Who loves organizing? Or maybe a better question, who loves an organized space?
I promised for a while that I would show more of the inside of our cabinets and drawers. Today I’m sharing before-and-after photos of four kitchen areas that weren’t working well and the practical solutions we used to improve them, featuring storage items from the Bed Bath & Beyond .ORG line.
In a smaller kitchen—especially one without a walk-in pantry or a freestanding island—every inch of drawer and cabinet space matters. Good organization increases usable space and makes everyday tasks more enjoyable.
I love my coffee stations. A countertop mug tree holds our cups, which saves drawer space, but the other coffee supplies had gotten jumbled with baking items and random clutter in one drawer. That meant some coffee essentials had to stay on the counter while other items that aren’t used daily took up drawer space.
In my book, Simple Organizing, I recommend organizing a kitchen into zones for efficiency. While small kitchens sometimes require blending zones, there was no reason to keep baking and coffee supplies together in the same drawer. A quick clear-out revealed cookie cutters and seasonal items crowding the space, so we moved those elsewhere.
This drawer had been overflowing. After emptying it, we returned only coffee and tea supplies and added .ORG organizers from Bed Bath & Beyond. Grouping similar items in bins makes it clear where everything belongs and lets you see the contents the moment you open the drawer—no more digging around.
Opening the organized coffee drawer now feels delightful. It took just minutes to reorganize, and every time I open it I appreciate the order. We placed loose-leaf tea tins in an .ORG basket and used a small wooden box with a lid for tea bags and accessories. The box is attractive enough to leave on the counter when serving tea.
With supplies organized, I’m comfortable offering guests a hot drink and it’s a small pleasure to make my own coffee or tea.
The shallow drawer above had also become a catchall. I prefer to use it for espresso cups, small bowls and measuring cups, but unclear divisions let small items hide among the clutter. After reorganizing, the little cups are easy to find instead of getting lost in the mix.
An .ORG basket and a couple of wooden dividers created distinct sections so every item has a home. We even designated a spot for cheerful items we like to see, such as knit fox scrubbies, which adds personality without clutter.
On the counter above the drawers I added matching canisters that are both attractive and functional—one for ground coffee, one for biscotti, or maybe dog treats. They look tidy and make the counter feel intentional rather than cluttered.
A wall cabinet had become frustrating around grocery day because there was no system. It wasn’t terribly messy, but it wasn’t efficient. The fix was simple: group like items in baskets and add a shelf riser to make better use of vertical space.
Grouping items in baskets reduces visual chaos and makes it easier to see what’s already on the shelf. It’s also handy to lift a basket from the top shelf to check what’s available when deciding what to cook.
The .ORG riser effectively doubled the usable space for shorter boxes and prevented stacks from toppling when you pull something from the middle or bottom.
I’m grateful we were able to fit two roll-out pantry drawers on either side of the fridge during our remodel. Pull-out drawers let you use the full depth and see all the way to the back, so nothing gets lost.
Tip: When remodeling a small kitchen, measure carefully to ensure cabinets and drawers open properly. We double-checked our measurements before ordering the roll-out pantry cabinets and avoided a costly mistake.
To avoid storing food in bags, we transferred dry goods into glass jars—some vintage-style and some square jars—which makes the drawer look neat and keeps food fresher. We also moved the mixer and toaster into the bottom pull-out so they’re accessible but off the counter, freeing up workspace.
Next up is labeling the jars so everyone in the kitchen can quickly identify contents. We tucked an .ORG bin behind the glass jars to corral small items that don’t fit in jars; it’s easy to see what’s inside when the drawer is pulled out.
I’m really happy with how functional this cabinet is now. It’s amazing how a few bins, jars and dividers can transform storage and make daily routines smoother.
What’s the most disorganized drawer or cabinet in your kitchen?