There are many factors that contribute to cluttered cabinets, from keeping items that are never really used to storing things improperly. The following nine expert-recommended tips will show you how to organize kitchen shelves, create an organizational system that fits you and your lifestyle, and maintain organized and clutter-free cabinets.
Read on to learn how to organize kitchen cabinets like a pro—and how to keep them that way.
meet the expert
- Laura Caetano Laura Caetano is a professional organizer and founder of Organizational Design.
- jessica littman Is a professional organizer and owner of The Organized Mama Company.
- Leslie Lehr Leslie is a professional organizer, lifestyle expert, and owner of Lehr Living.
Throw away things you don’t use
just to be fewer Kitchen items make it easy to keep cabinets organized. Evaluate the contents of your kitchen cupboards based on what you use regularly, your current lifestyle and the kitchen activities you enjoy.
“Your things should help you live your real lifestyle, not a past or dream one,” says Laura Caetano, professional organizer and founder of Laura Caetano Organizational Design.
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Group items based on how you use them
events kitchen cabinets Depending on your cooking habits and daily routine.
“Group items in cabinets based on how you cook or bake,” advises Jessica Littman, professional organizer and owner of The Organized Mama Company.
For example, if you do a lot of baking and use mixing bowls and a hand mixer with all the parts, consider grouping them in one cabinet.
“Store items together to make it easier for you to get started with baking and cleaning because you won’t have to look for items in several different shelves,” says Littman.
If you’re not sure how much you use an item or what category it belongs in inside the cabinet, Littman says it could be a sign it’s time to get rid of it.
allocate zone
Once you’ve assessed what you have and discarded what you don’t use, Leslie Lehr, a professional organizer, lifestyle expert and owner of Leslie Lehr Living, recommends that you zone within the shelves. Allocate.
“Identify your most-used items and place them in the most accessible places,” she says.
As far as less frequent items like holiday dishes are concerned, Lehr suggests relocating them to another area of ​​your home to free up space for daily essentials.
make regular edits
Every couple of months take inventory of what’s inside your kitchen cabinets and see if items are misplaced, if anything is broken, or if you’ve collected new pieces that don’t have a designated home for them.
Caetano recommends doing what she calls “easy editing” and eliminating cluttered mugs, lidless Tupperware containers, unused water bottles and kitchen gadgets that don’t make cooking easier or more enjoyable. , remove.
Invest in Storage Solutions
To make your kitchen cabinets functional and visually appealing, take Lehr’s advice and invest in new storage solutions or reuse items you already have.
“Some of my favorites include clear plastic storage containers, decorative baskets, and storage drawers with multiple compartments,” she shares.
To maximize space, remove items from their original, often bulky, packaging.
Move cabinet shelves to suit your needs
One of Littman’s best tips and she says an easy organizing solution is to simply move shelves in your kitchen cabinets. She notes that this is something most people don’t do, yet it allows you to accommodate what you have and tailor kitchen cabinets to your needs.
Littman explains how you can get more shelves cut down at your local hardware store to create more storage to better meet your closet needs.
Edit when you return from the grocery store
To maintain clutter-free cabinets, Lehr recommends editing them when you return from the grocery store.
“Delete expired items as you add new items and consolidate storage solutions when bringing in new groceries,” she says.
Make this step part of your regular grocery routine to prevent shelves from flooding.
“By cleaning up during this transition, you’ll maintain an organized kitchen with both style and function,” says Lehr.
Return items where they belong
Caetano explains how people often make the mistake of not putting things back in the same way after organizing their shelves. This creates clutter over time as misplaced items may not fit properly and pieces may become broken, damaged, or forgotten in the back of the cabinet.
Their trick for remembering where everything goes and making sure every member of the household knows where to put things? Take a picture or draw a diagram and attach it to the inside of the cabinet door.
Use Sticky Notes When Rearranging Cabinets
If you’ve successfully decluttered your cabinet shelves and created a new organizational system, Littman shares her trick for using sticky notes to get used to the new system. This will help you get into the habit of returning items to their new homes for a clean and organized place.
