Once upon a time, a sweet reader wrote in and asked us how we organize our kitchen.
I laughed a little, admittedly from sheer embarrassment since, well, our kitchen was a cross between kinda functioning, and hot mess. Definitely a nice blend because we like to keep it real. We organized our pantry last year, and it’s works well for us. But we still had some real problem areas, since we felt as though we moved in after the renovation, and never had a real system. We were taking care of kids, growing a business, and surviving in the middle. When Bed Bath and Beyond contacted us about trying out a few of their products for all things organization, we were more than happy to get our act together.
So today we’re sharing a few of our favorite changes, and the process behind it. If you were following on stories this week, you probably spied Jamin working hard in the kitchen. Since he’s the chef of the house, he had a few requests, and I was more than happy to let him take over. So without further ado, a few satisfying changes, and some shameful befores… tips for easy kitchen organization!
1. tips for easy kitchen organization: the utensils drawer
It was to the point where someone would come over, and ask where the forks were kept, I would intervene and grab one for them. I was so embarrassed because a. shameful. b. gross. The medicine caps, birthday candles, Frog tape {?!} extra cords, and leftover chopsticks were melded into some weird junk drawer implosion.
Have a junk drawer. They’re great. Just not right next to your silverware. Ew, David.
So we took it to this… and it was a total game changer.
This expandable cutlery organizer puts everything nice and neat and in its place.
At a glance, we now know where knives, spoons, forks, measuring cups and more, can be found. I can even grab a straw for my Yeti when needed, without searching for twenty seconds. It’s the little things, y’all. So dividers can be a real game-changer.
But if you thought that was bad…
2. tips for easy kitchen organization: the serving and cooking utensils
I honest to goodness don’t even know why on the lord’s green earth, we have a turkey baster. I’ve never basted a turkey. Let alone tried to cook one. No. Just no. This one is also a bit sharp for my liking.
So many out of date and irrelevant things were taking up space, we couldn’t find what we needed.
See that white-handled salad tong/tosser thingy in the middle right? I thought its twin was lost forever. I had no idea where it was. Buried. That’s where. Also, do we really need ice cube makers in the form of a Death Star? {That blue round thing on the left side} The answer to that, would be absolutely. But maybe stored in a space that makes more sense.
Enter: These amazing bamboo drawer dividers.
They’re brilliant. Easy to place. And totally adjustable based on your needs.
I’m not embarrassed for anyone to open the drawers anymore. In fact, I’m like, LOOK AT IT, would ya just LOOK AT IT?! I needed to get out more, already, but now when we {safely} have guests over, I’ll be wowing them with our new organizer accessories. A new level of calm.
Here’s one more overhead view, because it was fun to stand on my counter at gaze at its fabulous countenance as well as document with photos. So again, dividers can make all the difference.
{And if you’re wondering, yes, we still ADORE our countertops.}
3. tips for easy kitchen organization: cooking and baking supplies
Beneath those drawers, we had another situation going on.
Where’s the pan for the noodles? Not sure. Might I break my arm reaching to the back in search of the frying pan, when an eminent avalanche takes me out in one swift topple? {Read that in your best Moira voice.} Yes. And it would be super embarrassing when I have to go to the emergency room and the doctors are all, what happened? And I tell them I’m a pan hoarder. Talk about the walk of shame.
Not anymore.
This expandable cookware stand makes it easy to grab what I need, at a glance and by “I”, I mean Jamin. It also frees up the rest of the cabinet to add the much needed additional containers, that were stacked precariously one cabinet over. Now we have everything we need in one place, and we’re kinda patting ourselves on the back about it.
So that was the right side of the kitchen. Now we were ready to move on to more drawers and cabinets which definitely needed a change.
