3 Brilliant Ways an Inexpensive Tension Rod Can Help Organize Your Kitchen

updated Nov 22, 2021
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Credit: Joe Lingeman

Who knew tension rods were the secret weapon your kitchen needed? If your pantry is in a state of total disarray or you’re just on the hunt for a simple and inexpensive DIY trick to upgrade your organization game, look no further than these ideas. All you will need to make all of them happen is a few small tension rods (here’s a well-rated five-pack for $9!) and, of course, the overwhelming desire to streamline your kitchen!

Here are the three most clever ways to organize your kitchen with a tension rod.

Credit: Joe Lingeman

1. Use a tension rod to organize your spices.

One of our favorite ways to optimize spice storage is this tension rod trick: To instantly double your storage space in any spice cabinet, all you have to do is put a tension rod right above the very back/top row of spices. It’ll be the perfect space for your smaller spice jars, and you’ll be able to see your entire collection at once, which makes searching for what you need so much easier! 

Read more: The Simple Yet Surprising Way a Tension Rod Can Help You Organize Your Spices

Credit: Joe Lingeman/Kitchn; Prop Stylist: Stephanie Yeh/Kitchn

2. Use a tension rod to organize cleaning supplies under the sink.

Under-the-sink real estate can get crammed pretty quickly due to the sink pipes and lack of shelving, so it’s important to organize your things as efficiently as possible. Instead of squeezing in all your cleaning supplies and struggling to find what you need when you need it, just put a tension rod beneath your sink for hanging all of your spray bottles. It’s so much easier to differentiate the Windex from the tub cleaner when they’re hanging right in front of you — plus, you can also hang rags and microfiber cloths from the rod! (Note: You’ll want to get a more sturdy tension rod for this project. We like this $7 two-pack.)

Read more: The $7 Trick to (Easily) Doubling the Storage Space Under Your Sink

Credit: Joe Lingeman

3. Use a tension rod to organize baking sheets.

Storing your baking sheets vertically is a win-win: Not only will you use the full height of your cabinet, which saves space, but you’ll also be able to grab whatever you need without pulling out all the things you don’t need in the process. Rather than buying vertical file holders (like the ones you use at your desk at the office), opt for the tension rod method, which is both sturdier and more customizable. Just grab a few tension rods, position them vertically in whichever cabinet you want to use, and organize away! Bonus: You can use this system to file cutting boards, cupcake tins, and more.

Read more: The Most Clever Solution for Storing Your Baking Sheets

Do you have any other fun hacks for tension rods? Share your ideas in the comments below!