No matter how often I organize them, my lower kitchen drawers and cabinets are always a mess. Any storage container that I buy instantly falls out of use, and I can't seem to find an organizational solution that will fit all of my plastic containers. Luckily, Barbara Costello, aka Brunch with Babs, otherwise known as 'The Internet's Favorite Grandma,' was on my side.
Costello became famous for her endearing, grandmotherly TikTok videos offering advice on all things home, cooking, design, and cleaning. She quickly established herself as an expert in household tips, tricks, hacks, and kitchen storage. In Homes & Gardens's recent interview with Costello, I inquired about organizing a kitchen to make cleaning and entertaining easier, and her answer was as intriguing as it was surprising. She said simply: 'Tension rods, tension rods, tension rods!'
Costello continued on the fascinating trick for organizing pots and pans, 'It used to be so hard to find lids that match before I started using this trick. If you install a tension rod in your drawers, you can make a pocket for your lids to help you stay organized so you know exactly where they are when you need them. With the holidays coming up, this trick is perfect for lids for pots and pans, as well as lids for plastic containers.'
If you are planning to use this technique to organize plastic containers or pots, it can be used both horizontally and vertically for different kitchen shapes. For instance, the trick can be used vertically in a a drawer to help create 'sections.' This works especially well in deep drawers, where pots and lids can easily pile on top of one another. It can also be used horizontally in a tall cabinet to create another 'shelf' upon which to store items.'
These small tension rods fit perfectly into drawers to make organizing your spices easy
However, you don't have to stop there. Costello's kitchen hack is so useful because of how versatile it is. For instance, it can also be used in smaller drawers to organize spices and keep them in neat rows. Tension rods can also be used to hang spoons and ladles within a cabinet for further organization. If you want even more, our list of alternative uses for tension rods is a great place for inspiration on how to use these affordable pieces elsewhere in your home.
What use are organized drawers and cabinets if you don't have beautiful things to put in them? Here are a few of our top picks from Babs's new collection with Birch Lane. They're specially selected to bring warmth and personality into your home. Tension rods can be used to keep plates neatly stacked in a drawer or cabinet.
These absolutely gorgeous salad plates could instantly brighten and add warmth to a table
This 20 piece flatware set in copper satin brings a touch of femininity to any tablescape
Easily add a touch of whimsy on your countertops or dining table with these candlesticks
Organization tricks don't have to be costly or require a full redesign of your kitchen. Sometimes, the best techniques rely on figuring out how to use what you already have in a better, more effective way.
