Cluttered kitchen drawers are a common frustration for many homeowners. Overflowing utensils, food storage containers in disarray, and the dreaded junk drawer can make it a hassle to cook meals and locate what you need. By following decluttering and organization tips from professional organizers, you can conquer the chaos once and for all.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through the entire process of emptying, evaluating, categorizing, and maintaining tidy and efficient kitchen drawers. You’ll discover expert strategies for upright storage, divider systems, labels, and more. With a bit of effort, you can establish new habits that will help you stay on top of organization and enjoy maximum space and accessibility in your kitchen.
The Decluttering Process
Empty and Evaluate
The first step is always to completely empty the drawer. Take everything out so you have a blank slate to work with. This forces you to confront the accumulated clutter and make decisions about what to keep, toss or donate.
Be ruthless in your evaluation. Do you really need five vegetable peelers? Are the scratched plastic containers redeemable or ready for recycling? Does this gadget still work or find regular use? Get in a decluttering mindset and let go of anything you don’t absolutely need.
Sort and Categorize
Now group like items together into categories. Kitchen tools and utensils, food storage containers, linens, office supplies and more – keep similar items together. Consider frequency of use as you sort and prioritize the most essential items.
You can organize utensils based on prep stage as well. Group together measuring tools, mixing items, baking supplies, and cooking/serving utensils. Categorize by cooking zone – items for the stovetop, oven, microwave, grill etc. Whatever system makes the most sense for your needs.
Discard with Confidence
Decluttering the kitchen can be an emotional process due to sentimental value or the desire to hold onto things “just in case”. But displaying and storing items you don’t use regularly only creates frustration when you can’t find what you need. It helps to adopt a more minimalist mindset.
Set limits for how many of one item to keep. If it’s broken or missing pieces, toss it. Don’t be tempted to store seldom used specialty appliances and pans – donate them to free up your drawers. Remind yourself that discarded items can find new life and purpose with someone else.
Organizing Strategies
Drawer Dividers and Organizers
Now it’s time to corral all your categorized items into their new homes. Insert adjustable dividers to create compartments for utensils, gadgets and more. Look for dividers with non-slip gripper bottoms to keep them in place. For deeper drawers, multi-tiered cutlery trays are great for upright storage.
Lazy susans can corral spice bottles and condiments for easy access. Sliding compartment organizers are ideal for food storage containers and lids. Consider your drawer contents and choose dividers suited to their sizes and shapes.
Containers and Labels
Use clear plastic bins and baskets to group items by type or purpose. They keep everything visible at a glance while protecting from dust and damage. Labelling the containers makes them even more functional. Use permanent marker directly on plastic or printed labels for a more polished look.
Matchbox-sized containers are great for storing spice packets, dry soup mixes and other small items. Long shallow bins are ideal for utensils and office supplies. Whatever you store, choose see-through containers and label them for instant recognition.
Utilize Vertical Space
Drawers crammed full of stuff are difficult to organize. Make use of vertical space with risers placed underneath your dividers. Risers raise the level to provide more headroom for upright storage. You can also have a riser custom cut to match the drawer dimensions.
Install hanging organizers on the inside of cabinet doors adjacent to the drawers. Use them for foil, bags, wraps, cleaning supplies and other kitchen items. Wall-mounted racks or shelving above the counters can also be used for frequently used items.
Expert Hacks and Tips
Pro Advice from Organizers
Professional organizers have invaluable first-hand experience conquering cluttered kitchens. Here are some of their top tips for specific types of drawers:
- Utensil drawer: Store cooking/serving utensils upright in divided compartments. Group steak knives in a separate section. Use an adjustable cutlery tray to customize sections.
- Junk drawer: Categorize contents like batteries, scissors, pens into small organizers. Install vertical dividers to stand items upright. Keep a stack of takeout menus handy.
- Spice drawer: Alphabetize spice bottles in riser compartments. Or group by cooking style – Italian, Mexican, Baking, etc. Keep lesser used spices in a rotating lazy susan.
- Tupperware drawer: Match lids and containers. Stack by size and use divider compartments. Label for quick ID. Store extra lids vertically in a hanging organizer.
Maintenance and Reassessment
Decluttering is not a one-time project. Plan to re-evaluate your kitchen drawers every few months to avoid recurrence of clutter. When you accumulate new items or no longer need certain tools, be ready to re-categorize and consolidate again.
Routinely purge any old plastic containers, expired spices and other items that may have been overlooked. Don’t let clutter creep back in over time. Staying on top of the organization will make maintenance fast and easy.
Bonus: DIY Drawer Organizers
You don’t have to spend a fortune on fancy organizers to conquer chaotic drawers. A little DIY creativity can transform your kitchen on a budget. Try these projects using simple household items:
- Berry baskets or silverware caddies for utensil storage. Secure with hot glue.
- Repurposed glass jars to hold cooking utensils. Affix with strong double-sided tape.
- Empty tissue boxes with the plastic inserts removed work great for foil, bags, plastic wrap.
- Spray paint or cover a cereal container with contact paper for pencil and tool storage.
Conclusion
A decluttered kitchen with organized drawers will make your meal prep more efficient and enjoyable. This comprehensive guide covered the full process from initial purge to categorizing, utilizing storage solutions, and maintaining organization over time.
Implement as many of the professional tips and tricks as you can – your kitchen drawers will be easier to access and items simpler to locate. Enjoy the satisfaction of conquered clutter with an orderly space customized to your cooking needs. We’d love to hear your best decluttering tips and organizational solutions too!
Here are some example FAQs to extend the article:
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I declutter my kitchen drawers?
Plan to do a deep declutter and reorganization every 6 months or so. Do a quick tidy and purge every 1-2 months to avoid buildup of clutter over time.
What’s the best way to organize cooking utensils?
Store cooking utensils upright in divided compartments. Group by usage – mixing, cooking, baking, serving etc. Consider frequency and keep most-used tools most accessible.
Any tips for decluttering the dreaded junk drawer?
Remove everything and sort contents into categories. Toss broken, expired or unnecessary items. Use small bins or trays to group like items standing upright. Install vertical dividers for maximum space.
How should I organize Tupperware and lids?
Stack containers by size and store lids upright adjacent to their bases. Label each container type for easy matching. Use bins or trays to keep matched sets together. Store extra lids vertically.
What should I do if my drawers still feel cluttered after organizing?
You likely need to purge more items. Be ruthless about discarding duplicates, rarely used items and anything you can live without. Then evaluate if new organizers or dividers would better maximize space.
How do I stop clutter from accumulating again after organizing?
Get in the habit of putting items back where they belong after each use. Set limits on how many of one item you keep. Do a monthly quick purge of any new clutter before it builds up.
Are drawer organizers worth the investment?
Yes, they maximize space and make contents accessible. But you can DIY them too. Try repurposing berry baskets, jars, cereal boxes first if you’re on a budget.
What do I do if I’m struggling to make decluttering decisions?
Give yourself a time limit for evaluating items, like 30 seconds each. If you can’t decide, box it up for 6 months. If not used, donate or discard it. Sentimental items can be displayed elsewhere.
Where should I store my lesser used kitchen tools?
Consider a wall-mounted rack, hanging organizer or extra drawer/cabinet for specialty appliances and cookware used only occasionally. Keep your everyday drawer contents streamlined.
How can I add more vertical storage space to my drawers?
Use risers or adjustable drawer dividers to lift contents up. Install hanging organizers on cabinet doors. Wall-mounted rails, racks or shelves can hold items too.
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