The Best Ways to Organize and Store Your Dinnerware

The best organizing and decluttering methods usually call for you to put your stuff in containers so it's out of sight but still tidy. When it comes to your flatware and utensils, your container is usually built right in, a cupboard or drawer of some kind, but "out of sight, out of mind" doesn't quite work here, since those can get really disorganized, even—and especially—when they're obscured from view. It's time to organize your dinnerware.

The best tools for organizing utensils

I overhauled my flatware and I haven't looked back. I don't know about you, but I don't have a lot of drawer space in my apartment, so for a long time, my silverware was arranged in a decorative vase. It did the job, but it didn't look great, plus it was sort of chaotic. I got this set of 24 forks, spoons, and knives, which come with their own holder to hang on. It all sits right on my countertop and, since the utensils have a pretty gold and pink finish, the whole display looks uniform and attractive. If you don't have a lot of drawer space, a matching set that can pass for decor might be your best option.

After I wash the utensils, I just put them back on their rack, where they dry while they're hanging. I prefer that to leaving them to dry on a towel or something—or, worse, putting them back into a dark drawer a little damp. Still, if you have the counter space for drying and the drawer space for storage, congrats on having a bigger apartment than I do. Try these.

An expandable drawer organizer is your best option. When I've used a drawer to store my flatware, I've always just used a regular old molded organizer, but those never quite fit right and they bang around when you close the drawer, plus they create wasted space all around them. One that unfurls to fit whatever size drawer you have will save a lot of headaches.

That said, I'm also a fan of this organizer with a smaller footprint, as it uses tiered sections to keep all of your utensils accessible and visible without taking up a lot of space. In smaller kitchens, this is a winner.

The best tools for organizing plates, bowls, and glasses

First of all, it's totally fine to stack all your plates and bowls in a cabinet and call it a day, but if you want to go a little further, you can invest in some organizers. A plate separator will keep your dishes apart while helping them stand up in the cabinet, making them easier to see.

If your cabinet is deep or high up, you might want to get one that pulls out, so you aren't straining yourself to reach for plates or dishes in the back.

Even if you just want to go for the traditional stacking method, you can make a few alterations to the cabinet that will save you some space and keep things more organized. This rack ($15.87) fits into the corner of the cabinet, giving you three shelves to stack different sizes of dishes while saving space on the main shelf for other kinds of storage. Personally, I use a simple, free-standing shelf to add tiers, so all my bowls and plates aren't stacked directly on top of each other. It's like this:

For my mugs, I have these hooks that hang underneath a shelf. Mine are displayed out in the open on my cabinet, but this can easily fit inside a cupboard, too. It's perfect because it saves shelf space by suspending the mugs overhead, but also keeps them separate, so they don't chip each other.

For regular cups, you can always stack them as normal, but if you have the space, you should consider a holder like this, which keeps them separated so they don't get damaged. It's also useful because when cups are stacked, you have to unstack them to get to the one you want, but with this special shelving unit, you can simply grab the exact cup you need without disturbing the others.

Finally, your special-occasion dinnerware, like fine china or anything sentimental, should be stored away from the cabinet. Consider getting some quilted storage containers, which keep glasses and plates separated.