From a jumbled pantry and cluttered cutlery drawer to an extra-deep cupboard that has to be emptied every time you need to reach a pot lid or can of soup at the back, kitchens can be one of the most dysfunctional rooms in the house.

We went shopping for affordable, smart solutions to boost the function and organization of the kitchen and found these: . On the hook

Short on storage space? Hang cooking utensils and pot holders close to the stove with the Grundtal wall organizer from Ikea. $9.99 for the stainlesssteel rail; $2.99 for a pack of five S-hooks.

. Wheel into action Vibrant and functional, steel mesh baskets on wheels can be used to store everything from loose potatoes and onions to cleaning supplies and extra boxes of cereal and crackers. Baskets at $9.99 each at HomeSense.

. Pop goes the strainer Stainless or hard plastic colanders are space hogs. Collapsible silicone strainers from Good Grips store flat so they can be hung on the inside of a cupboard door without taking up much space. $24.99 each at Home Outfitters.

. Made to fit Tired of throwing out halfempty bags of chips and cookies because they've gone stale before you could eat them? Keep dried goods fresh and organized with Modular Canisters from Rubbermaid. Available in four sizes, the slim containers stack evenly and one lid size fits all. $4.49 to $9.79 each at Walmart and Home Hardware.

. Off the wall No need to monopolize premium counter space with a bulky knife block. Instead, hang your favourite cutting tools on the wall with the Grundtal magnetic knife rack ($ 14.99) from Ikea.

. Roll on out No more getting down on your hands and knees to reach something at the back of a cabinet with the Knape & Vogt double-tiered wire rollout shelf unit. $99.99 at Home Depot.

. Divide and conquer Tame the mess in your cutlery drawer with the Bamboo Expandable Utensil Tray from Axis. Adjusts to fit most kitchen drawers. $34.99 at Home Outfitters.

. All in one Maximize cupboard space with the eight-piece round glass storage set from Anchor Hocking. The fridge-to-oven bakeware set nest together for compact storage. $21.99 at Canadian Tire.

. Stack and spin Ideal for spices, canned goods or glassware, the Copco Turntable boosts storage space in hard-to-reach cabinets. $11.99 to $19.99 at Bed, Bath and Beyond.