Raise your hand if you’ve ever felt frustrated staring into those deep, dark kitchens cabinets-am I the only one who can never find anything in there? We’ve all been there – cabinets so deep that items get lost in the back, never to be seen again. Until now!
In this ultimate guide, you’ll learn genius tips to organize even the deepest kitchen cabinets. Say goodbye to cabinet clutter and hello to an organized, functional kitchen that will make cooking a joy.
Having an organized kitchen makes meal prep, cooking and even finding your favorite mug so much easier and more enjoyable. But let’s face it, cabinet organization is one of those tasks that gets pushed to the bottom of the to-do list. Until you can’t find the pasta bowls…again. That’s when the frustration kicks in.
Well, push cabinet organization to the top because today we’re tackling deep kitchen cabinets once and for all. Get ready to be the envy of your friends and family with your beautifully organized, Instagram-worthy cabinets!
Why Organize Deep Kitchen Cabinets?
Here are some common reasons and benefits for organizing a deep kitchen cabinet:
Benefits of an Organized Kitchen
Having an organized, clutter-free kitchen has so many fantastic benefits:
- Saves Time: No more wasting precious minutes (that feel like hours) searching through overcrowded cabinets for that one item you need. When everything is neatly arranged and easy to see, you can quickly grab what you need.
- Reduces Stress and Frustration: There’s nothing more frustrating than a messy kitchen, especially when you’re trying to cook a meal. With an organized system, you can work calmly and efficiently.
- Helps Prevent Food Waste: When you can easily see what you already have in your cabinets, you’re much less likely to let ingredients get shoved to the back. Forgotten ingredients are more likely to spoil.
- Allows You to Inventory What You Have: Pretty cabinets aside, being organized allows you to keep track of what you have on hand and what needs restocking.
- Creates a Sense of Calm and Control: There’s just something so satisfying and calming about having an organized, tidy space to work in. Your kitchen will feel like an oasis!
Common Deep Cabinet Challenges
While deep kitchen cabinets offer ample storage space, they definitely come with their own set of organizational challenges:
- Items Getting Lost in the Back: Does this sound familiar? You know you just bought a new box of pasta, but it’s vanished into the black hole of your deep cabinets, never to be seen again.
- Difficulty Accessing Items: Having to play Jenga with your canned goods and chip bags just to get to that one item you need is no fun. Deep cabinets make access tricky.
- Not Maximizing Vertical Space: It’s easy to just stack items on each shelf, but you’re not taking advantage of the full height of the cabinet that way.
- General Clutter and Disorganization: Let’s be honest, when things get shoved in haphazardly, deep cabinets become a tornado of chaos.
Don’t worry though, with some smart strategies, all of these challenges can be overcome! Keep reading for all the tips and tricks.
Getting Started
Before you can dive into organizing, you need to start with a fresh, blank slate. Here’s what you’ll need to do first:
Take Stock of What You Have
The very first step is to completely empty out all of your deep kitchen cabinets. Yes, every single item needs to come out! As you’re removing things:
- Group all like items together (canned goods with canned goods, baking supplies together, etc.)
- Discard any expired or unwanted items you come across – this is a great opportunity to purge.
Once you have everything out on the counter or table, this is a perfect chance to take stock of exactly what you have. Seeing everything visually will help you determine what needs to be stored together.
Pro Tip: As you’re emptying shelves, thoroughly wipe them down with a degreaser or all-purpose cleaner. After all, you’ll want your newly organized cabinets to be sparkling clean!
Measure Your Cabinets
Get out that measuring tape and carefully measure each cabinet’s interior width, depth, and height. Having these accurate dimensions is absolutely crucial for finding organizational products and storage solutions that will fit perfectly. Jot down the measurements for each individual cabinet – don’t assume they’re all a standard size!
Make a Plan
Now for the fun part – making a plan for how you’ll arrange everything back into those deep cabinets. As you’re deciding what will go where, keep these tips in mind:
Frequency of Use: Think about which items you use most frequently and position those in the most easily accessible spots. For example, regularly used pots, pans, and cooking utensils should go in cabinets at eye or waist level.
Location and Reach: Be strategic about what goes on upper shelves, lower shelves, and everywhere in between based on your height and ability to reach. Storing heavy items up high isn’t convenient or safe.
Group Similar Items: When possible, group all baking supplies together, put canned goods with other canned goods, snacks with snacks, etc. This makes putting things away and finding what you need much easier.
