Pro organizers say you’re making these 10 kitchen storage mistakes—here’s what they want you to do instead

Solutions start at just $9.

Best Overall

• For Compact Kitchens: Jinshufna Adhesive Hooks, $12 (was $17)
• Seasoning MVP: YouCopia SpiceLiner Adjustable Spice Drawer Liner, $20 
• Water Bottle Warrior: Jyps Tumbler Organizers, $28
• For More Vertical Space: Fitzkor Cabinet Riser (Set of 2), $25
• Making Labels: Brother P-Touch Label Maker, $70

The kitchen is often the busiest room of the house, and keeping it organized can feel like a constant challenge. Before you know it, cabinets, drawers, and pantry shelves are filled up faster than you could ever have imagined. Even with the best intentions, it’s easy to fall into storage habits that make your space feel more cluttered and less functional over time.

The good news is that many of the most common kitchen organization mistakes are also the easiest to fix. We turned to professional organizers Meg Delong, co-owner of The Tidy Home Nashville, and Cathy Orr, co-founder of The Uncluttered Life, to find out how to fix them with a few simple adjustments. Ahead, explore these everyday mistakes and the affordable solutions the pros recommend to keep your kitchen neat and tidy. 

Best Amazon Kitchen Storage Products

• Fitzkor Cabinet Riser (Set of 2), $25
• Lancord Cord Organizers (8-Pack), $9 (was $12)
• Mustorn Pots and Pans Organizer, $40
• Felli Flip Tight Food Storage Containers, $33
• Jinshufna Adhesive Hooks, $12 (was $17)
• Brother P-Touch Label Maker, $70
• Lamu Lazy Susan Organizes (4-Pack), $23 (was $30)
• Seiloes Expandable Pull-Out Cabinet Organizers, $58 (was $73)
• Jyps Tumbler Organizers, $28
• YouCopia SpiceLiner Adjustable Spice Drawer Liner, $20 

Putting frequently used items up high in cabinets

Fitzkor Cabinet Riser (Set of 2)

You only have so much eye-level cabinet space, so you’ll want to store frequently used items where you can see them. “Home-owners are trying so hard to squeeze everything in at eye level in upper cabinets that items they actually do use often end up way too high,” says DeLong. “Use risers like this to fit more at a level you can reach.” 

Available in packs of two or four, these clear acrylic risers double your cabinet space and help you stay organized at the same time.

Not cable-managing small countertop appliances

Lancord Cord Organizer

Who says cable management is reserved exclusively for the home office?

According to Orr, “forgetting to tie up cords behind appliances that either sit on the counter or on a shelf in a cabinet” is a huge mistake. “The cords can become tangled. The scariest of these is when you store something up high, the cord becomes tangled, and another appliance gets caught in it. This can create an easily avoidable accident.”

Tossing pots, pans, and their lids in lower cabinets

Mustorn Pots and Pans Organizer

It can be tempting to put all of your pots and pans in a giant pile in your lower cabinet, but that just creates clutter and chaos you’ll have to deal with later.

“You don’t have to spend a lot to give yourself a good solution for pots and pans and their lids,” says DeLong. “You can buy this type of organizer to help instantly.” 

The expandable design ensures one size fits most cabinets, and it can accommodate all of your cookware neatly. It’s offered either as a single unit or as a pack of two, depending on your cabinet size. 

Using opaque food storage containers

Felli Flip Tight Food Storage Containers

It can be difficult to find anything in your pantry if you can’t see what's in your boxes, bags, and food storage containers. “It’s best to use clear containers for pantry staples so you can see what you have, prevent duplicate purchases, and know when staples need to be replaced due to expiration,” says Orr. “These are slim enough to use on a narrow shelf.” 

You’ll want to opt for airtight containers in a wide variety of sizes, making it easier to store all of your pantry staples, like cereal, pasta, and more. 

Using drawer space for things that can be hung

Jinshufna Adhesive Hooks

If you have limited room on counters and in drawers, don’t underestimate the value of vertical space.

“We take up way too much drawer space with things that can be hung,” says DeLong. “Buy some of these hooks to hang up things like pot holders, steamer baskets, small colanders, and save some space!” 

Available in a set of 12, just one pack can be a total game-changer in cozy kitchens. You can even hang up your favorite kitchen utensils, like spatulas and spoons, so they’re easily within reach while you cook. 

Forgetting to make labels

Brother P-Touch Label Maker

Getting organized and getting rid of clutter often means going back to the basics. In this case, that means making labels.

“Even though it’s a pain sometimes to label everything, it’s a good idea to do so,” says Orr. “Another thing that goes along with failing to label is forgetting to note the expiration date or cooking ingredients when decanting. Remember to either tape the cooking instructions on the back of the container or place it inside the container so you’ll know proportions when it’s time to cook.” 

Shoving items to the back of the pantry

Lamu Lazy Susan Organizes (4-Pack)

It’s shockingly easy for even newly purchased groceries to end up in the back of a dark cabinet or pantry. “People tend to just shove bottles of oils, vinegars, and sauces in a cabinet, but they have to move three bottles to get to the one they want,” says DeLong. “Use a turntable or lazy susan so you can access all the condiments you need whenever.” 

This pack of four lazy susans includes multiple sizes for all different types of pantry items. You can use them in cabinets, countertops, and even in your refrigerator. 

Not optimizing deep cabinet shelves

Seiloes Expandable Pull-Out Cabinet Organizers

If you have deep cabinet shelves, it’s important to work with them, not against them.

“When shelves are deep, it’s hard to reach into them to get the right equipment when you need it,” explains Orr. “Instead, if you add pull-out solutions, you’ll be able to access everything you have. This includes appliances.” 

One of the best parts about pull-out shelves like these is that they don’t require any construction, making them a great option for renters as well. Plus, these pull-out organizers from Amazon are less expensive compared to custom cabinetry and incredibly handy.

Having too many water bottles

Jyps Tumbler Organizers

Let’s face it: we all have way too many reusable water bottles, mugs, and tumblers. They can contribute to quite a bit of kitchen clutter if you don’t store them properly.

“We suggest stacking them in an organizer like this to keep them all situated nicely in the cabinet,” says DeLong. This stackable water bottle organizer holds up to six bottles and can accommodate brands like Stanley, YETI, and Owala. 

Buying too many of the wrong drawer organizers

YouCopia SpiceLiner Adjustable Spice Drawer Liner

Sometimes all you need is a simple organizer to get your kitchen drawers in shape.

“We know people are trying to get tidy, but sometimes too many bins or not the right bins can make your kitchen worse,” says DeLong. “We typically swap out bins for cooking utensils/food prep with this drawer liner to save space.” 

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.