The Easy Kitchen Storage Hack That Gets Your Essentials Organized On A Budget

For those who cook a lot at home, keeping the kitchen organized can be an ongoing battle. If you find yourself acquiring new utensils and gadgets over time, you'll notice that drawer space begins to wane. Maybe you want to free up kitchen counter space because yours is already overrun with small appliances. If either of these scenarios sound like you, there's an easy DIY for you to try — a free-standing, two-tier utensil holder.

The project begins with using a craft knife to cut the tops off of two five liter plastic water jugs, leaving two open cylindrical containers. If you don't have water bottles this size in your recyclables, you can source containers similar in size and shape. Something like this plant pot from Amazon would work as a great substitution, given its straight sides. And while this may slightly increase the overall cost of the DIY, it means that you won't unnecessarily waste bottled water.

The next step in the process is spray painting the plastic containers white. A spray paint like Rust-Oleum's Painter's Touch will only cost about $5. However, you can take liberties with this part of the project by choosing a different paint color. Try going with an accent color you already use throughout your home design, or pick something bold to make a statement. When the paint of your choosing is dry, it's time to assemble the stand.

For the legs, you'll need a few pieces of wood. You can use three wooden broom handles with the ends sawed off to repurpose items you already have, or simplify this step by just purchasing plain wooden dowels of a similar size. Three of these 7/8-inch thick and 36-inch long wooden dowels from Michael's will cost you a little over $10. Unless you already have three broom handles on hand, purchasing dowels instead of handles is not only more likely to be cost-effective, but it's less wasteful and you won't have to use a saw.

Next, secure the legs with even spacing around the plastic containers with the help of a staple gun. If you don't already own this tool we think every homeowner should have, you can find options from an online retailer or home improvement store for about $20 or less. Once your utensil stand is fully assembled, add finishing decorative touches. Use brown paper cut into an oval shape adorned with gold beads to give the look of a leather label, or cut you own shapes out of some card stock or contact paper to create a custom look.

Depending on how many elements you already have at home, using this DIY to create custom kitchen storage may not cost much less than buying a new kitchen organizer. However, the two-tier construction and charming look of the project is unique compared to those available in stores. So if you're looking for a utensil organizer that stands out from others, this project may be worth your time and money!