Look, kitchen cabinets have a way of becoming black holes. One minute they’re tidy and functional; the next, you’re digging through an avalanche of mismatched Tupperware lids just to find the cumin. But with a little focus and strategy, you can transform your cabinets into spaces you actually enjoy opening. These 20 tips for organizing kitchen cabinets are all 15-minute wins, so grab your timer, cue up your favorite playlist, and let’s get to work.
How to Organize Kitchen Cabinets
1. Relocate the Randoms
Before you organize, evict the freeloaders. Are your kitchen cabinets harboring expired spices, half-melted candles, or rogue batteries? Take 15 minutes to relocate anything that doesn’t belong in the kitchen. Trust me, no one needs nail polish remover next to their cinnamon sticks.
2. Declutter Ruthlessly
This is your permission slip to toss the gadgets you’ve never used. (Looking at you, avocado slicer.) Ask yourself: Do I actually use this? Does it enhance the quality of my life, or just take up space? The fewer items you keep, the easier it’ll be to stay organized.
3. Sort Like With Like
Group similar items together, especially when it comes to your food pantry – spices with spices, snacks with snacks, and so on. Think of it as a cabinet clique: oils and vinegars are BFFs, but they don’t hang out with baking supplies. Sorting makes everything easier to find and puts a stop to that “where’s the soy sauce?!” panic.
4. Maximize Vertical Space
Your shelves are basically real estate, and you’re wasting money if you’re not building up. Add shelf risers or stackable bins to double your storage. You’ll be amazed how much more fits when you leverage the power of height.
5. Ditch the Duplicates
No one needs twelve spatulas unless you’re running a diner. Pick your favorites, and donate the rest. Same goes for the rest of your utensils and kitchen gadgets. (How many can openers does one household really need?)
6. Decant Dry Goods
Transfer pantry staples like flour, sugar, and pasta into clear, labeled, airtight containers. Not only does it keep things fresher longer, but it creates a cohesive aesthetic that’s easy on the eyes. Plus, you’ll be able to see at a glance when you’re running low and it’s time to restock.
7. Create Zones
Give each cabinet a specific purpose – one for plates and bowls, one for glassware, one dedicated to pots and pans, and so on. This eliminates the guesswork when it’s time to put things away (or when someone else is looking for the colander).
8. Add a Lazy Susan
Lazy Susans aren’t just for grandma’s dinner table. They’re perfect for wrangling oils, vinegars, and sauces in hard-to-reach corners. Bonus: you’ll feel like genius every time you spin one to find what you need.
9. Bins For the Win
Non-perishable food tends to run rogue in cabinets. Corral items by type into oversized bins and label by broad category – sweet treats, salty snacks, breakfast goodies, etc. You can also use bins to corral and contain items like appliance parts and baking accessories.
10. Corral Lids With a Rack
Stop letting your Tupperware lids party all over the cabinet. A simple rack or file organizer can keep them upright and in one place. No more lid avalanches, guaranteed. If space allows, you can also match tops with bottoms and store your pots and pans in fully assembled sets.
11. Embrace Drawer Dividers
Drawer dividers aren’t just for cutlery. Use them to organize cooking gadgets and utensils, measuring cups, bag clips, or reusable straws. Everything gets its own little home, and your drawers will look streamlined in minutes.
12. Prioritize Accessibility
Put everyday items at eye level or within easy reach. Save the high shelves for the fancy platters and that roasting pan you use once a year. No more scaling the counter just to grab a cereal bowl.
13. Label Everything
Labels aren’t just for the Type-A among us. Slap a label on those bins, jars, or shelves to keep everything in its place. (And to gently remind your family that chips go here.)
14. Invest in Sturdy Hooks
Mount a few hooks inside your cabinets or on the doors for hanging oven mitts, measuring spoons, aprons, or even cutting boards. They’re cost effective, easy to install, and they save you precious drawer space.
15. Create an Appliance Garage
For the appliances you don’t use on the regular, centralize them into one dedicated zone storage. Place the heaviest on the low cabinets so you don’t have to worry about getting a concussion when you pull out the panini press.
16. Create a Coffee (or Tea!) Station
Dedicate one cabinet to all things caffeine-mugs, filters, pods, and tea bags. Mornings will feel much less chaotic when your coffee setup is as efficient as your caffeine intake.
17. Contain the Chaos
Group small loose items like seasoning packets, rubber bands, chip clips or tea bags in small jars, bins or baskets. Think of it as adulting’s version of the junk drawer.
18. Use Over-the-Door Racks
Over-the-door racks are your secret weapon for storing cutting boards, baking sheets, or even spices. They make use of every square inch of cabinet real estate without getting in your way.
19. Stage a “Keep or Toss” Moment
Spend 15 minutes pulling out anything chipped, cracked, or missing a match. If it’s seen better days (hello, warped cutting board), it’s time to let it go. Your future self will thank you.
20. Try the Display/Conceal Rule
Display items that are matching and cohesive or easy on the eyes like your favorite ceramic bowls, pretty pitchers, or serving platters. Conceal utilitarian items like your cheese grater, food storage containers, and your backup sponges.
Remember, organizing isn’t about perfection – it’s about creating systems that work for you. Tackle one tip at a time, and your kitchen will go from chaos to calm in no time.
Shira Gill (she/her) is a globally recognized home-organizing expert and author with a minimalist philosophy. She’s inspired thousands of people to clear clutter from their homes and lives through a process she developed that applies to anyone, regardless of budget, space, or lifestyle. Shira is the bestselling author of “Minimalista,” “Organized Living,” and “LifeStyled,” and has been featured by 100+ media outlets. Shira is a PS Council member.
