The Easy Utensil Organizing Hack That Doesn't Take Up Cabinet Or Counter Space

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

When practical kitchen organization seems impossible no matter how much you rearrange your utensils, it may be time to think outside the box — literally! Sure, you can find countertop or cabinet hacks for storing silverware if you don't have drawer space, but few of us realize there are almost as many storage opportunities outside the cabinet as there are inside it. Free up counter, cabinet, and drawer space by adding a utensil holder (or a few) to the side of your cabinet to fix the issue in no time.

Hanging a utensil holder on the cabinet's exterior creates a ton of efficiency when organizing the kitchen. As you clean out drawers to make items easier to find, you can also keep essential cooking utensils at the ready. Load up your spatulas, whisks, wooden spoons, tongs, and more. You'll keep your workspace clean and clear, maintain better organization, and protect your utensils from contaminants, a key reason to think twice before storing kitchen essentials on your counters in the first place. Since utensil holders are around 5 to 7 inches wide and wall cabinets are typically at least 12 inches deep, you can often fit multiple utensil holders on the cabinet's side to hold even more items in organized sections.

There are many chic and functional countertop utensil holders that can be hung on your cabinet. It shouldn't be too wide and squat, though, as longer utensils may lean awkwardly or fall out. A holder about 6½ to 7½ inches tall or a shorter option with multiple small compartments is practical. The metal ORDNING utensil holder at IKEA an ideal option. The holes provide mounting points to screw it to the cabinet side or hang on a hook, while the 4¾-inch diameter lets you squeeze several of these in a row for divided organization. Metal and plastic holders are flexible choices too, since they can handle wet utensils. Hang one at the end of the cabinets by the sink to manage washed utensils while you save space in your dish rack. Alternatively, install your utensil holder on your backsplash or an empty portion of your wall.

Aside from screwing it into place, you can also use double-sided adhesives like Command Strips, as long as your holder has a flat side — so rectangle options (like the WeISuC Wooden Utensil Holder) will be better than cylinders. And don't forget the decoration possibilities. Spray paint the utensil holder to match your tools, or consider the rest of the kitchen's palette to pick the right hue. Just be careful to properly prep the holder to improve the final finish. If using a metal holder, for instance, ensure it's degreased and primed before painting. Get creative with different patterns and stencils so your hanging utensil holders can boost the room's aesthetics as much as they solve your kitchen organization woes.