Actionable Advice

Quick Tips

Actionable small kitchen advice you can use right now

Today's Tip
"Hang your most-used utensils on a magnetic strip or wall rail — this alone frees up an entire drawer."
— Sacred Mountain Animals Editorial Team
Wall-mounted utensil organisation system with wooden handles
Wall-mounted utensil organisation — a top Sacred Mountain Animals recommendation
The Full List

50 Tips for a More Efficient Kitchen

Organised into five categories. Click each category to expand the full list. These tips range from quick wins you can do in minutes to longer-term habits worth building.

  1. Keep only the appliances you use at least 4 times a week on the counter.
  2. Use a cutting board that spans a drawer or the sink to create extra prep surface.
  3. Store your toaster inside a cabinet and bring it out only when needed.
  4. Mount a knife magnetic strip on the wall instead of using a knife block on the counter.
  5. Use a slim dish drying rack that folds flat when not in use.
  6. Install a fold-down shelf bracket for a temporary work surface in tight spots.
  7. Keep a "counter audit" rule: if it hasn't been used in two weeks, it moves off the counter.
  8. Position your coffee station in one dedicated zone rather than spreading items around.
  9. Use a wooden tray to corral small counter items — it creates visual order and containment.
  10. Consider a small appliance with a vertical footprint (tall blender, slim kettle) over wide ones.
  1. Use drawer dividers to give every utensil a fixed home — this alone halves searching time.
  2. Stack pots inside each other, lids in a separate lid rack or on the door.
  3. Add a second shelf inside tall cabinets using an adjustable shelf riser.
  4. Store baking sheets and chopping boards vertically in a narrow cabinet slot or file organiser.
  5. Label every container in your pantry — a labelled pantry stays organised 80% more consistently.
  6. Use clear containers so you can see contents at a glance without pulling items out.
  7. Assign a single deep drawer to all cooking tools — no spreading across multiple spots.
  8. Install pull-out drawer inserts in deep lower cabinets to access the back row easily.
  9. Dedicate one small drawer entirely to takeaway menus, batteries, and loose miscellany.
  10. Mount a small rail on the inside of a cabinet door for lids, foil, and cling film rolls.
  1. Install open floating shelves above the counter for daily-use items like oils and spices.
  2. Use the full height of your walls — add cabinets or shelving up to the ceiling.
  3. Hang a ceiling-mounted pot rack if your ceiling is 2.4m or higher.
  4. Add a wall-mounted utensil rail (magnetic or slotted) beside the hob for cooking tools.
  5. Install over-the-door organisers on pantry and cupboard doors for small items.
  6. Use pegboard on one wall for a fully customisable, zero-cost vertical organisation system.
  7. Stack appliances where safe to do so — a microwave above a toaster oven, for example.
  8. Mount a small spice rack at eye level on the wall — not in a drawer where you can't see it.
  9. Use a tension rod under the sink to hang spray bottles, freeing up floor space below.
  10. Add vertical dividers inside tall cabinets to store trays, boards, and bakeware upright.
  1. Before buying any new appliance, measure the exact space it will occupy and check it fits.
  2. Always buy multi-use tools: a hand blender over a full blender, a mandoline over a slicer.
  3. Choose nesting storage containers — they collapse into each other when empty.
  4. Buy a single high-quality chef's knife rather than a 14-piece knife block set.
  5. Opt for stackable pots and pans with removable handles to compress storage space.
  6. Resist "buy one get one" offers for items you don't consistently use.
  7. Choose cast iron or carbon steel pans that work on all hob types — eliminates duplicates.
  8. Purchase spices in small quantities or from bulk bins — they take up less space and stay fresher.
  9. When replacing appliances, choose slimline models (compact dishwashers, narrow fridges).
  10. Ask "where will this live?" before every kitchen purchase. If there's no answer, don't buy it.
  1. Clean as you go — wipe surfaces and wash tools immediately after use, not after cooking.
  2. Zone your cooking: set up mise en place before you start to eliminate mid-cook searching.
  3. Empty the drying rack before cooking, not after — this keeps clear counter space available.
  4. Do a 2-minute "reset" after every meal: return everything to its designated place.
  5. Keep your most-used items at the front of every shelf, least-used at the back.
  6. Empty your bin before it overflows — a full bin displaces objects and creates chaos.
  7. Defrost items in the fridge overnight rather than on the counter — keeps surfaces clear.
  8. Write a weekly meal plan to shop only for what you need — prevents pantry overstock.
  9. Use the "one in, one out" rule: every new kitchen item replaces something you get rid of.
  10. Do a monthly pantry audit: remove expired items, reorganise, and note what you actually use.
Vertical appliance storage keeping counters completely clear
Vertical appliance storage keeps counters clear
By Effort Level

Tips by Difficulty

Easy

No Tools Needed

Done in under 30 minutes
  • Clear your counter of everything unused
  • Reorganise one drawer with dividers
  • Move pots to a lower, easier-access cabinet
  • Label your pantry containers
  • Place a tray to contain cooking oils
Medium

Basic Tools

A drill and an hour
  • Install a magnetic knife strip
  • Mount a wall rail for utensils
  • Hang floating shelves above counter
  • Add an over-door organiser
  • Install under-shelf basket storage
Weekend Project

Bigger Investment

Half to full day effort
  • Install ceiling-mounted pot rack
  • Replace fixed shelves with pull-outs
  • Add floor-to-ceiling shelving unit
  • Mount under-cabinet LED lighting strip
  • Install pegboard system on a full wall
Reader Favourites

Most Popular Tips

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1

Hang a magnetic strip for knives and free up an entire drawer instantly.

4,820 people found this helpful
2

Use the inside of cabinet doors for lid storage — the most wasted surface in any kitchen.

3,960 people found this helpful
3

Store baking trays vertically using a file organiser in a lower cabinet.

3,540 people found this helpful
4

Install under-cabinet lighting — it transforms both the aesthetics and function of a small kitchen.

3,210 people found this helpful
5

Do a monthly pantry audit to remove expired items and reset your storage zones.

2,870 people found this helpful
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