Kitchen organization items that you swear by?

If you are going to put pull outs into cabinets, I would have them built to maximize the space.

Our knife block is one of the few things that lives on our counter. They do make knife blocks for drawers too.

Make your own custom sized drawer dividers for cooking utensils and flatware using Drawer Dividers. You can buy poplar boards at Home Depot, etc., which are 1/4" wide and 3-1/2" high. The dividers tap in with a small hammer, and you cut the boards to fit. No wasted space using those dividers you buy in stores.

Also, one of these pullout dividers for a base cabinet, or as I use mine; over the refrigerator. Great organization for cookie sheets, pizza stone, cooling racks, etc.

My favorite thing is this push opener for my trash drawer and for a bottom drawer in which I keep dish towels, etc. (hands are always wet when I need to open that drawer!)

Rev-a-Shelf has lots of storage and organization ideas!

My aha moment in organization.. I got rid of ALL those Tupperware type containers and got these kind:

www.amazon.com/Containers-Lids%EF%BC%8CDisposable-Reusable-Microwave-Dishwasher/dp/B08BL6NLBN/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=3RM72ZX4SUG1E&keywords=to+go+containers&qid=1658768418&sprefix=to+go+containers%2Caps%2C188&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyR1EyUEczMFFGVEJCJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwODEwNDUwMzIxMEpON1NZV0VGSyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMjY1NTgyMjk0QUw2N0lOOUtXQSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=


Or type in To Go containers on Amazon... Life changing for me.. they don't take up much room.  You can use them multiple times but if you lose one or ruin one it's not the end of the world.  Takes so little space as well.  I have them in two sizes.. a bowl type and the one like I posted.

I have this Wusthof knife holder and like it. This one holds 14 knives and a sharpening steel. They also make a smaller one that holds 7 knives.

This may not be for everyone, but it really works great for me. I organized my spices in two criss-cross holders side by side on my countertop. It doesn't take up much space and gives me easy access to everything at a glance. (I'm visual - so some things I use a lot I prefer having out where I can see them.) I made the labels out of chalkboard sticker paper and my circle punch.

ETA: Oops forgot to add the photo:




Also, I have a lazy Susan (sorry about the name, LOL) near the stove for oils, balsamic, pepper grinder, etc.  

That push opener would be so helpful on the towel drawer!

Could an opportunistic Beagle figure out how to pop that open and access the delicious trash inside?

I would also recommend using post-it’s on your drawers and cabinets to label them, move it around as you decide. Don’t move anything in until this step is done. Think about it like real estate, giving the most prized real-estate to items you use often. Consider grouping things into areas where you’ll use them like a baking area with measuring and Pyrex everything, near your mixer. Or, if coffee is a big part of your morning routine, a coffee station near the mugs. I’ve seen people put what they use daily on a pretty tray, you can pull it out and use it and then just push it away to make everything pretty again, even those little bits of ground coffee that are inevitably spilt. Put the tools you use at the stove…by the stove and don’t worry about getting hung up if they’re not with your other utensils & tools. It’s okay if your glasses are near the fridge and your plates aren’t right next to them. The plates and bowls might work best where you plate the food or serve the food. Think about how your family actually uses the kitchen.

Other things that work well for us, ziplock drawers, storing all of our sharp things in a door like knives in a similar units as Gypsy listed, kitchen sheers, graters.

Items you just aren’t sure about, I’d keep in a box. If you don’t go for them within a certain amount of time, donate. If you do need something, what were you making when you needed it? Where in the kitchen were you working? See if a storage spot makes sense in the moment. We do have a plastic bin of items/tools that just don’t fit either physically or categorically anywhere else in the kitchen. Most of them are in frequently used, but we definitely want them.

I wish I lived closer I’d come help!

I do not like much on the counter so our appliances are stored under the counter, save for the heaving Kitchen Aid. We have tons of rev-a-shelf and recommend it highly. Our small appliances live in the corner cabinet lazy-Susan cabinet and that works really well for us. 

It takes VERY little push to open the trash or the towel drawer.  So, yes, your beagle could open it!  But, I have to say, I would not be without these.  This is the second kitchen in which I've installed them.  When your hands are covered with meat or chicken juice, it's so nice to touch the trash drawer with your toe and it opens automatically for you!

I love these Expandable Drawer Dividers to section off your drawer and not have to jenga in a bunch of smaller containers.

I'm also a big fan of bins to house like things (small baking ingredients in one, pastas in one, rice/quinoa/couscous in another, etc.). The Container Store has a ton of options depending on style preference/price point.