Kitchen cabinets are great; until they’re not. It starts with one extra mug shoved into the wrong shelf, and next thing you know, you’re rummaging through a chaotic mess of mismatched Tupperware, mystery spices, and appliances you forgot you owned. Whether you’re in a rental in Portland, OR, a home in Atlanta, GA or a condo in Chicago, IL knowing how to organize kitchen cabinets can instantly make your space feel bigger, calmer, and way more functional.
This Redfin guide rounds up expert-approved organizing tips for a tidy home, and help you cut the clutter to finally get your cabinets working for you—not against you.
1. Design your cabinet zones like a pro
“For kitchen cabinets, the most important tip is to prioritize function over style,” says Carla Moum of Woodharmonic Custom Cabinets in Los Angeles, CA. “Begin by organizing the layout based on how you use the space. Group cabinets into zones for prep, cooking, cleaning, and storage.”
She also recommends going with full-height cabinets when possible. “They maximize storage and create a custom look,” she adds. And when it comes to finishes, she suggests timeless materials like light wood or white with wood accents.
Photo courtesy of Boxco Studio
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2. Go all in on pull-out drawers and interior storage
“If you love a clean, streamlined look with uniform door faces, we recommend interior drawers and pull-outs,” says Bel Muller of Greenfield, MA-based European-style cabinetmakers, Boxco Studio. “Pull-out trays and drawers make it easy to see everything in your cabinet at a glance, and pull-out trash and recycling cabinets keep waste out of sight.”
Jayme Seppala from Built Cabinets in Rindge, NH agrees, adding, “We suggest installing drawer…