In our first house, we had a grand total of THREE drawers in our kitchen. They were all extremely shallow so hardly anything fit in them.
The old kitchen in our current house had a few more drawers, and although they were a little deeper than our first house, they were so skinny that they didn’t serve much of a purpose — not to mention they were so old that it took all my strenth just to pull them open!
In our new kitchen, we have TEN drawers — and you better believe they are all big, deep, and wide enough to organize all our kitchen goodies!
Plus, all our drawers are full-extension — which means we can easily access the items in the way back; and all the drawers have soft-close hinges — which means no one can ever slam a drawer in our kitchen ever again 🙂
So while we put the finishing touches on our kitchen, I thought I’d share a few pictures of our newly organized kitchen drawers (yeah… I had just a little bit of fun putting everything in it’s place!)
#1 = Silverware
I purchased this expandable organizer and am still waiting to get this knife block in the mail. The knife block will fit perfectly to the right of the silverware organizer and will be a great way to safely store my growing collection of knives.
#2 = Bags/Plastic Wrap/Etc.
I know it looks like a lot but I like to have options — and I finally had a big enough drawer to fit everything in one drawer!
#3 = Storage containers
I can’t even tell you how excited we are to have these in a drawer. Hopefully it will make them easier to access than our previous storage method.
#4 = EMPTY!
Well, almost empty. I think I’m going to use this as Nora’s drawer where she can keep toys, and some of her dishes. It’s right next to the sink and the kitchen island so I’m sure I’ll be standing close to this drawer most of the time I’m in the kitchen.
#5 = Pot holders
This drawer is super close to the oven so it’s really handy to have our pot holders and oven mits easily accessible and ready to go.
#6 = Kitchen “gadgets” and utensils
This drawer is HUGE. It’s 36″ wide and 20″ deep so I went a little crazy and basically put every single kitchen gadget in this drawer. It’s the top drawer in our island so I figured this was a good place to store these gadgets. Oh, and I’m using these organizing containers.
#7 = Dishes
I’ve always wanted to store our dishes in a drawer because I hate lifting heavy dishes into the upper cabinets… so I made sure we made room for a “dish drawer” (also in our island). Yeah, I know I have a lot of dishes but we honestly do use them all 🙂
#8 = Bowls and Strainers
The bowls and strainers are in the bottom drawer of our island which will be really handy — especially during my freezer cooking marathons when it seems like I go through every bowl in the kitchen!
#9 = Office supplies
I feel like every kitchen needs a drawer for pens, paper, tape, glue, post-its, labels, etc.
#10 = Tools
I realize some people might not think this is a good use of a kitchen drawer — but I use these tools all the time and it’s REALLY nice to have them easily accessible in the kitchen for quick projects. I’m using this slip-proof mat under the tools to keep them from sliding and to protect our drawer.
So after a fun Friday night of organizing all our kitchen drawers and cabinets {I know, I’m weird} our kitchen was fully functional by Saturday morning.
It’s still not completely finished (so I don’t want to show you before and after pictures just yet) but I promise I’ll keep sharing more pictures!
I can’t wait to share my new cool method for organizing our spices!
SUSAN CHRUCHILL says
Where did you buy the dowels for your dish drawer? Thanks for your help!
Andrea says
Hi Susan, the dowels came with our drawer and were ordered from our kitchen cabinet supplier.
here’s a link to a similar system on Amazon. You could cut it to the size of your drawer.
Jeanice says
I think I love you! I just found this site and I can see that it is old but, OH MY GOODNESS, what pleasure to see the drawers, the simple ideas for organizing, the book for personal info. Thank you for sharing. I will continue to search for your ideas. I do so appreciate it.
Ellie says
It looks very clean and organize to me, but I got a question, how often will you clean your drawer?
Andrea says
Thanks Ellie! I guess I don’t have a designated time to clean my drawers — just whenever they get dirty 🙂
In general, Dave and I are the only people to put things away, so the drawers have stayed quite neat and tidy over the past 3 years — I just need to wipe out some crumbs every now and then.
Josephine says
Hi Andrea,
OMG yiu have two beautiful children.. May you all be blessed with only good things in your lives..
Just found you on line and have subscribed. Really looking forward to upcoming informational blogs, etc..
Andrea says
Thanks Josephine! and as of last month, we actually have 3 kids!
