The Simple Organization Tip That Helps You Use Every Inch Of Your Deep Kitchen Drawers

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Maximum storage is generally considered a desirable quality of your kitchen, but it's shockingly easy for deep kitchen drawers to turn into pits of disarray. If you're currently facing this conundrum, consider stackable drawer organizers. These come in a variety of shapes and sizes that nest on top of each other — allowing you to make the most of otherwise empty vertical drawer space. 

Before buying, first measure the dimensions of your drawers. Then, consider your needs. Some stackable organizers, like the Okllen Bamboo Kitchen Drawer Organizer, are designed to create tiered layers that allow you to see everything you've stored at once, making it easy to reach for a serving spoon in one layer and an eating utensil in another. Others are slimmer and more compact, with trays stacking on top of one another to maximize space, such as this Bamboo Drawer Organizer. These can be a good choice if you only need to organize one type of item, such as food container lids, bibs, or baby bottle nipples. Then there are extendable designs, like this YouCopia DrawerFit Sliding Drawer Bin, which rest on the interior lip of the drawer, allowing easy access to the bottom drawer layer as well. These can be added and removed as needed, and are great for smaller accessories, such as kid utensils, water bottle tops, or other quick-grab items you need easily on hand.

Most stackable organizers come in plastic, clear acrylic, or bamboo. With clear acrylic, you can easily see everything from all angles, while plastic organizers are easy to wipe down and clean quickly. Bamboo, however, offers aesthetic appeal, creating a warm look for your drawers. Once you've figured out the best design, type, and fit for your drawers, it's time to organize.

The first step of organizing is almost always to do a clear-out. Re-home anything that doesn't belong in the kitchen, and toss or donate items as needed. Then, assess what you plan to store in your drawers versus your cabinets or pantry, and swap things accordingly. One benefit of deep drawers is that you have space for larger, taller items, so your organizational system may evolve as you assess what works best and where. 

Use this time to also consider how to lay out your stackable organizers. Some pros like to use a grid system in their kitchen drawers, with designated zones for each type of item they're storing. You can also try using labels, especially if your stackable organizers are tiered. Labels make it easier to spot what you need at a glance, without rearranging things each time you open a drawer.

As you place items back, keep a few things in mind. Knives and anything sharp are best kept in the highest, most unreachable drawer, and organized into the bottom layer of stackable organizers. You can also get a safety lock for the drawer to help protect those with curious minds. If you dedicate a drawer to food storage items, plastic bags and cling film should also be out of reach of children. Kid-friendly items like napkins, burp cloths, and bibs, as well as plastic dinnerware and utensils, however, can be organized into a kid-accessible layer. This is helpful if you're introducing your toddler to setting the table, which is a great way to foster patience and ownership during mealtimes.