Kitchen Utensils

Streamline Your Utensil Collection
If your kitchen plays host to a few more utensils than the average, it's probably time to start cutting back. Those that are broken or damaged are easy to part with, so start there, then move on to duplicates.

Sort Utensils into Categories
Unlike cutlery drawers, where you section off knives, forks, spoons etc., utensils tend not to have sub-categories; everything from spatulas and serving spoons to corkscrews and tin openers get shoved in together, all under the same label. According to Laura, this is where we go wrong.

Zone Utensils to Suit Your Kitchen – and Lifestyle
You don't have to store all your utensils in one place. In fact, we'd advise against it. Once you've got your categories sorted, think about where they would be best stored within your kitchen layout, bearing in mind the six key zones of kitchen organizing. You want them where you need them, when you need them.

Factor in Frequency of Use
You'll almost certainly have utensils that you don't use everyday, but that you use enough to justify holding onto them – think speciality cooking equipment, baking utensils, seasonal tools, etc. Free up prime kitchen storage space by including them as part of your pantry storage ideas, or positioning them out of the way atop kitchen cabinets. You could even consider storing them outside of the kitchen, altogether.

Use Dividers to Keep Them Neat
If you are storing utensils in drawers, you'll want to invest in decent organizers to keep them neatly contained. Store-bought dividers are a less pricey alternative to built-in fittings and can be adapted over time if your needs change. They come in many shapes and sizes, so measure up first to ensure you're making the best use of space.

Store Everyday Utensils in a Countertop Crock
When organizing kitchen countertops, the general rule is to keep them as clear as possible. However, there is a case for keeping your most-used utensils on the side, particularly if you're lacking in drawer space, or small kitchen storage ideas. The trick is to be selective about what you store, as well as what you store them in.

Use Hanging Organizers
Hanging utensils on the wall is a space-saving tactic, and gives you more versatility for positioning, too. Given the different shapes, sizes and styles, a simple rail is your best bet; you can add hooks for larger, more awkwardly shaped utensils as well as wire baskets for holding silverware, smaller items, or any utensil that doesn't have a hole in the handle.

Store Utensils Vertically
If you're struggling to fit longer utensils into drawers horizontally, consider storing them vertically inside a deep narrow drawer, if you've got one to spare. If not, little pull-out customization and a few helpful kitchen organizers can make long and narrow cabinets fit for purpose, too.

Think Twice Before Buying New Utensils
As long as you go to the effort of putting them back in the right place, keeping your utensils in an orderly state is easy enough to do – assuming you don't let clutter build up again. To prevent it, be mindful when bringing anything new into the kitchen.