Separate by Zones: You may want to dedicate one deep cabinet just for baking, another for snacks and cereals, another for canned/dry goods, and so on.
Maximize Every Inch: We’ll go over specific products later, but as you’re mapping things out, think about ways to utilize every square inch. Consider vertical space, the backs of cabinets, and even the doors!
Make a rough sketch or list of what will go where. Having this visual plan will help immensely when it’s time to start implementing your organization system.
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Organizing Deep Cabinets
Now that you’ve gotten everything out, taken measurements, and made a general plan, it’s time to dive into the specific strategies for organizing deep kitchen cabinets. From smart storage containers to genius space-maximizing products, these tips will help. They will make every last inch of cabinet space organized and accessible.
The Importance of Clear Containers
One of the keys to keeping deep cabinets organized is being able to clearly see what’s inside. That’s where clear plastic bins and jars come in! Using clear containers offers so many benefits:
- You can quickly identify contents at just a glance, without pulling anything out.
- They allow you to decant items from their original, overly bulky packaging to free up more space.
- Clear bins and canisters give a clean, uniform look to your cabinets.
There are so many options available, from simple plastic bins to fancier glass jars and canisters. Look for containers that are a good quality – you don’t want flimsy ones that will crack, stain or warp over time.
Some great examples of clear storage containers:
- Plastic Bins: The tried-and-true storage workhorses. These basic bins come in all shapes and sizes to fit any space. Look for sturdy ones with removable lids.
- Glass Jars/Canisters: A bit more aesthetically pleasing than plastic. Ideal for decanting dry goods like rice, pasta, cereal and more. Be sure to measure for height clearance under shelves.
- Turntables/Lazy Susans: Perfect for corners or deep spaces, these spinning turntables bring items to the front for easy access.
Whatever containers you choose, try to keep things consistent by using the same type and style throughout your cabinets. Having a uniform look just makes everything appear neat and organized.
Pro Tip: Removable chalkboard, dry erase or printed labels on your containers help quickly identify contents, especially for households with multiple cooks.
Over the Door Organizers
Raise your hand if your cabinet doors are basically just dead, wasted space? Raises hand enthusiastically
One of the handiest organizational tools for deep cabinets has to be over-the-door organizers and storage racks. These mount directly onto the interior cabinet door, utilizing what is typically just empty space.
Over-the-door organizers come in all shapes and sizes, from simple wire racks to fabric pouches and clear plastic separated compartments. Use them to store anything that’s relatively small and lightweight:
- Spice jars and seasonings
- Condiment bottles and oils
- Snack bags and granola bars
- Medication and vitamins
- Can goods and pouches
- Cooking utensils
Having these often-used items hung right on the cabinet door means you can grab them quickly without having to dig through shelves. It’s such an easy way to keep your most frequently accessed items at your fingertips.
Pro Tip: Make sure to measure the interior dimensions of your cabinet doors to purchase racks that will fit properly. Also look for ones that mount securely with screws or sturdy adhesives so
Adjustable Shelving
One of the biggest challenges with deep cabinets is making the most of the vertical space. Regular, evenly-spaced shelves often leave a lot of wasted room above and below. The solution? Adjustable shelving!
With an adjustable shelving system, you can customize the spacing between each shelf to perfectly match the height of your tallest items. This allows you to maximize every single inch from top to bottom.
There are several different styles of adjustable shelves for cabinets:
Wire Shelving: These sturdy metal shelves can be adjusted by repositioning the mounting brackets and tabs. Affordable and easy to install.
Wood/Melamine Shelving: More durable and upscale than wire, wood and melamine shelves have a tongue-and-groove or specialized rail system to change the spacing.
Pull-Out Shelves: These full-extension glided shelves mount on rails and pull out towards you, allowing easy access to any item.
Many adjustable shelving systems allow you to combine different components like fixed shelves on top and bottom with adjustable ones in between. This versatility ensures you can customize the perfect configuration for your cabinet’s contents.
Pro Tip: Take accurate interior measurements first so you can select shelving made specifically for your cabinet’s dimensions. Proper fit is key!
Pull-Out Drawers or Baskets
Speaking of pull-outs, sliding drawers or roll-out baskets are an amazing deep cabinet solution! These glide effortlessly on rails, bringing every last item to you instead of you having to dig around.
