No matter your kitchen's size or shape, there's one basic rule of organization: You must have the right tools close at hand.

The key is to make sure the kitchen's three main work stations — countertop, stove, sink — are well-equipped and well-ordered.

On the following pages, you'll find shopping lists for kitchen essentials and tips for storing them. You don't have to buy a lot. But if you stock your kitchen with the best basics, you'll find yourself cooking more efficiently and cleaning up more quickly, even happily.

Tip: Gather essential spoons, tongs, and spatulas in a pot by the stove, rooting out those you seldom use to prevent utensil gridlock.