15 Clever Storage Ideas for Silverware and Utensils

Stash your silverware using these smart kitchen storage solutions.

kitchen utensil silverware drawer
Photo:

Marty Baldwin

Between cooking family meals, hosting friends, and baking favorite recipes, the kitchen can quickly accumulate a slew of silverware and utensils. Everyday forks, knives, and spoons seem easy enough to keep tidy (though we’ll show you ways to elevate their organization), but larger kitchen tools, such as spatulas and whisks, can be tricky. And let’s not forget about the less often used—but just as important—items like barware and corn cob holders that tend to clutter up the junk drawer. To keep your kitchen tidy, try the following silverware storage ideas for cabinets, drawers, open shelves, and more.

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Hidden Buckets

small cabinet pulled out to show spices and tools
Edmund Barr

Slimline pullout cabinets near the stove are the perfect place to tuck away small items like spices and oils for cooking. But they can also help keep utensils out of sight. In lieu of a countertop crock, have a few metal buckets installed on the top shelf of a narrow cabinet to store slotted spoons and spatulas so they’re concealed but still within reach.

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Pretty and Practical Silverware Storage

Itty Bitty Kitchen Storage silverware

Just because they’re a necessity, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t love your utensils. Find a set in a unique design or color—such as gold or matte black—and sort them into an equally pleasing drawer organizer. Ensure that you have the right number of compartments for each type of utensil and add labels to make the chore of emptying the dishwasher easier for everyone.

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Multifunctional Display

kitchen silverware storage hanging knobs over counter

Carson Downing

Don’t let even a sliver of empty wall space go to waste when you need extra storage. Install a row of decorative knobs or hooks underneath kitchen cabinets. Then, hang tools that have loops (or add twine to the ones that don’t). Be sure to add a pair of kitchen scissors, too. These will come in handy for chopping herbs, which can hang right alongside the utensils.

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Tidy Two-Tier Silverware Dividers

kitchen drawer organize silverware
Helen Norman

Have deep drawers in your kitchen? Use them to your advantage to store more utensils with a two-tier sliding organizer. Arrange your utensils with the most frequently used on the top or where they’re easiest to reach. Place serving utensils that only come out on the holidays in the back.

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Clear Utensil Drawer Dividers

kitchen silverware drawer

Marty Baldwin

Clear, acrylic drawer organizers are popular for a few reasons: They make it easy to sort your stuff, they're easy to clean, and they make it plain to see what’s inside. Place a variety of sizes in a kitchen drawer to accommodate longer and wider tools, like a pizza cutter or basting brush. Smaller items like corkscrews and measuring spoons can fit into smaller inserts. Once you have them arranged the way you like, place a bit of museum or earthquake gel onto the bottoms of the organizers to prevent slipping and sliding when you open the drawer.

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Storage That Doubles as Decor

kitchen with white tile and wood cabinets silverware holder

Tria Giovan Photography

When your storage containers are attractive, you can’t help but show them off. Kitchen tools in the same color scheme or material make for a stylish display. Here, a large crock holds wooden spoons and spatulas. Add a magnetic strip to keep knives handy and open shelves to hold your mortar and pestle collection.

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Keep It Natural

kitchen utensil silverware drawer

Marty Baldwin

If you prefer a more eco-friendly way to get organized, consider using bamboo organizers in lieu of plastic. The concept is exactly the same but the care is slightly different. Instead of removing the inserts and hand-washing them like you can with acrylic, you’ll need to spot-clean bamboo organizers as needed. Still, they can be a stylish and useful way to sort kitchen utensils, including everything from your stand mixer accessories to your grilling tools.

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Use Glass Containers

Storage glass jars

Helen Norman

Large glass jars are another way to contribute to the kitchen's style. If you store dry baking goods, like sugar or flour, in glass jars, set aside a few to store your baking utensils nearby. Glass jars are a simple, timeless kitchen storage option and help keep baking supplies in one convenient location.

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Pegged Drawer Compartments

Dish storage in drawer

Peter Krumhardt

Keep utensils organized and in place by installing wooden pegs within deep kitchen drawers. A pegboard at the bottom of the drawer allows you to rearrange the pegs to create different compartments. Pegs allow you to section off various areas for dishes, silverware, and accessories, and prevent items from sliding around when the drawer opens and closes. Baskets and sectioned containers within the drawer are great ways to keep napkins and silverware in place.

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Drawer Knife Block

Drawer knife block

Werner Straube

There are a variety of inserts you can add to kitchen drawers. This drawer is outfitted with a wood knife block, which keeps knives organized, visible, and safely stored. The two-level insert provides space for all sizes, from small paring knives to large butcher knives.

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Convertible Drawer Organizer

Convertible Drawer Organizer

John Bessler

A drawer organizer is a no-nonsense way of storing silverware, measuring spoons, and other small, narrow utensils. Simply place the organizer in the drawer and sort your utensils into specified spots. Look for a drawer organizer that's convertible, which allows you to expand its size depending on the size of the drawer.

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Portable Silverware Storage

Silverware storage

Paul Dyer

Sort everyday silverware into Mason jars or vintage milk bottles, then arrange the jars on your dining table so that they form a centerpiece. For a portable option, place the jars on a tray with handles. Next time there's good weather, you can simply grab the tray and move it outside for grilling night.

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Inset Utensil Storage

Countertop utensil storage

Greg Scheidemann

Inset storage bins on the kitchen countertop are a quick, convenient way to store kitchen utensils. Commonly used as food storage, these small, discrete storage units are perfect for holding everyday utensils. Group utensils by type or task to keep them tidy.

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Hanging Cabinet Storage

Hanging utensil storage

Edmund Barr

Install wooden rods into a shallow cabinet to make an easy spot to hang utensils. Simply use S hooks to hang utensils from the rod. This utensil storage option is more hidden yet conveniently located near the cooktop.

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Pegboard Perfection

bar tools on a pegboard in kitchen

Kritsada Panichgul

Pegboards are excellent organizers, and not just for tools in the garage. Use a small, wall-mounted metal rack with customizable hooks to store anything from can openers to strainers and tongs. Now, you'll have all the tools for the perfect cocktail or mocktail at the tip of your fingers.

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