Organization is key when creating a functional kitchen. Here’s how to keep your pantry practical, your drawers smart and nooks useful - without skimping on style.

1. Within Reach

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Use every inch of this important space. Vary shelf height based
on what you’ll be storing – cereal boxes and canned goods won’t be cozying up with this method. If you have awkwardly angled or tough-to-reach nooks, use them as a place to store duplicates or items that are used less often. To quickly find what you need, transparent jars will do wonders. Baskets in the lower part of the pantry are ideal for storing garlic, potatoes and onions, which keep better in the dark.

2. Chop Chop!

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An island in your kitchen – ideally a mobile one – means extra workspace, and one with a butcher-block surface lets you leave your cutting board in the cupboard. Place platters and frequently used dishes on the island’s shelves. To add a touch of country style, install a hanging drying rack for drying tea towels and fresh herbs.

3. In Plain Sight

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Professional organizers agree: To save steps in your kitchen, it’s best for commonly used dishes and kitchen utensils to be right at hand. To organize with style, install various shelves, rods and hooks for placing all of your culinary essentials in view. When it’s time to cook, or a friend offers to set the table, everything will be easy to grab. This adorable country kitchen is a great example of a look that really works.

4. Divide to Conquer 

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It’s always a good idea to map out the interior organization of kitchen cabinets during a renovation project. But this can also be done once the cabinets are in place. Check out storage solutions such as separators, which can fit in even the smallest corners, making it easy as pie to provide order in the drawers.

5. Easy Access

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You wouldn’t think to add large shallow drawers at floor level, would you? But in fact, they’re great places to store large items like pizza stones or pastry boards that need to lie flat. You can also add drawer inserts or trays inside of deeper drawers to better organize and access your essentials.