31 Creative Ways to Display and Organize Dishes and Utensils (2024)

Don't hide away dishware that's beautiful and collectible in cabinets. Whether you have a collection of heirloom pieces or thrift shop treasures, we have lots of ways to organize dishes that deserve a place of honor in your kitchen. Similarly, functional utensils can be more easily accessed when stored in the open rather than inside drawers. An attractive display that makes cooking easier is a great solution, eliminating the need to spend time searching for exactly what you want.

If you have a small space, you can remove cabinet doors for an on-trend look. If you have extra room, there are a number of ways to show off your prize platters or make wooden spoons easier to find when you're cooking. Get inspired to organize dishes, cookware, and utensils with these ideas.

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Dish Storage for Small Spaces

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It can be particularly challenging to organize dishes in small kitchens. In areas where installing shelves or cabinetry would take up too much room, opt for simple hooks that hang dishes and cookware flat against the wall. Simply attach the hooks directly to the wall surface or install a pegboard for customizable storage.

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Recessed Dish Storage

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Turn a blank stretch of wall into a hub to organize dishes. A recessed niche with shelves provides a handy spot to display serving dishes, cutting boards, trays, and more. Try painting the back of the niche in a contrasting color to make your dish collection a focal point.

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Wallpapered Open Shelving

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If you have a colorful dishware collection worthy of display, don't hide the pieces in a closed cabinet. To easily add open shelving to your kitchen, remove the doors on a set of existing cabinets. Use the area to neatly organize dishes, glasses, bowls, and other items in rows and stacks. Cover the back of the cabinet with wallpaper in a graphic pattern for added interest.

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Pullout Utensil Storage

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Ban junk drawer clutter with sliding cabinetry that features small built-in containers. Silverware, spices, scissors, and more fit snugly into the storage units, which can be removed for easy cleaning. You can also outfit the pullout's lower shelves with metal guardrails that keep spice jars and other small items in place.

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Organize Dishes on Open Shelves

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Open storage ensures easy access to often-used dishware. Reserve lower shelves for items used daily, such as plates and bowls, and upper shelves for larger serving pieces used only on special occasions. For added organization, corral items like napkins in small baskets to keep shelves clutter-free.

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Portable Flatware

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Transfer silverware from countertop to tabletop easily with a portable basket. This budget-friendly storage idea repurposes a vintage metal caddy and Mason jars for flatware storage. Organize cutlery into various jars by type, then move the entire storage unit as needed.

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Dishes on Display

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Hutchlike dowels offer a straightforward way to organize dishes and showcase collections. Incorporate them into a kitchen island for unexpected storage on display. Update island shelving with a fresh coat of stain or paint to create a pleasing backdrop for pretty dishware. Switch out dishware as the seasons or your decorating tastes change.

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Vertical Dish Storage

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Go vertical when considering open storage to maximize kitchen floor space. A tall, ready-to-assemble shelving unit puts glassware next to the refrigerator for ease of use. Place large serving pieces or mixing bowls on the remaining shelves.

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Banquette Storage

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Don't overlook the storage potential of a banquette bench or window seat. Utilize the space underneath the seat to tuck away baskets filled with wooden utensils, silverware, and paper napkins. Keep the area open or conceal it with a cabinet door.

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Plan for Better Kitchen Storage

The most efficient kitchen storage requires careful planning. Maximize space and organize dishes and utensils inside cabinets, drawers, and more by taking a cue from this storage-packed kitchen. These clever ideas will help you store more in your own space.

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Island Storage Unit

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An open island with shelves provides an accessible, centrally located spot to organize dishes. Cutting boards and serving trays slide into the island's upper shelves, while baskets store spare dishware and oversized pots and pans below.

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Coffee Mug Storage

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Whether new or found at a flea market, wire racks become works of art when outfitted with pretty patterned coffee mugs and teacups. This metal display rack was formerly used in a retail store. For the kitchen, hang dishware from the top rungs and store colorful towels below for a simple beverage station.

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Dish Storage Drawers

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Deep pullout drawers ensure the right serving pieces, linens, and flatware are always within reach. This dish storage drawer includes a modified pegboard approach that uses oversized pegs to organize dishes. When opening and closing the drawer, these buffers keep the dishes from sliding and chipping.

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Behind-the-Door Cabinet Storage

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Hang measuring cups and spoons within a cabinet door to keep them at arm's length. Simply install small cup hooks on the back of the door. Cover the area with chalkboard paint and outline each utensil to ensure nothing goes missing.

