How to Organize Kitchen Cabinets: 10 Organization Tips

Kitchen cabinets are an excellent place to store items and can help keep your kitchen [countertops](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/types-of-countertops) free of clutter. Follow these steps to approach organizing your cabinetry: 1. __Remove all the items from your cabinets__. Take out all of the food items, dinnerware, and cookware from your cabinets. Wipe down all containers and discard any expired items. 2. __Thoroughly clean your cabinet shelves and doors__. Use a multi-surface cleaner or degreaser spray to clean the inside and outside of your cabinets. 3. __Measure your cabinets__. Measure your cabinets for dividers, organizers, or additional shelves. 4. __Place like items together__. Before refilling your cabinets, organize items on your counter and put together foodstuffs, dinnerware, cleaning supplies, etc. Then identify where to put these items for optimal access and cleanliness. Follow these steps to maximize storage space for dinnerware, cookware, utensils, cleaning supplies, and more: 1. __Place heavier items on the bottom of cabinet shelves__. This intuitive storage method requires some planning. Heavy pans, mixing bowls, and large serving dishes are better kept in the lower cabinets of your kitchen, while lighter items, such as spice racks or pot lids, can safely be stored higher up. 2. __Keep like items together__. This storage solution can help you maintain organization over time. Foodstuff should go with other foodstuffs, cookware with cookware, dishes with dishes, and so forth. 3. __Maximize the capacity of your cabinets__. When organizing kitchen cabinets, pay attention to how you are utilizing the space. Often, you can adjust the height of shelves or add shelf maximizers that allow mini shelves to sit on top of larger shelves or stacked items. 4. __Use round storage organizers__. Lazy susans and turntables are a great way to maximize cabinet space. You can place a large round organizer in corner cabinets and small ones to hold spices or utensils on shelves inside cabinets. Some can even fit into pull-out drawers, a great space-conserving hack for easy access. 5. __Maximize vertical space__. Take advantage of your kitchen’s vertical space. You can stack dishes or store baking sheets and cookie sheets on their side so that you can access them easily. 6. __Use containers__. Food storage containers are often more aesthetically pleasing than food items’ original packaging. Plus, airtight containers can improve your food’s shelf life. 7. __Implement cabinet dividers__. Another simple but effective organizational idea is to use dividers. You can place dividers in large drawers to separate different kinds of items. Cabinet dividers are especially helpful for cabinets under the kitchen sink, where you can store cleaning supplies such as sponges and paper towels. 8. __Insert drawer organizers__. You can use drawer organizers to keep your kitchen drawers free of clutter. Place utensils or on-the-go snacks into separate organizers. 9. __Use the outside of cabinets__. With the right approach, you can hang cutlery, cutting boards, and other kitchen tools in a functional and aesthetically pleasing way. Attach pegboards or adhesive hooks on the sides of cabinets. 10. __Remove cabinet doors__. Consider removing some of the kitchen cabinet doors to display decorative plates, wine glasses, or keepsakes. A mix of open shelves and cabinetry in your kitchen can add color and variety to your space. Master everything from color theory to pattern mixing with the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com) and exclusive lessons from award-winning interior designers like Corey Damen Jenkins and Kelly Wearstler. From shopping for statement furniture to designing a lighting scheme to choosing the newest member of your plant family, the skills you’ll pick up are sure to make your house, apartment, or condo feel even more like a home. Organizing your kitchen cabinets can help streamline cooking and baking and can help extend the shelf life of food items. Read more about how to organize kitchen cabinets.