DIY kitchen organizers…..I’ll be real with you: my kitchen used to look like a cross between a garage sale and a toddler’s science experiment.

Like, I’m talking Tupperware avalanches, spice jars playing hide-and-seek, and a drawer full of mystery cables that I’m 83% sure belonged to my old blender (RIP). It was one of those situations where you open a cabinet too fast and suddenly you’re reenacting a scene from Final Destination, ducking flying muffin tins.

You ever been there?

Anyway, I hit my limit the day I found cinnamon in the freezer. Like… how? WHO PUT THAT THERE? (It was me. It was definitely me. Midnight baking is a weird vibe.)

That was the moment I decided enough was enough. Time to DIY my way out of the mess. But here’s the kicker—I didn’t want to do anything expensive or that required, like, a power drill. Because tools and I? Not friends. I once tried to hang a shelf and ended up in urgent care with a splinter in my eyelid. Don’t ask.

So here we are: a totally chaotic, probably-too-honest blog post about DIY kitchen organizers that actually work—even if you’re a hot mess with the spatial skills of a sleepy raccoon.

The Dollar Store Drawer Hack That Saved My Sanity

Okay. So. First up? Plastic bins. I know, I know—groundbreaking, right? But hear me out.

I bought like six of those $1 clear bins at Dollar Tree (aka heaven for broke organization attempts), labeled them with masking tape, and bam—I suddenly had categories.

  • Snacks That Make Me Feel Healthy
  • Sauces I Forgot I Owned
  • Tea That Tastes Like Regret

It’s not fancy. It’s not Pinterest-worthy. But it works. And I can finally open the drawer without feeling like I’m entering a game show called “Will This Jar Break?!”

Image Suggestion: Close-up shot of messy “before” drawer vs organized “after” with labeled bins
Filename: dollar-store-drawer-before-after.jpg

The Lazy Susan is a God-tier Invention

I used to think Lazy Susans were just for your grandma’s kitchen table. You know, next to the sugar-free mints and that one jar of molasses that expired in 2012.

But oh man. I was so wrong.

Get one of those spinning trays (you can find ‘em cheap at IKEA or Walmart), stick it in your spice cabinet, and suddenly you can see everything with one little spin. I’m talking cumin, turmeric, paprika—all chilling together like a little spice rave.

I call mine Susan now. We’ve bonded.

Mason Jars: Not Just for Hipsters and Overnight Oats

I’m fully convinced mason jars are low-key the duct tape of the kitchen.

I screwed the lids of six mason jars into the underside of my top shelf using those tiny baby screws (yes, I wore safety goggles this time). Then I just twist the jars up into the lids and—boom—they’re hanging like little potion bottles.

I store things like:

  • Baking soda
  • Cloves
  • Chocolate chips (don’t judge me)
  • That weird trail mix I swore I’d finish

It looks kind of witchy. In a cool way. Like, “Hey, I make potions… and banana bread.”

“Tension Rods”: Or, How I Accidentally Became a Genius

This next one was a fluke.

I had a leftover tension rod from when I tried to hang curtains (they fell, but that’s another story), and I stuck it under the sink between the cabinet walls. Instant place to hang spray bottles.

It freed up the bottom shelf for… more chaos. But still. Controlled chaos.

Magnetic Knife Strip—For Literally Anything But Knives

You know those magnetic strips you’re supposed to use for knives?

Well, I stuck one on the inside of a cabinet door and now I use it to hold:

  • Metal measuring spoons
  • Bag clips
  • That weird bottle opener shaped like a fish

Honestly, I feel like some kind of DIY MacGyver. I even considered getting a second one to hold spices in metal tins. (Still thinking about it. Need more cabinet doors.)

The “Catch-All” Basket That Changed Everything

There’s this little woven basket I keep next to the stove. Not for aesthetics, not for Pinterest clout—just pure survival.

It’s where I throw all the random crap that ends up on my counter:

  • Rubber bands
  • One-off snack wrappers
  • Coupons I’ll never use but still keep because hope

It’s ugly and It’s overflowing. But I don’t care. Because when guests come over, I throw a towel over it and pretend I’m organized.

Over-the-Door Hooks Are Underrated Legends

I bought one of those cheap over-the-door hanging racks from Amazon to hang behind the pantry door.

Now it holds aprons, reusable shopping bags, and that one rogue oven mitt that used to disappear every single time I needed it. You know the one.

Shoe Organizer for Snacks (Not Shoes)

This one went viral on TikTok, and for once the hype was deserved.

You grab one of those clear plastic hanging shoe organizers and hang it on the back of your pantry door. Each little pocket becomes a snack cubby.

I filled mine with granola bars, mini chip bags, applesauce pouches (yes, I’m an adult, no, I’m not ashamed). It’s honestly wild how satisfying it is.

My husband called it “a vending machine with zero tech support.”

Bonus Weird Trick: Binder Clips as Freezer Organizers

Listen, I didn’t believe this one either—but it works.

Take a couple binder clips (like, office supply ones) and clip them to the wire shelves in your freezer. Then you can hang open bags of peas or frozen fruit from them. It’s bizarrely satisfying.

I discovered this while looking for my dignity under a bag of frozen corn.

Final Thoughts from the DIY kitchen organizers Queen 👑

I’m not trying to pretend I’m some minimalist goddess with perfectly labeled containers and a literal color-coded fridge. I still have a drawer full of twist ties and a container of expired yogurt I’m emotionally not ready to throw away.

But these DIY kitchen organizers that actually work? They’ve helped.

They didn’t cost me a fortune. I didn’t lose any limbs. And for once, I can find the dang cinnamon when I need it. (Spoiler: It’s not in the freezer anymore.)

So if your kitchen is a little messy, a little weird, a little you—lean into it. Get creative. And maybe, just maybe, try talking to your Lazy Susan.

She listens. I swear.

Outbound Link Suggestions:

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR