Most cabinets are just big, empty boxes with one or two static shelves, which is a recipe for “black hole” storage where items get lost for years.
When we talk about kitchen cabinet organizers, we aren’t just talking about pretty bins; we are talking about creating systems that optimize your space to fit your actual belongings.
As a recovering attorney, I’m all about the “evidence”—if you can’t see your tools, you won’t use them, and they are effectively just clutter
The solutions shared in this post are the tried and true products that not only work in my own home, but also are the same kitchen organizing solutions that I recommend for my many clients, time and time again.
This post contains affiliate links (see full disclosure at the end of the article).
Which Kitchen Cabinet Organizers Actually Work?
No matter the size of your kitchen, disorganized cabinets are such a frustration!
There are a bunch of options to bring additional structure and function to your cabinets with a few small tweaks.
The market is flooded with gadgets, but I prefer solid, time-tested advice over trendy “hacks” that don’t last.
Optimizing Upper Kitchen Cabinets
Next, it’s time to cover the upper kitchen cabinets.
When you optimize a cabinet, you’ll be surprised by how much you can actually fit in it!
What to Store in Cabinets vs. Drawers
Kitchen drawers are like beachfront property, but too often they’re filled with items that really should or could live elsewhere in the kitchen.
And most kitchens don’t have enough drawer space to begin with, so it makes sense to kick out items that are better suited for other locations.
Spices are a huge space suck in drawers, especially if stored flat.
A well rounded spice and herb “collection” can quickly take over a lot of real estate if left unchecked.
These pull out spice racks are simply the best way to store lots of spices in a compact and attractive way.
The accommodate both round and squared off jars, so no need to invest in a matching set of spice jars.
I installed these same racks when we renovated our kitchen and I love how easy spices are to find and grab out with little effort when whipping up a meal.
The most frequently used jars end up in the front, but the lesser used options are still visible and within easy reach.
The racks are quick and easy to install too, making them a great addition to any kitchen space.
Smaller jars of lesser used spices live on a turn table on the shelf immediately above and the super big bottles of spices live on the next shelf up.
They’re all still super easy to access and don’t get in the way of day to day cooking.
Use Back of Cabinet Doors for Storage
Another idea for freeing up drawer space is to move rubber trivets and pot holders out of a drawer and onto the backside of a cabinet door.
Use a clear Command Hook to hang them up to keep the close at hand.
Add one or two to the inside of the cabinet door closest to your stove for easy access.
Pro Tip for Successful Command Strip Installation
Clean the area where you’ll hang the hook and let it dry completely (at least 10-15 minutes) before revealing the adhesive and sticking the hook on to the cabinet and pressing firmly..
And then (here’s the magic!) wait 24 hours before putting any weight on the hook.
I know you’re anxious to get everything hung up and this mini project checked off of your list.
Being patient pays off because the wait time ensures the adhesive has time to fully adhere to the surface, making for a durable hook.
Optimizing Upper Kitchen Cabinet Storage Space
If you have a tall cabinet without a lot of shelves, these Under the Shelf Baskets help to eke out every last bit of space!
Most people know to use the available horizontal space in cabinets, but not as many think to use the full vertical space too.
Instead of stacking small plates on top of larger ones, use a space doubler instead.
The simple wire shelf keeps all of my plates organized with zero fuss.
These stacking shelves are good for adding in more structure and flexibility to your cabinet space, and are a budget friendly option.
Bamboo Shelves are a different aesthetic look for space doublers.
Increase access and your view
Sometimes you have enough space in a cabinet, but you’re not able to easily see what you have.
This means it’s time to lift things in the back up a bit so you can more easily see them.
Tiered shelf risers are a game-changer for plates and canned goods, effectively doubling your usable surface area without needing to pick up a hammer or call a contractor.
This bamboo tiered shelf option works great for organizing medicines in the kitchen.
I prefer a plastic tiered shelf option for food storage in cabinets and the non-skid, grippy feature of this tiered shelf is perfect.
It keeps cans in place and lessens the chance of them tumbling out and causing injury.
Use a Spinning Turntable to Keep Everything Within Reach
End the dig for what you need that’s at the back of the cabinet and instead put everything within reach by using a turntable for the space.
Cabinet lazy Susans are great for keeping smaller items together and ready for use, just like the mini bottles of olive oil in the above image.
Specialty Product Organizers
Sometimes a specialty storage solution is just the ticket for more efficiently storage.
For example, half filled tea boxes eat up a lot of valuable space in cabinets, so consolidate them all in this tea organizer from YouCopia.
This organizer compactly fits several boxes of tea in the space that just a few boxes of tea take up.
And you can see exactly how much tea you have, making overbuying less likely.
Kitchen Cabinet Drawer Organizers
Kitchen drawers can also benefit from adding some internal structure to provide a place for everything.
One of the most frustrating aspects of drawers is how easily things tend to move around in a drawer if the space isn’t divided.
The solution is to add a functional and aesthetic solution!
Spruce up kitchen drawers with a non-slip liner that is both easy to cut to size and keep clean.
The bright blue is such a nice surprise in my drawers when they’re opened.
What I love most about EVA shelf liner is that it’s not adhesive and is not made from PVC.
It doesn’t stink (literally!) and can be used in drawers, cabinets or even the fridge.
Organized Knife Drawer
If you’re looking for a cleaned off counter look, moving knives out of dight and into a drawer is the way to go.
