25 Products to Upgrade Your Kitchen for Cheap

A cursory look at your kitchen might reveal that it has become, well, mildly chaotic, with pots and pans shoved haphazardly into cupboards, spice jars in disarray, and produce scattered across countertops. With a handful of smart buys, though, you can affordably upgrade your kitchen, creating calm out of chaos. From floor mats and electric kettles to spice organizers and wall-mounted pot racks, here are 25 kitchen products to whip your cooking space into shape. 

Prices and availability are subject to change.

Related: Things in Your Kitchen You Should Get Rid of Right Now

$29 and up from Amazon

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If your spice jars are bursting out of the cabinet, this spice rack organizer can help keep them all in one place. Choose a 16-jar or 20-jar rack, both of which come with a folding funnel to easily pour spices into each jar, as well as reusable labels that help identify your collection of spices. 

Related: The Best Kitchen Gadgets That You'll Actually Use

$2 from Etsy

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Can't seem to find anything in the refrigerator? Snag a handful of these labels so you can methodically organize your fridge, labeling drawers and shelves for vegetables, fruit, cheese, snacks, and more. Choose a font, color, size, and quantity for each label, which you can personalize with up to three words each. 

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$18 from Ikea

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Simple and sturdy, this stainless steel magnetic knife rack helps to display your knife collection while maximizing storage space. Get your knives out of a clunky knife block and onto a wall, where you can easily access them for all your prep work.

Related: 24 Kitchen Accessories You Didn't Know You Needed

$21 from Amazon

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This discrete jar opener can be tucked out of sight, attached underneath a cabinet for the next time you need help opening that jar of salsa. The tool handles lids of all sizes, including those attached to water bottles.

Related: 25 Products to Upgrade Your Bathroom for Cheap

$6 and up from Tic Tac Tiles

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Want to upgrade your backsplash but can’t spend a ton of money to redo it all? Opt for peel-and-stick tiles, like this gorgeous Portuguese Blue set. The easy-to-apply stickers lend a realistic tile effect and are resistant to heat, water, and humidity. Find them in packages from one to 40 sheets.

$9 from Bed Bath & Beyond

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Corral all of your kitchen sponges and brushes into this compact, stainless-steel sink caddy. Separate compartments hold space for detergent, brushes, sponges, and more, while a sloped base allows water to drain into the sink. The caddy’s non-slip feet help it stay in place wherever you find room for it.

$104 from West Elm

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Sure, it’s not exactly cheap, but having a smart garden to grow herbs in your kitchen will pay for itself. This self-watering planter holds three Click and Grow Plant Pods (sold separately), which include herbs like basil, rosemary, coriander, and peppermint. Watch them flourish, then throw them in meals while you're experimenting in the kitchen.

$17 and up from Amazon

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Talk about a breakfast upgrade. This rapid egg cooker is a fan favorite on Amazon with over 19,000 5-star reviews, and for good reason: It cooks up to six eggs exactly how you like them, whether that’s hard boiled, soft boiled, poached, or scrambled. Choose from eight different colors.

$15 from Food52

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Turn your kitchen into a diner with this cast-iron grill press, which can be used on paninis, quesadillas, steak, burgers, and more. The pre-seasoned appliance works on a skillet or griddle, and can be cleaned with a quick hand wash in warm water.

$12 from Etsy

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Sponges turn pretty grimy after a while, but buying new packages wrapped in plastic — only to toss them in the garbage a month later — isn’t exactly the greatest for the environment. Enter these colorful, eco-friendly sponges. Made with cotton terry cloth, cotton flannel, and a polyester mesh, the sponge offers multiple scrubbing surfaces and can be easily thrown in the washing machine to use all over again.

$20 from Target

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Instead of decorating your kitchen with a boho-chic runner that slides all over the floor, consider this kitchen mat instead. Featuring PVC-backing to help keep it in place, this lemon-print mat provides comfortable padding while you’re standing at the sink or by the counter prepping meals.

