Simple Ways to Organize Kitchen Closets

Is your kitchen closet overflowing with a disorganized mess of pots, pans, gadgets, and ingredients? An unorganized kitchen closet leads to frustration and wasted time searching for items. Implementing a few simple organizing systems can transform that jumbled space into an efficient storage solution. Read on for tips to maximize your kitchen closet storage potential.

Assess Your Kitchen Closet Storage Needs

Before purchasing any storage items, thoroughly evaluate how you currently use the space and what you need to store. Take an inventory by removing everything and sorting items into categories. As you survey kitchen tools and appliances, consider if anything could be donated, recycled or repurposed. Be ruthless about eliminating duplicate items, expired foods, or things you simply don't use.

Measure the interior dimensions of the closet, including shelf depths. Note any wasted spaces above shelves or narrow gaps between walls and shelves. Calculate the total cubic footage to determine maximum storage capacity for the area.

Identify Most Frequented Items

Make note of which cooking tools and ingredients you access most often when preparing meals. These frequently used items should be positioned at the most convenient locations once organizing is complete.

• Everyday dishes and glassware
• Favorite small appliances like the mixer or blender
• Spices, oils and condiments used for most recipes
• Pots and pans for quick weekday meals

Categorize and Group Items

Figure out what categories make the most sense for your needs and style of cooking. This allows you to group like items together for easy access later. Consider creating groupings such as:

• Small kitchen appliances
• Food storage containers
• Serving dishes
• Seasonal baking pans and tools
• Spices and cooking oils

Designate Drawers By Function

If your kitchen closet contains drawers, use them to neatly divide items by function or frequency of use. Ideas include:

• Utensil drawers for spatulas, wooden spoons, etc.
• Spice drawers with dividers or racks
• Deep drawers for heavy pots and pans
• Shallow drawers for lids, cutting boards, baking sheets

Consider All Household Needs

Don't just focus on food storage and cooking when evaluating kitchen closet items. Also consider everyday household supplies like cleaning tools, batteries, office supplies, pet food or kids' snacks. Designate spaces for these items as well.

Choose Storage Systems and Organizers

Investigate a variety of storage systems to find solutions compatible with your kitchen closet's dimensions and your household needs. Focus first on utilizing all vertical space with shelves, racks and wall mounted organizers. Consider options such as:

• Wall mounted spice racks
• Hanging utensil racks
• Over the door storage racks
• Adjustable or expandable shelf systems

Specialized Drawer Organizers

For deep drawers, divided organizers for utensils, bakeware or cleaning supplies keep items visible and easy to grab. Standing dividers are great for upright storage of cutting boards, cookie sheets and large platters.

Lazy Susans

Installing lazy susans or turntables provides easy access to items stored on deep shelves. Great for hard to reach corners or in cabinets under sinks.

Maximize Vertical Space

Take advantage of all available vertical real estate when organizing your kitchen closet. Stepladders tucked inside closets allow access to top shelves for smaller family members. Wall mounted rails or shelves hung above appliances or the refrigerator provide additional storage. Some other ideas include:

• Double up on shelf height using risers
• Install extra mid-height shelving for better visibility
• Use hanging wall racks for brooms, mops and cleaning tools
• Mount a paper towel holder, knife strip or utensil rack on side walls

Door Storage Solutions

Use the back of doors as extra real estate for storing kitchen tools and supplies off counters. Options include:

• Over the door racks with hooks for bulky pots or oven mitts
• Mesh pockets to stash cleaning supplies, scrub brushes or sink gloves
• Magnet strips for knives or frequently used hand tools like whisks

Designate Space for Each Category

Now that you've selected organizing tools and storage systems, decide where to position specific item groupings. This gives everything a designated "home".

• Shelves above the refrigerator for small appliances
• Deep lower drawers for large pots, pans and baking sheets
• Wall mounted racks near the stove for commonly used spices and oils
• Door shelves or hanging bins for hand towels, oven mitts and hot pads

Frequently Accessed Items

Place everyday dishes, glasses, mugs and utensils on easy to reach shelves closest to the dishwasher or sink at eye to waist level. Stash extras higher or lower. Position favorite small appliances like the blender or food processor near an outlet on the counter or an upper shelf.

Food Storage Containers

Corral plastic food containers in lower cabinets or transparent bins on shelves. Position hard to stack lids neatly in shallow drawers by size or color. Labeling helps identify what's stored inside containers or drawers.

Label Storage Areas

Attach adhesive shelf labels onto storage containers, drawers and cubbies to indicate categories or contents. Other options include:

• Chalkboard labels
• Hanging tags
• Vinyl drawer and bin labels

Color Coding

Use colored containers, shelf liners or labels to color code like items such as red for baking supplies or green for snack items. Coordinate spices stored in matching racks or small jars.

Store Efficiently

Aim for efficiency when structuring your newly organized kitchen closet. Follow these general guidelines:

• Heavier pots and pans go on lower shelves
• Lighter items like cups, glasses and smaller appliances up higher
• Least used things in hard to access areas
• Transparent storage bins for easy viewing of contents

First In, First Out

Use a first in, first out system when organizing ingredients like flour, sugars or oils to ensure freshness. Position newer items toward the back and move them forward as older items get used.

An organizing system only works if maintained consistently. Follow these practices to keep your kitchen closet clutter-free:

• Return everything immediately to its labeled location after use
• Set reminders to edit inventory for expired or unused items twice per year
• Wipe shelving and storage bins periodically to clean up crumbs and drips
• Re-assess organizing solutions if your needs change over time

It's easy to create clever storage solutions for your cooking style and family needs. What organizing project will you tackle first in your kitchen closet?