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Most kitchens don’t need more cupboards. They need the things you use every day to be easy to reach, and the things you use twice a year to be out of the way. Whether you cook in a new modular kitchen or in a family kitchen that has grown a few decades of steel dabbas, the fixes are usually the same: sort first, then use the walls, the corners and the inside of doors before you buy anything big.
This guide walks you through 12 kitchen storage hacks, in the order we’d do them. Many go up in a few minutes, and many need no drilling. Pick the two or three that solve your most annoying problem, and start there.
In this guide
Start With a Sort
Hack 1: Declutter first with the 3-pile rule
Storage works better when there’s less to store. Before you buy a single basket, empty one cabinet or shelf at a time and sort everything into three piles:
- Daily: the tawa, pressure cooker, masala dabba, tea strainer, the knife you usually reach for.
- Weekly: the mixer jars, the idli stand, the big kadai for guests.
- Rarely: festive serving sets, the third rolling pin, gadgets you meant to try.
Daily things go between waist and eye height, closest to the stove. Weekly things go just above or below. Rarely-used things go to the top shelves, the loft or a labelled box. Anything broken, duplicated or forgotten can be donated, recycled or passed on.
Do one cabinet a day rather than the whole kitchen at once. It’s easier to keep going, and you’ll still be able to cook dinner.
Go Vertical: Walls and Doors
Once you know what you’re keeping, look up. Walls and the inside of cabinet doors are often the most under-used storage in a kitchen.
Hack 2: A rail with hooks for the daily tools
A wall rail near the stove keeps ladles, spatulas, a tea strainer and a hand towel within reach, and frees up a whole drawer. Adhesive rails are designed for smooth tiles and can usually go up in minutes; screw-in rails suit heavier loads. Check the listing for your wall surface and the weight it’s rated for. Our pick is an adhesive rail, so it’s best on smooth tiles.
A magnetic strip keeps everyday tools off the counter. The one we picked has 6 hooks for light utensils, and small steel pieces like scissors sit flat on the bar. Mount it out of children’s reach, and check the listing’s fixing method; many magnetic strips screw into the wall.
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Hausify pick
01Adhesive wall-mounted kitchen rail with hooks
Why we like it: It keeps ladles, spatulas, a tea strainer and a hand towel within reach of the stove, and frees up a drawer.
- One 41 cm stainless-steel rail with 6 sliding hooks
- Sticks on with 2 adhesive pads, with no drilling or screws
Good to know: Use it on clean, smooth tiles and keep to light tools. Check the listing’s return terms.
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Hausify pick
02Magnetic knife and tool strip
Why we like it: It keeps everyday tools off the counter. Light utensils hang from its 6 hooks, and small steel pieces like scissors sit flat on the magnetic bar.
- 18-inch (about 45 cm) silver metal bar
- Neodymium magnets, plus 6 hooks for non-magnetic tools
- Mounting hardware included
Good to know: It fixes to the wall with the hardware supplied, not adhesive, so check the listing’s fixing method. Mount it out of children’s reach.
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Hack 3: Use the inside of cabinet doors
The back of a cabinet door can hold cling film, foil, chopping boards, pot lids or cleaning cloths. Over-the-door or adhesive door organisers can help keep these upright instead of sliding around a shelf; our pick is a general wire basket, so check the size against what you want to store. Measure the gap between the door and the shelf edges first, so the door still closes.
Hausify pick
03Cabinet-door wire storage basket
Why we like it: It puts the inside of a cabinet door to work for cling film, foil or cleaning cloths, with no tools.
- Black powder-coated iron wire basket, open top
- Hangs over the door top on foam-padded hooks
- About 28 cm tall
Good to know: It fits doors up to about 3 cm thick. Measure the gap between the door and the shelf edges so the door still closes.
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Hack 4: The top of the fridge and cabinets
The space above the fridge or on top of wall cabinets suits rarely-used things: the festive thali set, extra steel dabbas, the big biryani handi. Lidded baskets or boxes keep dust off and let you lift down everything in one go. Leave the ventilation gap your fridge’s manual recommends, and keep heavy items low enough to lift safely.
Hausify pick
04Lidded storage baskets for top shelves (set of 3)
Why we like it: The lids help keep dust off rarely-used things on top of the fridge or cabinets, and you can lift a whole basket down in one go.
- 3 large grey plastic baskets with lids
- Woven design, with built-in side handles
- Stackable, each about 36 × 30 × 22 cm
Good to know: Leave the ventilation gap your fridge’s manual recommends, and keep heavy items low enough to lift safely.
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Use the Dead Space
Corners, the gap under shelves and the cabinet under the sink are where storage often goes missing.
