10 Decluttering Tips to Make the Most of Your Cabinet Space

When it comes to home organization, one area that often gets neglected is our cabinets. Whether it’s in the kitchen, bathroom, or garage, cabinets have a significant amount of hidden potential to keep your home neat and functional. Decluttering your cabinets doesn’t just create more space, it makes life easier and enhances the overall flow of your home. Let’s explore 10 decluttering tips to help you make the most of your cabinet space.

1. Start with a Clean Slate

Before diving into decluttering, take everything out of your cabinets. This will allow you to assess exactly what you have and help you identify what you need or use. Having a clear view of the contents lets you make informed decisions about what should stay and what should go. This approach gives you a fresh perspective and helps you avoid holding onto items that no longer serve a purpose.

While you're emptying your cabinets, this is a great opportunity to clean the interiors. Wipe down shelves, sanitize, and even consider adding liners to keep things in good condition. When the inside looks great, it will help inspire you to maintain better organization over time.

2. Sort Items Based on Frequency of Use

One of the easiest ways to declutter your cabinets is to organize items based on how often they are used. Items you reach for regularly should be kept in the most accessible spots, like eye-level shelves or easily reachable drawers. Less frequently used items, on the other hand, can be moved to the higher shelves or even relocated to storage bins outside the cabinet area.

For instance, in the kitchen, pots and pans you use daily should take precedence, while items for special occasions or infrequent use, like a pressure cooker or bread machine, can go toward the back.

3. Use Cabinet Dividers and Drawer Organizers

Having the right storage tools can work wonders when it comes to decluttering your cabinets. Drawer dividers, shelf inserts, and adjustable racks can make all the difference in keeping things organized and accessible. Use dividers to separate silverware, cooking utensils, or small items within drawers. You could also consider a pull-out shelf to make every inch of cabinet space usable.

By dividing your space into sections, you’ll not only find things quicker, but your cabinets will look a lot more orderly, too.

4. Embrace Vertical Storage

Don’t forget to take advantage of vertical space. It’s common to overlook the space at the top of cabinets, but there are many ways to utilize that extra height. Consider installing extra shelves if you have space at the top or use tall storage bins that can slide in and out easily.

Cabinet height is also a great place to store less frequently used items. For instance, seasonal dishes, extra towels, or bulk supplies can go on these higher shelves, so you save valuable real estate for your day-to-day needs.

5. Invest in Lazy Susans and Pull-Out Trays

For cabinets deep or filled with small items that tend to get lost, lazy susans and pull-out trays are absolute game-changers. A lazy susan allows you to easily spin to the item you need, while pull-out trays bring even deep and narrow shelves to your fingertips. These clever solutions are ideal for hard-to-reach corners where your everyday essentials don’t always fit well.

Consider these options for pantry items, cleaning supplies, or anything you store in deep cabinets.

6. Store Like Items Together

One of the best ways to maximize your cabinet space is by grouping similar items together. Organize your cabinets by category, so you always know exactly where to find what you’re looking for. For example, all the baking supplies—flour, sugar, and measuring cups—should have their own designated shelf. Similarly, store pots, lids, and cooking tools separately but nearby for convenience.

Grouping items by use ensures everything stays in its place and can significantly reduce clutter over time.

7. Minimize Items You Don’t Use Anymore

Decluttering isn’t just about moving things around; it’s also about removing items that don’t belong or serve you anymore. Go through each category in your cabinets and seriously ask if the item still adds value. That blender you haven’t used in two years, or that extra set of mismatched mugs from that yard sale, can be donated or repurposed.

Donating items can free up cabinet space and bring the satisfaction of helping others. On top of that, less clutter means more space for what truly matters.

8. Store Items by Frequency of Use

As you organize your items, be mindful of how often you need them. This method ensures maximum convenience while keeping things looking tidy. For example, in your kitchen, place frequently used items like cooking oils, spices, and utensils in cabinets closest to your prep areas. Items like bulk groceries, or items that you don't access daily, can be moved to areas further from your reach.

9. Label Everything

Once you’ve decluttered your cabinets and organized them into categories, it’s time to label. Labels help you identify and access items more quickly, without sifting through everything to find what you need. Invest in attractive yet durable labels, and be sure they’re placed in visible, consistent spots. This is especially helpful if there are multiple people in the household, as it will encourage them to keep things organized too.

For a kitchen, labels might include “baking” or “snacks,” and for bathroom cabinets, “toiletries” or “haircare.”

10. Maximize Corner Cabinets with Pull-Out Organizers

Corner cabinets often offer large amounts of space that go underused. The space in these often awkward, unreachable corners can become a messy nightmare unless you employ some creativity. A corner pull-out organizer can help you make the most of this under-utilized area by allowing items to be pulled out and displayed for easy access.

Utilizing pull-out mechanisms in corner spaces helps eliminate that “out of sight, out of mind” issue, so everything stays visible and within reach.

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FAQs

1. How do I know if my cabinet is really being fully utilized?

The best way to determine whether your cabinet is being fully utilized is by going through each shelf and assessing how often you actually use the items stored there. If you find items stashed in dark corners or towards the back, chances are you aren’t taking advantage of all the space available. Organizing by frequency of use and investing in the right storage solutions, like pull-out drawers or lazy susans, can unlock unused potential in every inch.

2. Should I call a professional if I want a custom solution?

If you feel like you’ve done everything but still can’t make the most out of your cabinets, don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional like Dave the Cabinet Guy. Professional cabinet designers can offer custom solutions tailored specifically to your needs and available space. Whether it’s adding extra shelves or installing a custom pull-out organizer, a professional can help ensure that every inch of your cabinet is used efficiently.

3. How can I stop clutter from building up in my cabinets?

The key to avoiding future clutter is maintaining your organization systems regularly. Make it a habit to quickly tidy up each cabinet after use. It helps to conduct a semi-annual or annual “culling” to eliminate items that you no longer need or use. Scheduling periodic checks will keep your cabinets clean and organized in the long term, making it easier to enjoy your home without feeling overwhelmed by clutter.