Our Top 10 Organizing Essentials for Busy Kitchens

Two of the messiest areas of your kitchen are typically the fridge and the container drawer, however with the right kitchen storage containers you can tackle both. Clear, stackable storage containers will allow you to easily fit and store leftovers, and keep tabs on what’s actually hiding out in the fridge. It also makes for a much more organized container drawer or cupboard when everything is uniform. Leo Smart Seal Food Containers, Indigo, $55.

If reaching for a frying pan or pot lid is like playing a game of Tetris in your kitchen drawers, you need a pot lid tower. These genius little organizers keep pans and pot lids standing upright, so you don’t need to lift out five pans to reach your favourite from the bottom of the stack. Yamazaki Tower Pot Lid, Indigo, $55.

Related: A Time-Saving Trick for Cleaning Kitchen Cabinets

Take a page from Sporty Spice with a stadium inspired riser for your spices. The elevated rack allows you to easily scan and grab exactly what you need. It might not Posh Spice approved, but when it comes to kitchen organization, think practicality over posh. Three Tier Spice Rack Organizer (Two Pack), Amazon, $41.

There’s nothing lazy about this Susan! This cabinet turntable fits snug in a cupboard, and allows you to easily scan, spin and snack to your heart’s content. Plus, by taking snack bars and bags out of their boxes, you’ll actually conserve more cabinet space! YouCopia Crazy Susan Turntable, Amazon, $50.

What’s the secret to the appearance of an organized kitchen? Empty counter space! We get that keeping every cubby and cabinet perfectly organized might be a stretch in a busy household, but at the very least, clean and empty countertops will do wonders to instill a sense of calm. Look at every item on your counter and ask yourself, “Can this live elsewhere?” Paper towel rolls can fit snug in a cabinet, thanks to this handy paper towel holder. Mounted Paper Towel Holder, Umbra, $20.

Related: The 8 Best Alternatives to Paper Towels to Help Reduce Waste and Save Money

Keep your kitchen berry, berry organized with berry organizers. These handy containers come with a built-in strainer for easy rinsing but also to ensure berries at the bottom of the box stay fresh as well. Berry Keeper, Kitchen Stuff Plus, $10.

This honeycomb knife block not only adds a cute visual touch to countertops, it keeps knives organized and easily reached. No more death drawers with knives dropped in willy nilly. Schmidt Brothers Honeycomb Downtown Block, Crate & Barrel, $180.

What’s the difference between your fridge and the fridges you see on reality TV? Simple, it’s storage bins! Grouping items in clear, easy to access storage bins will help keep your fridge tidy and helps to quickly gauge what you’re running low on. (So your stash of Cherry Bubly never dips too low!) Soda Can Bin, Williams Sonoma, $20.

Give paperwork and calendars prime real estate in the kitchen with a designated wall. This DIY design allows you to customize it to your exact needs, so you can ensure you have plenty of pockets for mail, receipts, school slips, and all the other odds and ends that accumulate on the kitchen counter. Daily Organization System, Pottery Barn, $28 to $112.

Related: How to Make Any Room Look Clean and Organized in Under 10 Minutes

Drawer dividers are an essential component in kitchen organization. With a place for everything, and everything in its place, you’ll know exactly where to find the utensil you need, and won’t risk losing a finger when you dive in to retrieve it. Expandable Kitchen Drawer Organizer, Walmart, $54.