8 Kitchen Items That Are So Extra, But Surprisingly Useful

How To Organize Kitchen Cabinets

The most important thing to focus on when organizing your kitchen cabinets is maximizing space. That just means making the most of the space that you have, because no matter how big your cabinets are, if they're filled to the brim with items that don't have a dedicated spot, it's going to feel cluttered.

Focus on keeping similar items together, using up vertical space by stacking where you're able (like with bowls or glasses) and making sure that every object has a dedicated space.

Kitchen Cabinet Organization Ideas

Use your cabinets to hold more than just kitchenware — display books and plants to bring some personality into your kitchen. You don't have to save all the fun for your bedroom and living room!

If you live in a small apartment, or just don't have cabinets, you can still take part in the fun. Use the space above your sink or your countertop to add your own shelves. This is a great option because when you're doing it yourself, you can customize the storage to your needs.

If you don't want to stack your plates (or you don't have the room for all the designs to have their own stacks), set them upright instead with a DIY plate rack. (via PMQ For Two)

Okay, so this one isn't technically cabinet organization, but it will definitely save you room in your cabinets. DIY this wine rack that will move your wine bottles from your cabinets onto the wall and add color to your room at the same time.

The Home Edit's organization tips are totally inspiring thanks to their efficiency and their color. Grabbing bins from somewhere like The Container Store or Target can help you contain your products so they don't end up spread across your shelf, and they also make it easier to stack your items since they won't fall over.

Don't underestimate the power of labels. When you buy your bins, tubs, and other organizers, write what you intend to store inside on all the containers and make sure that the corresponding product is always inside. That way, you'll have one bin of flour instead of multiple half-empty bags. Plus, it just looks prettier!

For a quick update on the system you already have, stack your plates so that like plates are together, with the biggest plates are on the bottom — this will ensure they sit together in a way that takes up the least amount of room.

Make sure all the rims of your glasses are touching when storing them in your cabinets, and when you're organizing mugs, face the handles toward each other so there's less empty space and more room for new mugs. Because let's be honest, we can always buy new mugs.

Don't forget to use up the space on top of your cabinets too! Grab some baskets to organize new bottles of olive oil, bags of coffee, or cleaning supplies that you get from the store. (via A Beautiful Mess)

Kitchen Cabinet Organizers

If you love to stay hydrated (ie: you have nine water bottles in your cabinet), then you should grab a product like this YouCopia UpSpace Bottle Organizer ($25+). It'll keep all your water bottle snug together so that you have more room for all your mugs. Speaking of...

The great thing about these Better Houseware Undershelf Cup & Mug Hooks ($10 for two) is that since they hook around the top of a shelf, they don't take up any room at the base.

One way to make sure you save room is to use up vertical space instead of horizontal space. That's why we love the Chrome Roll-Out Bakeware Organizer ($66), which stacks all your muffin tins and cookie sheets on their end. Trust us: this will save you tons of room.

Your fruit deserves a comfy spot to hang out in, so grab a Macrame Fruit Hammock ($30) that will keep fruit off the counter. Cute!

The great thing about a container like the Everything Organ Cabinet Depth Pantry Bin ($101+) is that it's clear because you know what you have at all times. You won't have to pull out the bins to see what's inside!

Use an Expandable Countertop Organizer ($38) in your cabinets — or use it on your counter to clear out your cabinets). We love that this pick's expandable because that means you can move it around to different areas, no matter how big the area is.

A pot organizer like this one from MUDEELA ($22) will keep all your pots and pans together, and you won't have to put up with the noise of when they're stacked on top of each other.

You can't forget about the spices! A rack like this Spice Rack($25) will keep all your spices together and make accessing them a whole lot easier.

Some mDesign Metal Pull-Out Baskets ($21) will create organization within your cabinet the way that cubes do. It's like a two-in-one storage space!

Great Jones x Laura Chautin Dutch Oven

These custom Dutch Ovens designed by ceramicist and illustrator Laura Chautin dropped this week featuring an ode to bows, ribbons, and the warm flora that awaits us in the spring. The Dutch Baby (3.5 quart size) in Taffy is a girl kitchen dream from one of our favorite brands.