Hack 5: Under-shelf hanging baskets
A basket that slides onto an existing shelf creates a second, shallow level underneath. It’s a good home for bread packets, rotis wrapped in a cloth, tea bags or spare napkins. No tools are usually needed. Not every listing gives the shelf thickness it fits, so measure your shelf and compare it with the basket’s clip opening, or check buyer questions, before you order. Our pick comes as a pack of 2, so you can add a level under two shelves.
Hausify pick
05Under-shelf hanging storage baskets (pack of 2)
Why we like it: Each basket slides onto a shelf and adds a shallow level underneath for bread, tea bags or napkins.
- Pack of 2 black wire baskets
- Slide on with no tools, screws or adhesive
- Shallow: about 30 cm wide, 24 cm deep, 13 cm high
Good to know: The listing doesn’t give the shelf thickness it fits, so measure your shelf against the clip opening first.
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Hack 6: A lazy Susan for the deep corner
Many modular kitchens have a deep or blind corner where jars go to be forgotten. A turntable brings the back of the shelf to the front with one spin. It works well for oils, pickles, ghee and sauces, and you can set it on a tray-style base to catch drips.
Hausify pick
06Lazy Susan turntable organiser
Why we like it: One spin brings jars from the back of a deep corner shelf to the front.
- Round black turntable that rotates 360°
- Raised edge to help keep bottles on
- About 23 cm across and 7.5 cm high
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Hack 7: Two tiers under the sink
The cabinet under the sink is awkward because of the pipes. A two-tier organiser with a sliding or adjustable shelf works around them, so dish liquid, scrubbers and spare garbage bags each get a place. Keep cleaning products in a closed cabinet, out of reach of children and pets, and consider a child lock if little ones are around.
Hausify pick
07Two-tier under-sink organiser
Why we like it: It works around the pipes under the sink, so dish liquid, scrubbers and spare bags each get a place.
- 2 tiers, with a slide-out drawer at the bottom
- Open sides for drainage, and coated steel legs
- Comes with 4 removable hooks and a hanging cup
Good to know: It’s about 33.5 cm tall, 22 cm wide and 40 cm deep, so measure around your pipes. Keep cleaning products out of children’s reach.
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Clear the Counter
A clear counter makes cooking calmer and cleaning quicker. The aim isn’t an empty counter; it’s a counter where everything has a place.
Hack 8: The one-tray rule
Pick the things you truly use every day near the stove (salt, oil, the masala dabba, a spoon rest) and put them on one tray. Everything else goes into a cabinet. When you wipe down, you lift one tray instead of moving many small things. A steel or wooden tray looks tidy and is easy to wipe clean.
Hausify pick
08Wooden counter tray
Why we like it: Put the daily things near the stove on one tray, and wiping down means lifting one tray instead of many small things.
- Acacia wood, plain, with cut-out handles on both sides
- 10 × 10 inches (25.4 cm) square, 4.4 cm deep
Good to know: It’s square, not long and rectangular, so check it fits the spot by your stove.
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Hack 9: A rolling cart beside the counter
A slim three-tier cart on wheels can hold onions and potatoes at the bottom, everyday dabbas in the middle and tea and coffee things on top. Roll it out while you cook and tuck it beside the fridge afterwards. If you need it to stay put, check the listing for locking wheels, and check the height against your counter.
Hausify pick
09Three-tier rolling storage cart
Why we like it: Onions and potatoes go at the bottom, dabbas in the middle and tea things on top, and it rolls out while you cook.
- 3-tier grey metal trolley on caster wheels
- Deep baskets with perforated mesh bottoms
- About counter height
Good to know: Needs assembly, and the listing differs on how many wheels lock. Check the listing’s return terms.
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Drawers and Shelves That Stay Sorted
Hack 10: Expandable drawer dividers
Fixed cutlery trays rarely fit modular drawers perfectly. Expandable dividers stretch to fit most drawers within the size range on the listing, so spoons, peelers and the ladle collection stay in their lanes. Group by task: one section for serving, one for prep, one for baking.
Hausify pick
10Expandable cutlery drawer organiser
Why we like it: Its side panels slide out to fit the drawer, so spoons, peelers and ladles each stay in their own lane.
- 8 compartments in 3 sizes
- Widens from about 33 cm to 57 cm
- Grey matte plastic, about 38 cm deep, 5 cm tall
Good to know: Measure your drawer’s depth and width against the listing before you order.
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Hack 11: Shelf risers for stacked dabbas and plates
A shelf riser adds a second level inside a cabinet, so plates sit on the bottom and bowls on top, or smaller steel dabbas sit above taller jars. You see more at a glance and unstack less.
