How to Organise a Cluttered Kitchen: Kitchen Storage Buying Guide
A cluttered kitchen can make even the simplest cooking tasks feel more complicated. Overflowing cupboards, mismatched containers and crowded worktops can leave you short on space and constantly searching for everyday essentials. With the right kitchen storage solutions, keeping everything organised doesn't have to be difficult.
The easiest way to organise a cluttered kitchen is to give frequently used items a dedicated place, store ingredients in suitable containers and keep unnecessary items off your worktops. Kitchen storage tins, bread bins and matching canister sets are a simple way to make better use of the space you already have.
In this guide, we'll explore practical kitchen organisation ideas, explain the different types of kitchen storage containers and help you choose the right storage set for your home.
How to Organise a Cluttered Kitchen
Before buying more kitchen storage, it's worth taking a look at what's already taking up space. A few simple changes can make your kitchen feel more organised without rearranging the entire room.
Start with these five steps:=
- Declutter your worktops: Remove appliances, packaging and utensils that you rarely use, keeping everyday essentials within easy reach.
- Organise your cupboards: Group similar ingredients together and check for expired or duplicate products taking up valuable space.
- Use dedicated storage containers: Keep tea, coffee, sugar and other frequently used ingredients in labelled kitchen storage tins rather than their original packaging.
- Create dedicated kitchen zones: Keep your tea and coffee supplies together, cooking utensils near the hob and food preparation essentials close to your chopping boards.
- Make use of matching storage sets: Coordinated kitchen canisters provide designated spaces for everyday items while creating a more consistent look across your worktops.
Once everything has its place, keeping your kitchen organised becomes much easier.
What Kitchen Storage Containers Do You Need?
Choosing the right kitchen storage containers depends on your available space, how often you cook and which ingredients you use most regularly. Our Cooks Professional Kitchen Storage Collection includes dedicated tins and containers for everyday kitchen essentials. Here's what each type is designed for.
Tea, Coffee and Sugar Storage Tins
Tea, coffee and sugar are some of the most frequently used ingredients in the kitchen, so keeping them together makes sense. Dedicated tea, coffee and sugar canisters help keep your supplies organised, protect their contents and reduce the number of loose packets cluttering your cupboards.
Tea storage tins provide a convenient place for tea bags and loose-leaf tea, helping protect them from moisture and exposure to light. Coffee storage canisters are ideal for storing ground coffee or coffee beans, helping preserve their aroma and flavour when properly sealed. Sugar tins keep granulated sugar contained, dry and readily available for your next cup of tea or coffee. Rather than digging around the cupboard or keeping them in their bags, these items can be packed away and neatly displayed on countertops or open shelves, ready for use whenever.
Our Cooks Professional Tea, Coffee and Sugar Storage Sets feature clearly labelled canisters, making it easy to find what you need. Available in different colours and finishes, they're a practical starting point for organising your kitchen worktops.
Bread Bins: Keep Your Bread Neatly Stored
Bread packaging can quickly make kitchen worktops look untidy with scrappy packaging and unsealed bags. A dedicated bread bin provides a convenient place to store your bread while helping protect it from excess light and moisture, prolonging its shelf life and helping prevent it going stale and mouldy.
Unlike completely airtight food containers, our Cooks Professional Bread Bins are designed to allow airflow, with three holes in the back to let the bread breathe. This helps reduce condensation, which can contribute to mould developing on bread. Our bread bins are available individually or as part of our larger matching kitchen storage sets. We also offer bread bin sets featuring a bamboo lid that doubles as a breadboard, complete with a reusable linen bread bag. These provide additional storage and preparation functionality without requiring separate accessories. Explore our Bread Bin Collection to find a style that complements your kitchen.
Biscuit Tins: Keep Your Snacks Organised
Packets of biscuits, crackers and sweet treats can easily pile up in cupboards and on kitchen counters, and if not eaten can quickly go stale in their packaging. A dedicated biscuit tin keeps these items together and makes them easier to access. A properly closed storage tin also helps protect biscuits from moisture, reducing the risk of them becoming soft or stale.
Cooks Professional Biscuit Tins are included in our five-piece and seven-piece kitchen storage sets, with matching finishes to complement your other kitchen canisters. They're particularly useful for households that prefer to keep their most frequently enjoyed snacks close to hand without leaving opened packets on display.
