Declutter Your Corner Cabinet Clutter for Good
If your corner kitchen cabinets are a jumbled mess of expired canned goods, chipped dishes, and appliances you haven't touched in years, you're not alone. The unique angles and depths of corner cabinets can make them black holes for disorganization.
But it doesn't have to be this way. With some strategic decluttering and smart storage solutions, you can transform those pesky corners into highly functional storage space. From lazy susans to pull-out shelves, we'll explore the best ways to tackle cluttered corner cabinets once and for all.
Assess Your Actual Storage Needs
Before diving into fancy organizing products, take stock of what's actually in your corner cabinets. Pull everything out and take inventory.

As you sort through the contents, ask yourself these questions:
- What items do I use most frequently? These should go in the most accessible spaces.
- What items are used less often? Place these in harder to reach areas.
- What items are doubles I don't need? Declutter and donate excess.
- What items are expired or damaged? Toss anything you realistically won't use.
Ideal Corner Cabinet Contents
Once you've decluttered, determine what you actually need convenient access to. Corner cabinets shine for storing items like:
- Spices, oils, and condiments for cooking
- Healthy snacks like granola bars
- Appliances used weekly or monthly like slow cookers
- Less used pots, pans, and baking sheets
Items to Avoid Storing
On the other hand, avoid storing the following items in hard to access corners:
- Dishes or glassware that could shatter
- Foods close to expiring
- Rarely used items that belong in basement storage
Choose Storage Solutions by Cabinet Type
When deciding on the best storage ideas, consider if you're dealing with upper or lower corner cabinets. We'll explore smart solutions for each.
Organizing Upper Corner Cabinets
Upper corner cabinets have limited depth, and the high shelving is inconvenient for heavy items. Focus storage here on:
- Everyday items grabbed with meals like spices, oils, condiments
- Non-perishable snacks
- Pantry overflow like boxed pasta, rice, canned goods
Ideal Upper Cabinet Organizers
Install organizers designed for the angled shape of upper corners:
- Lazy susans - spinning shelves for spices and snacks
- Corner shelves - extra space for small bottles and cans
- Baskets - corral loose bulk snacks or ingredients
- Door racks - handy access to everyday cooking items
Tackling Lower Corner Cabinets
Lower corner cabinets have spacious depth but awkward angles. Utilize them for:
- Bulky pots, pans, and baking sheets
- Small kitchen appliances used weekly/monthly
- Less frequently used dinnerware
Best Lower Cabinet Organizing Ideas
Choose functional organizers to optimize tricky lower corner areas:
- Tiered lazy susans - spins pots and lids of various sizes
- Pull out shelves - slides out appliances for easy access
- Swing out shelves - pivot for complete cabinet access
- Slide out trays - smoothly glides out flatware organizers
Maximize Space With Inserts
One of the best ways to conquer cluttered corner cabinets is with specialized storage inserts. These customizable systems have adjustable shelving and dividers designed to perfectly fit the unique dimensions of corner cabinets.
Benefits of Corner Cabinet Inserts
Storage inserts for the corners offer many perks:
- Modular tracks and shelves are adjustable to your space
- Prevent items from getting lost in cabinet depths
- Customize dividers and shelves to items you store
- High quality durable materials like steel wire
- Easy DIY installation with provided hardware
Key Features to Look For
When evaluating corner cabinet inserts, consider must-have features like:
- Adjustability - shelves and dividers should be moveable to customize
- Weight capacity - heavy pots require sturdy shelving
- Material strength - withstanding pulls and usage wear-and-tear
- Fit - perfectly sized hugs interior cabinet angles
Clear Visibility With Containers
An easy way to instantly declutter corner cabinets is using clear storage bins and canisters.
Clear organizers have benefits like:
- Scan contents faster without opening
- Prevent purchasing duplicate pantry items
- Filter and group like items in shared bins
- Acrylic material is shatter-proof
Some best uses are pantry staples, baking supplies, and medical cabinets. Label the front of containers for quick identification.
Pantry Item Ideas for Clear Bins
- Dried pasta, rice, grains
- Seasoning packets
- Crackers and snack bars
- Canned vegetables and soups
- Baking ingredients like flour and sugar
Maintain With Regular Decluttering
An organized corner cabinet won't stay that way on its own. Occasionally repeat the decluttering process to weed out unused or expired items.
To stop cabinets from regressing into disarray:
- Designate a "misc" bin for odds and ends
- Set reminders to meal plan using items before they expire
- Pre-sort any donated items directly into bags
- Assess storage needs with any new appliances or cookware
Implement a Regular Decluttering Routine
Aim to trim down clutter:
- Monthly - Toss expired food items
- Seasonally - Donate unused summer or holiday dishes
- Annually - Reassess shelf organization
Don't let corner cabinet chaos get the best of your meal preparation! By decluttering unused items and installing smart storage systems, you can unlock the potential of your corner space.
Use handy lazy susans or customize inserts based on whether you need to corral spices or stash larger pots and pans. Maintain organization with clear bins and regular tune-ups.
Corner cabinets can become highly efficient and functional with some effort.