I visited a friend recently and opened his cabinet looking for a glass. Everything came falling out – mismatched boxes, random jars, nothing with a real home. It was harmless, but it stuck with me.
A disorganized kitchen quietly drains more time than you’d think.
These tips changed how I think about the space entirely.
Let me show you how to organise your kitchen cabinets.
Is Organizing the Kitchen Cabinets Important?
Yes, absolutely.
I spend a lot of time in my kitchen every single day. Cooking, prepping, and cleaning.
An organized cabinet means no more digging through piles and no more falling utensils or boxes.
A clean, arranged kitchen actually reduces stress.
It creates a healthy environment. It also helps you reduce food waste.
Organizing my kitchen cabinets was one of the small changes that made a surprisingly big difference.
What Steps do I Take to Organize my Kitchen Cabinets?
While sorting out my cabinets, my first steps are to clean, sort, and separate. It makes my work much easier.
1. Empty Everything Out
Pull everything out. Pull everything out of your cabinets.
Lay it all out on your counter or kitchen table and take a look.
2. Sort Into Groups
Once I’ve laid everything out, my first step is to group similar items together.
Grouping things naturally helps you figure out how much space each category actually needs.
3. Toss, Donate, or Store Extras
I bought a pan two years ago and kept it for later use.
And yes, if you’ve guessed it, it’s left unused.
So I let it go. Duplicates, broken lids, gadgets, either toss, donate, or move them to storage.
My priority was to keep only what I regularly use.
How to Organize Kitchen Cabinets?
My sister hates organizing her cabinets, and seeing her messy kitchen cabinets is a nightmare.
And yes, she never does it, because it’s me who does.
1. Use Cabinet Organizers and Shelf Risers
Shelf risers are my best friend.
They create a second level inside your cabinet, so instead of stacking plates high, you can store your everyday dishes on one level and your less-used ones on another.
2. Group Items by Category
My friend has a beautifully categorized kitchen.
Once you start grouping things this way, you’ll stop opening three different cabinets in search of one thing.
3. Store Heavy Items on Lower Shelves
One day, my sister opened her cabinet, and a Cast-iron skillet fell over her shoulder.
These iron skillets and large stockpots don’t belong above your head.
Store heavier items on lower shelves or in base cabinets where they’re easier and safer to grab.
4. Use the Inside of Cabinet Doors
Most people completely ignore this space. But I didn’t.
I mounted a small rack on the inside of my cabinet door to store spice packets, aluminum foil, or even cleaning supplies.
5. Invest in Stackable Containers
I switched my mismatched containers. Best decision ever.
Switch to a set of uniform, stackable containers to instantly clean up the chaos.
6. Organize by Frequency of Use
My coffee mug is at my eye level, always.
Keep your everyday kitchen needs where you can easily access them, like your favorite pan and everyday plates.
7. Use Lazy Susans for Corner Cabinets
Corner cabinets had become a nightmare for me, and I had to just fix it somehow.
A lazy Susan fixes that completely.
8. Declutter Regularly
When we organize, it’s not just a one-time thing.
What I do is set a reminder every few months to go through my cabinets and remove anything that is expired, broken, or not being used.
9. Label Everything
Come to my kitchen, and you’ll find everything labelled.
Labels make life so much easier. Use a simple label maker or even chalkboard stickers for a cleaner look.
10. Use Drawer Dividers
My friend didn’t use drawer dividers at first, and it was such a mess.
Without dividers, kitchen drawers quickly turn into a jumble. And god forbid, if you want something, that’s a whole circus.
Get a set of drawer dividers, so every utensil gets its own designated spot.
11. Store Pot Lids Separately
Do not put your lids together with the pots.
Instead of stacking them haphazardly, use a lid organizer or mount a few tension rods inside a cabinet to hold.
12. Use Tension Rods for Baking Sheets
Baking sheets and cutting boards are awkward to stack and always fall over when you pull one out.
Stand them upright using tension rods inside a lower cabinet.
13. Keep a Designated Snack Zone
For my kids, I have put together a snack cabinet.
So if you have kids, or even if you don’t, a dedicated snack cabinet is a great idea.
14. Use Pull-Out Cabinet Organizers
Pull-out organizers bring everything to you on a single slide.
They’re useful for base cabinets where you store pots, pans, or pantry staples.
15. Stack Plates and Bowls Smartly
Don’t stack all your dishes into one towering pile; just separate them by size and type.
It speeds up setting the table and reduces the risk of chips and cracks from unstable stacking.
16. Dedicate a Cabinet for Spices
I have a cabinet named “ice spice”, it’s my designated spice cabinet.
Whether a pull-out spice drawer or a tiered shelf organizer inside a cabinet, you’ll find everything.
