The Kitchen Drawer Organizing Mistake That Everyone Makes (& What To Do Instead)

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It doesn't matter if you live in a tiny studio or a sprawling fixer-upper — every space feels better when it's organized. Sure, a tidy, orderly space looks great, but it's also beneficial for your mental health. Cluttered spaces add to stress and anxiety and make it tougher for your brain to focus or unwind. When you follow smart organization tips, though, you'll spend less time stressing about your messes and more time enjoying the space you've created.

You might already know this and think you've adopted every smart organization habit to help you declutter, but there's probably one more you could implement in your kitchen. There, many people make the mistake of storing utensils in shallow drawers rather than taking advantage of deep drawer space. By better utilizing deep drawers you can arrange utensils vertically rather than laying them flat. The result? More space for more storage — which means more opportunities to keep your space tidy.

Taking advantage of the vertical space in the deep drawers in your kitchen is a small change that can make a big organizational difference in your home. Start by clearing out your deep drawer and gathering some containers that will fit into the space. Retailers like Amazon sell items like these ClearSpace Plastic Storage Bins and the Waocs Acrylic Pen Holder that might do the trick. You can also use items you might already have around, like old tissue boxes or upcycled mason jars. Position these compartments throughout the drawer. Then, arrange the utensils or other kitchen drawer knick-knacks vertically in these different compartments. If you're worried about grubby hands touching the part of the utensil that you use to eat, you can flip these upside down so that they're always grabbed by the handles. 

If your kitchen doesn't have deep drawers you can use, you could still try some vertical storage solutions in other locations with products like the Sunficon Adhesive Utensil Holders. These could sit atop a windowsill. They can also stick somewhere like a kitchen backsplash or the inside door of a cabinet, closet, or pantry. When your kitchen has more wall space than drawer space, you can also look into a mounted product like the Vireldora Utensil Hanger, which allows you to hang big kitchen utensils and store some of the items that might be taking up space elsewhere. Or, if you're really looking to up your storage game and want some fresh ideas for your kitchen remodel, you could even install something like the Rev-a-Shelf Pull Out Storage Organizer. In addition to everyday utensils, you can free up counter space by storing bigger items like serving spoons, spatulas, and whisks.