Cabinet pull-outs are absolutely ideal for storing heavier items like:
- Canned goods
- Bottles and jars
- Pots and pans
- Small appliances
Instead of having to awkwardly reach and stretch to access items stuffed into the back of a deep cabinet, everything just smoothly rolls out to meet you. Such a back-saver!
Pull-out drawers and baskets come in widths from just a few inches up to the full width of the cabinet interior. Many even feature adjustable-height dividers to wrangle shorter items. Options include:
- Full-extension drawers in wood, metal or plastic materials
- Sliding wire or vinyl baskets on rails or glides
- Multi-tier, stacked basket units that telescope out
You can purchase pre-configured cabinet organizer units, or buy modular components to customize your own perfect pull-out system.
Pro Tip: Make sure to mount pull-out drawers and baskets securely to prevent tippage when extended. Properly installed, they can hold a ton of weight.
Lazy Susans
Speaking of turntables or Lazy Susans, these spinning tray organizers are a life-saver for those frustratingly deep blind corner cabinets. You know the ones – where items go in but never come back out again.
By inserting a simple spinning Lazy Susan into those tough corners, every item comes into easy reach with just a turn of the tray. They are available in plastic, wood, and even sleeker stainless-steel finishes.
Lazy Susans are fantastic for keeping grouped items together and accessible, like:
- Spices and seasonings
- Oils, vinegars and condiments
- Snacks and granola bars
- Beans, rice and grains
- Sauces, broths and canned goods
Look for Lazy Susans with higher rims to corral taller items, or segmented designs to keep everything separated. For larger corner cabinets, opt for multi-tier models to maximize vertical space.
No more blindly pawing around in those deep, dark cabinet corners. A simple spin brings it all into view!
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Shelf Risers/Risers
Another genius product? The humble cabinet shelf riser – it creates an instant extra level of storage by lifting items up off the main shelf.
These risers come in varying heights and can essentially double your shelf capacity. Use higher risers underneath to store taller items, with a lower riser on top for easy access to smaller goods.
Shelf risers are great for boosting visibility of shorter items like spice jars and packets so they aren’t blocked from view. They bring those smaller items right to the front of the shelf.
Look for risers with solid tops and side lips to keep items contained. Alternatively, choose open-back styles that allow bins to slide in and out easily.
Many expand to custom fit your shelf depth too. In addition to gaining extra space, risers also naturally create a tiered, stepped effect
Here’s more of the in-depth blog post on organizing deep kitchen cabinets:
Behind the Door Storage
We already covered the brilliance of over-the-door organizers, but there’s another way to utilize that often wasted cabinet door space – behind-the-door storage!
Behind-the-door racks and shelves mount to the inside of the cabinet door to create slim, out-of-the-way storage nooks. While not ideal for bulky items, they’re perfect for corralling:
- Wrapping sheets, aluminum foil, and plastic bags
- Pot holders, trivets, and dish mats
- Lids and baking sheet liners
- Small jars and packets
- Measuring cups and spoons
By taking advantage of this dead space on the back of the door, it frees up precious shelf space inside the cabinet for larger items. Just make sure to select door storage designed not to interfere with the cabinet shelves when opened and closed.
Some behind-the-door options include:
- Vinyl or metal multi-slot pan lid holders
- Multi-tiered minimal wire racks
- Over-the-door clear plastic inserts
- Adhesive-mounted racks and shelves
With all these solutions using the door, you can maximize those deep cabinets from every angle!
Pro Tips for Organized Kitchen Cabinets
Now that we’ve covered all the specific products and storage solutions, here are some final pro tips to ensure your deep cabinet organization is a sustainable success:
Zone by Frequency of Use
One of the most important things in kitchen organization is positioning items based on how frequently you actually use them. The general rule of thumb:
- Most Frequently Used Items: Prime “real estate” like eye-level and waist-level cabinets. Things like everyday dishes, glasses, pots/pans, and cooking utensils.
- Moderately Used Items: Upper or lower cabinets. Think less-used appliances, baking dishes, and food storage containers.
- Rarely Used Items: The hard-to-reach high shelves or deep blind corners. Specialty items and dishes used only for holidays/entertaining.
Grouping these items strategically based on how often they’re accessed makes putting things away and finding them again much easier.
