It’s easy to have too many things in the kitchen: You’re making a new recipe, so you need a spice you’ll only use once, or you’re sending food to a friend but don’t have the right size container and they’re only sold in packs of 10. And even if everything in your kitchen is used regularly, there’s still the matter of organizing it.
Luckily, we need only look to social media for advice. Here are 14 kitchen organization ideas straight from TikTok.
Vertical Plate Storage
Grabbing dinner plates out of a stack is often noisy, not to mention inefficient. Make your life a little easier with vertical bamboo plate holders. Your cabinet will look less cluttered, and the half-shelf dividers make bowls and saucers easier to access.
Tiered Organizer
Under the kitchen sink is the perfect place for often-used things that you don’t want to litter your counter. Make the most of that space with a tiered shelf and pullout drawer. This way, you can stock up on everything you need without worrying about where things will go. Pair it with clear stackable bins like this TikTok user did for even more space.
Cabinet Bins
Anyone else keep random utility items in their kitchen? These adhesive bins that attach to the inside of cabinet doors are perfect! Whether it’s small lids, kitchen supplies like shears and peelers, or Food Huggers for fresh produce, these bins will help you keep track of all the little things that can float around the kitchen.
Cabinet Hooks
If bins don’t work for you, consider small command hooks to hold measuring cups and spoons. There’s no reason to rifle through a chaotic drawer or try to wrangle measuring tools back onto the plastic keychain every time you use one.
Fridge Bins
Okay, I’m a little biased about these because I am all for the clear bin trend when it comes to home organizing, but these are extra nice for the fridge. They match the interior of most fridges and help you keep track of everything, so you don’t waste food. What’s not to love?
Under-Shelf Fridge Storage
Much like under the kitchen sink, you can end up with a lot of dead space in your fridge. Make use of it with an adhesive attachment that lets you hang yogurt (and other similarly shaped items) from underneath the shelves. There are plenty of other installs, like drawers and can storage; make use of them all for an Instagram-worthy fridge!
Expandable Dividers
Whether they’re housed in a drawer, shelf, or cabinet, food storage containers often refuse to be conquered. If you’re tired of missing lids and precarious stacks of containers, these customizable dividers are an excellent solution. They can be used for nearly everything, and this TikTok creator shows how helpful they are for wrangling reusable storage.
Expandable Spice Rack
Growing your spices and condiments every day with new recipes? An expandable spice rack is perfect. Stretch it farther whenever you need to, and if you use up any spices, shorten it again to take up less space.
Food Wrap Organizers
Want to organize your foil, plastic wrap, and butcher paper? These bamboo containers with built-in slicers are much nicer than a row of cardboard boxes and make packaging food a breeze. Place one of these in a drawer or even on the counter; no one will think it’s out of place with how clean it looks.
Trash cans are a necessary evil when it comes to kitchen design. Bulky metal and plastic bins aren’t exactly eye-catching but having easy access to them is essential… so why not store them beneath the counter? If you’re not trying to do a full renovation, these easy-to-install sliding bin holders can easily provide the same result.
Slide-Out Storage
Why stop at the trash cans? Retractable storage for pans and casserole dishes makes organization easy, not to mention it’s a great way to use those awkwardly small cabinets. Enjoy late-night baking? With this, you won’t be waking up the entire house riffling for a baking sheet, which means you can keep whatever treats you want for yourself.
Glass Jars for Snacks
You’ve probably seen this before, but it makes the list for good reason. Instead of leaving out mismatched generic snack bags, why not transfer them into uniform jars? This way you can store treats on the counters without them looking messy and unorganized.
Kitchen Cart
Need a little extra space? Grab a metal rolling cart for quick access to your most-used items. This is extra helpful if you don’t have much counter space to work with. Placing liners down helps make clean-up a breeze (this is also a good tip for fridges). Just keep in mind any pets that might grab a treat for themselves, as this cart will definitely give them easy access.
Custom Pizza Station
Take movie night and sleepovers to the next level with a built-in pizza station! A large surface for fresh pizza and storage for dry toppings and pizza cutters makes it easy for everyone to have a slice just the way they like it. As a bonus, this collapsible tabletop means you won’t have to dance around it when it’s not in use.
The best thing about a custom home is being able to design it to meet your needs, so talk to your builder about any custom kitchen elements you want to bring into your home.
Organizing Tips
While the above products and designs make organizing easier, here’s some general advice on how to take control of your kitchen without major renovations or expensive shopping trips.
Prioritizing
Make sure what you use most is the easiest to access. This goes for glassware and pans as well as food. This TikTok creator explains how they place their most-used glasses on the bottom shelves since they’ll be reaching for them often; no need to make more trouble by shuffling glasses you rarely use out of the way every time you want coffee.
Labeling
If you place dry or perishable food in reusable containers, be sure to label its expiration dates. The TikTok creator below uses a dry-erase marker; this makes it easier to know when to cycle out old food without needing to hold onto all the packaging.
This also works for fridges and deep freezers. If the surface isn’t already dry-erase marker friendly, apply some dry-erase contact paper the way this TikTok creator did!
Reach those Aesthetic Goals
There’s no reason to sacrifice design appeal for organization, or vice versa. Whether you’re picking up a few new tools to make organizing easier or you’re doing major renovations, having an organized kitchen that meets your needs is essential. Take a few or all of these tips, or share your own, and let us know how you’re going about organizing!
Mia Zozobrado joined Builders Digital Experience (BDX) in 2019 as a content writer. A graduate of Southwestern University with a degree in English, Mia is passionate about the written word and making connections. Outside of work, Mia also serves on the Board of Directors for the Writers’ League of Texas.
8 Things to Know about Home Demolition Costs