The Ultimate Guide to Kitchen Cabinet Organization

The first step to organizing your kitchen is decluttering. It helps you see what’s in the hidden depths of your cabinets and get rid of expired items and kitchen gadgets you haven’t used in a while. You’ll also use what you have more often when there’s less stuff crowding the cabinets.

This guide will give you a practical approach to decluttering and organizing your kitchen cabinets (including glass front cabinets, which show all the clutter!) so the next time you want to cook, you’ll have everything you need right at your fingertips.

A Practical Approach to Decluttering

Empty your cabinets completely. Once everything is out, you’ll easily be able to see what you want, need, or can discard. Toss anything broken, donate anything you haven’t used in a while, and keep the everyday and holiday items you need.

Give your cabinets a deep clean. Vacuum any crumbs and wipe out the inside of the cabinet with a mild cleaner, or just warm water and soap. Our in-depth review of tested and recommended cabinet cleaning products will help you pick the best cleaning products and degreasers.

Get in your cabinet repairs. If you’ve had a loose hinge, nicks or scratches, or rusty hinges, this is the time to get in all your cabinet repairs. Make sure your cabinets are clean and in great shape, and then you can start organizing. Check out our most common kitchen repairs to get started.

Organize Your Cabinets By Zones

Now that everything you will keep is out on the counters, start grouping them by zones. This means grouping similar items to keep in a specific area of your kitchen where you will use them the most. Think about how you use your kitchen and create the zones based on your needs. This is similar to laying out your entire kitchen with the 5-zone method. Here are some examples:

• Cooking zone
• Food prep zone
• Food storage zone
• Dishes, glassware, silverware zone 
• Coffee bar zone
• Cleaning products zone

 Many homeowners have a designated coffee station where everything they need to make coffee and tea is in one zone- sugar, sweeteners, K-cups, mugs, etc. Having everything you need in one area makes prep super easy.

Another great tip is to keep your dishes and food storage containers near the dishwasher. This makes unloading the dishwasher very simple and less time-consuming.

Set Up Functional Stations

Creating stations is like creating zones in your kitchen. Like the coffee zone, you can set up a breakfast nook with breakfast items like cereal, oatmeal, and bread. If you have kids, a lunch-making station with lunch bags, snacks, and non-perishable items all in one pantry.

Make Items Easy to Access

Accessibility is key when organizing your kitchen. Frequently used items should be in the front of cabinets within easy reach, and holiday or infrequently used items should be stored up high or in the backs of cabinets. Don’t overlook the insides of cabinet doors for extra storage- stick on hooks or bins to store smaller items like measuring cups.

You can use adhesive strips with small hooks to hang measuring cups and spoons on the inside of cabinet doors for quick access while cooking.

A pull-out spice rack next to your cooking area is an excellent addition for spice storage. It keeps things within easy reach while saving valuable space.

Pegboards and pull-out shelving are great for pots and pans beside the oven. They make it easy to grab heavy cookware without digging around.

Lazy susans are great for deep cabinets. They make it easy to store and access any type of item without having to rummage through the cabinet's depths.

Maximize Awkward Spaces

Every kitchen seems to have that one cupboard that you’re unsure what to store in it, like the small cabinets above your oven. You can use this space in several ways, like storing your cookbooks, decorative items, or rarely used items.

Add back-of-the-door storage in narrow cupboards with hooks or racks. This is a great way to store smaller items while being easily accessible.

A drawer organizer will keep your drawers clean and tidy. Use it to store utensils, gadgets, and more. Keeping everything in a designated space will make cooking much easier.

Make Use of Vertical Space

Vertical dividers are ideal for storing baking sheets and other awkwardly sized items. For even more storage options, you can hang hooks or rods inside cabinet doors. This not only clears up cabinet space but also ensures constant organization.

Don’t Forget the Countertops

Decluttering your counters goes hand in hand with organizing your cabinets. Only keep the most used items out on the counter, like cooking oils and spices. Use pretty containers, trays, or baskets to corral items so they don’t start cluttering up the space. Store the items on the back of the counter so you still have plenty of counter space for prep.

By following this simple decluttering and organization guide, your kitchen cabinets will look great and always be organized and functional. Pull-outs for spices and pots and pans, lazy susans, vertical storage, over-the-door storage, and dedicated zones and stations will make your meal prep much easier. Take it one step at a time, and don’t be afraid to get creative with your storage solutions! Reach out to your local dealer to learn more about Fabuwood’s accessories and storage options, which they will incorporate into your kitchen design.