Rose says
Its better for us now to organized drawers and i actually planned to made drawer your article is helpful for that way.
Sandy says
I was all excited about that silverware organizer — but I have a question. Yours in your photo looks like it expands both vertically and horizontally? Which is what would be PERFECT for my drawer. But the link you gave to the Made smart one on Amazon goes to one that only seems to expand horizontally — it looks like it will expand both to the left and right, but not up/down. Did you modify yours somehow? Or do you have a different one? Hope this post makes sense. Thanks!
Andrea says
Thanks Sandy, and yes, I just modified the organizer to better fit our drawer — so it IS the one you see pictured in the Amazon link 🙂
Sandy says
Thanks for the response! And with a newborn at home! Congrats, by the way. He’s precious.
I will try this organizer out! Thanks again.
Linda Bolt says
Thanks for the great idea of a knife block that can fit into a drawer! I needed one a little narrower than the one you are getting. (Mine will be just 4 inches wide, and hold 7 knives.)
I did not know these existed, and this is exactly what I need!
I ordered mine from Crate & Barrel.
Meaghean says
I LOVE the Office Supply drawer… I always seem to be in the kitchen when I get a great idea for another post…. (Could just be cause I’m always in the kitchen) Right now I just have a dry erase board with several different ideas jotted down… Think you have a great idea!
Jennifer says
that empty drawer for your daughters toys – put all he dishes in it. She can then get her own plate/bowl/cup etc. By the time she is 3 she’ll be able to get her own water out of the frig (if you have a dispensor) or the sink with a stool. It will free you up and teaches her to put dishes away. Our three empty the dishwasher and put their dishes away since 3 1/2 or 4 (it may not always look pretty but it is in a drawer so perfectly organized isn’t critical.
Jennifer M. says
LOVE LOVE LOVE your drawer organization. I have been picking out all of your pampered chef stuff in your drawers! haha I too had very few drawers (4 – small and shallow) until 2 years ago. Now I have 9 of various sizes. I have a couple for kitchen gadgets, silver ware, a big one with baggies and plastic wrap, one for dish towels, one right beside my stove for pot holders, one for “junk” that I need to work on and make a tool drawer and one for cutting boards and rolling pins and one that has misc. stuff in it. I am thinking now from looking at yours I need to make one a Paper/pen drawer.
Milehimama says
I {heart} drawers too- and my house ALSO has those silly, shallow drawers that barely fit anything- seriously the Reynold’s Wrap barely clears it. And I have a super-unfunctional 6″ drawer next to the stove. Really, what were they thinking?
Love your dish drawer especially!
Robin says
I was going to ask about the white dishes too. I’m looking for nice white ones that last and don’t scratch, etc. I see someone else asked too. Love the office and tool drawers! Inspiring. If I could just keep my husband out of the tool drawer!
ConnieLO says
I know just how you feel.– We have a new kitchen and I actually have 16 drawers w/full extentions too. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Them! I have the white divders like you do, and also have my heavy bowls in the deep drawers and also my big fry pans. Out kitchen addition left us with an 11’x20′ kitchen. The cabinet maker was so impressed he asked to take photos and will publish it in a magazine.
Angie says
Love how organized your drawers are, but I am especially jealous of the Tupperware drawer. I would love to have a big drawer for all those containers and lids.
Kristine says
LOVE IT! You always keep us pleasantly surprised with your ‘organization!’ I didn’t even THINK about planning ‘drawer’ space in a kitchen, I just knew I always wanted DRAWERS! Thanks for sharing!
Jen says
I’ve never seen a dish drawer, what a great idea!
Carrie says
Love it! I also keep one drawer in the kitchen reserved for a few tools and tape measures. The no slip mat is a great idea! I may have to try it. Thanks, once again, for your ideas and inspiration.
Nan says
The drawers look spectacular, Andrea!
Question: what tools do you consider vital in your kitchen? I’m trying to get a tool drawer set up as well.
Thanks!
Andrea says
Well, I’d say whatever tools YOU use on a regular basis. I use screw drivers, a hammer, level, pliers, tape measure, putty knife, exacto knife, and then nails/screws/etc. However, if there are other tools you use, then definitely keep those in your kitchen too.