Pasta Storage Pots: Make Better Use of Cupboard Space
Pasta packaging can be awkward to store, especially when dealing with longer varieties such as spaghetti and linguine. A tall pasta storage pot provides a dedicated space for dried pasta, helping keep opened packets contained and preventing loose pasta from spilling into cupboards.
Our seven-piece kitchen storage sets include a matching pasta pot designed to accommodate longer pasta shapes. Keeping dried pasta in a suitable storage container also makes it easier to see when supplies are running low, helping you plan meals and shopping more efficiently.
Utensil Pots: Free Up Your Kitchen Drawers
Overfilled kitchen drawers are another common cause of kitchen clutter. Spatulas, wooden spoons, ladles and other cooking utensils can take up a surprising amount of space. A kitchen utensil holder provides an alternative to storing everything in a drawer, keeping your most-used cooking tools upright, organised and close to the hob.
Our seven-piece kitchen storage sets include a coordinating utensil pot, allowing you to keep cooking accessories organised while matching your other storage containers. For a practical kitchen layout, position your utensil holder near your main cooking area, safely away from direct heat. In need of some new utensils? Check out our kitchen utensils range for a refresh of high performance, silicone utensils.
Which Kitchen Storage Set Should You Choose?
If you're looking to organise several areas of your kitchen, buying a matching kitchen storage set can be more convenient than choosing individual containers. Cooks Professional offers kitchen storage sets in three, five and seven-piece options, alongside individual bread bins.
Here's what each option includes:
- Bread Bin: A standalone storage solution for loaves, rolls and baked goods. Ideal for kitchens that already have tea, coffee and sugar canisters.
- 3-Piece Kitchen Storage Set: Includes matching tea, coffee and sugar canisters. A practical choice for smaller kitchens or anyone looking to organise their hot drinks station.
- 5-piece Kitchen Storage Set: Includes tea, coffee and sugar canisters, a biscuit tin and a bread bin. Ideal for organising the most commonly used kitchen essentials.
- 7-piece Kitchen Storage Set: Includes tea, coffee and sugar canisters, a biscuit tin, bread bin, pasta pot and utensil holder. Our most comprehensive set for coordinating storage across your kitchen.
For smaller kitchens, a three-piece canister set can make a noticeable difference without taking up too much worktop space. The five-piece option is well suited to everyday family kitchens, while the seven-piece set provides a wider range of storage solutions in one coordinated collection. Browse our Kitchen Storage Sets to compare the different sizes, colours and styles.
Knife Blocks: Keep Your Knives Organised and Protected
Loose kitchen knives can take up valuable drawer space and become damaged when stored alongside other metal utensils. A dedicated knife block keeps your knives organised, protects their blades and makes your most-used knives easy to access during food preparation. Our Cooks Professional Knife Block Range consist of stylish bamboo knife blocks that provide practical storage while complementing your kitchen worktops. Available as a sturdy bamboo block, space efficient magnetic bamboo stand or modern glass and bamboo block, they're a convenient and stylish way to keep your essential kitchen knives together without cluttering your drawers.
Glass Storage Containers: Organise Your Fridge and Food Cupboards
Keeping leftovers, prepared meals and fresh ingredients organised can help reduce food waste and make better use of your fridge and cupboard space. Glass food storage containers provide a durable, reusable alternative to plastic, with non-porous surfaces that resist stains and odours.
Our Cooks Professional Glass Storage Containers come in a convenient 10-piece set, including five 1000ml containers and five 380ml containers. Featuring airtight, leakproof snap-lock lids, they're ideal for meal prep, storing leftovers and keeping ingredients fresh. The glass bases are also fridge, freezer, microwave and oven safe, making them a versatile addition to your kitchen. For handy storage when not in use, the smaller glass containers can fit into the larger ones, making them ideal for cupboards and preventing you from loosing any lids.
Thinking of making the switch to glass? Explore our Why Choose Glass Storage Containers? Guide to discover the benefits of glass food storage, how it compares to plastic and why it's a practical choice for an organised kitchen.
