How to organise kitchen cupboards

Well-organised cupboards make cooking more enjoyable. When everything has its place, and you can find what you need without searching, even busy weeknight meals feel manageable. But cupboards have a tendency to become cluttered over time. Items accumulate, ingredients get pushed to the back, and what should be simple becomes frustrating.

Learning how to organise kitchen cupboards isn't about achieving show-home perfection. It's about creating practical systems suited to how you actually cook.

Probably the best time to plan cupboard storage is during a kitchen redesign, as you can make sure everything's in its right place before any furniture is fitted. But even if you're not making big changes, there are simple steps you can take to make your storage work harder. From decluttering thoroughly to choosing the right storage, thoughtful organisation transforms daily cooking routines.

Drawing on our experience designing kitchens with storage that adapts to real life, we've gathered some practical ideas to help you create cupboard organisation that genuinely works for you.

Start with a thorough declutter

Organisation without decluttering simply rearranges clutter. Before thinking about storage solutions, take stock of what you have.

The most practical approach is to empty one cupboard at a time. This keeps the rest of your kitchen functional whilst you work, and it's far less overwhelming than tackling everything at once. As you remove items, group similar things together – you'll quickly see how many duplicate utensils or forgotten jars have accumulated.

Wipe shelves clean whilst they're empty, then be honest about what stays. If something hasn't been used in a year, question whether it needs cupboard space. Mismatched containers, single-use gadgets, expired spices, and chipped plates are common offenders. Be ruthless about getting rid of anything you haven't used for a long time, or that's out of date.

‘Spring-clean your cupboards to identify what storage you really need,’ advises Fred Horlock, Neptune design director. ‘Why build cabinetry to store bulky items that you never use when you could free up and decorate the area to enhance the feel of the kitchen?’ Once you've decluttered, the cupboards you have will suddenly feel more generous, and organising what remains becomes much simpler.

Plan storage around how you actually cook

When learning how to organise kitchen cupboards, remember there's no single ‘right’ way; what works depends entirely on how you use your kitchen. The key is planning storage around your cooking routines rather than following arbitrary rules.

Zone-based cupboard organisation

Think about your kitchen as a series of zones, each supporting different tasks. ‘A kitchen is a jigsaw puzzle,’ says Chloë, a Neptune kitchen design specialist. ‘Decide on appliance placement first, then plan storage around it – spice racks and utensils near the hob, for instance.’ Utensils and kitchen accessories you use every day should be in drawers or cupboards beside the cooker, where you can reach them quickly.

Try to plan storage for dry ingredients not too far from the fridge, so you're not criss-crossing the kitchen in search of things when prepping a meal.

Grouping items by purpose – baking supplies together, cooking essentials near the hob, everyday crockery close to the dishwasher – creates a natural flow that makes cooking feel less chaotic.

Upper and lower cupboard storage

Upper cupboards work best for items you use regularly, but that aren't too heavy; everyday glasses, mugs, plates and bowls at eye level make sense. Reserve the highest shelves for lightweight, occasional pieces like serving platters or vases. Never store heavy items overhead.

Lower cupboards suit heavier equipment. Every kitchen needs at least one deep pan drawer. You can get so much more in them than cupboards, and you don't need to get down on your knees to reach the back. Pots, large mixing bowls, and bulky appliances all belong at floor level.

Frequency-based placement

Daily essentials such as tea, coffee, and breakfast items deserve the most accessible spots. Weekly staples like pasta and tinned goods can sit slightly further back or higher up. Items used occasionally (specialist equipment or seasonal bakeware) can take the hardest-to-reach corners.

Smart storage ideas that make organisation easier

A key part of learning how to organise kitchen cupboards is choosing storage that genuinely helps. The right storage ideas work quietly in the background, making daily routines smoother without adding complexity. Choose carefully. The wrong products can create new frustrations rather than solving them.

Shelf risers and tiered organisers

Shelf risers make use of wasted vertical space, creating layers so items at the back stay visible. ‘They raise storage towards the back, so things are visible and easier to reach,‘ says Chloë. They're particularly helpful for tinned goods, jars, and mugs.

Pull-out drawers and Lazy Susans

Pull-out drawers or sliding baskets bring everything within reach in deep cupboards, so nothing gets lost at the back. Lazy Susans work well in corner cupboards; a quick spin brings bottles and jars forward. Measure your cupboard depth before buying; it's surprisingly easy to choose organisers that don't quite fit.

Drawer dividers and containers

Organised drawers make daily routines smoother. Our cabinet accessories include oak cabinet organisers with sections for cutlery and wooden spoons, plus niches to keep sharp knives safe and easy to find.

For dry goods, airtight containers keep ingredients fresh. Glass or ceramic containers last far longer than plastic and look better, too.

Baskets are another useful option. Large, shallow ones work for organising flat objects like table linens and tea towels. Deeper baskets can group items inside cupboards, simply label them to make things easy to find. Our basket collection includes options in various sizes to suit different storage needs.

Maximise awkward cupboard spaces

Every kitchen has cupboards that feel tricky to use – too deep, too high, or awkwardly positioned. With the right approach, these spaces become surprisingly useful rather than frustrating.

Deep cupboard organisation

Items at the back of deep cupboards tend to be forgotten. Pull-out shelving or sliding baskets bring everything forward, so you can see what you have without unpacking completely. Store frequently-used items at the front and reserves behind, or use clear bins so you can identify contents easily.

Corner and high cupboards

You'll nearly always have more things to store than you think, so consider ways to maximise space. Corner cupboards that pivot outwards (such as the one in our cream Suffolk kitchen) are a clever way to squeeze more storage into a small area.

High cupboards need careful thought. Only store lightweight, occasional items on the highest shelves, such as cake stands, serveware, and seasonal bakeware. Keep a step stool nearby for safe access.

Narrow gaps between cupboards often go unused, but they're perfect for vertical storage. Think about creating space for narrow slots for things like chopping boards (as in our Henley larder). Vertical dividers for baking trays work well here, too. Flat items that would otherwise stack awkwardly in deeper cupboards now have a proper home.

Think about places you can get more use out of, such as the backs of cupboard doors (or even the sides of kitchen cabinets). You could add extra shelves here for small things like spice jars or condiments.