How to Organize Your Kitchen Cabinets in One Afternoon

Kitchen cabinets have a way of descending into chaos no matter how organized you think you are. Mugs end up stacked three deep, pot lids become an avalanche every time you open the door, and the Tupperware cabinet is a crime scene. The fix doesn't require a weekend. It requires about three hours and six products that are specifically designed to make kitchen cabinets work harder. Empty everything out, wipe down the shelves, and put things back with these systems in place. You'll be done before dinner.

What Are the Best Kitchen Cabinet Shelf Risers?

The best shelf risers are Stackable Cabinet Shelf Risers ($22 for a set of 4, 11,400+ reviews). They create a second level inside any cabinet, effectively doubling your visible storage. They're adjustable from 10 to 16 inches wide and work for plates, mugs, and canned goods.

Shelf risers are the most underrated kitchen organizer. They create a second level inside your cabinet, effectively doubling your visible storage. Instead of stacking plates three high (where you can only see the top one), you put half on the riser and half on the cabinet shelf. Everything is visible and accessible. These are adjustable in width, which means they fit inside standard cabinets without modification. They also work great for canned goods, spices, and mugs.

How Do You Organize a Corner Kitchen Cabinet?

A Lazy Susan turntable ($18, 8,400+ reviews) is the single best solution for corner cabinets. Put one on each shelf and everything is one spin away. The bamboo surface has enough texture that bottles don't slide around.

Corner cabinets are the Bermuda Triangle of kitchens. Things go in and never come out. A lazy Susan turntable changes that completely. Put one on each shelf of your corner cabinet and suddenly everything is one spin away. This bamboo one is 10 inches across, which fits most standard cabinets. Use it for spices, oils, vinegars, or sauces. The bamboo surface has enough texture that bottles don't slide around when you spin it. It's the single best $18 you'll spend on your kitchen.

Pan Lid Organizer

Pot lid chaos is a universal kitchen problem. Every time you reach for a pan, three lids come crashing down. A lid organizer rack stands lids upright in a neat row, sorted by size. It sits on a cabinet shelf or on the counter and takes up about 6 inches of width. The dividers are adjustable, so it accommodates lids from 6 to 12 inches. Some people use these for cutting boards and baking sheets too, which is actually a better use of space than stacking them flat.

Under-Cabinet Mug Hooks

Under-cabinet mug hooks free up an entire shelf's worth of space. Instead of mugs sitting on a shelf taking up room that could hold plates or bowls, they hang underneath the shelf from small hooks. You screw the hooks into the underside of the shelf (or use adhesive versions), and each mug hangs by its handle. Eight hooks hold eight mugs in the space that would otherwise be wasted. It looks charming too, like a coffee shop display. The only downside is heavier ceramic mugs can feel like they're pulling on the screws, so use the screw-in type rather than adhesive for anything over 12 ounces.

How Do You Organize Tupperware and Matching Lids?

A Tupperware Lid Organizer ($14, 9,700+ reviews) mounts to the cabinet door and keeps lids upright and sorted by size. Store containers on the shelf and lids on the door separately -- matching them takes seconds instead of minutes.

The Tupperware cabinet is everybody's nemesis. Lids separate from containers, things nest inside each other in configurations that make no sense, and finding a matching set requires archaeological skills. A lid organizer that mounts to the cabinet door keeps lids upright and sorted by size. The containers stack neatly on the shelf. When lid and container are stored separately but both organized, matching them takes seconds instead of minutes. This door-mount design uses the dead space on the cabinet door interior, which is usually completely wasted.

Pull-Out Cabinet Organizer for Deep Cabinets

For the deepest cabinets, a pull-out organizer brings everything to you instead of making you reach blindly into the back. This two-tier sliding system mounts to the cabinet floor and pulls out on smooth rails. Heavy pots, stand mixers, or bulk items that live in the back become just as accessible as things in front. Installation takes about 20 minutes per cabinet and requires a drill. It's the most involved project on this list, but it's also the most transformative. Deep cabinets without pull-outs are basically black holes.

Total project cost: about $112. Total time: one afternoon. The difference between before and after will make you wish you'd done it sooner. The key is doing all the cabinets in one session so you can redistribute things logically. Move rarely-used items to high or deep spots, and keep daily-use items at eye level and within easy reach.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you organize kitchen cabinets quickly?

You can organize all your kitchen cabinets in one afternoon (about 3 hours) with six products totaling $112. Start by emptying everything, wiping shelves, then installing Shelf Risers ($22), a Lazy Susan ($18), Lid Organizer ($16), Mug Hooks ($10), Tupperware Organizer ($14), and a Pull-Out Organizer ($32).

What is the best lazy Susan for kitchen cabinets?

A Bamboo Lazy Susan Turntable ($18, 8,400+ reviews) is the best option for kitchen corner cabinets. The 10-inch diameter fits most standard cabinets, and the bamboo surface has enough texture that bottles don't slide around when you spin it. Use it for spices, oils, vinegars, and sauces.

How do you organize pots and lids in a cabinet?

A Pan Lid Organizer Rack ($16, 6,200+ reviews) stands lids upright in a neat row sorted by size. The adjustable dividers accommodate lids from 6 to 12 inches. It also works for cutting boards and baking sheets. Combine it with a Pull-Out Cabinet Organizer ($32) for deep cabinets where pots get pushed to the back.

How do you hang mugs under a cabinet?

Under-Cabinet Mug Hooks ($10 for a set of 8) screw into the underside of a shelf. Each mug hangs by its handle in space that would otherwise be wasted. Eight hooks hold eight mugs, freeing up an entire shelf. Use screw-in hooks rather than adhesive for mugs over 12 ounces.

How do you organize deep kitchen cabinets?

A Pull-Out Cabinet Organizer ($32, 7,600+ reviews) mounts to the cabinet floor and pulls out on smooth rails, bringing everything to you instead of making you reach blindly into the back. It's the most transformative upgrade for deep cabinets. Installation takes about 20 minutes per cabinet with a drill.