Pullout Organizers for Under the Sink I like to keep my floors clear of objects, including trash cans and recycling bins. When we remodeled our small kitchen, I tried very hard to fit a pullout trash cabinet into the design. But ultimately, I couldn’t justify the space that a dedicated trash drawer would have taken away from the storage I needed. Instead, I installed a pullout trash can (similar to the one shown in this photo) underneath the sink. It has dual compartments that allow me to keep both trash and recycling concealed neatly behind cabinet doors. I also recommend that clients get a small trash bin that can be hung on the interior side of the cabinet door. This type of bin works well in the kitchen for food scraps. The lid helps keep odors from food waste from permeating the entire cabinet. I also have one in each of my bathrooms so I don’t have to have anything on the floor. It is especially nice in my small guest bathroom, which can’t hold many items without looking cluttered. Plus, a clear floor is easier to sweep and vacuum.
Lazy Susan. This classic storage solution lets you place dishes, strainers, pots and pans on turnstiles and access them with a twirl of the finger. It doesn’t completely eliminate bending and reaching, but it does make the space easier to access and, as a result, more functional. The biggest drawback is that storage space can get tight.
Oils and sauces. Kitchens are all about function. I always try to put at least one pullout for frequently used oils and sauces next to the range. Although some worry that the heat from the range may turn the oils, most ranges have great insulation. That, coupled with the thickness of the cabinet’s sides, means sauces and oils rarely spoil.
Drawer Dividers When storing cookware, you often must stack pots within pots, pans within pans and lids over lids. Things can get messy fast! A drawer divider that separates the lids from the pots and pans makes drawer contents look more orderly and can also help you find matching tops and bottoms faster. The same type of drawer divider is also useful for separating clothing in a dresser or food storage containers and their lids.
Glass, Ceramic or Metal Baking Pans : * Baking Sheets For cookies, pastries and other sweets, you’ll need a baking sheet or two. Rimmed baking sheets like the one shown here can also be used for roasting veggies and meats, while rimless baking sheets tend to produce more reliable browning. Either type also works for catching drips beneath a pie pan. Pick your favorite or get one of each — when stored in a vertical rack, they take up hardly any room. * Brownies, bars and Rice Krispies Treats: An 8-by-8-inch baking pan can handle them all. If you’d like to make sheet cakes, a 9-by-13-inch baking pan will work, as well as taking on savory casseroles. Glass and ceramic are attractive enough to go from oven to table, but metal pans get the job done just as well. * Round Cake Pan Classic cakes need a classic cake pan. A 9-inch round cake pan is often called for in American recipes, making it a versatile choice. If you think you’ll be wanting to make a tall layer cake, get two. Find round ...
You may never get your collection of utensils down to the perfectly minimal arrangements shown in these photos, but the more items you can eliminate, the easier it will be to store and find the truly useful ones. Never use the little dessert spoons that came with your cutlery set? Only used that special spatula (designed to perfectly flip a single egg) the one time? Stash these items away in less reachable spaces such as upper cabinets to free up more prime cabinet real estate.
The sink center should be between the refrigerator and the range center, or cooking area, for maximum efficiency. Since sinks get the most use and traffic of any spot in the kitchen, centrally located sinks and dishwashers work best. Is it easy to put all your dishes away from the dishwasher? If not, you may want to move your dishes to a cabinet that’s within easy reach when you’re unloading. Plan to have the most uncluttered countertop space in the sink center. The area in and around sinks is used for food-preparation tasks involving cleaning and cutting, as well as washing and cleaning up after meals. Place trash and recycling containers strategically so that tidy disposal happens effortlessly. Storage at sink centers includes places for everyday flatware, dishes and glassware, as well as activities involving waste management, dishtowel placement and storage, cleaning supplies, polishing and drying.
Drawers, Pullouts and Organizers More remodeled kitchens that have few or no upper cabinets. Kitchens with no uppers are cleaner and sleeker. But with fewer cabinets comes less storage. Make the most of lower cabinet storage by adding custom drawers and pullouts with built-in organizers, plate racks and spice racks.
Drawers on the island make grabbing things easier for the couple. “Drawer storage is really popular now, because it’s annoying to have to get down on the ground to get things,” Mee says. “It’s easy to pull out and see everything, and they’re great for organization.” Two upper drawers keep utensils handy near the range. The four deep drawers below store everyday dishes, plastic containers and serving pieces.
Containers for Leftovers Over time, it’s easy to amass random food storage containers. If this is the case for you, I recommend paring down and investing in a set that nests nicely and takes up less space in your cabinet. The containers will look good and be easier to keep organized. To maintain your tidy kitchen, become more selective about what food containers you keep. For example, you might want to toss or recycle takeout containers from restaurants or, better yet, bring your own when you eat out so that you don’t collect more.
Tupperware storage
Consider Prep Tool Storage Since prep sinks function for before-meal preparation, you want to include shallow drawers nearby for your tools: knives, peelers, whisks, spoons, measuring cups and all your favorite gadgets. Small appliances like your food processor or rice cooker, mixing bowls, colanders and salad spinners can be stored in deeper drawers or rollouts underneath. This is the oceanfront real estate in your kitchen — make sure that everything stored here gets used frequently. If the potato masher comes out only at Thanksgiving, put it somewhere else. Adjustable dividers
Drawer dividers for kitchen tools. Standard drawer tray inserts work great for silverware, but kitchen tools can be a little more challenging to corral; they’re not uniform in size and not everyone has the same kind. “My best suggestion is [a set of] drawer dividers, and not a tray. That way you can create the sizes of spaces you need,” Cohen says. Look for adjustable dividers, which can be expanded to fit your kitchen drawers. As you have done with the rest of your organizing, group kitchen tools by type before placing them in drawers.
Great drawer idea
Pullout Organizers for All Your Cabinets To make full use of your cabinet real estate, I recommend sliding drawers and pullout organizers. These can give you full view of and easy access to the contents of your cabinets. Otherwise, items can become lost or forgotten and possibly expire before you rediscover them.
Bottom drawer
Step ladder storage
Built-in step stool
For Kitchenaid mixer
Group Items by Use “Think of your kitchen as functional zones: washing, prepping, cooking on stovetop and baking,” Duncan says. Group the items or tools you use for each of those tasks together for efficiency. In the pantry, this means grouping food types by category: cooking, baking, snacks and breakfast, or whichever grouping technique works best for your lifestyle.
Kitchen lower drawers
Mixer garage/pull out shelf
Take charge. Designer Tracey Stephens was tasked with creating a retro-style kitchen that features vintage furniture and checkerboard floors for a New Jersey family of four. But the requirements of the technology age were not lost on the design.The kitchen includes a drawer with a built-in charger, complete with regular and USB outlets. “It’s so nice not to have all of those devices out and dealing with cords all the time,”
Junk drawer
Bread drawer
Ideas for glass cabinets
You definitely want to have the dishwasher next to the cleanup sink, and your trash pullout close at hand. Finally, you should have a drawer nearby for storing silverware. Once these items surround your cleanup sink, you’ll have created a well-functioning cleanup station — mission control for setting the table and cleaning and putting away the dishes.
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