Organizing your kitchen cabinets can feel like a game of Tetris gone wrong—endless pieces, no clear plan, and the constant risk of everything collapsing if you pull out the wrong pot. But with a few clever strategies, you can transform your kitchen from chaotic to calm, one cabinet at a time. And who knows? You might even enjoy the process—or at least the results.

Start with a Plan

Before diving into the sea of mismatched lids and forgotten spices, take a step back and make a plan. Think about how you use your kitchen: What daily items do you reach for? Which ones are reserved for special occasions? Organizing your cabinets based on function will save you time and sanity in the long run.

Group Similar Items Together

Keep all your baking supplies in one cabinet, cooking oils and vinegar in another, and so on. This way, you’ll always know where to find what you need, avoiding the frustration of mixing up items.

Consider Frequency of Use

Place everyday items like plates, glasses, and coffee mugs within easy reach. Special-occasion china and that fondue set you swear you’ll use again someday? Those can go on the higher shelves.

Make Use of Cabinet Doors

Cabinet doors are often overlooked but can be a game-changer. Add hooks, racks, or adhesive organizers to store measuring spoons, cutting boards, or pot lids, freeing up valuable shelf space.

Maximize Your Shelf Space

Shelves are the backbone of your kitchen cabinets, and maximizing their space is key to staying organized. Consider using shelf risers, pull-out drawers, or lazy Susans to keep everything in order. Shelf risers double your storage space without adding clutter. Pull-out drawers make accessing pots, pans, and heavy appliances easy. Lazy Susans turn tricky corner cabinets into functional storage.

Organize by Category

Grouping similar items together makes your kitchen more functional and your cooking experience smoother. Dedicate one cabinet to spices—organizing them alphabetically or by type—so you’ll never have to hunt for that elusive cumin again. Consider setting up a snack station for easy access, or keeping cookware and bakeware in separate cabinets to avoid digging through mismatched items.

Label Everything

Labels aren’t just for the super-organized—they’re for everyone who wants to maintain their newly organized kitchen. Clear, easy-to-read labels on cabinets, shelves, and bins ensure you’ll always know where everything belongs, as will everyone else in your household. For a subtle approach, label the insides of cabinet doors instead of the fronts.

Maintain Your New System

Once you’ve organized every cabinet in your kitchen, the challenge is maintaining it. A monthly check-in can help you assess your cabinets and make necessary adjustments. As your needs change, so should your kitchen organization. Don’t be afraid to try new solutions—the goal is to have a kitchen that works for you, not the other way around.