20 Clever Ways to Organize Crowded Kitchen Drawers

Even if cooking isn't your cup of tea, no one likes a messy kitchen. As one of the most frequented rooms in a home, your kitchen should be easy and enjoyable for the whole family to use. The quickest way to transition from cluttered to clean is to start by tidying up your kitchen drawers. Never again should you lose a kitchen towel to the backside of a drawer or slice your finger on a pizza cutter while digging for the spatula. These 20 creative tips can help you organize your kitchen drawers and create a space even guests can navigate with ease.

01 of 20

Give Every Item a Home

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If you're the family member constantly pulling utensils out of the dishwasher and wondering where they go, the first step you should take to create a well-organized kitchen is to choose a specific home for every item. This is also a great time to discard duplicate kitchen tools as well as those you don't use. Never again will you ask where the potato peeler or citrus juicer belongs!
02 of 20

Organize Snacks Vertically

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If you're familiar with Marie Kondo, this tip may sound familiar. Just as Kondo would organize t-shirts and jeans, snacks such as chip bags and granola bars can be arranged vertically to save space. This will also help you keep track of how much of the snack food you have left, so you know when you're running low.
03 of 20

Purchase a Spice Drawer Liner

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There are a variety of unique tools you can use to keep your drawers tidy and neat, many of which are designed for specific kitchen goods. For example, if you prefer to keep your spices in drawers, consider a spice liner. This will prevent your spice jars from rolling around as you open and close the drawer and will also keep the labels upright so you can skim and grab quickly.
04 of 20

Use Clear Storage Cubbies

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One of the easiest ways to de-clutter your drawers is with storage compartments of varying sizes. It shouldn't be hard to find these at your local department store, but if you can try to find some clear options. Clear cubbies are particularly practical, since you can see everything without pulling out the bins. They're also helpful if you've installed drawers in your cabinets, since you can stack the bins vertically.

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05 of 20

Keep the Kid's Stuff Together

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Odds are your kids won't have the same urge to keep the kitchen tidy as you do. With this in mind, be sure to separate the kid's utensils, plates, and such from the rest of your kitchen goods. A low drawer is an ideal location for these items, since the kids can play in the drawer while you work on dinner.
06 of 20

Find What Works for You

Neat by Meg

Just because an organization tool is designed for a specific purpose doesn't mean you must abide by it. Don't be afraid to create a unique system that matches your preferences. For instance, this drawer was meant to be a roll-out spice rack, until the owner discovered it didn't work for her. Instead, she converted it into a utensil holder and knife block.
07 of 20

Eliminate Counter Clutter

Neat by Meg

Instead of sorting kitchen goods on your counter, keep them hidden in the drawers below. For example, this homeowner's adorable tea bar features a tidy countertop with just a kettle on display. The drawer below it houses everything else you'd need for tea time.
08 of 20

Buy a Knife Dock

Neat by Meg

If you're hoping to free up some more counter space, try swapping your knife block for a knife dock. The option pictured above has a cork lining, like this one from Williams-Sonoma, so there's plenty of room for all your favorite knives as well as any future additions.

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09 of 20

Don't Stack Pots and Pans

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Just because your drawers have room for extra items, doesn't mean you should squeeze them in. Especially for bulky kitchen tools like pots and pans, avoid the temptation to stack. Instead, keep your drawers minimal and clean, only leaving space for the items you use regularly.
10 of 20

Try Rolling Your Kitchen Towels

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If it works in hotel suites, it can work in your kitchen drawer! Rolling your kitchen towels makes them easier to grab quickly without dirtying the rest in your drawer. Not to mention, it'll be much harder for a towel to slip off the top of a stack and slide behind your drawer. Say goodbye to drawer jams.
11 of 20

Keep Your Plates in Drawers

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If you're accustomed to stacking your plates and bowls in an upper cupboard, perhaps it's time to think outside the box. Try storing these kitchen tools in a deep drawer instead. This location will be much easier to access.
12 of 20

Convert Cupboards to Drawers

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If your kitchen is short on drawer space, consider adding drawers inside your lower cabinets. No more digging past chip bags and miscellaneous Tupperware! Simply slide out the contents of your cabinet with a built-in drawer.

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13 of 20

Store Water Bottles in a Drawer

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Some kitchens may feel short on drawer space, while others have ample room to go around. If yours is the latter, get creative! For instance, this homeowner used stackable water bottle holders in drawers instead of a cabinet.
14 of 20

Add Drawers to Your Refrigerator

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Refrigerator drawers can become a crowded catch-all for fruits, veggies, meats, cheeses, and more. To keep these drawers tidy, add some smaller drawers on your fridge shelves so you can sort and access ingredients quickly.
15 of 20

Break It Up and Stick It Down

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Before you toss your ladles and slotted spoons into an open drawer, divide the space into sections with bamboo or plastic dividers. The team at A Fresh Space recommends using adhesive dots on the underside of your drawer dividers to prevent them from sliding around.
16 of 20

Create Custom Dividers

Neat by Meg

If store-bought storage bins don't provide the best solution for your kitchen, create a customized plan that fits your drawer space and storage needs. This clever homeowner used a combination of wooden dividers and white plastic storage tubs to sort their snacks.

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17 of 20

Bring on the Baskets

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Like clear, plastic bins, storage baskets such as those pictured above can help you sort foods quickly and see everything at a glance. For foods that may leave dirt or debris, such as potatoes and onions, opt for clear cubbies for easy clean-up. Meanwhile, bagged items can work well in either baskets or clear containers.
18 of 20

Arrange Items by Use

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When you're selecting "homes" for different kitchen tools and utensils, consider the item's use and arrange accordingly. For example, it makes perfect sense to store spices in the same drawer as your measuring spoons, since both items are often used together.
19 of 20

Label Your Drawers

Neat by Meg

Another helpful tip from Neat by Meg is to label your drawers with the utensils or items that belong in each section. For a utensil drawer, you might use the following categories: tongs, spatulas and spoons, and measuring cups. This nifty kids cupboard has helpful labels, like bottles, bibs, and such.
20 of 20

Keep it Minimal

Neat by Meg

The key to organization is to create a plan, keep it simple, and stay the course. Resist the urge to stuff your drawers with extra spatulas and mismatched Tupperware. Fill the space with what you know you'll use and avoid adding excess clutter in the future.