Arranging kitchen cabinets resembles solving a complex puzzle; every object deserves a spot suited to how often you use it, though finding that perfect placement can be tricky!
Over the past year and a half since moving in, I have reorganized my kitchen five separate times.
This sixth attempt proved successful!
Here are the key takeaways from my numerous organization efforts:
Tidying Small Kitchen Cabinets
Discard anything you do not need, use, or genuinely enjoy.
Limited space strongly encourages decluttering. As you examine your cabinets and find forgotten items, ask if keeping them is truly necessary. To decide whether to keep or toss an item, consider these questions:
- Has this item seen use within the last year? (If not, let it go!)
- Do I utilize all these identical duplicates simultaneously? (For example, six baking pans of the same size?)
- Have I ever used that handy appliance I acquired from the shopping network?
- Is this something essential but too big for the kitchen? (My largest stock pot resides in the garage.)
- Is this a family keepsake I wish to use and pass down to my children?
Assess what aspects of your current kitchen organization are effective and what needs improvement.
Applying this method to my pantry was highly effective, and I replicated it when organizing the upper kitchen cabinets.
My initial step involved opening all doors and drawers, then stepping back to survey the scene. (It looked quite messy!)
Take absolutely everything out of every cupboard to start fresh.
This might seem daunting, but it is less intimidating than it sounds! With everything removed, you can thoroughly clean the cupboards, creating a pristine starting point.
After cleaning, begin placing the 'puzzle pieces.' It is crucial to arrange items based on your personal kitchen workflow and ease of access.
Keep frequently used items in a location that is both convenient and simple to reach.
For me, daily dishes fit perfectly in the biggest cupboard near the sink. Since I couldn't easily reach my 'pretty glassware' (a gift from my Mom), I placed it on the top shelf for daily enjoyment.
Establish functional 'zones' throughout your kitchen.
I noticed I always work at the same counter when baking, so designating that spot as the baking area made perfect sense.
Measuring cups, spoons, spatulas, spices, and dry baking ingredients are all grouped in one corner, making retrieval simple.
Likewise, the coffee station has all necessary items for coffee breaks, situated conveniently next to the sink.
Coral Spices
Spice storage is so tricky! I had spices all over my kitchen.
I went through all of them and first threw out the ones that were dreadfully outdated. Then, I grouped them all together in one cupboard.
A basket holds all the spice packets (organized alphabetically), a metal basket holds all the mixes, and I’m currently searching for 2 lazy susans for the spices on the bottom shelf.
Place seldom used items in harder to reach areas
The corner and upper cupboards in our kitchen are very hard for me to access. I placed items in those that I use occasionally, but not regularly ~ like the turkey roasting pan and covered casserole dishes. The lower corner cupboards are awkward to use. One day, I nearly got myself stuck in one as I tried to reach something in the WAY back! (Notice how I used the “fling it in” method for my Tupperware??)
To solve that problem, I relocated most of the items from that corner cupboard and put the remaining items in the front so I can easily reach it.
We installed a lazy susan in the other one that functions really well. All my pots and pans, the toaster, and basket of onions and potatoes are easy to reach as it swings around.
Don’t forget to use the storage drawer under the stove
I relocated the pots and pans that used to go here to the corner cupboard, and this handy drawer became the perfect spot for my cookie sheets, muffin tins, and cooling racks.
Utilize wall space as prime organization real estate.
Having kitchen tools stuffed into a drawer was terribly inconvenient.
Hanging up this bucket organizer from Ikea was the solution! It allows us to see where our tools are and we can grab them easily when we need them.
Also, hanging up strainers on an empty wall space both freed up some drawer space and makes a pretty decoration.
Maximize drawer space
Our kitchen only has 3 drawers, so I needed to choose carefully what to put in them!
Baking pans are in one.
Another holds potholders and awkward kitchen tools.
And, the top one is a classic “silverware drawer”.
Utilize creative solutions for specific problems
There were a few things that I really struggled with, and was delighted to discover simple solutions!
Magazine holders became the perfect container for wraps’ boxes.
Tucked in the cupboard above the stove, I can easily reach them to pull down and grab what I need.
I cleaned up an old shower caddy that had lost its suction for the shower walls, and stuck it inside the door of the under-the-sink cupboard.
Incorporate accents that match your personal taste.
A decorated room elevates the experience! For a lovely touch in the kitchen, I placed a cake stand holding lemons, some greenery, and a vase of tulips in a corner.
Even though the unattractive vent above the upper cupboards remains, painting it the same hue as the walls helps it blend more smoothly…
and the pink wooden flower basket introduces additional vibrancy to the area.
The feeling of finally having my kitchen tidy is wonderful!
If sorting through possessions proves challenging, I have prepared a complimentary printable decluttering planner to assist with the sorting of your items. Access it via this link or the button below to obtain yours today!
Should home organization interest you, review this Organization Challenge post. For further kitchen organization suggestions, explore my Pinterest Organization Board.
Additionally, I contributed a guest article to Kenarry Ideas for the Home detailing how to create labels from packing tape; it is quite clever! You might wish to see it…
Tips and home organization suggestions:
- Consult the experts with these organization Ikea concepts
- Transform a regular cupboard into a small kitchen pantry
- smart storage solutions for small kitchens
- Begin with these straightforward home organizing tips
Need assistance beginning the process of decluttering your residence?
I have assembled a free Home Organization sequence exclusively for you! This collection includes:
- Simple daily organization tasks requiring just 15 minutes
- Extra materials and concepts for specific areas—such as organizing kitchen cupboards, pantry organization, and small closet arrangement.
- FREE printable checklists
