Quick and Easy Tips to Organize the Cupboard under your Kitchen Sink
This has been a long overdue project. The cupboard under our kitchen sink has been over-stuffed with everything from outdoor kids toys, cleaning supplies, gardening tools, grocery bags, and more ….the clutter was starting to make me crazy 🙂 In addition to the mess, it’s an awkward corner cupboard with pipes in unusual places.
In less than an hour, I turned this cupboard from a disorganized mess to an organized dream (ok, organizing may only be in MY dreams).
Nevertheless, here’s everything I did to organize the space without spending a single penny!
Follow these simple steps to quickly organize ANY cupboard or drawer
- Remove Everything
- Give the space a good scrub
- Spread everything out and sort items into “like” categories
- anything that doesn’t belong gets relocated to a new home
- Measure the space (remember to measure around hinges and screws so they don’t get in the way of sliding drawers or storage containers)
- Shop your home first for storage containers that might fit the space
- Start refilling the cupboard / drawer with the downsized items that belong there.
- Remember, items used less often go at the back, and items used regularly get placed front and centre.
Tips
1
Save money by shopping other rooms in your home
So often, I used to feel like I couldn’t tidy a closet or cupboard because I didn’t have perfectly sized or matching containers. It didn’t take long for me to realize how wrong I was.
Buying more containers will only add to the clutter and stress.
Pair down your items to the necessities, then assess the containers you already own. With a little imagination, ordinary containers can have multiple uses. There’s a good chance you already own all of the storage you need!
2
Save space by decanting extra items into smaller containers.
Getting rid of the clunky dishwasher detergent box meant I could have the dishwasher pods front and centre. I put them in a pantry container (see below), however since I’ve taken this photo, I’ve swapped the pantry container for an unused plant pot – making them just as easy to see and access (perhaps even a family member will be inspired start the dishwasher 🙂
Household storage containers I repurposed to use under the sink
Toy Basket: I borrowed a blue toy container from Max’s bedroom to store reusable shopping bags. I like to roll the bags before placing them in the bin so they remain tidy and none of the handles get tangled.
Turntable / Lazy Susan – I borrowed this from our bathroom. I’m using it under the sink to keep the cleaning supplies tidy and easy to access.
Unused Wine Rack – I had an acrylic wine rack that wasn’t getting much use, so I turned it on it’s side to be repurposed as a shelf. And as luck would have it, one of our pantry containers slides perfectly inside. This is where I’m storing sink sponges, wipes and extra compost bags. (If you look really close in the photo above, you can catch a glimpse of the acrylic wine rack)
Magazine File: A small space power house. Turned on its side, I used a magazine file to store dish towels and another to hold plastic grocery bags. The best part? Magazine files have a slim profile so they take up very little space in the cupboard.
Plant pot (not pictured because it’s behind the dishwasher pods) – I tucked an unused plant pot at the back of the cabinet that now houses used batteries. Once full, we’ll dispose of them properly.
It may not be the most glamorous project, but it looks so.much.better. With everything easy to access, finding the right cleaning supplies (and storing extras) has become a breeze. 🙂
Thanks for the great. Ideas!
You’re welcome! Send me a message anytime if there’s something special you’d like me to research. I love a challenge 🙂