The Totally Free Trick I Just Discovered to Organize My Fridge (Plus, 9 Other Storage Hacks)
As the sun sets on summertime, I find myself craving a cozier and tidier kitchen space. A good environmental refresh plus the promise of autumn truly does wonders for my mental health. But there’s one main caveat: I don’t want to pour time (or money!) into the process of reorganizing my space. Luckily, I’ve learned that even the smallest and most experimental of changes can completely transform kitchen storage systems — for next to nothing.
I’m not one to gatekeep — I searched high and low for the best (mostly zero-cost) tips from The Kitchn editors, experts, and the internet, and here are some of the best tips and tricks to refresh your kitchen without breaking the bank.
1. Rearrange your pantry and fridge shelves
My personal favorite totally-free organizing trick? Simply moving cabinet or refrigerator shelves up and down or side to side to make your space work harder for you. Depending on what you’re storing where, the manufacturer’s default layout might not suit your needs — for no cost, you can instantly create more space for what you’re storing.
2. Repurpose storage containers
Forget buying new glass containers or decorative canisters for kitchen storage, and use what you already have. You can also reuse old candle jars, spice jars, flower vases, coffee bean tins, or other cans for storing pantry goods, snacks, grains (just make sure they’re food-safe!), or other kitchen trinkets. You can also score cute, seasonal ceramic, resin, and marble pieces at thrift shops and home stores in the spirit of incorporating more fun in the kitchen for less.
3. Designate fridge zones
One of the easiest things you can do for your fridge, your mind, and your home is to create zones, or homes for specific items such as produce, kids’ snacks, lunch prep ingredients, and leftovers. This is where your lazy Susans and beverage dispensers can truly shine! Organizing by sections encourages order and visibility, helping to reduce food waste as a result.
4. Place hooks inside cabinet and cupboard doors
A world of storage potential exists on the other side of your cabinet and cupboard doors, and Command hooks are the way in. The hooks come in a range of sizes and allow you to discreetly hang a variety of kitchen essentials, like measuring cups and spoons, oven mitts, pot holders, food wrap, and spare grocery bags.
5. Make the most of magazine holders
I love the concept of bringing magazine holders into the kitchen, away from where you’d normally find them, like around the office or living room. If you don’t have one to upcycle, there’s no shortage of styles on the market — you can choose from wire, woven, wood, acrylic, and metal holders depending on your preferences. Best of all, they can be clustered, stacked, or scattered around the kitchen to hold cutting boards, towels, pans, and serveware with versatility. You can even use one in your freezer!
6. Style your cookbooks
Cookbooks are among the bulkier and therefore more challenging kitchen essentials to store effectively. However, if displayed intentionally, they make for striking accents on open shelves and countertops. Another space-saving option is to stack them above the fridge. The biggest perk of keeping cookbooks reachable and within eyesight is that you’ll be more likely to use them!
7. Create a DIY kitchen shelf
Combine two wheel-less, tiered caddies and a sturdy plank of wood to create an unexpectedly cute and customizable countertop storage nook that meets your specific kitchen needs. Load it up with sandwich fixings for a lunch-making station, or store your produce in the caddies for a designated snack spot.
8. Expand pantry shelf space into the wall
If you’re comfortable with a bit of DIY home renovation and have spare wood laying around, this one’s for you. Need more storage in your pantry? Then make it! As lifestyle creator Astin Hancock shows in this TikTok, you can cut out drywall (check for wires and pipes first!) and build a shelf to insert between the studs. From there, you can add trim, filler, and paint as desired.
9. Add an over-the-toilet organizer above your trash can
“Brilliant” doesn’t even begin to cover this one — setting up a trash and recycling station with loads of shelf space is groundbreaking, especially for smaller kitchens. I’m most impressed by the styling potential! You can incorporate baskets to hold cleaning products, towels, and trash bags, or run with an open concept and display appliances, paper towels, and the like.
10. Use a toilet wand to clean your trash can
Keep your trash can looking and smelling fresh with a Clorox toilet wand or a similar long-handled cleaner with disposable heads. If you’re struggling to eliminate odors, you can use vinegar, baking soda (avoid contact with metal bins), and/or essential oils.
What’s your favorite low-cost way to keep your kitchen organized? Let us know in the comments below!
This post originally appeared on The Kitchn. See it there: The Totally Free Trick I Just Discovered to Organize My Fridge (Plus, 9 Other Storage Hacks)
Further Reading
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