A well-organized kitchen is a happy kitchen. Working in a clean and tidy space can make cooking and meal prep so much easier (not to mention it’ll make your kitchen look great for when company comes over). But where do you start? How do you organize your kitchen cabinets in a way that’s both practical and attractive? Never fear, we’re here to help. Read on for seven of the best ways to organize your kitchen cabinets.
1. Invest in some cabinet organizers. Wire racks, dividers, and drawer inserts can go a long way in helping you keep everything tidy and easy to find. You can find a variety of cabinet organizers online or at your local home goods store. If you’re feeling really ambitious, you could even DIY some organizers out of things like cardboard boxes or egg cartons. Just be sure whatever you use is sturdy enough to stand up to regular use.
2. Keep like with like. This one seems obvious, but it can be easy to forget when you’re in the heat of cooking dinner and just want to grab whatever’s closest at hand. So take a few minutes to think about what goes together and group those items accordingly. For example, put all of your baking supplies together, or keep all of the spices near the stovetop where you’ll be using them most often.
3. Use clear containers. This tip goes hand-in-hand with number two. Storing everything in see-through containers makes it much easier to quickly grab what you need without having to search through a bunch of different boxes or bags. You can buy some nice-looking containers at any home goods store, or get creative and repurpose things like mason jars or glass jars from your pantry (just be sure to label them so you know what’s inside).
4. Utilize vertical space. Most people only focus on using the space inside their cabinets, but the area outside of them is fair game too. Hang pots and pans from pot racks mounted on the ceiling, or use Command Hooks on the inside of cabinet doors to hang measuring cups, aprons, or oven mitts (bonus points if they’re also clear!).
5. Purge regularly. Even with the best organizational system in place, your cabinets will eventually start getting cluttered again as new items come in and old ones get used up (or maybe just pushed to the back because you forgot they were there). So set aside some time every few months to go through everything and get rid of anything you no longer need or use. You can donate unopened non-perishables to a local food bank, recycle cans and bottles, or throw away anything that’s past its expiration date. (Remember: when in doubt, throw it out!).
6. Put infrequently used items up high. If there are things you only need once in a while—like holiday decor or serving platters—stow them away on high shelves where they won’t get in the way of your everyday activities. Just be sure you have a step stool handy so you can reach them when you need them!
7. Label, label, label. We can’t stress this enough: Labeling is key! Whether it’s labeling shelves with postcards or chalkboard labels, putting sticky notes on Tupperware lids, or just writing directly on boxes with a permanent marker, taking a few extra minutes to label everything will save you tons of time (and frustration) in the long run. Not sure what goes where? Take a photo of each shelf before you start reorganizing so you have a reference point.
Happy organizing!
By following these tips, your kitchen cabinets will be neat, tidy, and totally Instagram -worthy in no time. Plus, an organized kitchen is a happy kitchen — trust us, your future self will thank you!
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