15 Kitchen Organization Ideas For Better Mise En Place

It’s a good idea to store your most frequently used cooking tools, equipment and utensils as close to your stove as you can. These can include wooden spoons, spatulas, pans and lids, and spices.

Keep your most commonly used cookware in a low cabinet or drawer near your stove. Stack pans and colanders in an orderly fashion, and place a lid rack in the cabinet for the upright storage of lids. Lids can also be stored on the inside of the cabinet door. 

You can also hang cookware on a wall-mounted rack or on a rack above or near the stove. Another popular option is to dedicate space outside your kitchen for heavy items that you don’t use very often like an oversized roasting pan, large-capacity stockpot or cast iron wok.

There are utensils that you use practically every time you cook including spatulas, wooden spoons, tongs, and ladles. All of these should be within reach of your stovetop. If you happen to have a drawer next to the stove, this is an ideal spot for the items that you rely upon to cook most meals. 

Using divider trays can prevent utensils from becoming cluttered. If you don’t have a drawer, you can maybe store your long-handled utensils, the ones you use most often, upright in a sturdy container or crock.

Maximize your space by keeping your cookie sheets, rimmed sheet pans, muffin tins and cooling racks on their sides in a cabinet on a rack or divider. You can use a divider that has tension rods installed vertically inside the cabinet and use the rows to slide the pans into for support. Another option is to stack baking pans on a cabinet shelf or in a drawer with items like cake pans and pie plates.

Casserole dishes, and other heavy items, are best stored in a lower cabinet or deep drawer. If possible, you can nest them and store lids upright on a rack in the cabinet or an entirely separate drawer. If your space allows for it, place them next to each other with the lids on. Or you can place the lids upside down on the dish and stack them two or three sets high.

Cooking meals that are bursting with flavour require the help of different spices and seasonings, which tend to occupy a lot of storage space in the kitchen. You should try to keep these items close to the cooking or prep areas. Dedicating a cabinet with risers and a lazy susan (great for heavier bottles of oil or vinegar) can help optimize the space. 

If you don’t have a cabinet, try mounting a spice rack or using floating shelves. Spice jars can be stored on their sides in a drawer and flat packs of spices can be placed in wire baskets.

There are also custom options if you’d prefer. These can include installing a slide-out narrow cabinet that is open on both sides or constructing an open-faced shelving recessed between wall studs.

Consider your sink to be the focal point of most kitchen cleaning. This means that you will want to store cleaning items near the sink or underneath it. 

Sponges, paper towels, trash and recycling bins, soap, spray cleaners and sanitizers should all be easy to access near the sink.

Cleaning supplies should be stored as close to your sink as possible. A good tip is to mount a roll of paper towels and a spray bottle on a spring rod or dowel hung across the inside of the cabinet. In general, installing racks inside the cabinet door and placing bins on the floor can help organize your cleaning supplies. 

Under the sink or in a nearby cabinet is also a logical and practical place for your trash bin. You can go with a freestanding unit that seamlessly lifts out to clean or a mounted sliding rail or a sliding cabinet with built-in trash and recycle bins.

You go with all glass containers, which are easier to clean, are more durable and make it easy to see what’s inside. One thing with plastic containers is that they can tip over whereas glass containers tend to be sturdier. 

Aluminum foil, plastic wrap, parchment paper and zipper bags can be nicely kept in a drawer or in a rack that attaches to the inside of a cabinet or closet door.

Part of the design of kitchen cabinets is meant to hold plates and bowls so that they are nested and stacked. Of course, you can double that storage by installing racks on cabinet shelves. Also, cabinets, usually those close to the sink or refrigerator, can be used for glass storage. If you have lovely matching sets of dishes and glasses, you could choose to proudly display them on an open shelf. 

For flatware, it’s best stored in a drawer and organized by type of utensil with the help of dividers and trays. No drawer? No problem. Consider using sturdy containers that can store utensils upright. You could also use a sideboard, china cabinet or dining area shelving since this will make setting the table easier.