9 Kitchen Organizing Tips to Start The Summer Off Right

Martha prefers organizers with rectangular compartments instead of the spoon-and-fork shaped options. She uses these to store the French ivory flatware she uses daily.

Free up a ton of space in your cabinets by hanging a rack for pots and pans. Martha hangs hers above the island near the range in her kitchen for easy access.

You guys, Martha doesn't have a walk-in pantry either! Instead, she keeps her nonperishables neatly tucked away in a tall cabinet. Her tip? Try grouping them by use and cuisine. In the cabinets, she installed custom-cut stainless steel shelves that can easily be labeled and wiped clean. The canisters on top of the cabinet hold the things she buys in bulk.

Think of a cart as an extension of your countertops that can easily be moved around as you need it. Martha likes to organize her cooking utensils on top of her stainless steel cart, which she usually keeps next to her range. Bonus tip: if you have a custom piece of marble cut for the top, you can use it as a bar when entertaining.

Keep open shelves tidy by corralling things into beautiful containers, like baskets and trays. It's a quick way to get rid of visual clutter while keeping things within reach.

If you have unused wall space, consider hanging an extra shelf or two. Martha uses thin shelves made from antique milk glass to add storage without making the tight space feel cramped. She uses the extra space for teapots and spices kept in metal tins (a little trick that helps spices last longer since it keeps light out).

Water conservation is becoming more important than ever, so keeping a plastic bin for soaking and soaping goes a long way. Besides helping to save water, the plastic also acts as a gentle buffer from the hard sink in case you drop a dish in the sink. If you're washing a lot of fragile items, like stemware, line the sink with a terry towel.

Consider keeping large metal bins for garbage and recycling that have pedal-operated lids to keep contamination at a minimum. You can find similar versions at Global Industrial.

It seems obvious, but keeping like with like can save you a lot of time when it comes to something basic, like your morning coffee routine. Martha keeps everything she needs for a cup of coffee in one spot: the espresso machine is on the counter; French presses, cups, and teapots are on the shelves above, while teas and everyday flatware are in the drawers below. She stores fresh coffee beans in electric grinders next to the espresso machine.

Check out 40 more of Martha's kitchen tips here!