This $12 Kitchen Tool Instantly Organized My Narrow Kitchen Drawers

One thing I found out while shopping for my first apartment is that utensil organizers aren’t universal, so it’s important to measure your kitchen drawers before filling them up with large gadgets like serving spoons, can openers, and a handy pair of kitchen shears.

That said, I was certain that one compact cutlery organizer in particular would fit in my studio apartment’s narrow kitchen drawers, and I’m happy to report that it did. The Joseph Joseph DrawerStore Compact Cutlery Organizer is only 4.25 inches wide, and it has an equally tiny price point to match, at just $12.

It still stands out for storage space, though, because it’s not just any ‘ole silverware holder. It has a slim silhouette and angled, stacked compartments that make it the perfect fit for smaller living spaces and those trying to maximize drawer space alike.

I’ve had this cutlery organizer for three years (and counting!) and two apartments, and it’s still my favorite home product to rave about.

Stacked Compartments

The star of the show really is the angled, stacked compartments that give this cutlery organizer its compact and narrow shape. The slanted and deep-sitting compartments are what gravitated me toward this organizer in the first place, in addition to its slimness. 

And surprisingly, the five slots can hold far more silverware sets than they portray.

What started as a utensil organizer for my 12-piece silverware set has nearly tripled to a home for 32 pieces three years later. So, while the organizer doesn’t look like your traditional one with wide-spaced dividers, I can still hold a decent amount of utensils inside of it, if not the same amount.

The Joseph Joseph cutlery organizer has two open compartments at the top that aren’t as wide as the other three slots. I use these smaller compartments for my larger soup spoons and straw cleaners. These open slots might also make an excellent spot for condiment packets.

The wider compartments below are perfect for my forks, spoons, and knives, and also conceal any of the sharper edges of my utensils, as long as I load them with their handles out.

A Perfect Fit for Narrow Drawers

As I mentioned above, the Joseph Joseph cutlery organizer has a width of 4.25 inches, which leaves me with enough drawer space on the side of the organizer for my bigger serving utensils, measuring spoons, and more.

I love that it leaves me with this mix of storage space—but, if you wanted to dedicate an entire drawer to your tableware, you could try the brand’s large cutlery organizer that has a few more compartments but the same unique, beloved design as its compact counterpart.

The larger size is equivalent to two compact organizers side by side. (There’s also an expandable tray version with wide compartments for smaller kitchen gadgets.)

My partner has mentioned getting a larger organizer, but I refuse to go back to the typical, wide cutlery dividers. I’m partial to my compact version that’s definitely more spacious than it looks.

Extra Details You’ll Love

Notably, the cutlery organizer is made of durable plastic that hasn’t scratched or chipped in the three years I’ve had it. 

You might notice small flatware icons in the right corner of each compartment, too. These tiny symbols are extremely helpful because, once divided in each slot, again, only the ends of your silverware are visible.

Without the icons, you’ll pretty much be playing the guessing game, not knowing which flatware you’re reaching for until it’s fully pulled out.

I will say it’s the little details that make this organizer unique. It took me a year to finally notice the gray symbols that blend seamlessly into the gray organizer.

Why It’s Worth It

I’m all for budget-friendly kitchen gadgets and organizers like Joseph Joseph’s DrawerStore Compact Cutlery Organizer, and this $12 silverware organizer keeps my flatware drawer from becoming a cluttered, dysfunctional mess.

The unique, stackable design leaves you with plenty of storage space not just for utensils, but also for larger items beyond the organizer—if your drawer’s sizing allows. And it can’t really be overstated how this was extremely useful in my first apartment, where my drawer space was limited.

The organizer has left a big impression on my mom, too. Every time my mom visited me, she would say how organized my kitchen drawers were, and how much she loved this clever little organizer. 

Two years later, I surprised her with one as a cute housewarming gift—and reader, for $12, why not gift yourself or someone else this nifty and functional kitchen tool, too?