17 Genius Ways To Use Everyday Items To Organise Your Kitchen

17 Genius Ways To Use Everyday Items To Organise Your Kitchen

Who knew these household items could work even better in the kitchen than they do in their usual homes! Check out how you can efficiently sort, organise and make your kitchen run like clockwork...

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 1. Turn Tic Tac boxes into stylish spice pots

Pic: DIY Inspired
Pic: DIY Inspired

Spice bottles can take up so much space in a kitchen. Cut down on precious cupboard space by decanting your spices into empty Tic Tac containers. They save space and work brilliantly. You can even print out stylish labels thanks to DIY Inspired.

2. Use a file holder to organise foil & cling film boxes

Pic: The
Saves valuable drawer space.

Attach a file holder to the inside of your kitchen cupboard for a handy place to store your cling film, foil and baking sheet boxes. They fit neatly inside for quick and easy access.

3. Build a heavy-duty utensil pot out of LEGO

Pic: Sweet Magnolia Way
Love LEGO for the house? Visit Sweet Magnolia Way now.

What a sweet way to brighten up your kitchen! This is a great little project for the kids and they can remake it whenever you fancy a change. Love this idea from Sweet Magnolia Way.

4. Or make a bespoke LEGO knife block

Pic: Viral Nova.
Pic: Viral Nova.

After you've built your basic utensil pot, how about making a bespoke knife holder? You can tailor it to the size and shape of your knives to great effect! How brilliant is this!

5. Store plastic bags in empty tissues boxes

Pic: Space Wise Organising.
Pic: Space Wise Organising.

Think twice before dumping those tissue boxes in the recycling bin! They can be used to store all those plastic sandwich and freezer bags.

6. Use storage boxes to organise your freezer

Pic: Time With Thea
These boxes work better than standard freezer crates. Pic: Time With Thea
Screen Shot 2016-08-03 at 12.35.51
SO organised, welldone The Glamorous Housewife for this impeccable freezer.

Don't be afraid to get rid of the boxes that come with your freezer (you can always put them to good use  elsewhere in the home) and use some small more efficient storage boxes to keep everything separate and beautifully organised. I love how Time with Thea has labelled the boxes clearly.

7. Utilise shoe boxes to organise your fridge

Pic: The Glamorous Housewife
Pic: The Glamorous Housewife

Shoeboxes are a cheap and easy way to organise your fridge. Separate cooked meats, condiments, cheeses and so on in different sized boxes. I love the idea of creating a separate box for perishables - a sign is a clever way to remind everyone to eat them before they end up in the bin.

8. Use a hanger to hold up recipe books

Great idea.
One of the best tips for recipe book addicts.

A Pinterest classic and an Expert Home Tips favourite! Use your trouser hangers to clip recipe books and hang them from your kitchen cupboard handles.

9. Transform empty baby jars into magnetic spice bottles

Make them magnetic!
Oh so pretty... and practical!

This is a great project and fantastic use for jars if you have a baby in the house! Check out the amazing blog One Lucky Pickle for details on how to create these handy storage pots.

10. Neatly tuck away takeaway menus in folders

Pic: Christine Bisbee Priest
Such a clever idea. Pic: Christine Bisbee Priest

No more stuffed drawers or cluttered fridges! Cut one side of a plastic wallet out and attach it to the back of a kitchen cupboard door to neatly store all those bits of paper.

11. Use your old cake stand as an elevated dish soap holder

Keep it off the surface
Keep your kitchen counter clean.

Keep the surfaces around your sink as clear as possible with an elevated soap dish stand. This cake stand works brilliantly and makes everything easy to reach.

12. Hang your mugs off an upcycled coat rack

Hang them.
Give it a lick of paint for extra recycling points.

Use an old coat rack to hang your mugs and kitchen utensils from. For more ideas like this, check out Colleen's 21 new & pretty uses for old & ugly things.

12. An old rake will keep kitchen utensils altogether

jhgjhg
Love this idea.

Transform an old rake head into a utensil holder for a rustic look. Simply screw into your wall. Easy peasy.

13. Hang wine glasses from an old rake too

Screen Shot 2016-08-05 at 11.08.10 copy

You can even hang wine glasses from an old rake and create a little wine station in your kitchen.

14. Unglazed tiles work brilliantly as a pizza stone

Screen Shot 2016-08-04 at 16.33.20
Pic: The Paupered Chef

Touted as the 'Three Dollar Pizza Stone', I found this innovative idea from The Paupered Chef. Use unglazed tiles to recreate the heat-retaining, moisture-wicking effect of a pizza stone oven. A must-have for any pizza lovers!

