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Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,911
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Tips for Organizing Kitchen Cabinets?

Have any of you discovered a way to modify your kitchen cabinets to keep items from migrating to the back of the cabinet to never be seen again?

I would LOVE to have pull out shelves, but we live in a 100+ year old farmhouse and the shelves are so thick they would never bend no matter how much was put on the shelf.

I would prefer not putting in pull out shelves that need to be screwed down, but am trying to discover if there is a product or an idea to solve this problem.

Thank you for any ideas you may share.

“I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.” St.Teresa of Calcutta
Super Contributor
Posts: 2,103
Registered: ‎05-25-2014

Re: Tips for Organizing Kitchen Cabinets?

The kitchen is not really my domain, lol, but I am often forwarded etsy or pinterest links for home organization tips. You might want to search on either of their websites for suggestions.

Valued Contributor
Posts: 515
Registered: ‎07-12-2010

Re: Tips for Organizing Kitchen Cabinets?

I know exactly what you mean about losing things to the back of the cupboard. I finally decided to go with OXO turntables. I LOVE them, although you do lose some shelf space, but now I don't have to fish things out from the back and I can find everything I need... they are a little expensive at first, but well worth the price.

I bought the 11inch. diameter for the kitchen cupboards, and the 16 inch for the pantry cupboard in my basement. They hold quite a bit of weight and are very smooth.. I bought mine on Amazon.com.. I am not a bit sorry I spent the money, as now things get used before they expire...Good luck in your search..hope I helped a little bit..

Honored Contributor
Posts: 13,399
Registered: ‎11-01-2010

Re: Tips for Organizing Kitchen Cabinets?

I use the little lazy susans in my cupboards.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 17,892
Registered: ‎07-03-2013

Re: Tips for Organizing Kitchen Cabinets?

I have a lazy susan in my spice cabinet. I think it's Rubbermaid and was around $10 at Wal-Mart. In the other cabinets, I store the tall things in the back. That seems to work for me.

Super Contributor
Posts: 2,103
Registered: ‎05-25-2014

Re: Tips for Organizing Kitchen Cabinets?

Super Contributor
Posts: 2,103
Registered: ‎05-25-2014

Re: Tips for Organizing Kitchen Cabinets?

On 6/29/2014 Colonel Meow said:

The kitchen is not really my domain, lol, but I am often forwarded etsy or pinterest links for home organization tips. You might want to search on either of their websites for suggestions.

I was just on Pinterest looking up bathroom organization tips, and while I was there I searched for kitchen cabinet ideas for you. They have many, many ideas and DIY tutorials over there. Good luck!

Valued Contributor
Posts: 514
Registered: ‎05-16-2010

Re: Tips for Organizing Kitchen Cabinets?

Have you thought of using a step organizer? It lifts the items in the back a bit higher. One brand is Expand-A-Shelf. They range in prices depending on where you go. There's a lady on YouTube I watch for organizing tips, she's like the real life "Monica" from Friends {#emotions_dlg.laugh}, her channel is Home Organizing by Alejandra. She has a section on kitchen tips.

Click here to go straight to the kitchen playlist,

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB372E7E040F32296

Frequent Contributor
Posts: 103
Registered: ‎03-27-2010

Re: Tips for Organizing Kitchen Cabinets?

Turntables are great for spices, oil vinegars etc. items that you want to access frequently and easily. They do block the deeper part of your shelf / cabinet.

Stepshelves are great for cans, jars and smaller containers, grouping items make for even faster finding of items / or checking your inventory when you make your shopping list.

The best way I have found to utilize depth in cabinets without marring the shelves is to use baskets / boxes. That way you lift out one basket ( let's say pasta ) to get to the next basket with rice / grains. You can use the same principle for kitchen gadgets as well : a basket for baking tools, canning supplies, cake decorating etc..

For pots and pans you will still have to dig and lift, unless you might consider a pot rack. Hope this helps.

Respected Contributor
Posts: 4,240
Registered: ‎03-12-2010

Re: Tips for Organizing Kitchen Cabinets?

You can also put in pull-outs that attach to the sides of the cabinet. You would lose a bit of space as they would have to be mounted slightly higher than the shelf to slide easily. I'm not quite sure, though, why you wouldn't want to mount the pull-outs to the shelf as any buyer would probably be ecstatic to have them.