Ever wondered how professional organizers maintain such pristine kitchens? The secret often lies in smart vertical storage solutions.
Those high cabinets that seem out of reach actually serve as perfect hideaways for items you don’t use daily. Let’s explore what organization experts tuck away up there to keep countertops clear and kitchens functioning beautifully.
1. Seasonal Bakeware
Who hasn’t struggled with finding space for those specialty pans used only during holidays? Professional organizers recommend storing cookie cutters, bundt pans, and seasonal baking sheets in those lofty cabinets.
This strategy keeps your everyday cooking zones clutter-free while ensuring special items remain accessible when needed. Just keep a small step stool nearby for those holiday baking marathons!
2. Party Platters and Oversized Serving Dishes
Entertaining guests requires special serveware that often collects dust between occasions. Large platters, punch bowls, and fancy serving trays deserve a dedicated spot away from daily dishes.
Stacking them vertically with protective padding prevents chips and cracks. Many organizing experts suggest photographing the contents of high cabinets and taping the image to the inside of the door for easy reference.
3. Seldom-Used Small Appliances
Remember that ice cream maker you use twice a year? How about the fancy juicer that seemed essential during your health kick?
Specialty appliances that don’t see regular action are prime candidates for high cabinet storage. Professional organizers suggest keeping these items in their original boxes when possible, making them easier to identify and protecting them from dust.
4. Bulk Food Supplies
Buying in bulk saves money but creates storage headaches. Smart organizers utilize high cabinets for extra pasta, rice, and other shelf-stable ingredients purchased in quantity.
Clear containers with labels make identification easy from below. Just remember to practice the “first in, first out” rule when refilling your everyday containers to prevent forgotten items from expiring high above!
5. Special Occasion Glassware
Crystal champagne flutes and heirloom wine glasses deserve special treatment. Unlike everyday cups, these delicate items benefit from careful storage away from the hustle of daily kitchen activities.
Turned upside down to prevent dust collection inside, special glassware stays pristine until your next celebration. Some organizing experts even suggest wrapping particularly valuable pieces in soft cloth for extra protection.
6. Picnic and Outdoor Dining Supplies
Summer picnic baskets, outdoor tablecloths, and portable serving pieces create seasonal clutter. By storing these items up high during off-seasons, you’ll free up valuable accessible storage for everyday necessities.
Collapsible items like fabric coolers can be flattened to maximize space. A simple labeled bin makes retrieval straightforward when outdoor dining season returns, without sacrificing prime kitchen real estate year-round.
7. Paper Goods Stockpile
Caught a great sale on paper towels? Stocking up on party napkins and disposable plates? High cabinets provide the perfect overflow storage for bulky paper products.
Light in weight yet bulky in size, these items are ideal high-cabinet candidates. Many organizing professionals recommend keeping just one package in your accessible storage and tucking extras up high, rotating them down as needed.
8. Specialty Cookbooks
In today’s digital world, physical cookbooks often become decorative rather than functional. While favorite volumes might earn counter space, specialty cookbooks used only occasionally deserve high cabinet homes.
Arranging them by cuisine type makes retrieval logical when inspiration strikes. Some organizing experts suggest keeping a digital index of recipes by ingredient, so you can quickly locate which cookbook to pull down when you need to use up that random ingredient!
9. Holiday-Specific Kitchenware
From heart-shaped waffle makers to turkey basters, holiday-specific kitchen tools spend most of the year unused. Why let these seasonal items claim valuable everyday storage?
Grouping items by holiday in clearly labeled bins creates a system even other family members can follow. When Valentine’s Day approaches, you’ll know exactly which bin to retrieve without emptying the entire cabinet searching for that special pancake mold.
10. Vases and Decorative Containers
Flowers bring joy, but flower vases can bring storage headaches. Professional organizers consistently recommend high cabinet storage for these occasional items that otherwise consume valuable space.
Nesting different sizes when possible reduces their footprint. For those concerned about forgetting what’s up there, a simple inventory list taped inside the cabinet door serves as a visual reminder of available options when flowers arrive.
11. Extra Water Bottles and Travel Mugs
Somehow water bottles seem to multiply mysteriously in most households! While daily favorites deserve accessible storage, the extras can live up high.
A dedicated bin prevents these cylindrical items from rolling around. Many organizing experts recommend periodically reviewing your collection – if you haven’t reached for a particular water bottle in over a year, perhaps it’s time to donate it.
12. Specialty Baking Ingredients
Almond flour, specialty sugars, and food colorings often languish in prime pantry space despite infrequent use. Smart organizers relocate these specialty items to high cabinets, freeing up eye-level storage for everyday ingredients.
Clear containers with bold labels make identification easy from below. Just remember to check expiration dates regularly – even high-stored items need occasional review to prevent waste and ensure freshness when inspiration strikes!
13. Extra Table Linens
Tablecloths, cloth napkins, and table runners add elegance to special meals but consume valuable drawer space. When folded neatly, these items stack beautifully in high cabinets.
Acid-free tissue paper between layers prevents wrinkles and discoloration. Some organizing experts recommend labeling each stack by size or occasion for easy retrieval. This system keeps special textiles pristine while maximizing accessible storage for everyday kitchen needs.
14. Entertaining and Bar Supplies
Cocktail shakers, wine openers, and specialty glassware deserve dedicated storage away from everyday kitchen tools. High cabinets provide perfect homes for these occasion-specific items.
Grouping them together ensures you can find everything needed for impromptu gatherings. Many professional organizers suggest creating a portable bar kit in a basket or bin that can be easily retrieved as a single unit when guests arrive.
15. Backup Kitchen Basics
Running out of olive oil mid-recipe is frustrating! That’s why organizing experts recommend storing backup pantry basics in high cabinets.
Extra cooking oils, vinegars, and shelf-stable condiments purchased on sale can live up high until needed. Just remember to practice rotation – bring items down before opening new ones to ensure nothing expires forgotten in the heights of your kitchen storage.