Where should things go in kitchen cabinets and drawers? Generally, you should store items based on how often you use them and where they are needed for the task. Frequently used items belong in easy-to-reach spots, like between your shoulders and knees. Less used items go up high or down low. This simple rule guides most successful kitchen organization hacks.
A well-organized kitchen saves time, reduces stress, and makes cooking fun. When everything has a specific home, cleanup is faster, and you always know where your favorite mug is hiding. Let’s dive deep into the best spots for every item in your kitchen.
The Golden Rules of Kitchen Placement
Before placing a single item, remember these core placement concepts. These rules help you create a kitchen that flows naturally with how you cook.
Proximity to Use: The Prime Location Rule
The most important rule is placing items close to where you use them.
- Cooking Zone (Near the Stove/Oven): This is the heart of your kitchen work area. Store oils, spices, cooking utensils (spatulas, ladles), and pots and pans here.
- Prep Zone (Near Counter Space): Keep knives, cutting boards, mixing bowls, and measuring cups near the main counter space where you chop vegetables or assemble meals.
- Cleaning Zone (Near the Sink/Dishwasher): Store dish soap, sponges, cleaning sprays, and recycling/trash bins nearby. Keep everyday plates and glasses in cabinets directly above or across from the dishwasher for fast unloading.
- Serving Zone (Near the Dining Area or Table): Place everyday dishes, glassware, and placemats here.
Frequency of Use Dictates Height
Think about how often you grab an item.
- Daily Use: These items must be stored between your waist and eye level. This is the “prime real estate.” Examples include coffee mugs, everyday plates, and salt/pepper shakers.
- Weekly Use: Items used once a week or bi-weekly can go on the lowest shelves or the very top shelves of upper cabinets, provided you can still reach them without a huge stool.
- Seasonal/Rare Use: Holiday dishes, specialty baking pans, or seldom-used small appliances should go in the hardest-to-reach spots, like the very top shelves or deep base cabinets.
Cabinet Organization: Utilizing Vertical Space
Cabinets often waste space because they are deep and tall. Smart cabinet storage solutions transform wasted air into functional storage areas.
Upper Cabinets: Dishes, Glassware, and Food Storage
Upper cabinets are generally easier to access than deep base cabinets. Use them for lighter items.
Organizing Everyday Dishes and Glasses
Keep things simple here. Stacking saves space, but make sure stacks aren’t too high, which makes them hard to grab without toppling.
- Plates and Bowls: Store these on lower or middle shelves. If you have deep shelves, use plate racks or shelf risers to create two layers of storage.
- Glassware: Mugs and everyday drinking glasses should be stored right above the coffee maker or near the dishwasher for easy loading/unloading. Wine glasses often fare better in dedicated racks or lower cabinets if you have fragile stemware.
Maximizing Kitchen Cabinet Space with Inserts
To improve flow, use tools that work with the height of your cabinets.
- Shelf Risers (Wire or Plastic): These instantly double the usable surface area on a shelf. Use them to stack mugs below and cereal boxes above, or separate bowls from plates.
- Pull-Out Drawers/Baskets: For deeper upper cabinets, installing roll-out drawers allows you to see everything without deep digging. This is excellent for storing plastics or overflow food items.
- Tiered Spice Racks: If you prefer organizing spices in cabinets rather than on the counter, a tiered insert lets you see all the labels at once.
Storing Food Items and Dry Goods
This is where pantry organization ideas spill over into your standard cabinets if you lack a dedicated pantry.
| Item Type | Recommended Location | Storage Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Canned Goods | Middle shelves, near the prep area. | Use can dispensers or clear containers so older items are visible and used first (FIFO). |
| Baking Supplies (Flour, Sugar) | Lower cabinet or countertop adjacent to mixing area. | Store in airtight, clear containers labeled clearly. |
| Snacks/Cereals | Easily accessible middle shelves. | Group by type (e.g., “Breakfast items,” “Kids’ snacks”). |
Base Cabinets: Heavy Items and Large Gear
Base cabinets sit lower and are generally deeper. Because you have to bend down, they are best for heavy items that are awkward to lift high up.
