Get real: the shelves in your kitchen are all blown over like a tornado, aren?t they? So I get it. Amid that daily juggling act of making coffee in the morning and dinner prepping in the evening and trying to keep pace with that forever merry-go-round of jars and pots and pans that call themselves dishes, the very idea of having kitchen shelves that are assignable and orderly enough to find anything in is roughly as likely as the possibility of having matching socks, or socks in matching pairs at all. Here&rsqu can be the thing though: I have spent years fighting kitchen clutter, and I have finally figured out how to organize my shelves so that they make sense (and that it does not involve turning into a Pinterest perfectionist).
Why Kitchen Shelf Organization Actually Matters
Now let us consider the reasons why this is important before we get on to the good stuff. Shelves in order save you time, money and sanity. So many times have you purchased something that you knew you had already stocked away under a pile of canned foods? Yeah me too. And then there is something truly satisfying about being able to open a cabinet and find what you need and not play Jenga with your dishes.
1. The Tiered Shelf Insert Game-Changer
It’s my all time favorite and I had wished I’d found it sooner. Pegboard walls, tray dividers, and tiered shelf inserts add points of vertical storage to your current cabinet space—it’s like you get extra room all for free.
Why They Work So Well
These tiny miracle do make double (sometimes triple) the usable space. I use them at:
- Spice organization
- Canned goods visibility
- Small jars and condiments
Tip: buy the ones that expand. And take my word–they adapt themselves to most any cabinet width, and you won’t be left with Greeley gaps.
| Shelf Type | Best For | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Wire Tiered | Cans & Jars | $15-25 |
| Bamboo Tiered | Spices | $20-35 |
| Plastic Expandable | Mixed Items | $10-20 |
2. Lazy Susan Shelves for Corner Cabinets
The hidden area of cabinets out of sight is the Bermuda Triangle of any kitchen; hence, objects enter them and simply disappear. Lazy Susan shelves are genius in overcoming this problem. Spin once and all is at your disposal.
I bought one last year and put it in a corner cabinet and it has been a game changer. Never again will I be on my hands and knees frantically looking around trying to find that bottle of vanilla extract that reminded me of the way a corn chip could find its way to the back corner.
What Works Best on Lazy Susans
- Cooking oils and vinegars
- Baking supplies
- Small appliances you actually use
- Anything you hate digging for
3. Under-Shelf Hanging Baskets
Here’s a mind bender: under-shelf hanging baskets utilizes the wasted space beneath your current shelves. It’s like finding a hidden stash of storage you hadn’t even known existed.
They are miraculous with lightweight items easily lost in the shuffle. I use mine:
- Paper towels
- Aluminum foil and plastic wrap
- Cleaning supplies
- Snack bags
Word of caution:These babies please do not overload them. They are excellent for organization but may not be the product you want to store your complete spice set of candles.
4. Clear Storage Containers with Labels
I know, I know–everybody is speaking about clear containers. Yet there is a reason why they are popular, they just do work. Seeing is using what you have.
My Container Strategy
I’m not crazy and containerize everything (nobody suffers for that). Rather I focus on:
- Frequently used dry goods
- Items that come in annoying packaging
- Things that tend to spill or make messes
Label everything.Seriously. Future you will thank 20 minutes of planning you when you don’t have to play 6 am guessing game.
5. Pull-Out Drawer Shelves
That is the ultimate for luxury upgrade of deep cabinets. Pull out drawer shelves bring it all to you rather than making you play an archeological dig to get anything.
Okay, they cost more than the other solutions, but when you have deep cabinets that absorb your stuff, these can be worth their weight in gold. I eventually took the plunge and had them added to one of my pantry cabinets and I seriously utilize ingredients I completely forgot I had.
Installation Reality Check
FYI, these normally involve a degree of simple do-it-yourself. Unless you are the one who can handle a drill, then count in installation costs or plead with that friend who boasts about his home improvement projects all the time 🙂
6. Magnetic Spice Storage
This is in honor of my fellow bestiary of a spice hoarder. Your spices are readily available on any inside cabinet door or metal surface because magnetic spice containers hold up on any metal surface.
Why I Love This System
- Saves shelf space for bigger items
- Easy to see what you have
- Looks pretty darn cool
- Great for small kitchens
The trick is that you must purchase standard containers that look the same always- do not attempt to use your own random assortment of spice jars. Clear your plate and start with a clean slate or you will go nuts trying to cosume everything to fit.
7. Shelf Risers for Dishes and Plates
Shelf risers are in essence ladder steps to your dishes. They provide you with two levels, when there was only one in place, doubling your storage space, yet not setting up anything permanent.
I use these in my dish cabinet, and they’re perfect for:
- Stacking plates without making a precarious tower
- Displaying pretty dishes you actually want to see
- Creating easy access to everyday items
Choosing the Right Risers
Seek out strong materials the cheap flimsy plastic does not hold up well. I found out about this the hard way and because of a spectacular incident of a plate avalanche, which we no longer speak about.
8. Over-the-Door Organizers
Donot put the back of your cabinet doors to sleep- those are the lost real estate! Over-the-door organizers can help in flat objects and small containers that can easily disappear in the shelves.
What I Store on Cabinet Doors
- Cutting boards (finally found a home for these awkward things!)
- Baking sheets and cooling racks
- Cleaning supplies
- Foil, plastic wrap, and parchment paper
Installation hint: Measure beforehand your clearance on the door. There is nothing more frustrating than a closet organizer that makes your door not to close correctly.
9. Adjustable Shelf Dividers
They are the heroes that are unsung in kitchen organization. Shelf partitions are adjustable so that the stacks of plates, bowls, and containers do not become leaning towers of doom.
I use them to create dedicated spaces for:
- Different sized plates
- Tupperware lids (the eternal struggle)
- Baking dishes
- Serving platters
The adjustable characteristic implies that you can alter them according to the needs of storage that you may require. And they also cut out that domino thing of taking one thing out and a whole house of cards going down.
Making It All Work Together
The bottom line is that you do not need all these solutions. Choose the ones which address your particular pain points. The problem of my kitchen mess was primarily the impossibility to locate anything in those deep cabinets and that is where I targeted the pull out shelves and tiered inserts.
Open one area of problems and master that and only then move on. It took Rome one day to be built up, and your ideally straightened kitchen will take one day too.
The Bottom Line
Organizing the kitchen shelves does not necessarily need to be pin-perfect so as to be effective. The most effective system is that which you are committed to use always. In my opinion, it is better to make just a couple of good organized shelves than to go in perfection and give up in a week.
Don t think of impressing anyone with this, but making your everyday life easier. When you can get what you want, easily and when you do actually use what you purchase, that is winning. And should you not paint your shelves well in the process? Saying that is an added bonus.
Now quit reading about organizing and go tackle that one cabinet that is driving you nuts. You’re good!