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Whether you're an avid organizer or tend to get motivated come springtime, a year cooking and eating at home is a good motivator for reorganizing your kitchen. The heart of the home has become even more of the ultimate workhorse since last spring, and we're always looking for new ways to create more storage in the kitchen and keep our cook spaces tidier and more inviting. And there's likely no place that needs more TLC in the kitchen quite like your cupboards.
"Your first priority for improving your kitchen’s functionality should be to really think through which cabinets are your prime real estate," says Melissa Hagmeyer, cofounder of Neat Method, a nationwide luxury home organization company. "Locate those that are closest to the fridge, your stovetop, and your dishwasher—the places you are in and out of everyday. The cabinets closest to appliances are the ones where your everyday items should live. It will make your daily tasks much easier to accomplish."
We've asked Hagmeyer and Nikki Boyd, organization blogger and author of Beautifully Organized: A Guide to Function and Style in Your Home, to share their expertise on making your kitchen cabinets work well for you.
1
Make Your Cabinets as Accessible as Possible
"One of the easiest upgrades you can make to your kitchen cabinets is to add a few turntables," says Hagmeyer. "They instantly bring the items at the back of your cabinets forward and accessible. When you can see what you have, it also helps ensure you don’t overbuy essentials like vinegars, oils, etc."
2
Fox Run Marble Lazy Susan
2
Fox Run Marble Lazy Susan
This marble turntable brings both aesthetics and accessibility to your kitchen cabinets.
3
Embrace Your Inner Aesthete
"Although kitchen cabinets are often behind closed doors, I always encourage my clients to style their items within the cabinet," says Boyd. "This will bring them joy each time they open a cabinet in their kitchen, along with encouraging the family to keep this space in order."
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4
Never Underestimate the Power of Labeling
"We can't emphasize enough the importance of labeling," says Hagmeyer. "Organizing takes time, and if you want all of that time and effort you put in to last, you have to add some labels to your organizing solutions. It helps ensure that everyone respects the time investment you've made."
She says her team believes there is no cabinet more beautiful than one full of labeled, decanted, and alphabetized spices sitting proudly on a riser.
"Functionality first. Putting spices on a riser makes it easy to see and grab what you have, but there is also something about how aesthetically pleasing it is—and that just makes cooking more exciting," says Hagmeyer.
6
Get in Line
"For deep cabinets, place items in the cabinet using what I like to call the 'grocery store method,' " says Boyd. "Simply place like items in a single line from front to back. This way the front row will let you know exactly what is in your cabinet but you have maximized the space."
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7
Invest in the Right Baskets for Smart, Stylish Organization
"If you are using your cabinets to store food items, consider adding some baskets," says Hagmeyer, "First, create categories of like items, and then find the perfect basket that will fit in your cabinet and be the right size for the category. For smaller items that would be nice to quickly grab and go, consider a wire basket. For larger categories or even two that make sense together, consider a basket with a removable divider."
Boyd is also a big fan of baskets and advises letting the beautiful items in your cabinet, such a plates and glasses, stay visible and focus on disguising the "not-so-pretty yet functional" pieces that need to be kept close to your cook space.
We're loving this beautiful cane basket for creating morebeautiful and organized cabinets.
9
Keep Up the Good Work All Year Long!
"The bulk of the work when organizing is done on the front end, when you spend the time to rethink your space and invest in products that will help keep your newly neat space stay organized," says Hagmeyer.
"However, we like to plan out when your 'touch-ups' are going to take place, so you can maintain the order. A great time to consider this is after you get home with new groceries. Just a few minutes before putting away what you bought, give every bin or basket a once-over and edit out whatever is expired and get rid of the dreaded bag that someone put back, even though it was empty."
Lauren Wicks
Freelance Writer
Lauren Wicks is a freelance writer and editor based in Birmingham, Alabama. Before going on her own, Lauren worked for brands such as VERANDA, EatingWell, and Cooking Light, and she covers all things lifestyle from interior design and luxury travel to wine and wellness.
