Considered the heart of the home, the kitchen is where all the action takes place. Whether that’s baking a fresh batch of cookies for late-night sweets, making an old family recipe for friends or simply sharing laughter and stories over a homemade meal, your kitchen creates endless food adventures.
However, the beauty of the external kitchen appearance doesn’t always carry over into the cabinets. Spices easily become disorganized, plates overflow and containers for leftovers are in a disheveled, make-shift spot. We all know this chaos too well and it’s tricky to attempt to tackle a mess that builds upon itself.
Fortunately, there are some simple strategies to take your kitchen cabinets from dysfunctional to fabulous and from cluttered to stylishly organized. With these tips, you’ll feel less overwhelmed and bring joy back into the kitchen. You may even find yourself enjoying the art of cooking and entertaining a little more.
1. Start by decluttering
As organizational expert Barbara Hemphill said, “Clutter is nothing more than postponed decisions.” Start with three cardboard boxes or garbage bags labeled “donate,” “sell” and “trash.” Then, take one cabinet and drawer at a time, decide what you no longer use or love and place it in the appropriate container.
If you find yourself contemplating an item for several minutes, place it in a separate box marked “later.” This box is then tucked away in storage. If you haven’t pulled out any of your “later” items in one month, it’s time to donate these items or throw them away.
2. Put all like items together
Putting all like items together sounds elementary but is an important step in organizing kitchen cabinets and drawers that you can’t miss. Placing everything in separate boxes lets you see exactly what you’re working with so you can then properly store everything together.
Before you start putting things in their rightful place, wipe down kitchen cabinets, cabinet shelves and drawers. You can make a natural, refreshing household cleaner with 1 cup white vinegar, 2 cups water and 15 drops each of lemon and lavender essential oils.
3. Reorganize according to zones
If you break up a kitchen into smaller areas, it’s easier to tackle organization by section. The kitchen has five main zones: food, cleaning, cooking, dishware storage and preparation. Consider storing items in the areas you use them, like pots and pans near the stove.
These zones are uniquely yours based on your lifestyle and should be tailored to make your daily routine easier. For example, if you start your day with a smoothie and end it with a cup of tea, a little corner health bar is an option of something you should create. Consider placing your blender, teas and supplements in a countertop corner basket. You’ll find woven, wood and wire baskets explicitly designed to fit into corners. By applying this philosophy to your kitchen, you’ll not only streamline your routine and create your own unique organization.
4. File your dishes
If you have a choice between stacking or filing, choose filing to maximize storage space. Consider using plate racks to store dishes vertically and bakeware racks for cutting boards, baking sheets and even cumbersome pot lids. These vertical solutions offer easy access and maximum utilization of space in your kitchen cabinets.
5. Incorporate a pot and pan organizer
Pot and pan organizers provide a special place for every cooking item, from skillets to saucepans. Many are self-adjusting, letting you create the perfect size for every object while fitting right into your cabinet.
6. Add stylish storage
One of the biggest challenges is the lack of storage space, especially kitchen cabinet space. One way to create more space is to take advantage of walls, sides of cabinets, and even under cabinets.
It’s important to acknowledge your rental’s rules in terms of wall damage. Because you can’t always drill holes into existing structures, consider these drill-free items:
- Under cabinet coffee mug holders with a hanging arm that slides onto the shelf
- A modern kitchen rail with stainless steel or bamboo hooks for holding utensils, cups, and cutting boards
- Small clips on interior cabinet doors for holding measuring cups and spoons
7. Maximize cabinet space
Stacking or riser shelves make a wonderful addition to smaller kitchen cabinets with vertical space. Simple, beautiful and easy to incorporate, they add another layer to your kitchen cabinet organization. From wood to metal and plastic in every color, there’s a stacking shelf with your name on it.
8. Make friends with clear storage bins
Modern culture has really embraced and elevated the organization movement, making the quest to find storage bins and containers of every shape, size and color, simple. Some good choices for organizing kitchen cabinets include clear bins that fit side-by-side. These storage containers let you use the entire shelf and easily slide in and out. They’re particularly helpful for those hard-to-reach top shelves.
The versatile bins are also ideal for your food pantry, holding condiments, cereals, grains, soups, snacks and unrefrigerated produce. If your property manager’s okay with a few screws, pull-down shelves also offer an ideal solution for top shelves.
9. Decant dry goods
While you’re organizing your food area, consider decanting dried goods. Decanting refers to taking items like pasta, rice, flour, quinoa and sugar and placing them in matching containers or canisters and labeling them accordingly. This kitchen cabinet organization tip creates a streamlined look that is clutter-free.
10. Hang a spice rack on the wall
If you only have time to perform one of these how-to-organize kitchen tips, this may be the one to consider. You’ll find that keeping your spices and herbs well-organized and visible adds color and charm to your kitchen while also prompting you to get creative and explore global cuisines. Bon Appétit’s 20 must-have herbs and spices include allspice, cardamon, cumin, ginger, sumac and turmeric.
11. Divide your drawers
Drawers are almost always in need of rescue. Simple inserts or drawer dividers provide just the right spot for everyday items, from silverware to knives and bottle openers.
12. Organize under your kitchen sink
The space under your sink can quickly get out of hand, making it the perfect location to hone in on and intentionally organize cleaning supplies. Fill the space properly by taking measurements and selecting stackable wire or mesh baskets accordingly that fit below the sink plumbing. These create the ideal place to stash disinfectant wipes, natural sprays, microfiber cloths and other essentials.
Consider self-adhesive hooks or over-the-door bars on the inside of the cabinet door. Here, you can hang small kitchen towels, scrub brushes and other cleaning tools.
13. Add an artistic pegboard
For those who prefer a more artistic approach to organization, consider pegboards. Take a glance at Pinterest, and you’ll see that times have changed. Pegboards, once a commonly used garage organizer tool, are a great hack to organize everything imaginable while adding their unique artistic spin. This is an incredible way to also show off unique mugs and other handmade kitchen pieces.
14. Hang curtain rods
While unique, you can use curtain rods for more than hanging window coverings. One curtain rod with hooks is a great tool for holding cups, towels, pans, cutting boards and more. Match the color of your rod to your kitchen design in mind so you don’t throw off the kitchen’s aesthetics.
15. Use turntables
Turntables can make any space a functional masterpiece. They offer an easy method for organizing condiments, oils and other items you routinely use while cooking. They offer a luxury built-in feel while making the best use of your cabinet space.
Create a kitchen worthy of your time
You spend a lot of time in your kitchen, and it’s worthy of an organizing upgrade. Use these tips to make a fun, functional and organized room, starting by organizing your kitchen cabinets and surrounding storage spaces.
Still looking for that perfect kitchen where you’ll create culinary masterpieces and good memories? Find the perfect place in one of our available apartments.