Who loves organizing? Or maybe a better question, who loves an organized space?
I promised for a while that I would open up more of our cabinets and drawers to show you inside. Today I’m sharing before-and-after photos of four kitchen areas that weren’t working for us, and the simple solutions that made them better, featuring a few items from the Bed Bath & Beyond .ORG line.
In a modest kitchen—especially without a walk-in pantry or freestanding island—every inch of drawer and cabinet space matters. Good organization increases usable space and makes daily tasks more pleasant.
I love my coffee stations, and my counter mug tree keeps cups from cluttering drawers. But one drawer had become a chaotic mix of coffee and baking supplies and random items. It was time to fix it.
In my book, Simple Organizing, I recommend organizing a kitchen into zones for efficiency. While small kitchens sometimes require mixing zones, there was no reason my baking and coffee supplies had to share a daily-use drawer. I emptied everything out, including a stash of Christmas cookie cutters that had been taking up a big corner. Those cutters can be stored elsewhere.
The drawer had been overflowing; some coffee items were left on the counter because the drawer was too full. Once emptied, we returned only coffee and tea supplies and used .ORG organizers to group like items. Clear bins made everything visible and easy to reach—no more digging.
Reorganizing took just minutes, but opening the tidy coffee drawer now feels like a small joy every day. We placed loose-leaf tea tins in an .ORG basket and used an attractive wooden box with a lid for tea bags and little accessories. The box is nice enough to sit on the counter when serving tea.
With supplies organized, I don’t feel embarrassed when offering guests a hot drink—and making my own tea or coffee feels like a treat.
The shallow drawer above was another trouble spot. I like it for espresso cups, small bowls and measuring cups, but without defined spaces it collected random items, including more cookie cutters. Because the small cups were easy to lose among other objects, it felt like hunting for a tiny toy in a toy chest.
An .ORG basket and a couple of wooden dividers quickly brought order to the drawer. Each item now has a home, so our espresso cups and shot glasses are easy to find, and small accessories have their own spots.
We also dedicated a small spot for items that simply make us smile, like knit fox scrubbies, so the drawer looks neat and personal.
I added canisters on the counter above the drawers for frequently used items like ground coffee or biscotti. They’re both pretty and practical, and they free up drawer and cabinet space.
One wall cabinet was frustrating, especially on grocery day. It wasn’t terrible at first glance, but it lacked order. We solved it by grouping like items into baskets and adding a shelf riser to double space for shorter boxes. The result is neater and far more efficient.
Grouping items makes it easier to see what’s available when deciding what to cook. A basket pulled from the top shelf immediately shows options without rummaging.
The .ORG riser doubled the space for short boxes like beans so items no longer topple forward when you reach for something. It’s a simple fix that saves time and frustration.
I’m grateful we were able to include two roll-out pantry drawers beside the fridge during our remodel. They make it easy to see and access everything; nothing gets buried at the back. A tip when remodeling a small kitchen: measure carefully to ensure drawers and cabinet doors can open without obstruction.
Wanting to avoid storing food in plastic bags, we transferred dry goods into jars for a cleaner, more functional look. We used a mix of vintage-style and square glass jars to keep things visible and tidy.
We moved the stand mixer to the bottom pull-out so it’s accessible without taking counter space. The toaster moved there too when not in use. Keeping occasionally used appliances in pull-outs frees valuable countertop area while keeping them handy.
I plan to add labels to the jars so everyone in the kitchen can quickly identify contents, which will make cooking and restocking even easier.
We also tucked an .ORG bin behind the jars to corral small items that don’t fit in jars. Pulling out the drawer reveals everything clearly at a glance.
I’m really happy with how functional this cabinet is now—streamlined, tidy, and easier to use.
Similar black and white canisters are pictured above.
What’s the most disorganized drawer or cabinet in your kitchen?