These 5 3D prints make my kitchen more functional without a renovation

Published Aug 20, 2026, 8:30 AM EDT Joe Fedewa has been writing about technology for over a decade. Android and the rest of the Google ecosystem have been a focus for years, as well as reviewing devices, hosting podcasts, filming videos, and writing tutorials. Joe loves all things technology and is also an avid DIYer and food blogger. He has written thousands of articles, hundreds of tutorials, and dozens of reviews. Before joining How-To Geek, Joe worked at XDA-Developers as Managing Editor and covered news from the Google ecosystem. He got his start in the industry covering Windows Phone on a small blog, and later moved to Phandroid where he covered Android news, reviewed devices, wrote tutorials, created YouTube videos, and hosted a podcast. From smartphones to Bluetooth earbuds to Z-Wave switches, Joe is interested in all kinds of technology. After several years of jailbreaking and heavily modifying an iPod Touch, he moved on to his first smartphone, the HTC DROID Eris. He's been hooked ever since. More than perhaps any room in your home, the kitchen begs for 3D printed solutions. It’s an area that’s ripe with opportunities for custom optimizations—especially if you’re restricted by space. My kitchen can always use more functionality, and these five prints help. Thankfully, there is no shortage of downloadable models that address a huge array of kitchen situations. However, the real power of 3D printing is being able to design solutions for your own personal problems. I have a mix of custom and downloaded 3D printed objects serving various purposes in my kitchen. Dishwasher clean/dirty sign Let’s start simple If real estate comes at a premium in your kitchen, the sink is a precious space. Nobody wants to start cooking a meal only to realize the dishes they need are dirty. One simple thing that has helped with this is a magnetic clean/dirty sign. I designed the one pictured here myself, but here’s a nice downloadable option. The benefit of this simple sign is avoiding a Schrödinger's dishes situation—I always know what’s happening inside. When I have a dirty dish, I immediately know if I can put it in the dishwasher and save myself the step of moving it from the sink later on. If the sign says “Clean,” I can decide if I have the time to unload it right then and there. Sponge drying rack Keep those dirty sponges in check I’ve always found it a bit difficult to keep the area around the sink neat and tidy. Sponges tend to end up underneath dirty dishes, or they somehow escape several feet from the sink. A simple sponge drying rack gives me a dedicated place for them. Do a search for “sponge rack” in your 3D model library of choice, and you’ll find hundreds, if not thousands, of results. It’s an extremely common thing to print, but everyone has slightly different needs. Personally, my sink has a raised ledge around the edges, so most of the models I found online wouldn’t sit flat. Once again, I designed my own, but there are plenty to download. Leftovers container lid holder Finally, a place for those awkward lids Credit: JONGE / MakerWorld A few years ago, I finally made the switch from plastic to glass food storage containers. I much prefer them, but they take up more space since they don’t nest as easily as plastic. The bigger problem, though, is the snap-on lids. What do you do with them? If you store the containers with the lids on, they can’t nest at all, and that takes up even more space. Plus, any tiny bit of moisture leftover from cleaning gets trapped inside. It’s also nearly impossible to maintain a neat stack of the lids. The best solution that I and many others have found is a vertical hanging rack. There’s one for IKEA lids and generic lids. Spice rack leveling blocks The solution for wobbly spices In the cabinet next to my oven, I have one of those very common expandable tri-level spice racks. It’s generally pretty nice, but one thing bothered me for a long time. The specific width of my cabinet makes it so spice containers end up sitting directly on the edge where the rack expands. If I grab a container next to one of those, they tip over. When I’m in the cooking zone, I may not have two hands free. I want to be able to quickly grab an herb or spice shaker, use it, and put it back. If I can’t easily put it back, it ends up cluttering the counter. My solution to this problem was leveling blocks. I measured the space, translated those numbers into 3D rectangles, and then printed without top and bottom layers to save filament. Simple, but highly effective. Trash bag dispenser Especially for the Kirkland homies Credit: LEM | MakerWorld Buying in bulk from Costco has plenty of benefits, but there are some drawbacks as well. After being a member for over a year, I only just recently bought some Kirkland trash bags. I was surprised to find out that, unlike most trash bags, they did not come in a box that also acts as a dispenser. So, what do you do with a chunky, loose roll of trash bags? Thankfully, the 3D printing community has a solution, and not only for Kirkland bags. Check out this wall-mounted version specifically for the Kirkland brand, or enter the dimensions for your brand of choice with this customizable model. Efficiency is key in a kitchen There’s a reason why so many people create 3D models for kitchens. It’s the one area in your home that operates the most like a workshop. Whether it’s plates and bowls or fresh produce, something is always being “processed.” Things come in, and things go out. The kitchen is always in motion, and a few custom 3D prints can ensure it moves smoothly.