It is hard work staying organised and on top of things, especially when there is just so much to do day in and day out, but it is so satisfying and makes life just that little easier. As you all already know, the kitchen is the heart of the home and often the busiest, so knowing how to organise kitchen cupboards is the key to a smooth-running home.
Kitchen cupboards end up storing anything and everything, from our everyday essentials to dinnerware, endless containers and cooking aids that we rarely ever use. As a result, they can very quickly become messy. Even though the cupboard doors and shelves do a good job of hiding it all, we are still very aware of the chaos hidden behind them.
The art of kitchen organisation has soared in popularity in recent years, thanks to 'clean influencers' like Mrs Hinch and Marie Kondo and TV programmes like Stacey Solomon's Sort Your Life Out (we're obsessed with her Tap To Tidy transformations). We're all up for being more organised and on top of things, and your kitchen cupboards are a great place to start. Research has even suggested that organising is great for mental health and well-being, as it gives you a task to focus on away from all your thoughts.
From lazy susans to clever space-saving solutions, we've rounded up all you need to keep your kitchen cupboards organised. Get ready to have a weight lifted off your shoulders. Tidy cupboards, tidy mind.
Best kitchen organisation hacks
Shelves
Even though your kitchen cupboards will already have one or two shelves, it is so easy not to utilise them properly, especially if you have big cupboards. Plates, for example, can be a nightmare, especially if you have lots of different shapes and sizes. This is where plate racks, shelves and expandable organisers come in. Shelves can also be utilised in pantry cupboards, helping you stack things more easily and make them more accessible.
This three-tier organiser has a 3-tier design, so you can stagger jars, cans, and packets to make them easy to see and quick to reach - even those at the back.
Pros
- Affordable
- Non slip
Cons
- Smaller than you might expect, you might need a few if you have a large cupboards
Keep your plates in check with these two-tiered cabinet organisers that will fit neatly inside your cupboards.
Pros
- Dishwasher safe
- Lightweight
Cons
- Make sure you measure cupboards first
www.dunelm.com
These expandable kitchen organisers allow you to see and access your cupboard items more easily. Sold in a pack of two, this pack contains two different sizes.
Dunelm also has 50 per cent off selected items until March 6, across home and furniture.
Pros
- Expandable
- Good value for money
Cons
- Make sure to check measurements of your cupboard before buying
This is perfect for the cupboard underneath your sink as the pull-out drawer can be mounted on both sides of the cabinet or under the sink to effectively expand the small space. The corner storage design will provide more storage space.
Pros
- Great for small sink cupboards
- Easy to assemble
Cons
- Has to be wall mounted
Lazy susans
What is a lazy susan, we hear you ask? Despite being around for a while, lazy susans have enjoyed a resurgence on Instagram in recent years, with cleaning accounts putting them back on the radar. A lazy susan is a rotating circular tray, sometimes with multiple tiers, made from plastic or wood that is used for serving food and as a space-saving storage solution in a kitchen or pantry.
If you only use a few condiments or spices, this simple one-tier lazy susan will help you out when it comes to organising and saving you room.
Pros
- Simple
- Well made
Cons
- Plastic so prone to cracking
- Small
This Lazy Susan is made from steel and looks great, perfect for containing and organizing loose items and keeping cabinets neat and tidy.
Pros
- Can use in many rooms and cupboards
- Sturdy
- Doubles as a tray
Cons
- We can't find any
www.johnlewis.com
This two-tier turntable will bring you even more space, especially as there's no centre support, so both tiers give you unobstructed space for a range of items.
Pros
- Well made
- Matches any colour scheme
Cons
- Not dishwasher safe
- Quite tall
Jars
If you're after a seamless look, jars are a great way to personalise your kitchen cupboards to your taste. Store spices, rice, pasta, and grains and create personalised labels so you'll never have to root around in your drawers ever again. Plus, it makes it so much easier to fit everything in when it is all in the same packaging.
Not A Boring Box notaboringbox.com
Get off to the right start with this pantry starter kit from Not A Boring Box. Includes seven jars of different sizes made of glass and acacia wood.