17. Use Clear Bins for Pantry Items
My mother has recently switched all her pantry bins to transparent ones. And oh my God, it’s so much better.
Clear bins are one of the easiest ways to bring instant order to a pantry cabinet. No more buying extras and searching for things.
18. Hang Mugs on Cabinet Hooks
Mugs take up a lot of space.
I saw my friend install a few small hooks on the underside of her shelf. It frees up an entire shelf level.
19. Create a Baking Station
My mom loves to bake. And I made her a baking area.
If you bake regularly, dedicate one cabinet entirely to baking. Place the flour, sugar, measuring cups, mixing bowls, and baking soda in one place.
20. Use Magazine Holders for Cutting Boards
My cutting boards are always here and there.
It’s time to DIY it, get a magazine holder. Yes, the kind meant for paper, it keeps them organized.
21. Keep Cleaning Supplies in a Separate Cabinet
Cleaning products should always be stored well away from food items.
Keep them in a cabinet under the sink or in a separate area. It keeps your kitchen safer and helps you stay organized.
22. Rotate Your Stock
I visited my parents, and when I went to grab something from the kitchen, I found expired items.
And that’s when I tossed out everything.
Every time you bring home new groceries, take a moment to move older items to the front.
You’ll use things before they expire, reduce food waste, and know exactly when you need to toss them out.
23. Reassess Every Few Months
Maybe it’s a lot, but I reassess everything in my cabinets every few months.
Your kitchen needs to change over time, maybe with new tools, hobbies, or crockery.
Let’s do it together. Once every two months, it takes just 20 minutes.
Organizing Cabinets in Different Types of Kitchens
I have a small kitchen, and my sister has a large kitchen, and that’s where the differences come in.
Small Kitchen
In my small kitchen, every inch matters.
So I go with vertical stackable shelves, over-the-door organizers, and wall-mounted racks to free up cabinet space.
My tip: Keep only your most-used items accessible.
Large Kitchen
A large kitchen can lead to more disorganization if you’re not planning, just like my sister.
Divide your space into cooking, prepping, baking, and storage areas.
Apartment Kitchen
Apartment kitchens demand ruthless editing.
Use every cabinet door, invest in slim stackable organizers, and consider a small rolling cart for extra storage without any installation.
How I Decide Where to Put Things in my Kitchen Cabinet for Better Organization
My favourite question to ask myself while organizing is, “how often do I need it?”
It solves everything.
1. Every day items deserve the best spots:
My coffee mug is the first thing my hands reach out for in the morning, so it’s in an easily accessible place.
- Your favorite pan stays closest to the stove.
- Everyday plates and bowls you can grab without thinking.
2. Things you use a few times can go a little further back:
I don’t bake often, so my baking bowls and necessities are kept out of the way of others.
- Extra containers are stacked neatly behind the daily dishes.
- Specialty tools are within reach but not in the way.
3. Rarely used items are out of prime space:
My fancy or holiday crokeries are placed on the highest shelf. It’s rarely needed.
- Holiday platters on the highest shelf.
- Seasonal bakeware is stored until you actually need it.
My pro tip: Keep things close to where you use them. Like my pots are near the stove. My plates near the table. And my baking stuff near prep counter.
Common Mistakes You Should Avoid
Last year, I organized my kitchen, and that was it. I never did it again, and the mess came back.
You need to keep doing it once in a while, so it stays organised.
- Put everything back the same way: If your old system wasn’t working, reorganizing it exactly the same way won’t help.
- Mixing unrelated items together: My sister stored the batteries next to the snacks, yes, what a mess. Keep unrelated categories completely separate, always.
- Using containers that are too big: My oversized bins took more room than needed. So I found Right-sized containers keep things visible and accessible.
- Forgetting to account for kids or others: My kids need snacks, so I plan accordingly. Snacks and everyday items should be reachable for everyone who needs them.
- Having a junk cabinet: My sister’s junk cabinet had everything that was literally not needed. Know what is required and toss everything else away.
Final Word
Organizing your kitchen cabinets can be quite difficult, but it’s not just about how they look, but also about how functional they are.
Made these few changes, and my space is so much better now.
I can see everything and grab anything easily.
Follow the organizing tips today and comment on how it worked. We’d love to know.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Are Custom Cabinet Organizers Worth It?
Yes, if you have an oddly shaped or unusually sized cabinet. For standard cabinets, affordable, ready-made organizers work just as well.
2. What Makes a Kitchen Look Outdated?
Dark heavy cabinets, old brass hardware, cluttered countertops, and mismatched appliances are the biggest culprits.
3. What Kitchen Cabinet Color is Outdated?
Honey oak, golden yellow, all black, and dark cherry brown are the most outdated cabinet colors right now.
