gloves, scrub brushes and other cleaning supplies, the drawer takes advantage of dead space between thee sink’s outer wall and the cabinet’s exterior.  

Your microwave doesn’t need a prominent spot on the counter. Store it on an open shelf where you still have easy access to it without it clogging up space above. 

Rather than fumbling through the drawers to find your sharpest knives keep them in close proximity to where the cooking action is happening. A magnetic strip along your backsplash provides a safe and convenient place for them. 

Carve out a corner in your kitchen for your wine collection (even if it’s just Two Buck Chuck). A wine glass rack frees up space inside the cabinet for other goods and supplies, while the bottle cabinet maximizes the space to fit more reds and whites.  

Capitalize on storage space behind the pantry door. A wall rack or pocket shoe bag becomes a catchall for snacks, cake-decorating tools, cookie cutters, and many other necessities.

Does it ever feel like it’s an endless cycle of doing dishes and leaving them out to dry? Whether you use a drying mat, rack, or sink roll-up, it leaves you short on working space. This smart solution is the perfect spot to place clean dishes right after washing them; they can drip dry directly into the sink and it doesn’t take up needed space. 

Despite attempts to hide them away, pet dishes always seem to linger in plain sight. No more! When meal time is over, you can slide the pull-out drawer, like this one from Room for Tuesday, back into the wall, completely concealing Fido’s dining area.

Keep your kitchen organized with these innovative storage ideas.