Laura says
What brand are your white dishes? Looking for small bowls like yours so we aren’t putting cereal, etc. in huge bowls. Thanks!
Andrea says
Laura, these dishes are actually just from JCPenny’s and they are the “JCPenny Home Collection” brand (a.k.a super cheap!!) but we love them. I purchased them several years ago though, so I doubt JCP carries these exact dishes any more.
However the smaller white bowls are from IKEA (also several years ago) and we use them ALL the time.
Bobbi Jo Nichols says
I am seriously having drawer envy. Beautiful just beautiful! Hugs, Bobbi Jo
Leah H says
LOVE the plates in the drawer! Love the pens/paper drawer. Well, I’m just envious! We live in an old house with 6 small drawers, 3 double cabinets and two very small prep areas. LOVE the room and storage!!
Jenny C. says
Andrea, just looking at your beautifully organized drawers makes me feel “less stressed” as compared to my not so organized drawers!!! I love how your drawers turned out 🙂
Alyssa Pierson says
I would love to see a post on HOW you organized your kitchen. I have lots of drawers in my kitchen (and really not a ton of stuff) and still don’t seem to be able to organize it all. I would love to know how you decided what to put where (not just drawers but everywhere) and hopefully pick up a couple tips!
Andrea says
Don’t worry Alyssa — it’s coming! There will be lots more kitchen posts before the end of the year!
Jessica Adams says
I have total drawer envy! Love how you organized them and the dish drawer is a fantastic idea!
Martha Lawson says
Love, love it!! I’m one of the 3 drawer girls, I would love to have your storage, especially the one for plastic containers. Definitely need a drawer for tools in the kitchen. Can’t wait to see the rest.
Pamela says
Wow! Lovely! I have never heard of putting dishes in a drawer before. What an interesting idea.
Are you left-handed? The way you’ve laid paring knives and scissors in the silverware drawer made me wonder! Mine are laid the opposite way.
I’m loving the kitchen updates!!
Kathy says
The kitchen is looking really wonderful!! I think I like the drawer with all the dishes best of all….great idea!
Jen says
Where did you get the pegs and all in the drawer with dishes? That looks really neat! You’re making me wish I could renovate our kitchen…it’s not very functional at all. One day! 🙂
Andrea says
This drawer is a special drawer specifically made for dishes, so the pegboard and pegs came with the drawer from the cabinet company!
Vickie S. says
Looks so great! Happy for you!! i just organized my drawers & cabinets this past week. Feels so good to have everything organized.
susie says
now I need to go clean mine! It has been on my fall cleaning list and i have not got to it yet. I agree with you, i like drawers better than cabinets for bowls, wish I had more.
Candice H says
We have been in this house 8 years at the end of this month.. a lot longer and a lot more kids in to it than I had imagined. We really need more space but even though we only have 3 drawers in the kitchen, and shallow ones like in your first house you described, I still have the smallest one as a tool drawer because I use them more than he does and it’s great to know exactly where they are!
Linda Reese says
You are one smart Cookie! I love what all you have done….makes one’s life so much nicer! Great Job!
Linda Bolt says
I like how you have one almost empty drawer for Nora’s things. It’s great for a toddler to have a drawer of things to play with while “helping” Mommy in the kitchen.
I LOVE the knife organizer, and I’m going to be measuring to see if this will work for me; I’ve been looking for something to get my knives into a drawer.
I did wonder if you dish drawer is really heavy-duty? We used one of our drawers for cups for years, and it really was hard on the drawer. We had to replace the sliding mechanism, and the drawer has never been quite the same. But we had low-grade drawers, I think.
It’s wonderful that you planned for 10 drawers!
Can’t wait to see the other cupboards and what you planned for those.
Lisa says
Oooohhh!!!! How fun! A Friday night spent organizing a kitchen would be fun for me too, so I guess that makes me weird too 🙂 I’m glad for your sake that your kitchen is (almost) finished, and that you can start using it! Looking forward to seeing more pictures. I love before-and-afters 🙂
Anna says
The drawers seem pretty low, how are you baby proofing them? We have all of our stuff on top of the counters kind of organized because our 2 years has already figured out how to open the drawers even when we baby proofed them. We don’t seem to have enough room on top of the counters.
Thanks,
Anna
Jennifer says
LOVE! Can’t wait to see the rest of your kitchen now that it’s done!