Lee Burnett
Lots of great tips for optimizing storage, dealing with awkward spaces and finding the perfect kitchen organizers. Not only are items easier to find and grab, but it will also save you time and a whole lot of frustration! We have a lot of awkward spaces in our kitchen, but we’ve found a way to make it work for us. This means that I may receive a small commission on items that you purchase directly through these links at no cost to you. Kitchen cabinets can often be frustrating when it comes to developing functional storage solutions. From poor cabinet layout designs, to awkward cupboard spaces or limited storage, it’s all about working with what you’ve got!
Since it’s such an ideal location for storage, try to reserve this space for items that you use frequently. I use these acrylic stick on bins from idesign for a ton of different storage options. The adhesive works well and it can be removed when needed without damaging the cabinet surfaces.
When determining where to put them, be sure to take into account the height of the objects you will be storing and make sure the cupboard door will still close. You can use them to hang kitchen utensils, oven mitts, measuring cups/spoons, cleaning cloths, etc. I used the small, clear Command hooks to hang our measuring spoons and cups.
If you’re hanging items out in the open, keep it very simple and ideally hidden from first glance. Vertical storage is the perfect way to store baking sheets, serving trays, cutting boards, etc. You can use it for more of a decorative display like I did in our baking cabinet above or use it for more functional purposes.
It’s perfect for writing recipes, grocery lists, or a fun private message board. In order to achieve a cohesive look and not make your cupboards look too cluttered, try to stick with just a few styles of storage containers. Purchasing similar styles also means that they will stack and fit together better than using random containers.
The OXO POP containers can get quite pricey but they work well, are easy to use, and last forever. I tend to avoid purchasing pre-packaged sets of storage containers as I always ended up with sizes that I didn’t really want or use. If you’re looking to optimize space, the shape of your container can make a big difference!
Square or rectangular shapes generally make the best use of space and are easier to store when you’re not using them. The only time I prefer round containers is when I’m using it on a lazy susan or for smaller jars that I’ll be putting into a storage bin anyways. The divider trays are probably the most economical, however, they don’t always accommodate your drawer size and what you need to store.
These adjustable bamboo dividers are another favorite of mine, and I’ve used them in a few different drawers. A lazy susan is a great way to help improve the accessibility of your items. If you have a lot of extra vertical space in the cupboard, look for a double decker lazy susan.
Some of these have a pretty low clearance on the first row {like the one below} but you can find ones that allow for taller items as well. You can also find divided lazy susans if you want to further group and organize items. After trying a bunch of different organization products and configurations, I decided to just go with a large lazy susan.
My best tip for getting tupperware and other food storage containers under control is to use the least amount of shapes and sizes as you can. If you have kiddos, you might want to have a kids’ cupboard so that they can easily reach all of their own kitchen items.
Even though my kids are older now, I still have a cupboard for them with plastic cups, plates, and bowls, as well as items and containers that they need for packing their school lunch.
This pull out storage drawer works great to keep our smaller containers, lids, thermos, etc. If you’re like me, you’ll likely be left with a bunch of miscellaneous that are useful but don’t really fit in with the traditional kitchen items. Often times, these items get randomly shoved into a junk drawer that ends up in a jumbled mess.
For these items, I prefer divider bins so they can be removed easily from the drawer if needed. You can definitely find less inexpensive ones, but these are stackable, have squared sides, and are really great quality.
{TIP: If there is too much depth in the drawer, I’ll sometimes, cut out some cardboard to fill up the space in the back to keep the dividers from moving. From skinny drawers, to corner cabinets that you can’t get to the back, to those awkward little alcoves, you probably have somewhere in your kitchen that drives you nuts!
Get creative with your storage organizers, switch up what you store there, and be open to new ideas. You can also check out my Amazon shop for a full list of my favorite kitchen storage and organization products.
Make sure you MEASURE your space and CHECK THE DIMENSIONS on the products that you order. I hope you found this post helpful and you now have some great kitchen cabinet organization ideas for your own space.
