The Top 5 Kitchen Hot Spots You Need to Organize

Let’s be real: the kitchen is the heart of the home—but when it’s messy, it can quickly feel like the brain fog capital of your universe.

As a professional organizer, I’ve seen it all: the overflowing junk drawers, the Tupperware avalanche, and enough expired spices to season a village.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t try to tackle the whole kitchen at once. Start with these five key areas—the ones that get the most use (and abuse). Organize them well, and you’ll feel like you actually want to cook again.

1. The Kitchen Utensil Drawer (a.k.a. Chaos in a Box)

Why it matters: This drawer is opened 47 times a day. If it’s cluttered, everything feels harder.

What to do:

• Toss broken, melted, or duplicate tools (do you really need 5 spatulas?).

• Add dividers to create zones: one for prep tools (peelers, scissors), one for cooking (tongs, spatulas), and one for serving.

• Label sections if you share your kitchen with others (especially helpful if you live with a “just toss it in” person).

2. Plates, Bowls & Everyday Dishes

Why it matters: This is your daily-use zone, and it should be stupid easy to access.

What to do:

• Store dishes near the dishwasher or drying rack for quick unloads.

• Keep kids’ dishes separate and at a lower level if they serve themselves.

• Edit down: you don’t need service for 20 unless you’re feeding a small army nightly.

3. The Pantry (or Cabinet That’s Trying to Be a Pantry)

Why it matters: It’s your grocery command center. If it’s chaotic, you’ll overspend, waste food, and forget what you have.

What to do:

• Group like with like: snacks, breakfast, baking, pasta, canned goods.

• Use bins and labels—clear is best so you can see what’s low.

• Check expiration dates (yes, that soup from 2020 has got to go).

• Consider a “backstock bin” for overflow, so your main shelves stay calm.

4. Spices & Condiments

Why it matters: Nothing kills the cooking mood like digging through a spice graveyard for paprika.

What to do:

• Pull everything out. Toss expired spices (they lose flavor after 1–2 years).

• Use risers or tiered shelves so everything is visible.

• Lazy Susans are a condiment’s best friend—no more sticky bottles hiding in the back.

5. The Food Storage Container Cabinet (cue horror movie music)

Why it matters: If you have to dodge a Tupperware lid to get a snack container, we have a problem.

What to do:

• Match every container with a lid—anything missing a mate goes.

• Store lids vertically in a bin or file sorter.

• Stack containers by shape and size to save space.

• Resist the urge to save every takeout container. Keep what fits your storage system—and let the rest go.

If you organize these 5 zones first, you’ll notice an immediate shift—not just in how your kitchen looks, but in how it functions. You’ll waste less food, save time cooking, and probably snap fewer times at your toaster.

Start small. One drawer. One shelf. One good purge session.

And remember: organizing isn’t about Pinterest perfection. It’s about creating a kitchen that works for you, not against you.