HAY George Sowden Tins

Keep coffee, tea or other dry foods fresh in these stainless steel tins, designed by Memphis Group co-founder George Sowden, as part of MoMA’s collection.

William Sonoma Baking Bundle

Whisk, flip and fold with these Geranium Pink silicone tools that feature paintbrush-inspired stainless-steel handles for an ideal grip. They're kind of the perfect pink, IMO.

nutribullet Pro 900

Meet your 2024 health goals with this compact blender for smoothies, soups and sauces. It's an appliance you don't want to hide!

Stone Lain Brighton Round Body Marble Porcelain Dinnerware Set

This affordable dinnerware set of 16 pieces is perfect for special occasions like Valentine's day and every day meals.

GOOP Essential Lidded Bowls, Set of 3

These storage-friendly bamboo-fiber serving bowls from Hawkins New York are are so pretty and perfectly sized for salads, snacks, sauces, and sides.

Lucia Acrylic Coupe Glasses, Set of 4

Pop the sparkling rosé and pour into these break-free acrylic glasses for indoor and outdoor fun. Cheers!

PB Mason Oversized Linen Napkins

Add a splash of Barbie pink to your entertaining table (Oscar party, anyone?) with these elevated linen napkins.

Grohe Essence Kitchen Faucet

Check out our Handy Girl's Guide to installing a new kitchen faucet yourself. This one has a pre-rinse spray and comes in a fun pink hue.

West Elm Archie Glass Dinnerware Collection

Inspired by gothic architecture, this textured glass set adds a stunning feature to your table without worry -- they're super durable!

Wayfair Steel Accent Cabinet

Need storage? Make it pink! This one can be easily moved around your home and can store plates, pantry items, linens and more.

Etsy Check Pottery Mug

These Han Home Living tumblers are made of ceramic and are 100% handmade. Pour in your morning drink, or use them as creamers, a vase, or sponge holders.

Kate Spade Make It Pop Pie Dish

Make pretty pies and serve them in this delightfully pink dish for extra punch.

GreenPan Ceramic Nonstick Cookware Set

This 10-piece set shows that you're proudly in love with pink. Each pan features our Thermolon healthy ceramic nonstick coating because it's free of PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium and will never release toxic fumes, even when overheated.

Great Jones Hot Dish

This 9-by-13-inch ceramic casserole dish is a modern throwback to the classic casserole pan in a perfectly pink hue. Serve up lasagna, cakes, one pot meals and more in this sweet pan.

GreenLife Cutting Board Kitchen Set

These food-safe and dishwasher-safe cutting boards will brighten your day with a dash of pink.

TileBar Pink 3D Fluted Matte Ceramic Tile

Tile your backsplash or an accent wall with this matte ceramic tile in blush pink.

Baumgartner Stool (Set of 2)

Friends can sit cozy while you cook on these soft velvety rattan-backed stools.

Smeg Pink Citrus Juicer

Bring in some 1950s-era vibes with this pink juicer for fresh orange, grapefruit, lemon or lime juice delivered right into your cup through a drip-free spout.

Pottery Barn Jupiter Beaded Glass Cocktail Pitcher

Holding up to three drinks, this cocktail pitcher in a textural beaded glass looks so pretty on your pink-hued tablescape.

Caraway Prep Set

Chop, prep, and store your kitchen essentials with this non-toxic prep set, featuring four knives, five utensils, shears, and a a pink-ish organizer.

Dansk Købenstyle Saucepan

Whip up your favorite sauces in this classic saucepan with Scandi-inspired wood handle. The lid acts as a trivet!

KitchenAid Deluxe 5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer

If you're going to splurge on the KitchenAid mixer (and if you love to bake, you should!) this pink color stands out in the best way on your counter.

Literary References In The Tortured Poets Department

Down Bad — "Did You Take All My Old Clothes, Just To Leave Me Here, Naked And Alone"

While "Down Bad" feels like a reference to aliens, it's also reminding us of the story of Adam and Eve, who were left naked in the Garden of Eden after eating the Fruit of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The "experiments" Taylor Swift references in the first verse (plus the "Fortnight" music video) are also giving Mary Shelley/Frankenstein!