Hausify pick
11Kitchen cabinet shelf riser
Why we like it: It adds a second level inside a cabinet, so plates sit below and bowls or small dabbas sit on top.
- Silver stainless-steel wire, with anti-skid rubber feet
- Expands from 31 to 58 cm wide, with no tools
- About 20 cm deep and 13.5 cm high
Good to know: The listing rates it to 5 kg, so keep heavy stacks of vessels off it.
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Hack 12: Masala dabba for daily, labelled containers for refills
Indian kitchens tend to hold a lot of spices and staples, and they’re easiest to manage in two layers. The masala dabba holds the everyday spices next to the stove. Refills and less-used spices go into labelled, stackable airtight containers on a shelf nearby. Rectangular containers usually stack more neatly than round ones.
For the curious pick: a rotating spice-jar carousel. You didn’t know you needed a spice-jar lazy Susan. Now you might.
Hausify pick
12Steel masala dabba (spice box with small bowls and lid)
Why we like it: Everyday spices sit together in one box next to the stove, and the see-through lid shows what’s inside.
- Round stainless-steel box with a see-through lid
- 7 small steel cups and a small spoon
- About 17 cm across, 1.1 litres
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Hausify pick
13Stackable airtight rectangular storage containers
Why we like it: Rectangular containers usually stack more neatly than round ones, which suits refills and less-used spices on a nearby shelf.
- Set of 6, 1.8 litres each
- Snap lids, described as airtight
- Tall and narrow, about 18 cm high
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Hausify pick
14Rotating spice-jar carousel with jars
Why we like it: The curious pick: a spin brings the spice you want round to the front, instead of digging through a shelf.
- Revolving round countertop stand with clear jars
- Shaker lids that rotate, with 2 hole sizes
- Compact: about 16.5 cm across, 28 cm tall
Good to know: The listing gives different jar counts and colours, so check it before you order. Needs simple assembly.
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Low-Effort Options That Go Up Quickly
If you’d rather not drill, many of these hacks still work:
- No tools: under-shelf baskets, lazy Susans, shelf risers, drawer dividers, trays and rolling carts.
- Adhesive: rails, hooks and some door organisers. They’re designed for smooth surfaces such as tiles, glass and laminate. Clean the surface first, press firmly and wait the time given in the listing before hanging anything.
- Check before you stick: adhesive products vary in how much weight they hold and how cleanly they come off. Check the listing for your surface, and test on a hidden spot if you’re unsure.
Your Kitchen Storage Checklist
- Sort one cabinet a day into daily, weekly and rarely
- Put daily things between waist and eye height, near the stove
- Add a rail or magnetic strip for everyday tools
- Use the inside of one cabinet door
- Add a basket under one shelf
- Put a lazy Susan in the deepest corner
- Sort the under-sink cabinet into two tiers
- Move counter essentials onto one tray
- Fit dividers in the cutlery drawer
- Label refill containers
Start with these 3 buys
If you only do three things this weekend, we’d start here:
- An under-shelf basket, for a quick extra level with no tools.
- A lazy Susan, for the corner you can’t reach.
- Expandable drawer dividers, for the drawer you open most.
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FAQ
How can I add kitchen storage without drilling?
Start with freestanding pieces such as shelf risers, turntables, under-shelf baskets and a rolling cart. For walls, adhesive rails and hooks are designed for smooth tiles; check the listing for your surface and the weight it holds.
What’s a good way to organise an Indian kitchen with lots of spices?
Keep a masala dabba by the stove for daily spices, and store refills in labelled airtight containers on a nearby shelf. A turntable makes jars in deep cabinets easier to reach.
Steel, glass or plastic containers: which is better?
Steel is sturdy and suits dals, atta and snacks. Glass lets you see what’s inside and suits spices and dry fruits away from the stove. Food-grade, BPA-free plastic is lighter and often stacks well. Many homes mix the three.
How often should I reorganise the kitchen?
A quick reset once a week, putting things back in their zones, keeps most kitchens tidy. A deeper sort a few times a year, or before a festival, catches things that have crept back in.
Where can I shop for these kitchen storage products in India?
Every product type in this guide links to Amazon.in. Check ratings, delivery and returns before you buy.
Pairs Well With
- Smart Storage Ideas for Every Room
- Room-by-Room Cleaning Checklist
- Diwali Home Decor Ideas: Easy Festive Styling, With a Few Surprises
Keep exploring
More guides are on the way. For now, browse our decor picks or see every guide.
Happy organising! Small upgrades for a calmer home.