4. tips for easy kitchen organization: cleaning supplies
No kitchen is perfect, but under the sink definitely had its own issues when it came to organizing supplies. From dishwasher detergent to cleaning supplies, and everything in between… HOT MESS. WHY is there a hair bleaching brush front and center, you may ask? Last spring when the nation shut down, my daughter wanted pink hair. I was at a point in my life where I thought, why not. Let’s do some pink hair. It didn’t work, because I had no idea what I was doing. And this is where my good intentions came to die. Good times. I’m just glad her hair didn’t fall out.
Because under the sink is such an awkward configuration, I was more than thrilled to add some space with a simple solution.
We love these mesh sliding cabinet baskets so much, I’ll be adding them under our bathroom cabinets, asap. No more muddled crusty plastic container. No more removing everything to find what we need. These simply slide out and allow us to see, without feeling like we’re going crazy.
5. tips for easy kitchen organization: water bottle storage
One of our biggest problems with our kitchen is that the storage space has been so limited, that simple things like water bottles drive us insane. You know what we’re talking about. Your kids water bottles that they take to school, and then when they’re at home over winter break you want to lose your mind because there’s nowhere to PUT THEM. Or the giant cups you’re kind of addicted to, that definitely keep you hydrated in yoga class.
But where do they go, TODD? I DON’T KNOW, MARGO.
This little storage area is a game-changer.
We added two of these bottle organizers to help us corral all of the things. We know right where they are, and they’re easily accessible at a glance. The most important part? They’re up and out of the way until we need them.
6. tips for easy kitchen organization: spice rack duty
Our spice rack storage was mass chaos. The initial baskets we were using, weren’t cutting it because you couldn’t see everything at a glance. This cupboard, for the first time since moving in four years ago, is now actually being used. And I don’t mean shoved full of stuff you don’t usually have the time or space for. This spice rack pulls right out, and you can see what you need, from underneath.
7. tips for easy kitchen organization: kitchen supplies
Bamboo drawer dividers to the rescue again, because for some reason we kept storing Frogtape in our drawers, with no rhyme or reason. We have this thing with Frogtape.
This simple addition gave us order, and we can finally find our kitchen scissors when we need them.
The pups definitely approve.
8. tips for easy kitchen organization: coffee mugs
It wasn’t a rare occurrence to hear a crash in the coffee making hours of the day. I say hours, because I also enjoy an afternoon cup. We haphazardly stacked mugs, and had quite the assortment: from our favorites to others that we held on to out of sheer guilt {see the gift our fifth-grader gave me, telling me I was the world’s best mom} For the record, we did purge, but I couldn’t part with world’s best mom. Because clearly, I am.
These sliding mesh drawers came to the rescue again, freeing up some space, and adding some double-decker solutions.
Again, we can now see everything at a glance and it just makes sense to have a system in place.
And these are the simple steps we took to add a little order to the mass chaos that was our kitchen.
We hope that you found this walk of shame refreshing, real, and relatable.
When the quarantine period hit around March of last year, we were scurrying to manage our business, feeling overwhelmed by work. I remember seeing a meme that said, “No amount of staying at home can make me organize my drawers”. And it was true. But it helps to take the time to take care of the things you’re struggling with. It can feel like a real game-changer and a true form of self-care.
We’ve never been professional organizers in any way, but we do think that it helps to see how real people live and make systems work just for them. These are small steps and healthier choices for the new year, that we’re excited to implement in our kitchen!
Thanks again for tuning in today. We hope we’ve inspired someone to give it a go. It feels so good.
As always, let us know if we can answer any questions or shoot you in the right direction.
Have an inspired day!
{We partnered with and are sponsored by Bed Bath and Beyond. For more info on our branded content please visit our disclosure page.}
Melanie says
I love all those organizing tools, and may or may not have sent the links to my husband. 😉 Also love this line and I totally read it in their voices: “But where do they go, TODD? I DON’T KNOW, MARGO.” LOL! Thanks for the tips!
ashley @ the handmade home says
HAHA! I hope it helps! I got a little carried away with sharing my shame on the internet :}