Organizing Tricks For Maximizing Deep Cabinet Space
Deep cabinets can be a blessing for extra storage or a curse when they become disorganized catchalls. If you're struggling to leverage the full potential of your deep pantry shelves or kitchen cabinets, utilizing some key organization strategies can help transform these spaces from messy junk drawers into highly functional storage solutions.
By taking stock of what you currently have stored, purging unused items, installing specialized organizational products, and maintaining tidy upkeep habits, you can maximize every inch of your deep cabinet real estate. Read on for tips to finally get your hard-to-reach cabinets under control.
Assessing Your Deep Cabinets' Storage Needs
Before attempting any sort of organizational overhaul, take time to thoroughly evaluate your deep cabinet spaces. Understanding how you currently use the cabinets and what you store inside them will make it easier to develop an organizational system tailored to your lifestyle and storage requirements.
Take Stock of What's Currently in Your Deep Cabinets
Start by taking literally everything out of the cabinets. As you remove items, make note of what you discover. Are there dozens of nearly-empty condiment bottles and packets of long-expired spices? Is there an insane surplus of light bulbs and batteries that seemed like great deals at the time? Identifying what's currently living back there provides insight into what you actually use versus what's just taking up space.
Identify Frequently Used Items to Keep Accessible
As you take stock, make note of items you access regularly. Basic pantry staples like flour, sugar, oils, and spices should be kept in the most convenient spots so you aren't climbing deep behind stacks of who-knows-what to find them. Designate prime real estate on easily accessible shelves for everyday ingredient essentials.
Consider Cabinet Dimensions and Layout
Pay attention to the actual dimensions of shelf spaces as you clear them out. You don't want to invest in a dozen beautiful matching containers only to find out they don't actually fit into the cabinet! If there are wasted spaces that could better leverage vertical storage, make note of where you can add organizational elements like extra adjustable shelves or slide-in stacked bins.
Purging and Organizing Cabinet Contents
Once you've done a thorough inventory of your deep cabinet contents, it's time to make some executive organizing decisions. Be ruthless here! Anything you don't use needs to be tossed, donated or recycled.
Remove Expired, Unnecessary Items
Check expiration dates and toss anything that's passed its prime. For shelf-stable items like spices, baking ingredients and condiments, if you can't remember the last time you used it, say goodbye. Don't fall prey to pack rat tendencies trying to justify keeping something "just in case" -- that's exactly how deep cabinet chaos ensues.
Group Like Items Together
As you sort through what remains, begin grouping like items together. Having baking supplies together, oils and vinegars together, snacks together, etc. will make it easier when it comes time to put everything back. You can even sort within groups -- for example, group all spices together, then alphabetize them.
Utilize Vertical Space with Shelf Risers
For items like spices, boxes and cans that can be stacked vertically, use risers, racks and vertical organizers to take advantage of all available height in the cabinets. You can multiply storage capacity without taking up any additional floor space. For deep cabinets, using the back area for vertically stacked items helps prevent constantly digging to the back corner.
Install Pull-Out Shelves
Another excellent way to leverage unused cabinet depth is with pull-out shelves or drawer organizers. They can hold a great number of items while being easily pulled out so you don't have to dig behind something else to access what you need. Upper cabinets with excess height are also great for pull down "secret storage" doors perfect for hiding or protecting valuables.
Maximizing Cabinet Storage Solutions
The items you choose to store in your newly cleaned out cabinets will function better and help maintain organization if you incorporate specialty storage solutions. Here are some of our favorite space-saving products perfect for deep cabinet storage dilemmas.
Use Lazy Susans for Corner Cabinet Access
The awkward void of corner cabinet space is perfectly utilized with Lazy Susans or other spinning organizer trays. They're fantastic for keeping multiple jars, bottles, cans and containers easily accessible without everything getting lost in the back corners.
Install Slide-Out Drawers Within Existing Cabinet Frames
For the most difficult-to-access spaces, have slide-out drawers custom built to perfectly fit into your existing cabinet dimensions. The drawers come out fully extended so you can easily organize and view everything while conveniently sliding back flush when closed.
Append Storage with Freestanding Units
If existing cabinet space is still lacking after organizing, consider freestanding storage units like open wire racks, stacking bins or carts that can adjoin existing cabinets to expand storage capacity. Wire shelving is great for oddly shaped spaces and letting light through, while enclosed units keep things tidier.
Designate Cabinets for Specific Functions
Consider designating entire cabinets for specific functions if you have the available space. Devote one cabinet for all baking supplies with everything neatly organized. Keep a whole cabinet just for snacks (away from little fingers that can't help sneaking cookies!). Separating like items into their own dedicated cabinets makes putting things away and finding them fast infinitely more simple.
Maintaining an Organized System
Congratulations, you now have a dreamy, sparking organized deep cabinet space! But in reality, unless you implement some organizational maintenance habits, your tidy cabinets can quickly revert back to chaos within weeks.
Label Shelves and Bins for Visible Identification
Use labels, chalkboard surfaces or visible tags on shelves and storage bins clearly marking categories -- snacks, grains, legumes, spices, etc. That way when someone goes to put something away, they immediately know exactly where it goes to keep everything properly grouped.
Rotate Stock to Use Older Items First
Be diligent about rotating stock as you add newly purchased items. Place older goods in front to make sure things get used in a timely manner before deterioration or expiration. This helps eliminate waste and saves money over time.
Clean Cabinets Out Seasonally
Make a thorough deep cabinet purge part of your yearly spring or fall cleaning rituals. Wipe down shelves, check expiration dates, toss anything past its prime or that you didn't even realize was stuffed back there. Keeping seasonal items contained also helps prevent chaotic overcrowding.
Use vertical dividers, compartmentalized turntables, stacked racks and other specialized tools to keep everything neatly separated. The more organized your storage helpers, the easier it will be to keep everything systematically where it belongs, even for kids and messy family members!
By taking the time to methodically overhaul your deep cabinets utilizing these organizing tips, you can successfully control the chaos! Stop dreading opening cabinet doors to inevitable frustration and instead create functional, clutter-free storage that makes your life easier.