So Long, London — "You Left Me At The House By The Heath"

Hampstead Heath is a beautiful area of London that reportedly inspired C.S. Lewis to write The Chronicles of Narnia in the late 30s and early 40s. As Narnia's self-proclaimed biggest fan, I'm totally claiming this indirect literary reference, especially since the Pevensies have to stay at the Professor's house when they're evacuated from London.

I Hate It Here — "I Hate It Here So I Will Go To Secret Gardens In My Mind People Need A Key To Get To"

This Taylor Swift song is all about wishing she was somewhere else during an early period of her life, and referencing The Secret Garden makes total sense. In the book, lead character Mary has to access the Secret Garden to discover the hope, joy, and healing she's lost.

thanK you aIMee — "I Pushed Each Boulder Up The Hill"

This seems to be another Greek mythology reference, this time to Sisyphus. He was forced by the gods to roll a boulder up a hill — and then do it again when it rolled back down. Considering this song seems to reference Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, and the drama that led to Reputation, it feels like a reference to the feud that rears its head over and over again.

Cassandra — "So They Killed Cassandra First Cause She Feared The Worst And Tried To Tell The Town"

In Greek mythology, Cassandra (whose name means "she who entangles men," FYI) was a beautiful woman, and princess of Troy. The god Apollo falls in love with her, and gives her the power of prophecy — that is, until she rejects him and he turns the gift into a curse where no one believes her anymore.

The Bolter — "She Fell Through The Ice, Then Came Out Alive"

This is another indirect literary reference I'm claiming that totally reminds me of Amy March from Little Women. Amy falls through the ice when the March sisters are all children living in Massachusetts. Fans have historically hated her character, which is tied to the "A curious child, ever reviled // By everyone except her own father" lyric.

Movie References In Taylor Swift's New Album

My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys — "I Felt More When We Played Pretend Than With All The Kens"

The internet has claimed Taylor Swift as the real-world version of Barbie, and after last year's blockbuster hit (and Taylor referencing Ken in "Hits Different") we get another nod to our favorite doll. Plus, this song reminds me of Syd from Toy Story destroying his toys, and "he was my best friend down at the sandlot" got me thinking about The Sandlot. So many movie references, so little time!

Guilty As Sin? — "How Can I Be Guilty As Sin?"

Taylor Swift wrote "Carolina" for the book-to-movie adaptation of Where The Crawdads Sing. In "Carolina," she sings that Kya's community has "said that I was guilty as sin and sleep in a liar’s bed.”

More Pop Culture References

• The Tortured Poets Department — Taylor Swift mentions poet & writer Dylan Thomas, singer-songwriter & poet Patti Smith, and American singer Charlie Puth, boygenius singer Lucy Dacus, producer Jack Antonoff.
• But Daddy I Love Him — This is a line in both The Little Mermaid and The Notebook.
• Florida!!! — Florence Welch is featured on this song, which mentions a hurricane. Florence + The Machine has a song titled "Hurricane Love."
• Guilty As Sin? — Taylor also references "The Downtown Lights" by The Blue Nile, as well as the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus in The Bible.
• Who's Afraid Of Little Old Me — Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf revolves around a bitter and aging couple who weaponize the youth of their guests against one another.
• loml — "The coward claimed he was a lion" is a reference to The Wizard of Oz, while "Mr. Steal Your Girl" is a Trey Songz track.
• I Can Do It With A Broken Heart — This whole song is about Taylor Swift's Eras Tour.
• The Alchemy + The Prophecy — In Taylor Swift's TIME interview, she references Harry Potter, which has huge themes around alchemy and prophecies.
• Clara Bow — This song references Clara Bow, Stevie Nicks, and Taylor herself!
• So High School — Taylor Swift Mentions video game Grand Theft Auto, Artistotle, and American Pie. She also mentions games like Kiss Marry Kill, Truth or Dare, and Spin the Bottle