Kitchen Organization

I wish I'd done it sooner.

As one of the most-used spots in your home, the kitchen is prone to getting messy — from the cabinets to the drawers and everything in between. That’s why it’s so important to regularly tidy and declutter this busy spot to prevent clutter from taking over. The best way to get your kitchen organized is to declutter one spot at a time. Here’s how to do it.

I’ve lived in my apartment for six years, have had my fair share of roommates, and cook at home often, so trust that I’ve accumulated a lot of spices. I use what I can and toss anything that’s truly old, but I still have quite a collection that needs organizing in my kitchen cabinets.Even my two wall-mounted spice racks can’t contain it all!

Even if you declutter your kitchen thoroughly, it’s important to implement systems to keep it organized, and that includes having designated spaces — and containers — for items to go in. Below, we gathered the very best storage solutions (as featured in Apartment Therapy’s 2026 Organization Awards!) for every spot of your kitchen — from the fridge to the cabinets to the pantry — so your tidy kitchen stays neat and organized.

I use paper towels every day. They come in handy so often, I try to keep a roll practically in every room. However, I don’t always have a good place to keep them, which means paper towels tend to occupy more counter space in my house than they should. It doesn’t have to be this way. It turns out that I just need the power of vertical storage and $9 to keep my paper towels off the counters and free up the space for good.

My fridge has never looked so clean.

I can’t imagine what it’s like to keep a dedicated chest freezer organized. Given that it takes a lot of bending over and digging through them to find exactly what you need, it can be easy to end up with lots of forgotten food.If you are looking to better organize your chest freezer, then you’re in luck — because these stackable wire baskets could be your frosty saving grace.

There’s something very satisfying to me about repurposing an older or unwanted object into something useful for your home. For example, I sometimes buy yogurt that comes in little glass containers, but instead of just recycling the glass when I’m done with them I realized I could use them around my house to store things like paintbrushes, bathroom toiletries, or even travel-sized hand creams.

I wish I'd known it sooner.

As someone with ADHD, I have a tough time keeping track of everything in my apartment. That’s not because everything’s a mess, but rather because I can easily forget about something if I don’t see it. That means when something is placed inside a drawer, container, closet, or even on top of a crowded countertop, it very well may become invisible to me. Labels and lists can help, but, ultimately for me, visible storage is best.

It saves money, too.

Goodbye, clutter!