If you’ve lived with your kitchen for a while, chances are you’ve got drawers of stuff you rarely use and cupboards you hate. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a well-organized spot that makes food preparation a breeze?

Some of the latest ideas and products for whipping a kitchen into shape:

Divide and conquer: Kitchens function best when divided into work zones, says Josee Berlin, an interior designer for Ikea. She cites three: storage (fridge/freezer/pantry), washing (sink/dishwasher) and cooking (oven/cooktop/microwave).

If you’re planning a new kitchen, place your oven and stove near sinks and worktops so you aren’t walking too far with hot pots and pans, she says. A worktop near pantry cabinets and fridge makes unpacking groceries easy. If space is tight, consider a stainless-steel cart with lockable wheels for portable storage and extra prep space.

Cabinets and drawers: Experts suggest taking an inventory of your kitchen tools and then outfitting cabinets and drawers so they work for you.

Use adjustable drawer dividers and shelf inserts at different depths.

The drawers in Ikea’s Sektion kitchen system open fully, eliminating that awkward space at the back of many drawers. A horizontal hinge design allows for additional slim storage in what was once dead space above the drawer – good for tools, towels and spices. (ikea.com)

Tools and gadgets: You don’t need a lot of stuff, says Craig Norton, director of operations at the Prince George Hotel in Nova Scotia.

“Buying a pot and pan for every dish is a mistake. One good large Dutch oven, one sauté pan, one 4-quart saucepan, one omelet/crepe pan, one cast-iron pan and that’s it,” he advises. He stores lids on the door to free up shelf space.

“Gadgets are the biggest waste of space – egg slicers, green bean cutters, all that stuff. Just use a knife,” Norton says with a laugh.

If you are a proud collector of small tools, consider a rolling mechanic’s tool cart with shallow drawers that can be tucked in a closet when not in use. To hold knives, BASE4’s KnifeDock is a slim-profile slab of magnetized walnut, bamboo or acacia wood. (ebase4.com)

Space savers: House Beautiful’s editor-in-chief, Sophie Donelson, likes OXO’s stackable Greensaver containers, which have carbon filters in the lid to reduce spoilage. But her favorite small space storage solutions are from Joseph Joseph.

“Just about everything they make either folds, collapses or nests to save room in the drawer. I wanted to toss all my existing tools and start fresh when I saw these,” she says.

Measuring cups, a whisk and nesting utensils are part of the colorful collection. (joseph joseph.com)

Ikea’s Rimforsa wall system combines steel rails and hooks with bamboo containers. Elfa’s bonded-steel no-tools wall and rack system turns a door into a handy pantry. (containerstore.com)

This photo provided by Ikea shows a steel rolling cart like these Flytta carts from Ikea that can work as mobile prep surface as well as moving storage. In a small kitchen they’re practical for everyday use; in a larger one they’re handy to store baking/sweets decorating accessories or any gear that isn’t needed frequently. Roll it out of sight when not in use. (AP Photo/Ikea)

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This photo provided by Ikea shows Ikea’s new Sektion system that hangs drawers horizontally in the cabinet frame rather than vertically, so there’s room for an additional drawer or two. These slim but functional drawers are great for organization utensils and other gear. (AP Photo/Ikea)

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This photo provided by The Container Store shows a white Elfa utility Mesh Pantry Door & Wall Rack that is a great way to add extra storage in a small kitchen. It assembles without tools, and is also available in a platinum finish. (AP Photo/The Container Store)

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