This Is Why Your Kitchen Cabinets Always Feel Cluttered

Over-Shopping

Sure, it’s hard to resist that buy-one-get-one-free sale on canned chickpeas or that bulk buy on mayo at a warehouse store. But this often leads to cluttered kitchen cabinets, according to The Container Store’s senior manager of in-home organizing, Corey Pence. 

She advises taking a scaled-back approach. “When grocery shopping, only purchase quantities that match your needs so you don’t overload your cabinets,” she says. “It’s helpful to label your bins clearly to help maintain order and make it easy to find what you need, especially if you live with others.”

Remember, food doesn’t last forever, even shelf-stable food like pasta and canned goods. And if it expires, you can’t eat it, which wastes money instead of saving it. 

Lack of Zones

“Cluttered cabinets often result from a lack of designated zones and inefficient use of space,” Pence says.

So, it’s crucial to think about how the space is used. “If you have kids, try to store snacks within easy reach—this might mean placing items on lower shelves or using the Elfa Utility Over the Door Rack on the pantry door to make snacks easily accessible,” she says.

Another tip she shares is to store frequently used food items in clear, airtight containers. “This not only keeps everything fresh but also makes it easy to spot what needs replenishing when making your grocery list,” she adds.

You Don’t Organize Regularly

Pro organizer Bohne Leah says that when you don’t integrate organization into your regular routine, your cabinets will always feel cluttered. “Infusing your daily and weekly routine with simple, low-effort organizing habits keeps you ahead of the game,” she says. “By preventing your items from backlogging, you avoid a tipping point that could turn your home into a daunting project.”

Try to think of this on a micro level. Take a look at your shelves while your pasta water is boiling instead of scrolling on your phone. Make note of food that’s going to expire soon or use those few minutes for a quick tidy-up session.

You’re Storing the Wrong Items in the Wrong Spaces

Leah reveals that another big reason kitchen cabinets feel cluttered is that we overcrowd our busiest spaces with items we rarely use. “When guiding clients to identify these pesky space-takers, I often reference the grocery store aisle strategy—eye level is buy level—where stores place the most commonly shopped items in the easiest spot for quick access,” she says. “An item’s proximity to the heart of your kitchen should correspond to how often you use it.”

An example the pro organizer shares is the turkey cooker you only use during the holidays—it may not need to be in the kitchen at all. Or, at least store it on a high shelf and leave the prime real estate for that blender you use every day to make a smoothie. “And if you rarely use small electronic appliances, there’s no need to crowd the cabinet next to your stove with them,” Leah says. “That’s prime real estate which can easily be freed up to improve ease of use and flow.”

She recommends placing seldom-used items in spaces that correspond to their frequency of use to free up your most trafficked areas. “This will prime your cabinets, pantry, and entire kitchen space to be efficient and effective,” she says.

You’re Holding on to Broken Things

If that old non-stick pan is scratched and no longer functional, it won’t suddenly become unscratched one day. So, why do you still have it?

The same rule applies to that broken air fryer—it’s not going to magically work the next time you use it. If something is not functioning the way it should, it’s time to say goodbye to it and hello to less cluttered cabinets. 

You Have Too Many Things You Don’t Need

If you use single-serving pods every day, why are you still holding onto that coffee grinder? It’s just taking up unnecessary space on your shelf.

This also applies to having way too many multiples that are just causing clutter. For example, while staying hydrated is important, you probably don’t need fourteen water bottles (maybe just two or three).

All of these things not only make your shelves messy but also make it more challenging to find what you really need.