15. Reuse a fizzy can multipack box to store tins

Pic: Then She Made.
Pic: Then She Made.

If you stock up on multipacks of fizzy drinks then you'll have plenty of boxes to use for this handy idea. Simply cover them with gift wrap and slot them into your cupboards, it's a great space-saver and a fantastic way or organising your pantry.

16. Transform a French door shutter into an organisation station

Screen Shot 2016-08-05 at 11.12.31

Keep an eye out for old French door shutters on eBay, car boot sales and at skips. They can be upcycled to spectacular effect! Use yours to organise all those household items that tend to collect in the kitchen.

17. Use old ceramic planters for heavy kitchen utensils

Pic
Heavy duty yet pretty!

Heavy kitchen utensils call for a more cumbersome holder. A ceramic plant pot is heavy and robust enough to keep all your kitchen equipment in without it endlessly toppling over.

Thanks for reading! If you have any ideas for the kitchen let me know in the comments section below. Please feel free to share this article with your friends and family too.

Anushka F

Editor

A keen money-saver and fan of all things natural, Anushka enjoys making her own beauty products and is partial to a bit of crafting. Never short of a clever tip or two, she's always looking for new ways to make her money go even further.

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  1. Author Luxus Hauser on August 6, 2016 at 5:45 am

    The clever use of Lego tops the list. Very nice.

    1. Author Anushka F on August 25, 2016 at 9:48 am

      It's my favourite too, thanks Luxus.

    Reply
  2. Author Terri on August 9, 2016 at 8:46 am

    I have screwed a hook into the under side of kitchen cabinets to hang bananas.

    1. Author Anushka F on August 25, 2016 at 1:52 pm

      Fab! Great little tip.

    Reply
  3. Author Debbie on August 9, 2016 at 8:53 am

    I think I'll try one of these tricks, Build something out of Lego bricks, it will look colourful and cheery make the kitchen far less dreary, but I'm afraid that I may boast about the ones I like the most, urging people to admire, their kind words my deep desire, you could say that I'll let rip on a total LEGO-TRIP!!!!

    1. Author Anushka F on August 10, 2016 at 11:54 am

      Wow that's a brilliant poem. Thanks Debbie, that brightened up my day :)

    2. Author Debbie on August 11, 2016 at 11:25 am

      Thanks, but if I spent more time tidying my kitchen and less writing poems, I might not have such a guilty conscience!!!!

    3. Author Anushka F on August 25, 2016 at 11:59 am

      Haha I know which I would prefer...

    Reply
  4. Author Maaria Morris on August 9, 2016 at 9:31 am

    There are lots of practical and simple ideas which one can utilise from everyday recycled containers and unwanted household objects! Perfect solutions, as the budget is kept intact and more importantly these brilliant ideas creates lots of fun, SAVES more money and above all the planet Earth is kept green ???

    1. Author Anushka F on August 25, 2016 at 1:53 pm

      Thanks Maaria, I'm happy to hear you enjoyed the tips in the article!

    Reply
  5. Author Jennifer on August 9, 2016 at 9:35 am

    I'm busy tidying my kitchen at the moment and looking for way to make space. I will definitely be using some of these ideas. Love the old Rake it looks so good.

    1. Author Anushka F on August 25, 2016 at 1:54 pm

      Aww thanks Jennifer, if you do put up the rake please send me a photo I would love to see it in action!

    Reply
  6. Author Lesley Horrocks on August 9, 2016 at 4:50 pm

    Some great ideas here - now where did I put all that old Lego! Always inspiring.

    1. Author Anushka F on August 25, 2016 at 12:00 pm

      Thanks Lesley! I am going to try and make some LEGO organisers for the home. Watch this space...

    Reply
  7. Author Mrs Sue Frampton on August 11, 2016 at 11:16 pm

    Excellent !!!

    1. Author Anushka F on August 25, 2016 at 1:54 pm

      Thanks Sue!

    Reply
  8. Author Brenda Harrison on November 21, 2016 at 11:10 am

    So me brilliant ideas, I already use some of the Month!

    1. Author Anushka F on March 9, 2017 at 10:11 am

      Fab!