Categorize for Easy Locating
Within each frequency zone, also categorize and group like items together. For example:
- Baking cabinet: Flours, sugars, sprinkles, baking pans, etc.
- Snack cabinet: Crackers, chips, granola bars, cookies
- Canned goods cabinet: All your cans, pouches, boxed items
- Dish cabinet: Plates, bowls, everyday glasses/mugs
Having these designated zones means everyone in the household will know exactly where to look and return items. No more random mismatched storage!
Maximize Vertical Space
Just stacking items on each shelf leaves a ton of wasted space above. To maximize those deep cabinets, utilize every inch vertically with:
- Stackable storage bins and shelves
- Over-the-door and behind-the-door hanging racks
- Corner Lazy Susans with multi-tier designs
- Shelf stackers and risers to add an extra level
By fully utilizing the height, width and depth, you’ll be amazed at how much extra storage you can create!
Use Consistent Containers
For the most streamlined, organized look inside your cabinets, stick to using the same types of clear storage containers throughout. Having a mix of mismatched bins creates visual clutter.
Using a consistent system of plastic bins, glass jars, and turntables results in a neat, uniform appearance. This system is easy on the eyes when those cabinet doors are opened.
Whenever possible, go for clear containers so you can easily see what’s inside without any rummaging. Your future self will thank you!
Label, Label, Label!
Last but definitely not least – label everything! Whether using chalkboard stickers, printed vinyl labels, or simple handwritten tags, labeling your bins and zones is crucial.
Labels allow you (and anyone else in the household) to quickly identify what’s inside each container. They also help you know which cabinet zone houses each category of items. This prevents things from getting lost or put back in the wrong place.
Use labels on:
- All opaque bins, baskets, and jars
- The exterior of each cabinet designating its zone
- Interior shelves and sections
- Pull-out drawers and Lazy Susans
Get creative with your labels with fun fonts, designs, or even pictures! Whimsical icons for “Snacks” or “Baking” add character.
Real Life Deep Cabinet Transformations
Sometimes it helps to see real-world examples of these organization methods in action. Check out these dramatic before & after deep cabinet makeovers:
This deep pantry closet went from a cluttered, unusable mess to an organizational masterpiece! By adding pull-out drawers, adjustable shelving, turntables, and consistent clear bins, every square inch is now maximized. No more losing items at the back!
This pot and pan cabinet was a nightmare before implementing some smart vertical organizers. Now with an over-the-door rack, adjustable shelving, and sliding cabinet helpers, there’s a neat spot for every single pot, lid, and cooking utensil.
Spice jars, baking supplies, even bulky flour containers…this cabinet had it all haphazardly jammed inside. But with a behind-the-door spice rack, tiered shelving for visibility, and decanted ingredients in matching canisters, it’s now a dream baker’s pantry!
Hopefully these inspiring real-life examples give you the motivation to finally tackle those deep, dysfunctional kitchen cabinets in your own home. You’ve got this!
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to organize kitchen cabinets?
Sort items by category, use clear containers, and utilize adjustable shelving for maximum efficiency.
How to organize a deep kitchen drawer?
Use dividers or trays to separate items, prioritize frequently used items at the front, and label sections for easy access.
How to make a deep cabinet functional?
Install pull-out drawers or baskets, use tiered racks and risers, and maximize vertical space with adjustable shelving.
How to organize a deep wardrobe?
Group clothing by type (shirts, pants, etc.), use storage bins or baskets for smaller items, and consider adding shelf dividers for organization.
Why are kitchen cabinets so deep?
Deep cabinets offer ample storage space but can lead to items getting lost. Proper organization maximizes space and accessibility.
What to store in deep upper cabinets?
Store less frequently used items like seasonal cookware, serving dishes, or large appliances to keep everyday essentials easily accessible.
Conclusion
Organizing deep kitchen cabinets is a game-changer for efficiency, stress reduction, and maximizing space. You can transform your cabinets into functional, tidy spaces by following the steps outlined in this ultimate guide. These steps include taking stock of your items and utilizing smart storage solutions like clear containers, adjustable shelving, and pull-out organizers. Maintenance and upkeep are key to sustaining this organization, including regular decluttering, labeling, and maximizing vertical space.
With a well-organized kitchen, meal prep becomes a breeze, cooking is more enjoyable and you’ll have a sense of calm and control in your culinary oasis. Here’s to a beautifully organized kitchen that makes life easier and more enjoyable!.
