Hi and Happy April! It’s been a busy season for us between work and THREE different spring break weeks. What I wouldn’t give to go back to the simple days of having all three kids on one schedule. I missed not being able to do something together, but we did make the most of it. I’ll share more soon about a trip we make to Oklahoma.

Have missed being here but am ready to jump right back in and stick around!

How has Spring been for you? Spring cleaning efforts going well? Let me know! I know hitting a standstill / burnout is easy. If you have hit a roadblock or haven’t started yet because you’re wondering where to being…your kitchen is always a great space to take a deep dive!

Why a Kitchen Deep Dive Is Different from a Spring Clean

 

Spring cleaning gets a lot of attention — wiping counters, mopping floors, clearing out the cabinet of mystery expiration dates. But a true kitchen deep dive goes further. It’s about reimagining how your space functions, not just how it looks.

The kitchen is the most loved / used room in homes. Every disorganized drawer, overpacked pantry, and chaotic fridge shelf costs you time and mental energy every single day. This week, we’re dedicating our full focus to the kitchen — and we’re walking you through it zone by zone.

Good news: you don’t need a renovation. You need a system. Let’s build one.

Step 1: Empty, Clean, and Honestly Assess

 

Before you buy a single bin or organizer, you need to see what you’re actually working with. Pull everything out — yes, everything — from one zone at a time. One zone at a time will help minimize the feeling of overwhelm.

For each zone, ask yourself:

• Is this item used weekly, monthly, or almost never?
• Does this belong in the kitchen, or has it just lived here by default?
• Is this expired, broken, or a duplicate I don’t need?
• Does the container it’s in actually make sense for how I use it?

Once you’ve done your honest audit, wipe down every shelf and drawer. Then — and only then — start putting things back with intention.

Step 2: The Fridge — Build Zones That Actually Work

 

The fridge is where organization efforts often fall apart the fastest. Without clear zones, things get shoved wherever they fit, and food gets forgotten until it’s too late.

The below fridge layout example is just one of many. Fridges come in all sorts of layouts so this isn’t a one-sized fits all system, but something to consider if your fridge is similar to this layout.

The Simply Organized fridge zone system:

• Top shelf: Leftovers, prepped meals, drinks — the “eat first” shelf
• Middle shelf: Dairy, deli meats, grab-and-go items
• Bottom shelf: Raw proteins (always on the lowest shelf for food safety)
• Crisper drawers: Separate fruits and vegetables — different humidity needs
• Door: Condiments, juices, butter — lower-temperature items only

The game-changer for fridge organization? Clear bins and turntables (optional, of course, but they can help depending on the type of fridge you own). They let you see everything at a glance, pull out a whole “zone” to access the back, and wipe down easily.

Our fridge favorites:

→ Refrigerator Organizer Bins (8-Pack) — stackable, easy handle, fits most standard fridges and freezers

→ Divided Stacking Drawer (short)  — stackable, dividers, makes great use of vertical space between shelves

→ Everything Organizer Drawer (short)  — stackable, makes great use of vertical space between shelves

→ Everything Organizer Drawer (tall)  — stackable

→ Lazy Susan Organizer  — great for condiments that tend to topple when grabbing from the back of the fridge

( oxo containers | tiered can riser | turntable | mesh bins )

Step 3: The Pantry — Visual Clarity Over Chaos

 

A well-organized pantry should function like a grocery store: categories clearly defined, labels facing forward, and nothing hiding behind something else. Here’s a few categories we lean into:

• Grains & pasta — one zone, decanted into airtight containers when possible
• Canned goods — grouped by type, with a can organizer if space allows
• Snacks & grab-and-go — lower shelf if kids help themselves; eye-level if adult-only
• Baking supplies — flour, sugar, oils, extracts all together
• Breakfast station — cereals, oats, syrups in one easy-access spot

For pantry bins that breathe, look great, and hold up to daily use:

→ Pantry Organization Bins — open-top design, great for snacks and packaged goods (on sale!)

→ Stackable Bamboo Storage Bins — beautiful for open-shelf pantries, come in various widths (on sale!)

→ Rubbermaid Brilliance Storage Containers — airtight canisters for flour, sugar, grains, and more (on sale!)

Step 4: Drawers — The Unsung Heroes of Kitchen Function

 

Kitchen drawers are where organization goes to die. The junk drawer. The utensil graveyard. The mystery bin of takeout menus and rubber bands. Sound familiar?

The solution isn’t more space — it’s better systems within the space you have. Drawer organizers work best when they’re sized to your actual drawer dimensions (measure before you buy!) and when you commit to putting things back in their designated spot.

We mostly us bamboo in kitchen drawers — durable, easy to wipe clean, and beautiful in any kitchen. But I am sharing one clear acrylic option below. Here are a few we reach for often:

→ Space Aid Bamboo Drawer Dividers with Inserts & Labels — adjustable, spring-loaded dividers with customizable inserts; our newest find and already a favorite. 

→ Everything Organizer Drawer Organizers — modular, mix-and-match sizing that fits most kitchen drawer configurations

→ Stackable Bamboo Drawer Organizers — stackable design creates two tiers in a single drawer, perfect for utensils or a junk drawer reset

→ Spring-Loaded Bamboo Drawer Dividers— tension-mounted, no tools needed; ideal for creating custom sections in any size drawer

Step 5: Spice Storage and the Baking Station

 

Spices are one of the most rewarding things to organize — and they make an enormous difference in how your kitchen feels. The goal is to see every spice without digging, which means going vertical or making sure you can clearly see them in a drawer or cabinet.

Cabinet Option:

→ 3-Tier Bamboo Expanding Spice Shelf — adjustable width, fits most cabinets, and creates three rows of visible spices

Drawer Option:

→ Acrylic Tiered Expanding Spice Drawer Organizer — adjustable width, fits most drawers, and creates rows of visible spices

Pantry Wall Option:

→ Acrylic Floating Wall Shelves — easy to install, creates rows of visible spices

You can see here where I installed these wall shelves. This family had limited kitchen drawer space, but they did have a free wall in the pantry where this worked beautifully!

For your baking station, group everything in one cabinet or one corner of the pantry: flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, extracts, chocolate chips, and mixing tools. When it’s all together, baking stops feeling like an excavation.

This Week’s Sales Worth Shopping

 

We track the big seasonal sales each week so you can shop with a strategy. Here’s what’s running right now:

🏪 The Container Store

 

The Container Store is having TWO sales – 30% off Elfa AND 25% off everything else site-wide! If you have plans to organize your kitchen, fridge or pantry, this is a great time to source products at a discount!

→ Shop The Container Store for pantry bins, drawer dividers, and organizing essentials

Making It Last: The 15-Minute Weekly Reset

 

The most beautifully organized kitchen will fall apart without a maintenance habit. Here’s the one I recommend:

Every Sunday, spend 15 minutes on a kitchen reset:

• Clear the counter of any items that drifted in during the week
• Wipe down the stovetop and microwave
• Check the fridge for anything approaching expiration — move to “eat first” shelf
• Restock anything that’s running low
• Return any items to their designated spots

That’s it. A few dedicated, focused minutes, once a week, keeps the system from unraveling. Pair it with a Sunday playlist or a podcast and it stops feeling like a chore.

This week I’m working on a tech clean-up, not my kitchen :-). But I’d love to know what you are working on!

Happy kitchen organizing!

xo,

Sam