Pros
- Look great
- Sturdy
Cons
- On the pricey side
These mini glass jars are perfect around the kitchen for displaying and storing spices and herbs. We love that they include labels and chalk pens, so you can switch up what spices you want.
Customer review: "I love these jars, not only are they aesthetically pleasing but they are fantastic at keeping herbs/spices fresh due to their seal. If you are looking for a cute and effective way to store dried things I’d strongly recommend these! I was gifted a set for Christmas and ordered a second to fit all my spices and both times they were brilliantly packaged to make sure no damage occurs during delivery."
Pros
- Super cute
- Great value for money compared to others
Cons
- We can't find any
If you're after a cheaper option to store all your spices, this pack of ten are a great price if you want to buy two or more packs. Made of quality food-grade plastic, non-toxic, BPA-free material.
Pros
- Lightweight and durable
- Convenient
Cons
- None
Label makers
Seeing what you've got in your cupboards without having to rummage around is the first step to being organised, which is where label makers come in. Instead of ordering labels, why not make your own with a label maker?
This old-school Dymo label maker creates retro-style labelling that will look fab in any kitchen cupboard. You'll also have some fun with the "turn and click" labelling system, with options for punctuation and 49 different characters. The 9mm wide tape (that you can buy separately) is available in six colours.
Customer review: "I had a Dymo label printer as a student so I had a look and they’re still pretty much the same. I really like the simplicity of these, I like the visual effect, I like the symmetry of the lettering, and I like that it requires no batteries. It’s easy to use as long as you press firmly and don’t rush. Highly recommend. Great for our spice jars in the kitchen and our folders in our office. No fuss."
Pros
- Will last for ages
- Retro style
- Can buy the tape easily on Amazon
- Tape lasts for ages
- No need to buy batteries
Cons
- Have to press hard sometimes
- Might waste tape if you make a mistake
If you want to step it up a gear, this small but mighty label maker machine uses Bluetooth to print anything you want. The size and weight of the Q30 pocket printer is roughly as same as your mobile phone. It weighs only 210 grams and can be slipped into your pocket for printing anytime and anywhere. Plus, you won't have to spend loads of money on ink, as it uses thermal label paper.
Customer review: "Easy to create simple labels or add images, and borders and change font and size for more decorative/personalised labels using an app that was easy to install and set up. I was able to make labels for all around the office using our logo to nicely finish the design off after testing on a few organisers in the pantry. Peel off nicely and stick on plastic, wood laminate and fabric-covered boxes. Very compact in design."
Pros
- Small in design
- Good value for money for the tech
Cons
- You will need internet and Bluetooth for it to work
Boxes and baskets
If you've got a lot of things to store, boxes and baskets may be a better solution than jars as they can easily stack on top of each other and come in all sorts of sizes and depths.
These clear trays, which come in all sorts of different sizes, will set you on your way to organised heaven. Made from heavy-duty plastic that is easy to clean, eco-friendly, and BPA Free.
Customer review:
Pros
- Easy to clean
- Easy to label
Cons
- Plastic may crack
www.etsy.com
Boxes and jars with lids make them super easy to stack, which saves you a lot of room. These round ones from Etsy can be personalised, simply select the amount and what you want on the labels.
Customer review: "Love these. They are slightly smaller than I imagined but they are very cute and look great in my kitchen."
Pros
- Personalised
- Easy to add to
Cons
- Small
FAQs
Tips for organising your kitchen
• Start small. We don't all have time to re-organise our whole entire kitchen, so if you can, organise your most used cupboard first and you'll start to see the benefits.
• Have a declutter. First things first, throw any things that are out of date and then start backwards in date order so all the things you need to use up are at the front of your cupboard.
• Store non-essentials lower down. Or at the back of cupboards. Have all the things you use daily at the front where they are the easiest to access.
• Swot up on DIY. Adding rods and storage baskets to the back of cupboards will save you so much space in the long run and are so easy to screw on.
• Theme your cupboards. If you have a medium to large kitchen, have cupboards or shelves for certain things. For example, having carbs like rice, noodles and pasta on one shelf will be so useful (and help with meal planning).