Having the knives loosey, gooey in a drawer is a recipe for an especially dangerous disaster, so avoid that altogether with a knife drawer insert, like the one shown above.
It’s been in use in my home for over a year and is working very well, with very few signs of wear, despite quite a bit of use!
The other important thing to note is that not all kitchens can accommodate a drawer organizers with just one or two utensils per slot.
No shame in grouping like things all together like I did for my knife/cutting drawer.
Peelers, zesters, pitters and slicers all live together in a shallow and wide bin, with scissors nestled in between the knives.
The most frequently used items sit on top, but the less frequently accessed items lay just below.
Orderly Utensils
A tidy utensil drawer is the dream, right?
These Joseph and Joseph utensil organizers help make the dream come alive!
They come in both small and large, and because I have about 24 place settings, give or take a few lost spoon or forks, there was no way everything was fitting into the small, so I used both sizes to fill the drawer.
Teaspoons and salad forks went into the small organizer on the left and the tablespoons and dinner forks in the large organizer on the right.
The utensils got wedged in the drawer when the top two compartments are used, so that’s why they’re empty.
Instead, disposable tableware gets stored there when we have leftovers from takeout.
Tidy Tools
Don’t let your cooking tools and gadgets float around in a drawer in a jumbled mess!
Get them in order with a simple organizing system like this expandable organizer.
Lower Kitchen Cabinet Organizers
Lower kitchen cabinets are challenging because you have to bend over to access items.
Reaching items in the back of the cabinet sometimes requires getting down on hands and knees, which is such a pain.
And open cabinets are nothing but an invitation for a clutter unless there’s some structure to keep everything in check.
I created the coffee station using a pull out drawer.
One issue with pull out drawers is that the walls are short and items can easily fall over the side.
To contain the smaller items, I used a basket to corral everything and keep things in place.
For deep lower cabinets, I highly recommend pull-out drawers or sturdy bins that act as drawers, allowing you to bring the back of the cabinet to the front so nothing gets forgotten.
In my ziplock and foil wrap storage cabinet, it wasn’t practical to add a pull out shelf, but bending over to get things from the cabinet wasn’t ideal either.
Instead, I used some multipurpose bins to store kitchen towels right below the boxes of plastic wrap and ziplock bags.
The way the bins are situation allows them to act as a pull out without having to install anything.
And if I ever want to rework the cabinet to store something else, I can easily move the bins out with no holes left behind.
Don’t let the area under your kitchen sink be the only space with pull out shelves!
Adding a pull out feature to as many cabinets as possible will greatly boost your productivity and satisfaction with your kitchen!
If you have the space, this double pull out shelf will really make the most of the space.
Plus it’s a great idea to organize pots and pans.
FAQ: Kitchen Cabinet Organizers
What are the best kitchen cabinet organizers for small spaces?
In smaller kitchens, vertical space is your best friend.
Use over-the-door racks for pot lids or cleaning supplies, and utilize magnetic strips or tension rods to create “slots” for baking sheets and cutting boards.
Can I use kitchen cabinet organizers in a rental?
Absolutely!
Many of the best solutions, like tension rods, non-adhesive shelf liners, and expandable risers, require zero drilling and can be taken with you if you ever move.
How do I choose the right size for cabinet bins?
Always empty the cabinet and group your items first.
Measure the width, depth, and height of the shelf, and look for bins that maximize the depth so you aren’t leaving empty space at the back.
Do I need to buy matching organizers?
While matching bins look great, functionality is the priority.
It is much more important that the organizer fits the item it’s holding and the shelf it sits on than it is for everything to be the same color.
Over to You!
Now it’s time for you to take action and add the products that’ll most help you bring more order and organization to your home!
The beauty of a well-placed system is that it makes being productive and managing your time so much easier.
Once you have your kitchen cabinet organizers in place, maintenance becomes a breeze because everything has a designated spot.
My “anyone-can-do-it” approach means these systems are designed for real life, not just for a photoshoot.
Even if things get a little hectic during a busy week, these organizers provide the roadmap to get your kitchen back to baseline in just a few minutes.
Happy organizing!
More Kitchen Organization Resources
Elevate your kitchen organization with this bundle of 144 gorgeous printable labels, featuring a mix of stylish graphics and clear text for a professional, cohesive look.
Designed for easy printing, this instant digital download is the perfect affordable solution for transforming your pantry into a functional, clutter-free sanctuary.
Does the “What’s for dinner?” dread hit you every afternoon? You don’t need a personal chef to master your kitchen; you just need a better system.
Designed to take the guesswork out of feeding your family, our printable meal planning kit helps organize every step of the process.
It includes everything from grocery lists to inventory sheets, helping you reduce food waste and save money.
Master your household management with the ultimate organizational tool: the Organized Life Binder.
Featuring expert-designed trackers and checklists across 815 pages, this system helps you eliminate paper clutter and streamline your daily routines so you can focus on what truly matters.
Transform your space and eliminate clutter with the Label All the Things Printable Home Organization Bundle.
Our comprehensive printable household label collection offers an instant, stylish solution to help everyone in your household know exactly where things belong.
Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates, the Container Store and Etsy Affiliate Programs, affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, ContainerStore.com, and Etsy.com. This means that when you click and make a purchase at a site via a link I have provided, I make a small commission at no additional cost to you. Regardless of whether or not I receive a commission, I only recommend products that I personally use and genuinely recommend.
