Most people face this dilemma eventually. Overstuffing drawers is incredibly common. Utensils, hot pads, paper products, linens, tools, recipes and other miscellaneous items haphazardly end up inside kitchen drawers until the space is so crammed it is unusable. Sorting and reorganizing overstuffed drawers is a job that nets extra space and restores usability. Ready to get creative?
Solutions:
Pick a drawer.
* Empty the contents onto the counter.
Arrange and sort contents by category.
Make three piles: 1. Keep 2. Recycle/Give Away 3. Trash
* Utensils. Discard any that are broken. Give away those that have not been used in the past year. Set aside your favorites in the 'Keep' pile.
* Batteries, light bulbs and tools? Find a better place for these items like a laundry or utility room, garage or basement.
* Dish towels, napkins and other fabrics? Save the best and get rid of the rest. Discard or reuse old cloth napkins and dish towels as rags. Store rags in the laundry/utility area.
* Paperwork. Appliance warranties, recipes, magazine clippings, etc. do not need to be store in a kitchen drawer. Discard warranties for appliances you no longer own and store current documents in a file cabinet. Recipes and clipping can be easier to access and organize in a binder on a shelf. Photo albums with plastic sleeves are available in a variety of sizes and also work well for organizing recipes.
Organize the drawer contents. This is where you get to be creative!
* Gang or hang utensils.
If you have ample counter space, store long handled utensils in a container. Pick a container that is an expression of you or something you love. After all, you will be looking at it every day! It might be a crock or a sturdy glass vase, a ceramic flower pot or the clean lines of a steel container. Place the gang of utensils near the stove for easy access. A knife block is the best way to keep knives sharp rather than storing them inside drawers where their edges become dull from being knocked around. If knives must be stored in drawers, cover blades with knife guards to prevent accidents and keep them sharp. Magnetic strips made specifically for hanging up knives can be hung where they will be most used, make certain it is not accessible to children. If you have wall space, hang utensils from hooks near the stove and your kitchen will take on a 'professional' look. 
* Caddy it!
Go portable with a freestanding utensil holder for cutlery used daily. A portable caddy can be used from the counter when serving buffet style or moved to the table. It can be left on the counter if space is available or tucked inside a cabinet.
The inside of cabinet or pantry doors can be great for hanging narrow shelves or hooks. It is the perfect place for hanging measuring spoons and cups. Mount shelves for holding plastic wrap, foil, waxed paper and parchment paper or as a dark, easily accessible place to store spices.
Mount, hang or place a shelf inside the cabinet to use for stacking napkins and linens or pans and lids... or any other items clogging your drawers.
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| Photo courtesy of Dynamic Space by Blum |
When it comes to organizing a kitchen, zoning was popularized by the modular kitchen movement. It is a smart move to create zones for various tasks as it creates a place for everything, eases flow and traffic within the area... and it just makes a lot of sense! Designate areas for: Consumables (fresh and non-perishable foods) - Non-consumables (dinnerware, serving dishes, flatware, etc.) - Cleaning (wet zone) - Preparation - Cooking. (More on this topic to come... )
* Divide and conquer.
Partitioned cutlery trays and drawer dividers are available in a wide range of sizes and materials. Mix and match dividers to hold the items you will be returning to the drawer.* Avoid cramming.
Once you have installed partitioned drawer dividers, it is easy to cram them beyond capacity. Leave space for future additions to your cutlery collection.
* Control the clutter.
If possible, devote a small drawer, basket or shelf inside a cabinet to catch miscellaneous odds and ends. We have designated one of the narrow shelves (12" W x 3"D) on the inside of the pantry door as the 'office space' for: rubber bands and paper clips, scissors, pens and pencils, tape and glue, etc. Small, clear plastic containers keep the odds and ends organized.
Create a place for everything and keep everything in its place.
Your kitchen can become a place to foster your culinary creativity and enjoy community! Imagine it as a wonderful place to think clearly, create and enjoy. Keeping it organized takes a bit of daily effort but in the end it is soooo worth it! Make the best of what you have then throw open the doors and invite your friends inside! 
People say that the grass is always greener on the other side.
But, if they would just water their own grass it would be just as green!
All photos courtesy of Google Images.