Dear Devorah
I feel like my kitchen is always a mess. No matter how much I try to organize, I still can’t find what I need when I need it. What are your top tips for making a kitchen more functional?
– Forever Finding the Foil
Dear Forever,
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from organizing kitchens, it’s this: most people aren’t using their space to its full potential. I’ve also learned that some people accidentally buy 16 boxes of brown sugar (yes, that actually happened).
Whether you’re constantly rummaging through cabinets or convinced your cinnamon vanished into another dimension, a few game-changing strategies can turn your kitchen into a space that actually works for you.
The best approach? Tackle one section at a time. Let’s break it down.
1. Adjust Those Shelves (Yes, Really.)
Most cabinets come with pre-drilled holes for a reason—so you can move the shelves to fit your needs! But guess what? Almost no one does it.
If you’re standing on your tiptoes to reach your everyday mugs or shoving things into awkward spaces and wondering why your cabinets look like a game of Tetris gone wrong, it’s time for a change.
✔️ Lower a shelf to create more usable and reachable space—you’re basically giving yourself another shelf free of charge.
✔️ Raise a shelf to fit taller items. No more cramming bottles in sideways or playing a dangerous game of “will this fall on my head?”
✔️ Keep everyday items within easy reach. If you’re stretching for your coffee mugs while rarely used platters take up prime real estate, it’s time to swap things around.
✔️ Make sure your setup makes sense for everyone using it. If you want your kids to grab their own cookies, put it on a lower shelf. Candy? That goes way up top—preferably behind a bag labeled boring grown-up stuff.
2. Placement is Everything
A well-organized kitchen isn’t just about where things fit—it’s about putting them where they make sense.
✔️ Cooking utensils? Near the stove, not five cabinets away.
✔️ Spices & oils? In arm’s reach of where you actually cook, not buried in a deep cabinet behind the emergency cake sprinkles.
✔️ Plates and bowls? Near the dishwasher for easy unloading (because no one wants to take extra steps when dealing with dishes).
✔️ Snacks? Low if you want kids to grab them, high if you don’t.
✔️ Cereal? At kid-friendly heights—unless you want them scaling the counters like rock climbers at 6 a.m.
When everything is stored based on function, your kitchen will just flow better—no more feeling like you’re in a cooking obstacle course every time you make a meal.
3. Turntables & Tiered Risers: Your New Best Friends
Few things are more frustrating than reaching for one bottle of vinegar and causing a domino effect in your cabinet. The solution:
✔️ Turntables (Lazy Susans) keep bottles, condiments, and spices front and center. One quick spin, and everything you need is right there—no digging required.
✔️ Tiered risers make cans and spices easy to see, so you don’t end up with a stockpile of tomato sauce you didn’t realize you already had.
4. The Snack Drawer Glow-Up
Tired of snack chaos? Drawer dividers will change your life. They keep everything separate, easy to grab, and—bonus—you’ll know when you’re running low before a full-blown meltdown occurs. (Trust me, you don’t want to find out you’re out of fruit snacks after your kid does.)
For an ultra-satisfying and functional setup:
✔️ Categorize snacks by type or even color for a visually appealing (and easy-to-maintain) system.
✔️ Use wooden dividers to blend seamlessly with your drawers for a clean, polished look.
5. The Utensil Drawer Fix
A jumbled cutlery drawer is the worst. Here’s how to keep it in check:
✔️ Customizable wooden dividers—They let you create sections that actually fit your utensils instead of forcing them into awkward spaces.
✔️ Strategic placement— Group similar items together so you’re not digging through measuring cups when all you need is a spoon.
✔️ Declutter—Be honest: do you really need eight mismatched butter knives?
It might also be time to rethink your takeout chopstick collection.
6. Hidden Storage Opportunities
Your kitchen has more storage potential than you think—you just need to get creative:
✔️ Over-the-door racks—Perfect for adding storage to your pantry.
✔️ Garbage bag holders—Free up space under the sink.
✔️ Paper towel & bag holders—Keep essentials within reach.
Sometimes, the best storage solutions aren’t in the cabinets—they’re on the doors, walls, or even the fridge.
7. The “It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better” Rule
Let’s be real: the middle of an organizing project can look worse than what you started with. That’s normal. I promise.
When you’re knee-deep in kitchen chaos and questioning your life choices, remember this: it’s part of the process.
✔️ Tackle one section at a time. You don’t need to do the whole kitchen in one day. (unless you thrive on chaos, then by all means.)
✔️ Wipe down those shelves before putting things back. And yes – this counts as Pesach cleaning
✔️ Declutter as you go. If you find expired spices from 2012, it’s time to let them go.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, an organized kitchen isn’t just about making things look nice—it’s about making your life easier. A few smart tweaks—adjusting shelves, using dividers, and placing items where they actually belong—can make a hugedifference.
So go ahead, reorganize that snack drawer, tweak those cabinets, and finally make your kitchen work for you. And if you find 16 bottles of black pepper in the process? Well, at least you’re prepared for whatever recipe life throws at you.
The Organizer 