$154 from Food52

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Organize your pots and pans with this stylish wall-mounted rack, featuring a shelf with even more storage. There are plenty of moveable hooks to hang up to 75 pounds of cookware, and reviewers note that installation is a breeze.

$27 from Walmart

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Looking to upgrade your tea kettle? Get rid of the clunky original that sits atop your stove and convert to an electric one, like this stainless-steel pick. Available in black and green, the 1.5-liter kettle boils water within three to seven minutes, and boasts auto shut-off technology so that you never have to worry about leaving it unattended.

$25 from Amazon

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This heavy-duty chopper ensures that you won’t have to spend countless prep time chopping onions, carrots, and other vegetables into tiny pieces. Four different blades let you choose chopping sizes, while a detachable container holds up to four cups of the chopped produce. An accompanying brush makes clean-up a breeze.

$50 from Crate & Barrel

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You have a paring knife, a chef’s knife, and a bread knife, but do you have an electric knife? This Cuisinart option can evenly slice bread, meat, poultry, and more with its micro-serrated blade that works for both right- and left-handed cooks. The set comes with a bamboo cutting board and a stainless steel carving fork for all your holiday turkey or chicken carving needs.

$43 from Amazon

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Turn your kitchen into a professional bar with these clear ice cube trays, which make the large, translucent ice cubes you might find at a swanky cocktail bar. All you need is a little patience: The cubes take 18 to 22 hours to freeze, and the tray even purifies the water used in the process.

$10 and up from Etsy

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This measurement and conversion chart takes the guesswork out of converting tablespoons to cups and ounces to teaspoons. The vinyl decals can be applied to the inside of a kitchen cupboard for quick referencing, whether you’re doubling a recipe or looking for an easy swap.

$40 from Sur La Table

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So you want to make a Starbucks-worthy latte or cappuccino in your own home, but don’t want to splurge on a pricey espresso maker. Your next best bet? This battery-operated milk frother, which can be used in two speeds: fast for milk foam and milkshakes, and slow for sauces and vinaigrettes. Batteries sold separately.

$20 from Amazon

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Keep your knives looking sharp as new with this knife sharpener, which boasts three slots: one for repairing and straightening damaged blades, one for sharpening, and one for polishing. The appliance comes with a cut-resistant glove to protect your hands while you sharpen.

$30 from The Container Store

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This stylish bamboo tray is outfitted with expandable sides so that it fits perfectly into your own kitchen drawer. Organize your forks, knives, and spoons in its seven compartments; the entire tray expands to 23 inches wide.

$28 from Etsy

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Clear up counter space by moving produce into this macrame hammock made from cotton cord and wooden dowels. The hammock can be easily hung under cabinets, and comes with four small hooks for installation.

$3 and up from Williams Sonoma

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With all the mess you make in your kitchen on a daily basis, it’d be nice to use a cleaner that leaves behind a refreshing scent. Enter these lavender cedarwood cleaning wipes from Williams Sonoma, which come 35 sheets to a package and are infused with essential oils. The wipes are biodegradable, and can also be found in scents like Meyer lemon and pink grapefruit.

$30 from Made Trade

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Store your sugar, tea, rice, or grains in this sleek storage set made with biodegradable bamboo fiber and cork. The eco-friendly set includes three jars in yellow, stone, and white, and each jar is dishwasher safe (though be warned: You can’t use it in the microwave).

$22 from Amazon

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If you haven’t yet made the transition from paper towels to reusable cloth (trust us, it’s worth it), store your paper towels in this magnetic holder that can hang from the fridge or any other magnetic surface, freeing up counter space. Replacing the paper towel is seamless, and reviewers note that it holds a “Costco-sized” paper towel roll.

$19 from Wayfair

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This 2-quart strainer hangs over a sink divider, freeing up your hands to dump out a steaming pot of pasta. BPA free and made of plastic, the strainer can be easily cleaned and dried, and comes with four spacers to adjust to various sink sizes.

Related:More smart buys for the home from Cheapism