Storage Solutions for Every Drawer in Your Kitchen
From the prep area to the pantry, here are my favorite storage ideas I include in almost every kitchen design
One of the busiest areas of any kitchen is the prep area. It is the workhorse of the kitchen, and if designed correctly, it can be a joy for any cook — whether you are a seasoned chef or just someone who loves to spend time in the kitchen.
Here, I am sharing some of my favorite storage solutions specifically for the kitchen prep area and beyond. I try to include as many of these as possible in my kitchen designs because I find them to be incredibly useful and stylish — and both are always the ultimate goal when designing a kitchen.
The Kitchen Prep Area
Utensil and Knife Drawers
The utensil drawer and knife drawer have both grown in popularity, and if you have the space, I suggest including both. They allow a cook to have all of their utensils and knives right within reach and organized, so you never have to spend time searching for that one spoon or your favorite chef's knife. Slats — whether built into the drawers or purchased as an insert — are your best friend here. They keep everything separated, which is just as important for organization as it is for keeping your knives in great shape.
An in-drawer knife block is another one of my favorites. These can be configured for both steak and chef's knives, combined into one block or separated out, and they keep the countertop clean and clutter-free.
Pots and Pan Storage
Have you ever had to pull out half your cabinet just to get to the one pan you need? A deep drawer designed specifically for pots, pans, and their lids changes everything. It keeps every piece tidy, in order, and easy to grab exactly when you need it. No more digging, no more clattering lids — just everything right where it should be.
Sheet Pan and Cutting Board Storage
Sheet pans are notoriously tricky to store. If you stack them flat, they become a puzzle every time you need one. Instead, I love storing them upright — either in a tall drawer with slats or a cabinet with vertical dividers. It keeps them accessible, organized, and easy to pull out in a single motion.
A Built-In Cutting Board and Drying Rack
Imagine never having to search for a cutting board again. A built-in cutting board that pulls out right at the prep counter is one of those details that seems small but makes a real difference every single day. Equally helpful is a hideaway drying rack within arm's reach of the sink. Together, they make prep work and cleanup as effortless as they can possibly be.
The Oil and Spice Cabinet
This is one of my must-haves for any prep area. I have used this cabinet right next to the stove for oils and spices in so many of my kitchen designs, and it never disappoints. Some people worry that having oils and seasonings close to the stove exposes them to damaging heat — but in my experience, it simply does not. What it does do is store everything beautifully, upright, and easy to grab right when you are in the middle of cooking.
Kitchen Drawers: Making Every One Count
Every kitchen has drawers. And no matter how many or how few you have, they can either feel chaotic and frustrating or organized and effortless. We obviously prefer the latter. Here are some of my favorite drawer solutions for the rest of the kitchen.
The Junk Drawer (Yes, Everyone Has One)
Let's be honest — everyone has a junk drawer, and there is no shame in it. You are lucky if you can keep it to just one. One of my favorite ways to manage it is with an in-drawer outlet, which I include in almost every kitchen I design. It not only keeps odds and ends contained, it also keeps devices hidden away and charging inside the drawer. That alone cuts the visual clutter significantly.
Beyond the outlet, here are a few tips for keeping your junk drawer manageable:
Contain the clutter. Take everything out, pare it down, and only put back what belongs in the kitchen. If something doesn't need to be there, find it a better home.
Invest in organizers. Drawer dividers and small containers do wonders. I also love using velcro wraps or even a simple rubber band to keep charging cables from taking over.
Add an in-drawer outlet if you can. It keeps cords hidden, devices charged, and the kitchen looking clean. It is one of the highest-ROI details I recommend to clients.
Dish Drawers
Deep drawers with removable, adjustable pegs are one of my favorite updates for storing dishes. No more reaching to the back of a wall cabinet or worrying about chipping a plate. The pegs keep everything in place, and the drawers make your dishes easy to grab no matter the size.
The Spice Drawer
If you love to cook, you know how quickly a spice collection grows. A dedicated spice drawer — where bottles lay flat with labels facing up — is a game-changer for organization. You can see everything you have at a glance and never have to pull out five jars to find the one you need. Ask your cabinet builder to include one, or measure and find one on Etsy, Amazon, or Perigold.
Freezer Drawers
A freezer drawer may be one of the best-kept secrets in kitchen design. I love using them in pantries, coffee bars, and drink stations.
Pantry Drawers
A pantry with drawers may be life-changing — and I say that with full conviction. I have designed pantries with drawers for everything from produce to paper goods, and the feedback is always the same: "Why didn't I do this sooner?"
A few tips for making pantry drawers work for you:
Take everything out of your pantry before you start. Assess what you have, get rid of what you don't need, and only put back what belongs.
Plan your drawers before you start filling them. Know what each one is for so everything has a designated home.
Reuse what you have — tins, boxes, small containers — before buying everything new. And if you are in the middle of a kitchen redesign, now is the time to talk to your cabinet maker about your specific pantry drawer needs.
Specialty Drawers
There are so many creative ways to use drawers in a kitchen beyond the obvious. I have designed custom drawers for vitamins, tea, candles, paper towels, oils, and more. If there is something in your kitchen that is currently living in a pile on the counter or shoved in a cabinet, there is almost certainly a drawer solution for it.
Pet Drawers
Last but never least: our pets. They are family, and they use the kitchen just as much as we do. Whenever there is a pet in a home, I love incorporating pet storage into the kitchen design so their items are hidden away but always within reach.
A pot filler over the dog's water bowl is one of my favorite little luxuries — no more hauling a full bowl across the kitchen.
A deep drawer with a custom-fit food bin directly beneath the bowl keeps feeding time clean and contained.
A toe kick drawer is a beautiful solution for cats — it tucks their feeding area completely out of sight and kicks closed when not in use.
The best kitchens are not the biggest ones — they are the ones that work with you at every step. Great storage is how you get there.
Beverly Cabinets designs custom kitchen cabinetry for homeowners across Beverly and Chicago's South Side. If you are ready to rethink how your kitchen works, we would love to talk.
