Quick answer: to organize kitchen cabinets before the busy holiday cooking season, empty one cabinet at a time, wipe the shelves and line them, then give each type of item its own place. Stand pot and pan lids upright on the inside of the cabinet door with stick-on pot lid holders (3 pairs), add a second level for spice jars with cabinet shelf risers for spices (2-pack), and put pantry jars on a heavy-duty rotating turntable (25 cm) so you can spin the back ones to the front. A cut-to-fit liner such as the non-slip EVA shelf liner (50 × 45 cm) stops plates and glasses sliding about.
All of these are in the Kitchen Organization and Shelf & Drawer Liners ranges.
What you need
- A tape measure, scissors and a damp cloth
- A shelf liner: the clear drawer and shelf liner roll (30 × 150 cm) (clear, non-adhesive, wipe-clean) or the non-slip EVA shelf liner (50 × 45 cm) (beige, textured on both sides, grips plates, glasses and tools)
- For lids: stick-on pot lid holders (3 pairs) (6 grey self-adhesive pieces, no drilling)
- For spices: cabinet shelf risers for spices (2-pack) (each about 14.7 × 11 × 10.7 cm, fixed size)
- For jars at the back of a shelf: a heavy-duty rotating turntable (25 cm) (25 cm plate, smooth 360° rotation, load up to 50 kg)
Step-by-step: organizing a kitchen cabinet
- Empty the cabinet and sort what comes out into groups: lids, spices, jars, plates and glasses. Put aside anything you do not use.
- Clean and dry the shelves. Wipe them with a damp cloth and let them dry before you add a liner or anything self-adhesive.
- Measure and line the shelves. Measure each shelf, then trim the liner with scissors so it lies flat. Both liners are non-adhesive, so you can lift them out later to wipe them clean and put them back.
- Move the lids to the door. Clean the inside of the cabinet door, stick each pair of pot lid holders level so a lid can rest between them, and let the adhesive set before you load a lid. Check that the door still closes once the lids are in place.
- Add a level for spices. Measure the shelf height and depth against the riser size (about 14.7 × 11 × 10.7 cm) first, because it is not extendable. Stand the riser on the shelf and place jars on top and underneath so they are easier to reach. The two risers can sit side by side or in different cupboards.
- Put jars on a turntable. Set a group of pantry jars on the textured non-slip top of the turntable and spin it to reach the back. Keep the load centred on the 25 cm plate and within 50 kg.
- Put everything back by group, with the things you use most often at the front and at eye level.
Tips
- Do one cabinet at a time, so the kitchen stays usable while you cook.
- Use the clear liner when you want the original shelf finish to stay visible, and the non-slip EVA liner where plates and glasses tend to slide. Leftover EVA liner can be cut to fit smaller drawers.
- If a door will not shut properly once the lids are on it, see how to fix a cabinet door that won’t close.
- For the cabinet under the sink, follow how to organize under the kitchen sink, and for cutlery and utensil drawers see how to organize drawers with drawer dividers.
More options in the shop: the Magheo expandable pot lid organizer, 2 pack, the Amazon Basics 2-tier clear lazy susan, 9 in and the Copco 3-tier non-skid spice rack, 15 in (ships to the United States only).
Frequently asked questions
How do I store pot lids in a kitchen cabinet?
Stand them upright on the inside of the cabinet door. The stick-on pot lid holders come as 3 pairs (6 pieces) that hold most pot and pan lids with no drilling. Clean the door, stick each pair level, let the adhesive set before loading, and check the door still closes.
How do I make spices easier to reach in a cabinet?
Add a second level with a shelf riser so jars sit on top and underneath. The spice shelf risers are a 2-pack, each about 14.7 × 11 × 10.7 cm and fixed in size, so measure your shelf first.
Is a turntable useful in a kitchen cabinet?
Yes, for a group of pantry jars on a deep shelf. You spin the turntable to bring the back jars to the front. The heavy-duty turntable has a 25 cm plate, a textured non-slip top and a load of up to 50 kg. A clear plastic lazy susan turntable is also available in 23.6 cm or 27 cm (single layer) for a cabinet shelf, counter or fridge shelf.
Should I line kitchen shelves?
A liner protects shelves from spills, moisture and scratches. The clear liner roll is 30 × 150 cm and keeps the original surface visible; the EVA liner is 50 × 45 cm, textured on both sides and stops plates and glasses sliding. Both are non-adhesive and cut to fit with scissors.
Do I need to drill holes to organize my cabinets this way?
No. The pot lid holders are self-adhesive, and the risers, turntable and liners simply sit on the shelf.
Related guides
How to organize under the kitchen sink · How to organize drawers with drawer dividers · How to fix a cabinet door that won’t close · Kitchen Organization · All TidyMend guides