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Glassware Open Storage

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Floating glass shelves provide dishware storage, adding to a kitchen's open and airy feel. Reserve this area for storing glassware to maintain a visually lightweight look. This dish storage solution won't detract from kitchen walls covered in pretty tile or patterned wallpaper.

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Silverware Storage

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Consider a nested approach if you're storing your family's precious silver. Here, a drawer outfitted with a divided pullout tray protects the silverware from tarnish or scratches. When the drawer is open, it's easy to admire the delicate artisanship of each piece.

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Kitchen Problems Solved

Finding enough storage for all your kitchen necessities can be tricky, especially in small spaces. The key is to use cabinet and drawer space as effectively as possible. Learn how to tackle some of the most common kitchen storage problems with these smart tips and tricks.

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Portable Dish Storage Ideas

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Adapt mobile storage solutions to keep everyday utensils handy and organized. Here, a wooden crate with handles easily carts dishes between the kitchen and dining area. To ensure utensils don't get lost in a large box, use small jars to keep forks, knives, and spoons separate.

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Sliding Breakfast Station

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Keep your French press, coffee cups, and sugar bowl in one convenient location with a rolling storage tray. Fix a pullout shelf at the bottom of a cabinet for easy-access dish storage. Position the coffee station near the refrigerator so you're just a step away from milk and cream.

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Pegboard Kitchen Storage

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When stored on a pegboard, silverware, utensils, and cookware are well within reach. Paint a sheet of the versatile material a fresh shade, then mount it to an empty wall or the kitchen island. Use hooks to hang baskets of kitchen linens and various utensils.

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Pullout Banquette Drawers

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Pullout drawers give easy access to stacks of plates and bowls within banquette seating. To further disguise the storage area, forego hardware on the drawer fronts for a streamlined look. Organize dishes this way to make it easier to put away clean dishes and save your back by eliminating the need to lift a heavy stack into an upper cabinet.

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Divided Lid Storage

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This easy way to organize cookware prevents confusion when searching for a pot lid. Line the base cabinet drawers with pegboard, then insert wooden dowels to keep lids upright and ready. Storing lids vertically instead of horizontally lets you quickly take the one you need without disrupting the rest.

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Hanging Dishware Storage

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Maximize the area around open kitchen shelving to free up shelf space. Install small hooks on the underside of shelves to organize dishes with handles. Mount mugs in a similar color palette to the hooks for gorgeous grab-and-go drinkware.

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Divided Utensil Drawer

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Every cutlery and utensil drawer should include divided storage for the most effective use of space. Before shopping for inserts, consider what you need to store and the inside dimensions of each drawer, including height, width, and depth. Add labels to each section for extra organization.

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Toe-Kick Storage Features

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Utilize every spare inch of space to organize dishes and bakeware and maximize your kitchen storage. With narrow drawers beneath your oven, you can keep cookie sheets right where you need them. The shallow storage space also provides an easy hiding spot for spare linens and cutting boards.

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Instant-Access Dish Storage

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The right kitchen layout will help streamline your dish storage solutions. To house frequently used dishes, install open shelves and a hutch for plates above the dishwasher. This way, you won't need to cart heavy stacks of plates, bowls, and serving platters across the kitchen after every wash.

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Island Dishware Display

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Use vibrant glassware and dishes to create a pleasing color scheme on island shelving. Fill the top shelf with your most frequently used dishes, as this area will be easiest to reach. Limit the depths of shelves to make items more accessible.

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Storage for Pots and Pans

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No room left in your cabinets for pots and pans? Install two or three short metal rods on a blank kitchen wall, then use S hooks to hang cookware. Make sure to measure the lengths of each pan before hanging the bars to minimize overlapping.

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Basket Storage

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Open storage helps small kitchens appear larger and makes essentials easier to gather. Here, a cabinet front was removed for a more convenient, drawer-like solution. Now, decorative baskets fill the space to house napkins, oven mitts, and table linens.

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Stemware Storage Ideas

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Mount glasses upside-down to prevent stemware from collecting dust. Install a wineglass or champagne flute holder underneath an open shelf for easy accessibility. This doubles your storage capability by using both the top and bottom of the shelf area.

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Upper Shelves for Dish Storage

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Out of cabinet space for large serving pieces? Look up. This simple shelf solves the dilemma of storing oddly shaped items, such as gravy boats and pitchers, while displaying dishware doubling as decor. The upper shelf isn't practical for everyday dishes, but it works well for pieces used on special occasions.