Kitchen Drawer Organization Ideas

Want to make your home and kitchen more organized? These simple yet genius drawer organization ideas can help you streamline everything.

Baskets are a total game-changer for kitchen organization. With so many sizes and styles out there, you’re bound to find one that fits perfectly in the drawer you’re tackling.

Is your kitchen drawer situation a bit of a disaster?

If you’re like most of us, those drawers are probably stuffed with everything—pots, pans, utensils, spices—just tossed together in a chaotic mess. Finding what you need can feel like a treasure hunt, and not the fun kind.

But here’s the good news—it’s easier than you think to fix this.

Drawer organizers are a game-changer. They give everything in your kitchen its own dedicated spot, which makes it so much easier to stay organized.

Try these super simple tips, and before you know it, your drawers will be neat, tidy, and totally functional.

Here’s the best part—once your drawers are organized, finding what you need while cooking will be a breeze. No more digging through a tangled mess to find the one whisk or pan you need. And bonus, it’s so much easier to keep your counters clutter-free too.

How do you tackle a messy kitchen drawer?

If you are faced with a mess, let’s tackle that first. Having less stuff to store in a drawer will better help you to choose the best organizers.

1. Start with one drawer—ideally one you use all the time, like your silverware drawer or the one with your go-to cooking tools.
2. Take everything out of the drawer and lay it all on a kitchen towel. The towel helps keep things in one spot so they don’t scatter and create an even bigger mess.
3. Get rid of any trash—toss it right away.
4. If you spot items that clearly belong somewhere else, take a moment to put them back where they belong.
5. Now, remove anything you don’t use or need anymore. If it’s broken, toss it. If it’s still in good shape but not useful to you, add it to your donation pile. Keep going through everything until all the items that don’t belong are out of the way.
6. Give the drawer a good wipe-down so it’s clean and ready for a fresh start.

At this point, you’ll have a neat little collection of only what belongs in that drawer—ready for the final step of organizing.

How to organize your kitchen drawers

Using containers is hands-down one of the easiest ways to keep those busy kitchen drawers neat and mess free. The key is to pick something that works for you and your family—it’s got to be practical to stick with.

#1. Premade Organizers

Premade organizers are a quick fix for even the messiest drawers. They’re super popular and chances are, you’ve already got one—like a silverware organizer.

These organizers are designed for specific items and have layouts that just make sense for what you’re storing. Here are a few examples.

• Spices
• Silverware
• Food storage bags
• Measuring utensils
• Knives

If you’re looking for a quick and simple way to declutter, premade organizers are an easy win. They’ll have your kitchen drawer looking streamlined and functional in no time.

Pro Tip: Don’t forget to measure your drawer before you pick an organizer! Make sure it fits both the width and depth so everything slides in perfectly.

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#2. Tension Dividers

Tension dividers are a fantastic way to keep large or deep drawers neat and organized making the best use of the space you have.

The best part? They’re fully customizable, so you can create sections of any size. They’re perfect for keeping lids in check, organizing food storage containers, or even separating dishes and bowls.

Pro Tip: Arrange dividers so the sections fit snugly around your items. This helps prevent things from sliding around every time you open or close the drawer!

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#3. Baskets or Trays

My go-to organizer for almost anything is baskets and trays. They’re super customizable, incredibly affordable, and, honestly, you probably already have a few lying around the house just waiting to be put to use.

Use them to corral smaller items like spices, snacks, or measuring spoons. Not only does this keep things from disappearing into the chaos, but it also makes cooking so much easier when everything’s right where you need it.

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Pro Tip: Choose baskets or trays with a non-slip base or add a grip drawer liner underneath to keep them from sliding around inside the drawer. This will help to keep the bins in place whenever the drawer is opened.

#4. Tiered Organizers

Got a shallow drawer? Tiered or stadium organizers are a perfect solution! They’re especially handy for organizing spices, letting you see everything you have at a glance without any digging around.

Pro Tip: Arrange your spices with the labels facing up and group them by category (like baking or cooking). It’ll make your drawer not only look neater but also save you time when searching for that one specific spice.

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#5. Drawer Grids

Drawer grids are a super versatile option for keeping your drawers neat. With their interlocking sides and tension slats, they give you a totally customizable way to organize.

They’re perfect for those miscellaneous items, helping you separate everything so it’s easy to find what you need in a pinch.

Pro Tip: Choose drawer grids with adjustable slides to customize each section. This way, you can make the most of your drawer space and keep everything securely in place.

Organizing Tips for a Better Kitchen Layout

Now that you’ve got some great ideas for keeping your drawers clutter-free, let’s talk about improving the overall kitchen layout.

A well-thought-out arrangement can make your space feel streamlined and work like a dream. Here are two tried-and-true strategies to consider:

Organize by Zones

Grouping items by “zones” in your kitchen can make everything more efficient. Zones are specific areas where certain activities happen regularly. Think about it like this:

• Washing Zone – around the sink.
• Cooking Zone – near the stove.
• Baking Zone – close to a large countertop.

Not sure what goes where? Here’s a quick exercise to clarify things. Pretend you’re walking into your kitchen for the first time, as if you’re a prospective homebuyer.

Take it all in with fresh eyes. Where’s the stove? The sink? That open counter space?

Now, imagine yourself cooking or baking. What tools or supplies would you need, and where should they go to make moving around easier?

Think about storing items where they’ll be the most useful, cutting down on steps and saving time.

Organize by Frequency

Another great approach is to arrange items based on how often you use them. Here’s the idea:

• Keep everyday essentials in the most accessible drawers.
• Stash less frequently used items in harder-to-reach spots.

This keeps your go-to tools at your fingertips and ensures nothing gets in the way when you’re in a hurry. Plus, limiting what’s in your most-used drawers means you’ll be able to grab what you need quickly—no digging required.

The easier it is to find what you need, the more fun cooking becomes. Try these Kitchen Organization tips and make the most delicious meals for your family.

How can I keep my kitchen organized?

Once you have your drawers set up and organized use these tips to keep things neat and put away.

Use labels

If you want to be sure everything stays where it belongs it is important to label everything.

Labeling is the key to maintaining a well-organized kitchen. This will help you know exactly where everything goes and make it easier to put things away. You can use simple labels such as sticky notes or you can use a label maker.

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Put things all the way away.

If you want to banish clutter for good, then this clutter-free habit is one you will want to adopt. Whenever you are finished using an item or doing a project, such as cooking, be sure to always put your things all the way away.

Not near to where they belong, but all the way away.

This will stop the surface clutter from collecting giving a cluttered look to your room.

One in/One out.

I love new kitchen gadgets, but I love a clutter-free kitchen even more. Over the years, I have found that I prefer having open counters where I can cook without having to move a lot of things.

If you feel the same way, then try this tip out next time you look at a new item for your kitchen.

Whenever you bring something new, look for something you no longer use to remove and donate. This simple tip will ensure the number of items you have in your kitchen will never be more than they are now.

When it comes to setting up a streamlined kitchen drawer organization ideas like this will get you closer to your goal. Try one or more and see which ones work best for you.

Remember to label any new area so you remember what belongs where and before you know it you will have a streamlined kitchen you love to cook in.

Tired of digging through a messy spice drawer? A Spice Drawer Organizer keeps everything in sight, so you can grab what you need in seconds.

More Kitchen Resources:

• Clean Kitchen Checklist
• Kitchen Gadget Storage Ideas
• Small Kitchen Storage Solutions