21 Most Underrated Nancy Meyers Kitchen Organization Tips

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Imagine Finally:

  • Counters look styled but still usable, giving more control over daily mess
  • Pantry items stay visible in matching containers, reducing forgotten food and cutting waste
  • Everyday tools stay within reach, saving small pockets of time every single day

Here’s how you make it work…

1. Keep Everyday Dishes On Open Shelves Instead Of Upper Cabinets

Open shelves work best when only daily plates and bowls are shown and extras are stored away.

Start Small With This: Move your most used white plates and bowls to one open shelf and remove anything chipped or rarely used.

2. Store Fresh Fruit In A Wide Bowl On The Counter

Fruit disappears in the fridge but gets eaten when it is visible in a simple bowl.

Here’s A Quick Way: Place apples or lemons in a wide shallow bowl and keep bananas in a separate smaller bowl.

It will feel so simple if you try large ceramic fruit bowls to keep everything gathered in one calm spot.

3. Line Up Cutting Boards Against The Backsplash For Easy Reach

Cutting boards leaning flat in cabinets slow down meal prep.

Give This A Try: Stand 2 or 3 wooden boards upright against the backsplash so they double as decor and tools.

You can make this easier if you use wooden cutting boards that look good left out and ready.

4. Keep Glass Jars For Flour And Sugar On Display

Clear jars make pantry staples easy to see and refill before running out.

Begin With This: Pour flour and sugar into matching glass jars and line them up by height on the counter.

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This gets easier if you use clear glass storage jars with lids to see levels at a glance.

5. Place A Small Tray Under Olive Oil And Salt To Catch Drips

Oil bottles left alone leave rings and sticky spots behind.

Instead, Try This: Set a small tray under oil, salt, and pepper so drips stay contained.

It will be so convenient if you use decorative serving trays to keep everyday items tidy together.

6. Store Cookbooks Standing Upright Near The Stove

Cookbooks hidden in cabinets never get opened.

The Easy First Step Is: Stack 3 favorite cookbooks upright near the stove and donate the rest.

7. Keep A Wooden Crate On The Counter For Produce

Loose onions and potatoes scattered around look messy fast.

One Thing That Helps Is: Place onions and garlic in a small wooden crate to group them in one neat space.

You could keep it simple if you use wooden storage crates to hold everyday produce.

8. Hang A Simple Rail For Frequently Used Utensils

Utensils in drawers add an extra step while cooking.

To Avoid Feeling Overwhelmed: Install a slim rail on the backsplash and hang 4 or 5 daily tools only.

This takes less time if you use kitchen utensil hanging rails to keep tools within reach.

9. Stack White Plates In One Neat Column On A Visible Shelf

Mixed dish patterns make shelves feel busy.

Here’s What To Do: Group matching white plates together in one clean stack for a simple look.

10. Keep Fresh Herbs In Clear Glasses By The Window

Herbs tossed in the fridge wilt and get forgotten.

To Make This Feel More Doable: Place fresh herbs in small glasses with water near natural light.

It will feel less stressful if you try small glass tumblers to hold herbs upright and visible.

11. Store Baking Sheets Vertically In A Slim Slot

Flat stacks of pans slide and scratch each other.

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The Less Stressful Way Is: Slide baking sheets upright between cabinet dividers so each pan pulls out alone.

You can make this faster if you use cabinet organizer dividers to keep sheets separated.

12. Keep A Neutral Toned Basket For Kitchen Towels

Loose towels tossed over handles create clutter.

Start This Way Instead: Fold 4 everyday towels and store them in one neutral basket on the counter.

13. Use Matching Clear Containers For Pantry Staples

Original packaging creates visual clutter and hides what is low.

Here’s A Small Step That Helps: Transfer pasta, rice, and cereal into matching clear containers and line them up evenly.

This feels easier if you use airtight pantry storage containers to keep staples fresh and organized.

14. Keep A Simple Ceramic Crock For Wooden Spoons

Spoons in drawers slow down stirring and serving.

Here’s A Gentle Way To Start: Place a ceramic crock near the stove and store only wooden spoons inside.

It will be way faster if you use ceramic utensil holders to keep tools upright and easy to grab.

15. Store Everyday Glasses Close To The Sink

Glasses stored far from the sink add extra steps during cleanup.

Consider This: Move everyday drinking glasses to the cabinet closest to the sink for faster unloading.

16. Keep A Small Stool Tucked Under The Island

Reaching high shelves causes small daily delays.

The Easier Approach Is: Tuck a simple stool under the island so it stays hidden but ready.

You could get it done faster if you try wooden step stools that slide neatly under counters.

17. Leave A Little Empty Space On Each Shelf

Crowded shelves look busy even when organized.

If You’re Not Sure Where To Start: Remove 2 or 3 items from each shelf to create visible breathing room.

18. Keep Coffee Mugs Grouped Together On One Open Shelf

Scattered mugs make cabinets feel messy.

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Here’s The Shortcut Version: Choose 6 matching mugs and line them side by side on one shelf.

19. Store Extra Napkins Folded In A Low Basket

Napkins hidden in drawers get crumpled and ignored.

One Easy Reset Is: Fold napkins neatly and store them in a low basket near the dining table.

20. Keep A Simple Runner On The Floor Near The Sink

Bare floors near the sink collect water spots fast.

To Make This Feel Less Heavy: Lay down a simple neutral runner to define the space and protect floors.

It will be so much easier if you use washable kitchen runners to keep cleanup quick.

21. Line Up Pantry Items By Height For A Clean Look

Uneven packaging makes shelves look chaotic.

Do It Like This: Arrange pantry jars from tallest to shortest in straight rows for a balanced feel.

This gets easier if you use clear storage jars so shapes and heights match naturally.


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Lily Thompson

Hey, I'm Lily! I'm a mom who's really good at two things: making life easier and sharing what works. I created ''Like Mom Said'' after one too many moments of realizing: "My mom was right about this." Turns out, a lot of that old-school wisdom still holds up... it just needs a modern spin. Think of me as your friend who's always got a tip (and coffee in hand.)