Neither Baskets Nor Bins: The Curtain Rod Hack That Organizes Kitchen Drawers

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Kitchens are one of the busiest rooms in a home, which naturally makes them prone to clutter. The Container Store's senior manager of in-home organizing, Corey Pence, told Real Simple, "Cluttered cabinets often result from a lack of designated zones." Based on her advice, the best way to properly organize your kitchen once and for all is to add dividers wherever necessary in pantries and cabinets. One way to incorporate dividers in cabinet drawers is to add a curtain or tension rod across the length or width of the drawer.

This tension rod hack has many benefits, even in a cramped kitchen with limited storage space. The rods don't take up much space, and can be used to sort a variety of kitchen essentials, from cookware to utensils to dry goods. No changes or alterations need to be made for these home features to be repurposed for this hack. In fact, a curtain rod's minimalist design is extra beneficial, as it's far easier to keep clean than stylish bins and baskets.

Another perk of this hack is that tension rods are very cheap. In fact, this budget-friendly hack rivals the best affordable IKEA items for a cluttered kitchen. Most kitchen drawers are between 12 and 36 inches wide and about 24 inches deep. Smaller tension rods and curtain rods easily fit between these dimensions. For example, Walmart's Mainstays Adjustable Tension Curtain Rod extends between 18 and 28 inches and only costs $2.54.

Pick up as many tension rods as you need to separate items into different categories. When inserting them into the drawers, simply twist the center to extend the ends until they fit snugly from one side to the other. They should stay in place, keeping kitchen items from toppling over or rolling into other sections.

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TikToker miseenplace_au puts this idea to use for a pantry drawer, dividing her olives, beans, and other canned goods by food groups. She only uses three tension rods, but pairs this idea with a creative basket idea for kitchen clutter. Her canned goods are stored standing straight up, but they could also be laid sideways with the labels facing out, depending on your preference. In addition to panty items, try tucking folded towels, stacked measuring cups, or large cooking utensils between these rods. Simply lower the ends closer to the drawer bottom to keep items from slipping underneath.

Unlike bins and baskets, filling your drawer with tension rods won't create more nooks and crannies for dust, food debris, and grime to gather. In fact, many home organizer experts advise against stylish, textured baskets for kitchen organization. Plastic or metal bars are made of more practical materials and have a more sensible shape for the purpose at hand. If they do get dirty, they're easy to wipe clean with a damp cloth. It's also hassle-free to remove and re-insert them as needed for deep cleans, since they're secured in place by physics, not screws or adhesive.