These pro picks will help you quickly get chaotic cabinets in order. (Amazon)(Amazon)
Have you lost the lid for the saucepan you like to use for boiling pasta? Are there food storage containers in multiple places in your kitchen? Do you have food and non-food items in the same cabinets? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, we're here to help you bring order to kitchen chaos. No Jedi mind tricks needed — just a few tips from the pros, and this list of the best kitchen cabinet organizers.
Once you clear out the things you rarely use and identify the items that are essential to your daily routine, you can create an easy-to-maintain organized space. The common refrain we heard from professional organizers when it comes to kitchen cabinets is that you have to be able to see and reach what you need when you need it.
Even the tallest, deepest spaces can be utilized to their potential if you know the tricks. Enter the cookware racks, turntables and other best kitchen cabinet organizers that the pros use. Once you're done with the kitchen, you can start sprucing up the rest of the house with our guide to the best natural cleaning products and the best bathroom organizers!
Table of contents
Type: Revolving | Diameter: 9" | Height: 1.5"
Marlena Masitto, owner of Philly Neat Freaks, prefers a clear lazy Susan like this one from iDesign. "It helps with visibility for bottles and small jars, especially. Plastic ones are easier to clean, and I like a bit of a lip so things don’t fly off."
A turntable can help maximize space in cabinets, the refrigerator and on shelves because they put every item within sight and reach. Plastic is perfect for behind doors; if you're looking for something that will go on your countertops, wood or bamboo lazy Susans look more polished.
Type: Pull-out | Length: 10.5" | Width: 14.5" (with brackets) | Height: 8.5"
When the bottom shelf of your cabinet is still a bit high and there's no counter space for a stand-alone rack, this pull-down spice rack is the solution. It moves out and down, bringing the jars to eye level and making them easy to grab. "This smart spice rack helps you maximize space and gain accessibility," says Masitto.
Don't forget to measure your spice jars and make sure they fit into any new organizational item you're considering.
Type: Expandable rack | Width: 21.6" | Depth: 9.3" | Height: 8.5"
Nikki Bell, the owner of Just Us Organizing, has one go-to organizer she recommends to everyone: a pot lid rack. "It's one of my favorites," she says because it provides upright storage for so many things — think cutting boards, baking sheets, pot lids, pans and more.
This version from YouCopia includes 10 adjustable dividers and expands up to 22 inches wide. No more falling stacks of cookware!
Type: Riser | Width: 11.7" | Depth: 7.7" | Height: 6.2"
"It's easy to create more storage inside cabinets with risers because they take advantage of unused vertical space," explains professional organizer Zeenat Siman.
These will instantly double or triple your shelf footage when you can't adjust the height of the shelf or you simply want more space for shorter items. Use these to stack dishes, mugs, glasses and more.
Type: Expandable drawer dividers | Depth: 17-22" | Height: 2.4"
"These are versatile and great for people who want division in their drawers without obsessing about having a compartment for every single item," says Katrina Teeple, founder of Operation Organization.
They're adjustable from 17 to 22 inches, so they can fit most standard drawers, and as your needs change, so can the configuration.
Organizer size: Before buying any organizer, make sure to measure your space — twice! — says Ashley Murphy, NEAT Method co-founder and author of The NEAT Method Organizing Recipe Book, especially when you're working around plumbing, like under your kitchen sink. Ritsuko Nakajima, owner of After Declutter, agrees: "Measuring your space before purchasing is essential!" she says. "For example, some lazy Susans come in 11 inches, but your upper cabinets may only be 10 inches deep." So take a few extra minutes to make sure what you buy works with your space.
Material: When it comes to kitchens, look for durable materials that can stand up to spills, humidity and lots of use. Products that easily wipe clean or can go in the dishwasher are best so you don't need to worry about staining or other wear and tear.
We consulted with six professional organizers for their tips and product recommendations. If they recommend a specific organizer to their clients, we wanted to hear about it! We then researched each organizer, checking its materials, price and reviews from real-life shoppers. All the products here come highly rated and deliver great value for the money.
Take everything out of cabinets and drawers. Identify daily use items you want to keep, and get rid of anything you haven't used in the last year. Also make sure to purge expired dry goods, chipped dishes, food storage containers without lids and any tools that are broken, rusty or otherwise damaged.
Before you buy an organizer, measure cabinet and drawer spaces and check to see if the shelves are adjustable. Measure your largest appliances and cookware pieces and decide where they will fit — keep large, heavy appliances on low shelves.
Decide which cabinets are going to house your most frequently-used items. Then group like items together in each category (dishes, glasses and mugs, pots and pans, snacks, canned goods, etc.) Reserve the highest shelves for rarely used serving platters and holiday-specific pieces.
Buy clear bins to corral small items like snacks, small jars, sauce packets and even food container lids. Label them with a chalk marker so that you can change their purpose as needed.
Use an organizer like the expandable cookware rack above for cutting boards, sheet pans, cooling racks, pot lids, etc. When you can access these easily, you'll use them more often.
Opt for turntables (aka lazy Susans) in deep cabinets to bring items forward and increase their visibility.
Consider installing pull-out or sliding shelves in low cabinets so you can access large or heavy items easily.
Nikki Bell, owner, Just Us Organizing
Marlena Masitto, owner, Philly Neat Freaks
Ashley Murphy, co-founder, NEAT Method, and author, The NEAT Method Organizing Recipe Book
Ritsuko Nakajima, owner, After Declutter
Zeenat Siman, owner, Firefly Bridge Organizing & Productivity
Katrina Teeple, owner, Operation Organization