Storing Pots and Pans Efficiently
This is a common pain point for many cooks. Heavy metal cookware belongs low down to prevent injury and make access easier.
- Lids: Lids are notorious space hogs. Use vertical lid organizers attached to the inside of the cabinet door or use tension rods placed vertically inside the cabinet to separate lids like files.
- Pots and Pans: Avoid deep stacking, which forces you to unstack everything just to get the one pan on the bottom.
- Best Method: Store them vertically using specialized cabinet storage solutions like pot and pan dividers (tension rods or metal racks). This allows you to slide out one pan at a time.
- If you must stack, put the largest, heaviest pots on the bottom shelf, nested inside each other.
Appliances and Bakeware
Small appliances (blenders, food processors) and flat items (baking sheets, cutting boards) benefit greatly from vertical storage.
- Baking Sheets and Muffin Tins: Store these vertically, standing up on their sides, using tension rods or narrow wire dividers inside a cabinet near the oven.
- Small Appliances: If you use them often (like a mixer), give them a spot on an accessible lower shelf. If used seasonally, they go high up or in a basement/garage storage area.
Under Sink Cabinet Organization
The under sink cabinet organization is often chaotic due to plumbing pipes and cleaning supplies. This area needs specialized solutions.
- Pipes are the Enemy: Work around the pipes. Use stackable, U-shaped, or sliding drawers that fit neatly around the plumbing.
- Cleaning Supplies: Keep these contained. Use a two-tiered lazy Susan or a sliding drawer to hold bottles. This keeps harsh chemicals out of reach of small children if possible (though child locks are always recommended).
- Trash/Recycling: If you have room, install pull-out bins here. This keeps trash hidden yet accessible.
Drawer Organization: The Key to Efficiency
Drawers are where high-frequency items live. If a drawer is messy, it slows down every task. Drawer dividers for kitchen items are non-negotiable for maximizing efficiency.
The Kitchen Drawer Layout: Zoning Your Drawers
Think of your drawers in zones, mapping them to the primary work areas.
- Prep Drawer (Near Cutting Board): Knives, peelers, graters, small measuring tools.
- Cooking Drawer (Near Stove): Tongs, whisks, wooden spoons, meat thermometers.
- Serving Drawer (Near Dish Storage): Serving spoons, spatulas, can openers.
Organizing Cutlery Drawers
This is the most straightforward drawer, but even it needs refinement.
- Standard Cutlery: Use adjustable or custom-fit drawer dividers for kitchen sets to keep forks, knives, and spoons separate and neat.
- Jumbo Utensils: Large serving spoons, ladles, and pizza cutters should not share space with everyday forks. Dedicate a secondary, deeper drawer or section for these bulkier items. If you have deep drawers, store silverware trays on top of a small riser to fit bulky items underneath.
Utensil Organization Beyond Cutlery
The “junk drawer” often claims this space, but it should be organized utility storage.
- Gadgets and Tools: Group like items together. Use small, modular bins within the drawer to section off bottle openers, measuring spoons, small whisks, and vegetable peelers.
- Plastic Wrap/Bags Drawer: Store foil, plastic wrap, and storage bags here. Use vertical slot dividers (like file organizers) to keep boxes upright, preventing them from sliding around when the drawer opens.
| Drawer Type | Primary Contents | Essential Organizer |
|---|---|---|
| Top Drawer (Prep/Cooking) | Knives, spatulas, whisks, can openers. | Tiered utensil trays or expandable bamboo dividers. |
| Second Drawer (Serving/Linen) | Everyday silverware, placemats, kitchen towels. | Standard compartment dividers. |
| Third/Deep Drawer (Bakeware/Bulk) | Extra serving utensils, baking tools, baggies. | Modular bins or vertical dividers for boxes. |
Specialized Storage Areas
Not everything fits neatly into standard cabinets or drawers. Here is how to handle specialty items.
Organizing Spices in Cabinets or Drawers
Spices need to be visible, protected from heat, and easy to grab while cooking.
- Drawer Placement: If you store spices in a drawer near the stove, use angled spice trays. These hold jars tilted up so you can read the labels easily without lifting them.
- Cabinet Placement: If using a cabinet, use tiered risers. Avoid storing spices directly above the stove, as the heat and steam degrade their flavor quickly. A cabinet adjacent to the stove is ideal.
