The kitchen is the hub of the home – whether it's for cooking up a storm, baking or gathering with loved ones for a catch up over dinner, it's used daily for all things food and family.
Because of this, it's one of the first areas of the home to become cluttered and chaotic. Without careful and regular upkeep, mess can creep in. We spoke to professional home organizers and cleaners to learn the 10 things tidy people always have in their kitchens so you can streamline and maintain yours.
These kitchen storage ideas will help you turbocharge your drive for tidiness.
10 things tidy people always have in their kitchens
1. Plastic bag storage
Cutting down one-use plastic means hanging onto bags that come into the home and reusing them when we're ready. However, storing them aesthetically can sometimes prove a bit challenging and you may find your stash doesn't quite have a home.
Elizabeth Dodson, co-owner of HomeZada, recommends the Kitchen Drawer Bag Storage Organizer, available at Amazon, for a streamlined solution.
'This organizer is such a simple idea, but it keeps my kitchen drawers neat and clean, and allows me to devote more space for other items,' she says. 'Because you are consolidating all your different-sized plastic bags in one location, you don't have to store them in drawers, where they never really fit.'
2. Wire baskets
Wire baskets are useful anywhere around the home, but they come in particularly handy for keeping a kitchen tidy and organized, without breaking the bank.
'My tidy clients make the most of their space and have lots of organizing baskets,' says Justin Carpenter, founder of Jacksonville Maids. 'Most avoid clutter by using their space efficiently and giving everything a home. For example, they store hard vegetables and roots in wire baskets.'
Carpenter recommends the Two-Pack Stackable Wire Basket with Bamboo Top available at Amazon, which come with pre-made labels for easy identification. These ingenious baskets also double up as chopping boards – either use the lid on the basket to slice food, or simply remove it and use as normal. They're perfect for organizing a kitchen without plastic bins, for a stylish touch.
These farmhouse basket bins can be used anywhere around your home, from organizing your dry food in the kitchen to sorting your toiletries in the bathroom.
3. Drawer organizers
To make your kitchen tidy from the inside out, your drawers need organizing, advises professional organizer and co-owner of Sorted Sparrow, Cynthia Murray. She says, 'People with tidy kitchens use drawer dividers to keep utensils and tools in place. We love the Pipishell Silverware Organizer on Amazon for its adjustable fit and sleek design.'
With eight compartments, this product is perfect for organizing even the largest of drawers, as it expands from 12.91 inches to 19.69 inches wide, with smooth sliding. It's a style of kitchen organizer that professionals always buy.
This expandable drawer organizer fits most spaces, with seven convenient compartments.
4. A utensil pull-out
Wondering how to organize kitchen utensils? If you prefer not to keep your utensils in a drawer, a pull-out solution can be a great option.
'Install a utensil pull-out beside your stove, such as the Rev-A-Shelf 5" Pull Out Storage Organizer for Base Kitchen Cabinets available at Amazon,' recommends Brandon Beatty, owner of Southern Hills Home Buyers.
'One time, I kept all my utensils in a drawer, and grabbing the wrong one became a habit – never fun when you need a spatula but grab a whisk,' she recalls. 'Place this next to your stove so everything is easy to reach and organized. This will keep your counter clean and prevent clutter while cooking.'
5. An undersink organizer
While there are a host of items not to store under the kitchen sink, for the items that do belong there such as cleaning supplies, finding an effective organizational solution can be transformative.
'Having my cabinets and drawers organized is critical for keeping track of what I own,' says Dodson. 'This Spacekeeper Under Sink Organizer (available at Amazon) helps me quickly view what I have so that I don't buy the same cleaning supplies over and over again.
'In the past, I can remember having three or four of the same cleaner that took up space, and that is frustrating! So, I added this under sink organizer to keep my organized.'
With a slide-out design and easy installation, it's an ideal product for following kitchen sink organizing rules.
6. A magnetic spice rack
Looking for some small kitchen storage ideas and doubt your spice storage can't be revolutionized? Think again!
'I've seen some clients who are able to save cabinet space for dishes by keeping their spices on a spice rack which is magnetically attached to their fridge,' says Carpenter.
Expired spices are one of the things in your kitchen cabinets to get rid of right now, so start there. Then, with your remaining spices, simply display them on a magnetic organizer, such as the 4 Pack Magnetic Spice Storage Rack Organizer for Refrigerator and Oven recommended by Carpenter.
It's a spice organization idea that makes your ingredients a feature of your kitchen, so consider decanting your spices into stylish jars before proceeding, for a unique take on kitchen décor.
All prices correct at time of publication.
This 24-pack of 4 oz high-quality glass spice jars comes with durable bamboo lids, multiple black and white labels, a white pen for darker labels and a handy silicone folding funnel for easy refilling.
7. Lazy Susans
Having a Lazy Susan as a feature of the home may be a thing of the past, but they're a clever way to organize cabinets for easy accessibility – they're pantry organizers that professionals always buy.
'To prevent clutter in cabinets, a Lazy Susan keeps spices and condiments within easy reach and well-organized,' says Murray.
We recommend the bestselling Cella 4-Piece Clear Turntable Set with Removable Liners available at QVC, which are available in five different colorways, and feature silicone feet for a storage solution that stays put. They're also refrigerator and freezer-safe, so can be used to make a fridge look better and organize a freezer.
8. Pull-out towel storage
Another bulky yet essential kitchen item are tea towels, which can be tricky to keep tidy.
Beatty says, 'Install a pull-out towel organizer beneath your sink so towels are hidden but easy to grab. This solution keeps towels out of sight and off the counters, reducing clutter and helping your kitchen stay looking neat.'
This Rev-A-Shelf Under Sink Hand Towel Holder available at Amazon and Real Solutions Pull-Out Kitchen Towel Holder Bar available at Walmart both utilize unused space to maximize storage in even a tiny kitchen.
9. Stackable bins
'My tidy clients store all their fresh produce in stackable bins and don't have plastic bags taking up space in their fridge,' says Carpenter, who recommends the 10 Pack Refrigerator Pantry Organizer Bins available at Amazon for 'people who want to steal this idea.'
These keep your countertops and cabinets tidy and organized, and stacking them vertically can nearly double fridge storage space.
10. A charging drawer
Finally, a charging drawer is a perfect addition to a kitchen if you need to organize cables and keep them tidy.
'I added a charging drawer to my kitchen last year, and it's been amazing,' says Beatty. 'I used to leave my phone charging on the counter, but one day I spilled juice on it – lesson learned!'
Beatty recommends the Charging Station for Multiple Devices available at Amazon, which also features a handy holder for AirPods and Apple watches while charging.
'Install it in your island, cabinet or drawer to keep devices charged and your counter clutter-free,' he says.
FAQs
Where do I start in a messy kitchen?
If you want to tidy things up in this high-traffic room, start by tackling kitchen counters. Remove any items that don't belong in the kitchen. That way, you have space for items that do, without visual clutter and mess.
Our dedicated guide on how to keep kitchen counters clear once you've tidied them up details daily tasks to help keep this area in check.
If you're looking for ways to reduce visual clutter in the kitchen, only keep items out if totally necessary. Paring back decor and introducing uniform kitchen items will also keep your space looking neat and tidy.