    Reply
  9. Author Patricia Price on January 20, 2017 at 11:45 am

    My son has some spare Lego in the shed I might just get it out the cupboard and make the utensil holder

    1. Author Anushka F on March 9, 2017 at 10:23 am

      Let me know how you get on! I love this idea.

    Reply
  10. Author Mrs Pamela Richards on January 20, 2017 at 12:30 pm

    Hi Anushka I love all the ideas, however, I do use a stainless steel wine cooler to store my kitchen utensils near the cooker - its just one less thing to store in the cupboards, and doesn't get forgotten for those lovely wine moments.

    1. Author Anushka F on March 9, 2017 at 10:24 am

      Hi Pamela, thanks for the lovely comments. Great tip!

    Reply
  11. Author Terri Rowland on January 20, 2017 at 12:44 pm

    I use the lids of coffee jars as tubs to stand flower pots in, it stops water running out the bottom. Also use the empty coffee jar to hold pens and pencils ???

    1. Author Anushka F on March 9, 2017 at 10:24 am

      Oooh good one!

    Reply
  12. Author Fran Mahoney on January 20, 2017 at 3:34 pm

    If you have one of the larger Pringle crisps tubes you could cover it with a sticky back plastic design and store uncooked lengths of spaghetti in it, saves it all falling out of an opened plastic bag and will keep it fresh with the plastic lid on. The smaller Pringles crisps tubes you could store nuts in to keep them fresh or raisins!

    1. Author Anushka F on March 9, 2017 at 10:25 am

      Great uses for Pringle cans... I think we will have to do an article on that! Thanks for the ideas Fran.

    Reply
  13. Author Ian on January 20, 2017 at 6:53 pm

    I fail to see the point of putting herbs and spices into the tictac containers.. you will still be left with the rest of the packet/jar to store somewhere...

    1. Author Anushka F on March 9, 2017 at 10:25 am

      It might be useful for when you're running low on the spice and you can then decant it into a tic tac box to save space?

    Reply
  14. Author Kay on January 21, 2017 at 5:48 am

    The lego is AMAZING ???! ! Will definitely be doing this in my new home........

    1. Author Anushka F on March 9, 2017 at 10:26 am

      I love this one too! Please post a photo when you do it - I would love to see it!

    Reply
  15. Author george edwards on November 13, 2017 at 9:06 am

    Most of my recipe books are too thick and heavy to hang on a hanger! ( tip number 8 )

    1. Author Stephanie C on November 13, 2017 at 9:13 am

      Hi George. You will be surprised just how strong your hangers are! This tip works for all of my cooking books, which are also rather hefty. Give it a go :)

    Reply
  16. Author Linda on November 13, 2017 at 10:28 am

    I got fed up trying to find the right spice when I needed it so now Lee them all in an old plastic biscuit box- when I use them I just lift the whole box out of the cupboard and can easily find what I want- I also use old ice cream containers to store small items in which tend to fall to the back of the cupboard

    1. Author Stephanie C on November 14, 2017 at 9:29 am

      Hello Linda. I actually do this too, only mine go into a large plastic box. It's much more convenient! IKEA is a great place to pick up storage boxes if you don't already have some lying around. Thanks for sharing :)

    Reply
  17. Author Evelyn on November 13, 2017 at 2:17 pm

    I think there are some great ideas in this article and like the ideas for storage in the fridge/freezer and also the cake stand. I have a couple of ideas which may be useful: I use a stainless steel butter dish as a soap dish - which makes cleaning it a cinch. Idea nr. 2: I use a wooden wine rack as a shoe rack instead - every space is used for a shoe or trainer and looks good too!!

    1. Author Stephanie C on November 14, 2017 at 9:28 am

      Hi Evelyn. Thanks a lot for your kind comments. Your ideas are also great - we particularly like the soap dish idea! I bet you can pop that straight into the dishwasher too which is even more convenient. Thanks for sharing :)

    Reply
  18. Author Liz Gardiner on November 13, 2017 at 5:42 pm

    Large ceramic plant pot works well as utensil holder!

    1. Author Stephanie C on November 14, 2017 at 9:25 am

      ...and it's something most of us have. Top tip, Liz :)

    Reply
  19. Author Mary nicholson on November 13, 2017 at 7:49 pm

    got a heavy plant pot with no plant in it its the same colour of my kitchen walls soi will be putting some utensils in it

    1. Author Stephanie C on November 14, 2017 at 9:25 am

      Hi Mary. This sounds like a very good idea indeed. I'm sure it will look lovely :)

    Reply

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