The Best Ways to Organize and Store Dinnerware
The best methods for organization and decluttering usually require you to put your things in containers so they are out of sight but remain neat. When it comes to cutlery and utensils, your container is usually built right into a cabinet or drawer of some sort, but “out of sight, out of mind” doesn’t quite work here, as they can get very disorganized, even – and especially – when they hidden from view. It’s time to put the dishes in order.
The Best Tools for Organizing Your Utensils
I repaired my cutlery and haven’t looked back. I don’t know about you, but I don’t have a lot of drawer space in my apartment, so for a long time my silver sat in a decorative vase. It got the job done, but it didn’t look very good and was also kind of chaotic. I have a set of 24 forks, spoons and knives that have their own holder to hold. It all sits right on my countertop, and since the dishes have beautiful gold and pink trim, the whole display looks cohesive and inviting. If you’re short on drawer space, a matching set that can pass as decor may be a better option.
After I wash the dishes, I simply place them back on the counter where they dry while they hang. I prefer this to leaving them to dry on a towel or something – or worse, putting them back in the dark drawer, a little damp. However, if you have drying space and storage, congratulations, you have a bigger apartment than I do. Try these.
An expandable organizer is your best option. When I used a drawer to store cutlery, I always used a regular old molded organizer, but they never fit right and rattle when you close the drawer, plus they create wasted space around them. One that unfolds and fits any size drawer will save you a lot of headaches.
However, I’m also a fan of this smaller organizer because it uses tiered sections to keep all your utensils accessible and visible without taking up a lot of space. In small kitchens this is the best option.
The Best Tools for Organizing Plates, Bowls and Glasses
First of all, it’s totally fine to put all your plates and bowls in a cupboard and call it a day, but if you want to go a little further, you can invest in organizers. A plate divider will separate your dishes, helping them stand in the cabinet and making them easier to see.
If your cabinet is deep or tall, you may want to invest in a drawer drawer so you don’t have to stress yourself out getting plates or plates from the back.
Even if you just want to use the traditional stacking method, you can make a few changes to your closet that will save you some space and keep things more organized. This rack ($15.87) fits into the corner of a cabinet, giving you three shelves to accommodate different sized utensils while saving space on the main shelf for other types of storage. Personally, I use a simple freestanding shelf to add tiers so all my bowls and plates aren’t stacked on top of each other. It’s like this:
For my mugs, I have hooks that hang under the shelf. Mine are displayed outdoors on my cabinet, but they will easily fit in a closet. This is ideal because it saves shelf space by hanging mugs overhead, but also keeps them separate so they don’t damage each other.
You can always stack regular cups as usual, but if you have the space, you should consider a holder that keeps them separate so they don’t get damaged. This is also useful because when cups are stacked on top of each other, you will have to take them apart to get to the one you need, but with this special rack, you can just grab the exact cup you need without disturbing the others.
Finally, special occasion dinnerware, such as fine china or anything sentimental , should be kept out of the closet. Consider purchasing quilted storage containers that keep glasses and plates separate.