How to Streamline Your Kitchen for a Neater and More Practical Space

Organizing your kitchen might seem like a puzzle, but it’s far from impossible. Finding the ideal organizational system for your unique needs and space may take time, but once you're finished, you'll find spending time in your kitchen much more enjoyable.

Of course, we all use our kitchens for more than just food prep, and every family's layout and style is distinct. Nevertheless, there are essential organizing principles that apply to all kitchens. We reached out to three expert organizers to share their top tips for creating a functional and tidy kitchen.

Before You Start

Instead of diving straight into the task, take a moment to relax with your favorite drink, breathe, and consider how you and your family use the kitchen. Which areas get the most traffic? Are there spots that create congestion when others are present? Are there any recurring problem areas that annoy you?

Organizing your thoughts will streamline the process, especially if you're short on time and can’t overhaul the entire kitchen at once. Think in terms of zones—cleaning and supplies, food storage (pantry and fridge), meal prep and cooking tools, serving items (plates, glasses, utensils), and anything else relevant. By grouping similar items together and placing them close to where they’re used, you’ll save both time and energy. For instance, keep pots, pans, and utensils near the stove.

After you’ve reflected on how you use your kitchen, you'll have a clearer idea of whether you need to buy new storage or organizing tools, as well as how to make your kitchen more functional. Now, you're ready to tackle the whole kitchen—or at least one area at a time.

Clear It Out and Tidy Up

When it comes to organizing, Jamie Hord, the founder of Horderly Professional Organizing, always advises pulling everything out to assess what you have. "You want to approach your space as a blank slate," she explains.

This strategy works whether you’re organizing just one section or the entire kitchen. Ashley Murphy, co-founder of Neat Method, suggests, "We recommend protecting your countertops and tabletops, removing everything from the cupboards and pantry." (Leave refrigerated items for a later session.)

Once your cabinets, shelves, and drawers are emptied, give them a good cleaning by wiping up any spills, crumbs, dusting the shelves, and, if necessary, replacing shelf and drawer liners.

Sort, Toss, Recycle, and Donate

With all your kitchen items spread out, it's time to decide what to keep and what to purge. Bring the trash can close and gather four containers—such as cardboard boxes, plastic bins, or laundry baskets—to sort the items into different categories. Label them as "Keep," "Recycle," "Donate," and "Return to Proper Spot" (why is there a baseball in the pantry?).

"Sort everything into groups of 'like with like,'" Hord advises. "For example, gather all appliances together, all bakeware together, all to-go cups together, and so on. You may be surprised by how many storage containers you've accumulated over time. This method will simplify your decisions, as it allows you to compare items and keep only the best of the best."

When deciding what to discard or donate, Murphy suggests, "A helpful rule in the kitchen is to get rid of any unnecessary duplicates you’re holding onto, as well as anything that’s broken or missing parts."

Take a good, hard look at your small appliances—especially those specialty gadgets, like a bread maker, ice cream churn, or waffle maker. When was the last time you actually used them? If you don’t use them often, the space they occupy might be better used for something else.

Think About Placement

Once everything is sorted, it’s time to reorganize your kitchen—making it even better than before.

Arrange Items Thoughtfully

"Begin by positioning your everyday dishes and glasses near the dishwasher for easier unloading," recommends Marissa Hagmeyer, co-founder of Neat Method. "Next, create zones based on your regular routines, like a coffee station. This could involve placing coffee beans, filters, and mugs near your coffee maker. Then, arrange items close to where they are used, such as dish towels near the sink and pots and pans next to the stove. Finally, make sure top drawers and easily reachable shelves are used for items you use most frequently."

Seek Storage Space in Other Areas

If that large roasting pan is only used during the holidays, find an alternative storage spot in the garage, attic, basement, or another closet. Other seasonal items, such as holiday-themed cookie cutters, can be stored with your holiday decorations. Outdoor cooking gear meant for warmer weather can be stored alongside camping equipment or other seasonal items you'll need around the same time.

Incorporate Organizing Tools

Most kitchens are equipped with the basic essentials, but adding a few carefully selected products can make a big difference in tailoring the space to your needs. "Kitchen cabinets usually don’t require many items, but drawers can greatly benefit from organizers to define categories and prevent things from getting mixed up," says Murphy.

Don’t overlook vertical space either. You can make use of shallow racks or hooks on the inside of cabinet and pantry doors to maximize every available inch. Alternatively, install a wall or ceiling-mounted pot rack to free up cabinet space. Also, remember the area between upper cabinets or shelves and the countertop—it’s an ideal spot for hanging paper towels or using magnetic strips for knives and other utensils.

Use Transparent Containers and Labels

If you find yourself frustrated by the clutter of mismatched boxes, bags, and jars in your pantry and cabinets, consider investing in containers. Matching containers not only tidy up the space but also make it look refreshed and organized. Many prefer clear containers to easily see the contents, but stainless steel or opaque options work equally well.

Take stock of everything you want to store in the new containers to determine how many you’ll need. There are a variety of sets available, and if you're looking for something specific, individual pieces are usually sold as well.

Once your containers are in place, be sure to label them so you can quickly identify what's inside. It may seem easy to remember at first, but a few weeks down the line, can you tell which one holds the all-purpose flour and which holds the bread flour? After everything is neatly transferred and labeled, take a moment to admire your newly organized pantry, now uniform and easy to navigate.

Maintain Your Kitchen's Organization Long-Term

If you share your kitchen space, be sure to add labels to the shelves to guide others in returning items to their designated spots. Additionally, periodically review and reorganize as needed. At least four times a year, dedicate time to each zone, discarding any broken or no longer needed items. Watch for plastic containers, to-go cups, and shopping bags that may crowd your storage space over time.