- Decanting: Transferring spices into uniform jars makes any cabinet storage solution look better and fit more neatly. Label the tops if they are stored in a drawer.
Deep Pantry Organization Ideas
Whether you have a walk-in or a narrow cupboard, pantry organization focuses on bulk visibility.
- Clear Bins are Key: Use clear, uniform bins for dry goods like pasta, rice, snacks, and baking mixes. Label the bins clearly. This prevents items from getting lost in the back.
- Vertical Stacking: For items like cereal boxes or bags of chips, use magazine holders or tall wire baskets to keep them upright and accessible.
- Door Storage: The back of pantry doors is often wasted space. Use slim, hanging racks for small items like spice packets, small jars of sauces, or reusable produce bags.
Storing Servingware and Linens
These items don’t see daily action, so they can occupy less convenient spots, but they still need dedicated homes.
- Formal China/Serving Platters: If you use these only a few times a year, store them on the highest shelves of a seldom-used cabinet, or in a separate dining room hutch. Use felt protectors between plates to prevent chipping.
- Table Linens (Napkins, Tablecloths): Store these neatly folded in a deep drawer or a high cabinet. Using drawer dividers or small storage boxes keeps them flat and wrinkle-free.
Advanced Organization Hacks for Difficult Spaces
Sometimes, cabinets are oddly shaped, or you have awkward corners. These tips tackle the tricky spots.
Corner Cabinets
Lazy Susans are the classic solution, but they aren’t always perfect.
- Lazy Susans: Excellent for small, round items like bottles, jars, or small appliances. Ensure the shelves are secured well.
- Kidney-Shaped Pull-Outs: These specialized mechanisms pull the entire shelf unit out of the deep corner cabinet, making the back contents fully accessible. This is a fantastic investment for maximizing space in tricky corners.
Narrow Cabinets (Spice or Tray Cabinets)
If you have a very narrow cabinet, use its height.
- Vertical Dividers: Perfect for storing trays, cutting boards, cooling racks, and cookie sheets standing on edge. This uses the depth of the cabinet efficiently.
- Door-Mounted Storage: Install thin racks on the inside of the door for shallow items like seasoning packets or small cleaning brushes.
Maintaining Your System: Keeping It Organized
A perfect setup fails if it isn’t maintained. Organization requires upkeep.
The One-Touch Rule
When you bring groceries in or unload the dishwasher, try to put the item directly into its assigned home. Do not set it on the counter “for later.” This prevents clutter creep.
Regular Purges
Schedule a quick 15-minute kitchen reset once a month. During this time, check expiration dates, discard broken gadgets, and ensure everything is still stored in its designated spot. If you find yourself repeatedly pulling items out of the wrong drawer, rethink the kitchen drawer layout for that zone.
Label Everything Clearly
Labels remove guesswork. If you use opaque containers or bins, labeling them ensures that everyone in the household knows where things belong, simplifying cleanup and storage for everyone. This is vital for maintaining complex pantry organization ideas or deep storage areas.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Where is the best place to store plastic food containers (Tupperware)?
A: The best spot is usually a deep base drawer near the food prep area or dishwasher. Store lids vertically using dividers so you can see them all at once. Nest the containers of similar shapes and sizes together.
Q: Should I keep my spices next to the stove?
A: While convenient, direct heat and steam degrade spices quickly. Keep them in a drawer or cabinet immediately adjacent to the stove, but not directly above it.
Q: How can I stop my upper cabinet shelves from being too deep?
A: Use clear, stackable bins that you can pull out like drawers. This brings the back items forward instantly. Alternatively, install pull-out shelves if your cabinets allow for it.
Q: What is the best way to organize cleaning supplies under the sink?
A: Use tiered, sliding organizers that fit around the plumbing pipes. Keep heavy bottles low and group similar items (e.g., glass cleaner, sponges) into small caddies for easy grabbing.
Q: Are lazy Susans effective for everything?
A: Lazy Susans are fantastic for corner cabinets and holding bottles, oils, or spices. They are less ideal for flat items like plates or sheet pans, which should use vertical dividers.