Choosing the Right Kitchen Storage Material and Style
Kitchen storage should be practical, but that doesn't mean you need to compromise on appearance. Our Cooks Professional Kitchen Storage Sets are made using durable, powder-coated steel, offering a sturdy solution for everyday use. Depending on the collection, you can choose designs featuring metallic detailing, embossed finishes or bamboo lids. Smaller bamboo-lidded canisters feature airtight seals to help maintain the freshness of dry ingredients.
Our storage collections are also available in a huge range of colours, making it easier to coordinate your bread bin, tea and coffee canisters and other kitchen accessories. Before choosing a set, consider the available worktop space, the size of the containers and how frequently you'll need access to them. Larger sets are useful for keeping more clutter organised, but it's important to make sure you have enough room to accommodate each piece.
Kitchen Storage Ideas for Small Kitchens
Limited worktop space doesn't have to mean living with a cluttered kitchen. With a little planning, even smaller kitchens can feel more spacious and easier to use. Start by prioritising the ingredients and utensils you use every day. Tea, coffee and sugar canisters can sit neatly together in one area, while less frequently used ingredients can be stored inside cupboards.
Make better use of cupboard shelves by grouping similar products together and placing smaller items in accessible containers. Keeping ingredients organised also makes it easier to spot what you already have, helping to avoid unnecessary duplicate purchases.
Avoid filling every available surface. Leaving a clear area for chopping, mixing and preparing food makes the kitchen more practical. Our range of bread bins with bamboo reversible lids are ideal for kitchens with little space, with their dual purpose breadboard on the back of the lid providing chopping space that can easily be stored away on top of the bread bin.
Matching storage tins can also help create a more consistent appearance, particularly when several containers are kept on display. The aim isn't to remove everything from your worktops, but to make sure the items you keep there have a useful purpose.
How to Keep Your Kitchen Organised Long-Term
Once you've organised your kitchen, maintaining it is much easier if you develop a few simple habits. Return ingredients to their designated containers after use, wipe down your storage tins regularly and check your supplies before going shopping. When refilling food storage containers, check the contents and use older ingredients first. Make sure tins are clean and completely dry before adding fresh supplies.
For powder-coated metal storage tins, a soft damp cloth is generally sufficient for cleaning. Avoid abrasive cleaners that could damage the finish, and follow the care instructions for your particular set. A well-organised kitchen should be easy to maintain, not another household chore.
Kitchen Storage FAQs
How do I organise a small kitchen with limited cupboard space?
Start by removing items you no longer use and grouping frequently used essentials together. Use labelled kitchen storage tins for tea, coffee and sugar, keep cooking utensils in a dedicated holder and make use of existing cupboard space. Keeping worktops as clear as possible can make a small kitchen feel more spacious.
What should I store in kitchen canisters?
Kitchen canisters are ideal for storing dry ingredients such as tea, coffee, sugar, biscuits and dried pasta. Using appropriately sized containers helps protect ingredients, reduce packaging clutter and keep everyday essentials organised.
Are metal kitchen storage tins good for food storage?
Metal kitchen storage tins are a practical option for many dry ingredients. They help protect contents from light and, when fitted with suitable lids, can help limit exposure to air and moisture. Always choose containers designed for food storage and follow the manufacturer's care instructions.
What is the best kitchen storage set?
The best kitchen storage set depends on your household and available space. A three-piece set is ideal for tea, coffee and sugar, while a five-piece set adds biscuit and bread storage. A seven-piece set also includes dedicated pasta and utensil storage, making it a more comprehensive option.
Are airtight containers better for storing bread?
Not necessarily. Bread storage requires a different approach to ingredients such as coffee and sugar. A breathable bread bin allows some airflow, helping reduce trapped moisture and condensation. For longer-term storage, freezing bread in suitable packaging is often a better option.
How can I make my kitchen worktops look less cluttered?
Keep only frequently used items on display, group similar products together and use matching storage containers to create a more organised appearance. Give every item a designated place and leave sufficient space for food preparation.
Find the Right Kitchen Storage for Your Home
Organising a cluttered kitchen doesn't require a complete makeover. Choosing suitable storage containers, keeping everyday essentials together and making better use of existing space can make a noticeable difference.
Our Cooks Professional Kitchen Storage Collection includes individual bread bins and matching three, five and seven-piece storage sets in a variety of colours and finishes, helping you create a more practical, coordinated kitchen. Explore our Kitchen Storage Collection to find the right storage solutions for your home.