Kitchen Organization Refresh for the New Year 2024

Tips for Kitchen Organization

The New Year is almost here, and there’s nothing quite like a kitchen organization refresh to kick off your resolutions! Today, we’re talking all things kitchen storage for small spaces and kitchens with plenty of room! We’ve pulled together a list of our top tips to help you organize the heart of the home, your kitchen. Once you’ve got these in place, all you’ll need to complete it is a few great recipes and hungry people!

A wood kitchen tray collects olive oil, spices, and cooking utensils to clear up countertop space - Source

A wood kitchen tray collects olive oil, spices, and cooking utensils to clean up countertop space / Source

Countertop Trays for a Kitchen Organization Refresh

Are your countertops covered with everything from spice jars to appliances and coffee grounds? Then your first step is to invest in a tray for the kitchen organization refresh. It’s an often-underused tool that can make all the difference in creating a clutter-free kitchen atmosphere. Collect your miscellaneous items (think olive oil, salt and pepper, herbs, or coffee fixings), and place them on a tray. Your counter will be instantly simplified. You’ll have so much more room to devote to actually using your kitchen to its fullest potential.

A marble tray helps to keep coffee, cream, and sugar together in one convenient location - Source

A marble tray helps to keep coffee, cream, and sugar together in one convenient location / Source

Herbs, garlic, and cooking oils are grouped together on a kitchen tray, helping to keep the countertops organized and clean - Source

Similar items are grouped together on a kitchen tray, helping to keep the countertops organized and clean / Source

Hang Pots & Pans

Another great kitchen organization tip if you’re running out of cabinet space is to go vertical! If you have some extra space on your wall or ceiling, use a wall-mounted rack to showcase a beautiful collection of pots and pans. Interior designers use this vertical prime real estate to create visual interest and to serve as an easy way to access cooking necessities. No more crouching down and reaching into the back of a dark cabinet to find your frying pan. Simply look up, and voila! You’re ready to do some cooking.

Sleek copper pots and pans hang on a wall-mounted rack in this kitchen - Source

Sleek copper pots and pans hang on a wall-mounted rack in this kitchen.

A ceiling rack holds a variety of copper pots and pans above a crisp white kitchen island - Source

A ceiling pot rack holds a variety of copper kettles and pans above a crisp white kitchen island / Source

Hanging pans on a bar above this kitchen’s stove help to free up cabinet space - Source

Hanging pans on a bar above this kitchen’s stove help to free up cabinet space / Source

RELATED: Quartz vs. Granite Kitchen Countertops

Mount Knives and Utensils

Similar to hanging your pots and pans, go for major space-saving impact. Mount your knives or utensils! Instead of taking up precious counter space with a hefty knife block or a bulky utensil crock, use your backsplash to store your cooking tools.

Wall-mounted knives keep this classic kitchen feeling clutter-free and artistic - SourceWall-mounted knives! One of the easiest ways to keep this chef’s kitchen clutter-free and artistic. Open shelves add extra space for go-to cooking items. / Design by Carla Bast

RELATED: Quartz vs. Granite Kitchen Countertops

Mounted bars serve as flexible holders for an array of hanging utensil crocks and potted herbs, doubling as kitchen art - Source

Mounted bars serve as flexible holders for an array of hanging utensils and herbs. Also, this doubles as kitchen art / Source

Knives are mounted to a magnetic strip on this kitchen wall, freeing up counter space for cooking - Source

Knives are mounted to a magnetic strip on this kitchen wall, freeing up counter space for cooking / Source

RELATED: Sherwin Williams Iron Ore: Paint Color Review

Dishware Dividers a Key to this Kitchen Organization Refresh

If you’ve ever been guilty of piling a set of dishes too high just to fit it in a cabinet, then you’re not alone. But there is an easy kitchen organization solution: invest in some dishware dividers to maximize storage space. From drawer dividers for plate storage to sturdy shelves that allow you to fill your cabinets strategically, having these on hand will make your life a million times easier (and finding those salad plates will be a cinch).

Simple black and white wire dish organizers keep this neutral-themed dish set free of clutter in this kitchen organization refresh

Simple black and white wire dish organizers hidden behind the cabinet door keep this neutral-themed dish set free of clutter / Source

A pull-out kitchen drawer reveals neatly organized dishes separated by dishware divider racks for a kitchen organization refresh

Pin this for easy reference:

kitchen-organization-ideas-2024-carlabast-design

A pull-out kitchen drawer reveals neatly organized favorite dishes separated by dishware a divider rack peg system. This is a great way to add flexibility in your storage solutions as the pegs can be moved for larger items or smaller items.

A reclaimed wood shelf helps to keep this kitchen’s beautiful white dish ware organized - Source

A reclaimed wood shelf helps to keep this kitchen’s beautiful white dish ware organized.

