Planning a kitchen remodel and considering cabinetry organizers? We interviewed professional organizer Jasmine Pruitt to find out which organizers are the most useful, where to locate them in the kitchen, and how to keep your organizers organized for years to come.

Jasmine enjoyed speaking with Philadelphia interior designer Sean Lewis about his take on organizers too. Sean leads the design team at Airy Kitchens, so he understands the pricing of organizers, which products are popular with homeowners, and the value organizers will bring to any kitchen renovation. Lets start with the basics:

Utensil Divider

Sure, this is a given for your silverware. Maybe add a second one for fine silver. What else can be done with these?

JP: Think of other small things in your kitchen that could fit there. Maybe your wine opener or baking supplies. This could even be helpful for a crafting drawer or cleaning up a junk drawer.

SL: Utensil dividers are inexpensive and removable. If you think you may find other uses for them, get a few. Standard dividers are 2.5” wide. With custom cabinets we offer dividers in custom sizes and configurations. We even offer luxury wood species and felt lined for the real silver.

Tray Dividers

These are great for keeping baking sheets and cutting boards divided. They can also be used for separating platters. Any other ideas for tray dividers?

JP: Think of these as a framework for anything unruly. I use these to organize water bottles! They won’t fall over and you can quick grab and go. Tray dividers can keep tote bags, mail, even your laptop safe and out of the way.

SL: Tray dividers are inexpensive, but typically a permanent decision. We always try to locate some near the oven for cookie trays, but they can go almost anywhere. Above wall ovens and refrigerators are popular spots.

Spice Storage

The options here are diverse and people seem divided. So consider your preference before you commit to a placement. Spice drawer, spice shelves, lazy Susan, and pull out shelves (below) are all good options. What is your favorite?

JP: I love a good pullout drawer organizer. They’re streamlined and look cohesive. Some cooks have so many spices that they’re not going to be easily organized in one place though. Consider keeping some in a drawer close to the prep area and put the less utilized spices in the pantry on a lazy Susan.

SL: Spice drawers and shelves are inexpensive. We love the look of keeping spices out and visible, but most of our clients want them hidden away. The spice drawer is the most popular option, but people like the adjustable pull out shelves too.

Pull-out Organizers

These are a newer creation rarely seen in vintage kitchens. They utilize narrow spaces and offer adjustability to offer flexible storage. How do we keep them organized for everyday use?

JP: The utensil organizer, this is my party place. People who entertain can keep disposable utensils, paper plates, napkins and straws organized and easy to access. You can even pull out the whole metal bin and put supplies out when they’re needed. For the adjustable shelf organizer, it’s a great spot for a kids area. Kid cups, utensils, plates, or even baby bottles could live in these.

SL: These pull outs are mid-range in price, but offer a lot of storage for otherwise underused areas. I would say that makes them valuable. If you have a small kitchen that’s short on drawer space, the utensil organizer is a great place to fit your cooking utensils.

Pull-out Trash Drawers

No one likes looking at a dirty, stinky trash can. Should everyone include a trash pull-out? Where should you locate a trash drawer?

JP: This is a staple that every kitchen should have. Hide the mess and hide the smell! I think keeping these near the sink makes sense because that’s where people automatically go looking for it.

SL: Trash drawers are mid price range, but I agree that they’re a necessity. All of our kitchens include them. People like to hide the trash and it’s a great way to keep pets out of the garbage. Speaking of pets, we’ve seen clients instal multiple trash pull-outs and store dog food or kitty litter in them, so there are other uses.

Peg Drawer

Homeowners have embraced deep drawers, and these pegs can keep them organized. What do you like to use these for?

JP: These are extremely useful for pots and pans, also for dishes, but another favorite use is Tupperware. Pegs can help you sort lids and separate different sizes of food containers.

SL: Peg drawers are inexpensive and removable. They work really well for holding large stacked sets in place. Think mixing bowls, colanders, or other bakeware. The flexibility here is nice if you buy new stuff or decide to rearrange.

Appliance Garage

A great way to hide away the small appliances you use daily. An open bottom allows you to pull out the toaster or blender with ease. Electrical connections mean never having to fumble with plugs. But how do we keep this garage clean?

JP: Aesthetically I love these and I understand the draw, but in the field I find that they can attract clutter. I recommend picking one or two uses for the cabinet. It’s not a catch all. It’s coffee or it’s baking. Also, consider adding some decorative art or family photos. If you are spending time here every day, make it beautiful.

SL: This is a higher cost organizer because you’re buying a specialty cabinet, not an insert. These are extremely popular, but they won’t fit in every kitchen. The payoff is large though. Everyone uses small appliances and most people don’t want to look at them. I love the idea of keeping the inside beautiful and uncluttered. That’s very on-brand for us.

Pantry Pull-outs

A big pantry is great, but deep pantry shelves can get cluttered, dark, and disorganized. Are pull outs always necessary?

JP: Yes. I swear by pull out drawers in a deep pantry. They keep your storage more organized, more accessible, and the food mess more contained. Pull out pantry drawers make it easy for kids to grab stuff and not make a mess.

SL: Pull out drawers and tall pull out organizers are mid to high price range. These options offer a lot of storage and functionality to your cabinets so they are valuable. Both options are popular and useful. Our standard cabinets offer xx” between drawers. Our custom cabinetry offers adjustability in height.

Paper Towel Organizer

Most families keep a roll of paper towel in the kitchen. Where does yours go?

JP: These I don’t mind keeping out. A holder under the cabinet or a pull-out near the sink are both great options.

SL: Paper towel pull-outs are typically a pricier organizer. There are a lot of moving parts here. A stationary holder mounted below a cabinet is very budget friendly though. I think a lot of people keep the paper towels in the pantry or under the sink. We don’t get a lot of requests for this organizer.

Any other tips on organizing your kitchen?

JP: Yes! I want to share a few of my favorite products to organize your kitchen. Keeping food in these stackable containers will fit more food in your pantry and make everything easy to find.

I love these nesting containers for leftovers. They are easy to clean and small to store.

For oils, food storage, and spices in the pantry I use these small lazy Susans. They make food easy to see and grab.

And for broom and mop storage I recommend this hanging broom organizer. It’s a great way to store these tall items in a basement stairwell or mudroom.

Thank you Jasmine for your insightful advice. Jasmine’s company, Organized by Jasmine offers organization services in Philadelphia, New York, Washington D.C. and everywhere in between. She works on all sized projects and specializes in creating systems that are easy and beautiful.

If you are interested in working with an Airy kitchens interior designer to create an organized kitchen for your family, fill out our contact form.