My cutlery drawers were always jammed because my previous organizer took up almost the entire width of my compact drawer.
Then I switched to a fabulously clever Joseph Joseph cutlery organizer that uses a stacked and overlapping design to do the same thing in just a quarter of the drawer space. Now, the easy-clean version is on sale at Walmart for Cyber Monday for $10.49, and I couldn’t recommend it enough.
Why This Joseph Joseph Cutlery Organizer is So Smart
Maximize your small kitchen cutlery drawer space with this easy-clean, durable, and clever caddy. Utensils stack in an overlapping fashion, and built-in symbols help to avoid confusion or having to touch multiple items before finding what you need.
Going vertical with your storage is key in small spaces, but with cutlery drawers, especially in compact kitchens, it’s unlikely you’ll have a lot of height to play with.
That’s why this Joseph Joseph stacked cutlery gem is perfect. It will fit in drawers as compact as 3.25 inches high (it's only 2.25 inches high itself), and the durable polypropylene material ensures long-lasting use and easy cleaning. It also has handy symbols to indicate which items go where.
I’ve been using the bamboo version of this Joseph Joseph Cutlery Organizer since September, and those two elements (cleaning and symbols) have been my only gripes. When all your items are in the spaces of the bamboo one, you can’t tell which is which, as only the handles are visible on full-sized cutlery.
I ended up using a black Sharpie on mine to draw a symbol on, but this gray, easy-clean version from Walmart actually has those symbols built in, making this a smart upgrade, especially at Walmart’s Cyber Monday price of just $10.49; it’s a real no-brainer. The material is easy to clean, whereas my bamboo one can only be cleaned with a damp cloth.
Previously, I had bamboo cutting boards that began splintering with gentle cleaning, so I’ve been keen to avoid the same happening here, which is why the gray polypropylene is so tempting. It’s highly resistant to abrasions, solvents, acids, and temperatures, making it super easy to clean by hand in the sink with Dawn dish soap and your sponge or a scrubbing brush.
Cutlery organizers, and drawers for that matter, have a habit of collecting crumbs as we open them mid food prep or as we serve up meals to grab utensils, and usually end up dropping in food debris.
Having an organizer that is not only compact but easily cleaned is a smart move for anyone living in a tiny home without an inch to spare, and is a good way to keep on top of kitchen cleaning.
What to Shop
Smart cutlery drawer organizers are not the only way I have saved space in my compact kitchen. Here are my top picks:
Clear kitchen counter space with this brilliant caddy that slots underneath shelves or kitchen cabinets. I skipped the hardware that required making holes in my cabinet and used nano tape from Amazon, which peels without damage. The BPA-free cutting boards are lightweight for easy hand washing, but also dishwasher safe.
My sink-side counter space is always jammed with extra drying of large pots and pans, but this tiered dish rack has fixed that problem. I particularly like the wine glass drying bar, as this one was always a tricky thing to dry without water marks or ‘wet dog’ smells due to a lack of air inside the glass. It also helps to prevent breakage as it has a dedicated space away from other items on the rack.
Versatile functionality is vital in small kitchens, and this dish rack, which I’ve tested in my home, is excellent for adding this. It expands when you need extra space, for instance, when hosting a dinner or when you have visitors staying, and therefore, more dishes are being used. Then, when you no longer need the extra space, it contracts back easily and smoothly to free up counter space.
This cutlery drawer organizer not only features the overlapping stacking design on one side, but also includes compartments for other items you’ll likely find in a tiny kitchen and need to keep handy. It’s 15-⅝ inches long, 15 inches wide, and only two inches high, and has space for long-handled utensils.
Enjoy all the benefits of the versatile piece above with added side compartments that are adjustable for longer items such as cooking utensils or knives. This is great if you’re a renter, so when it comes with you to your next house, it’s very likely to fit in the drawer with the adjustable elements.
I love the design of this knife caddy, which I have in my compact kitchen drawers, alongside my Joseph Joseph overlapping cutlery organizer. The bamboo design is extra durable, and my sharp stainless steel Japanese knives all neatly tuck in with no risk to anyone putting their hand in the drawer, including my young daughter.
Once you have your kitchen storage sorted, treat yourself to a chic cutlery set upgrade and add that extra touch of glamor to your tablescaping ideas.
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