The Very Best Organizing Makeovers We Saw This Year

updated Dec 18, 2020
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Credit: Ashley Poskin

Between watching other people organize on Netflix, cooking more than usual, and just having more time at home to look at all the clutter, many of us learned this year that we needed to declutter and get organized. And lots of Kitchn and Apartment Therapy readers were so successful at it, they wanted to show the rest of us. (Honestly, we were happy to look and get inspired!)

These are the very best organizing-related makeovers we saw all year. The best part: So many of them cost next to nothing, which means you can also pull them off for little or no money!

1. A Row of Drawers Get Organized Using Mason Jars and Smart Tricks

Think you have to buy more stuff to organize the stuff overflowing from your kitchen drawers? Nope! Not with some creative shopping around the house …. and a willingness to donate all those things that aren’t being used. Spoiler alert: Mason jars make great drawer organizers!

See the transformation: Before & After: I Organized My Parents’ Kitchen Drawers Without Buying a Single Thing

Credit: Nicoletta Richardson

2. Crowded Cabinets Become More Streamlined and User Friendly

When an Apartment Therapy editor decided to edits her parents’ cabinets and drawers, no cup, bowl, or spoon was left unturned. The makeover was impressive and, now that everything has a (logical) place, every kitchen task is way easier and more enjoyable. 

See the transformation: Before and After: I Organized My Parents’ Cluttered Kitchen Cabinets and the Results Are So Soothing

Credit: Image: Kaylenec Chittenden

3. A Dreary Pantry Gets a Farmhouse Look for Just $500

Swapping a cluttered built-in cabinet for open shelving was a game-changer in this Pacific Northwest homestead. All the kitchen goodies are displayed in sleek jars and cute baskets and bins, making for one gorgeous farmhouse-style pantry that somehow took only two weeks.

See the transformation: Before & After: This Pantry Got a Cute Farmhouse-Style Makeover in Just 2 Weeks

Credit: Torie

4. A Total Pantry Overhaul for Just $350

Clutter was banished in this seriously impressive — and budget-friendly! — pantry makeover. Tons of thought went into how to make this family’s pantry actually serve them. It’s labels for the win, with goods tucked into wire and woven baskets lending a clean look that’s as functional as it is pretty. 

See the transformation: Before & After: This $350 Pantry Makeover Is Ridiculously Impressive

5. Emily Henderson’s Smart Tip for Storing Oven Mitts

You wouldn’t think that where you store your oven mitts matters a ton. But if they’re in a drawer, they’re likely taking up valuable real estate. Emily Henderson’s mountain house inspired us with a brilliant idea for storing oven mitts — without taking up any drawer space! 

See the transformation: Emily Henderson’s Kitchen Changed How I Store My Pot Holders