RELATED: Simply White vs Chantilly Lace – Which White Paint is Best?

Clear Containers / Labels

If you’re tired of sifting through boxes, jars, and cans thrown every which way about your pantry, we recommend opting for clear storage containers to up your organization game. Glass or plastic – that is entirely up to you – but being able to actually see your food will make the process of cooking and making a grocery list so much quicker. Plus, by using the same clear containers throughout your entire pantry, it’ll help to streamline the overall look, and your space will feel intentional and as neat as can be. Using labels is also a great option – you can record not only the item inside, but also the expiration date as a reminder of when it needs to be replaced.

Open shelving with clear labeled containers gives this kitchen a homey, organized feel

Open shelving with clear labeled containers gives this kitchen a homey, organized feel / Source

Clear glass containers in this pantry offer a beautiful visual of a wide variety of ingredients for cooking

Clear glass containers in this pantry offer a beautiful visual of a wide variety of ingredients for cooking / Source

Clear storage containers with bamboo lids give this pantry a warm and inviting look

Clear storage containers with bamboo lids give this pantry a warm and inviting look / Source

Pull-out Drawers

Sometimes, shelves just don’t cut it. They’re great for certain things, but if you have the ability to swap them out for drawers in your kitchen cabinets (especially for your lower cabinets), then you’ll definitely want to consider doing so. Drawers make organization a snap and you won’t have to worry any more about reaching your arm aimlessly towards the back of a cabinet, hoping to find the precise item you’re looking for. All it takes is a bit of DIY installation knowledge, and you’ve got what feels like a brand new kitchen.

Sleek white drawers pull out in this cabinet to reveal neatly organized pantry in the kitchen organization refresh.

Sleek white drawers pull out in this cabinet to reveal neatly organized pantry / Source

A pull-out drawer helps keep cutting boards and cookie sheets organized and easy to reach

A pull-out drawer helps keep cutting boards and cookie sheets organized and easy to reach / Source

A kitchen organization refresh with Top-to-bottom pull-out drawers offer easy access for this kitchen’s dishware

Top-to-bottom pull-out drawers offer easy access for this kitchen’s dishware / Source

Drawer Separators

Finally, we can’t forget about that pesky junk drawer (or any drawer, really) for a kitchen organization refresh. As much as we’d all like to think differently, there’s always a miscellaneous drawer in the kitchen for all the odds and ends (think rubber bands, scissors, pens, and pads of paper). To make your drawer as user-friendly as possible, though, you definitely want to invest in some drawer separators for those small items. Having everything grouped together by type will make things infinitely easier to find, and you’ll be much more likely to stay organized as time goes on.

Clear dividers help to organize the tools in this miscellaneous drawer

Clear dividers help to organize the tools in this miscellaneous drawer / Source

Wood dividers separate items in a junk drawer, keeping things neat

Wood dividers separate items in a junk drawer, is the best way to keep things neat / Source

Serving ware and kitchen tools are organized with a sleek and simple drawer divider

Serving ware and kitchen tools are organized with a sleek and simple drawer divider / Source

kitchen-cabinet-pantry-lazy-susan-spice-racks-acrylic-condiment-lazy-susans
Small Lazy Susan trays are a perfect solution for stacking and storing herbs and spices in plain sight.

New year, a new you, and that means a kitchen organization refresh to bring new life into your space! Add a few of these tricks to your home, and you’re sure to be cooking without stress in no time. Enjoy your organized kitchen!

Cheers

Hi, I’m Carla

carla-bast-interior-designer-and-blogger

I’m glad you’re here! You are in the right place if you are feeling overwhelmed at the thought of embarking on a remodeling or interior design project. Living with an outdated home and don’t know where to start? I’ve helped families like yours update their home and create spaces that reflect what’s important to them for over 25 years.

Join me!


I’ve been honored to be featured in and receive awards from:

The Spruce

Apartment Therapy / Cubby

Houzz / Best of Service & Design

Minnesota Chapter ASID – First Place Award

MSP Magazine, Best Use of Color

Minneapolis Star Tribune

Hunker

Home Crux

Tips for a stress free remodel

5 Tips for Stress Free Remodel

Don’t miss a thing!

Enter your email below to be the first to know about design posts, new products and tips for a more beautiful home.

Don’t miss a thing!

Enter your email below to be the first to know about design posts, new products and tips for a more beautiful home.

More Posts We Think You'd Love

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comments links could be nofollow free.

Looking for something on the blog?

how to choose paint colors with confidence

Free Design Guide

5 Tips for a Stress Free Remodel

Get The FREE Guide

Ever wonder what your own personal interior design style is?

Unlock Your Unique Design Style

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.