10 Ways to Instantly Double Your Kitchen Cabinet Space

Do your kitchen cabinets constantly look like an episode of Hoarders? Are you endlessly digging through clutter trying to find a lid or saucepan? Most kitchens suffer from disorganized cabinets and not enough storage space. But with a few clever tweaks, you can instantly double your existing cabinet capacity.

Read on to learn how a little DIY elbow grease will maximize every inch of wasted space. You'll be amazed at what your kitchen can hold!

The Struggle of Crammed Cabinets is Real

Picture this familiar scene: You open your kitchen cabinet hoping to quickly grab an ingredient, only to be greeted by a towering avalanche of loose food boxes, cookware, and gadgets. You sigh and start sorting through the clutter, shoving aside bottles and cans just to find what you need. Meanwhile, your souffle deflates and dinner plans deflate right along with it.

Unfortunately, most standard kitchen layouts come with built-in organizational challenges. Corner cabinets or deep base units with lazy susans become black holes that swallow items forever. Drawers crammed full of silverware and tools turn into chaotic junk drawers. Spices and oils get buried behind stacks of dinner plates. Before you know it, the disorder has spilled out onto the countertops too.

Common Trouble Spots and Consequences

Certain spots tend to attract the most kitchen cabinet chaos. Corner cabinets and the space above refrigerators are notorious for items vanishing into the void, never to be seen again. The back of cabinets also gets filled with "set it and forget it" appliances like blenders that require excavation to access. Even well-intentioned organizing systems like lazy susans become an excuse to toss things in a pile rather than storing properly.

Drawers are another huge trouble zone. Utensil drawers become a tangled mess of tools and gadgets despite dividers. Pots and pans fight for space and inevitably the lids and containers needed most end up on the bottom. The result is doubled prep and cooking time from digging around searching for things.

The frustrations of disorganized cabinets even lead to buying duplicate kitchen tools when the originals can't be located. Wasted and expired food is another consequence when items disappear for ages. But with some clever storage solutions, you can put an end to the madness and utilize every inch of space.

10 Hacks to Double Your Existing Storage

Transforming cluttered cabinets into hyper-efficient storage doesn't require expensive remodeling or expansions. With some DIY creatively and elbow grease, you can double your existing capacity. Here are 10 brilliant solutions to revolutionize your kitchen organization and maximize every bit of wasted space.

1. Utilize Cabinet Door Storage

An often overlooked way to gain storage space is utilizing the vertical real estate on the inside of cabinet doors. Companies like Rev-A-Shelf make racks, baskets and shelves that mount to the door for extra storage. These are perfect for oils, spices, utensil holders or kitchen towels. Door racks add storage without sacrificing accessibility.

The installation is simple with a few screws or heavy-duty adhesives. Measure carefully so the door can still open and close without obstruction. This brilliant hack adds usable space without remodeling and makes good use of empty surfaces right under your nose.

2. Install Pull-Out Shelves

Tired of the black hole that forms in the back of your cabinets? Pull-out shelves mounted on tracks roll outward so you can access every inch of that wasted space in the rear. You'll be able to neatly organize bulky and heavy appliances like stand mixers, food processors and blenders. Pots, pans and other items will also be much easier to access.

Ready-made roll out trays can be purchased or you can DIY your own guide rails and shelves with plywood and drawer slides. Measure carefully so the shelf rolls out fully but doesn't hit adjacent cabinets. This hack takes advantage of cabinet depth for double the organized storage space.

3. Add a Lazy Susan

While a lazy susan turntable won't technically double your space, it will double the convenience of corner cabinets. Items placed toward the back corner of regular shelves often get buried and forgotten. But a round spinning tray lets you effortlessly rotate to access everything. Like magic, no more endless digging to unearth lost spices, Tupperware or canned goods.

Lazy susans are sold in multiple sizes to perfectly fit corner cabinets or even larger pantries. Many come with hardware to easily install under existing shelves. For a smoother spin, choose a ball bearing model or DIY your own. Whatever corner chaos you have, a lazy susan can make it functional.

4. Stack Shelves Vertically

For cabinets with ample vertical room, stacking an additional layer of shelves will literally double your usable space. Riser shelf supports let you create a second tier for items like bakeware, small appliances or plastic containers. Vertical dividers also split up cabinet height into two organized sections. Wall mounted racks or baskets above cabinets serve the same dual layer purpose.

Measure first to make sure there's adequate room for the upper shelf to fit without hitting the door or countertop. Stepped shelves, risers and wall mounts install easily with basic tools. Go vertical to optimize wasted air space that's currently home to dust bunnies.

5. Organize Drawers Efficiently

Kitchen drawers inevitably turn into black holes of loosely tossed tools and lids. But drawer organizers can transform that jumbled mess into smart compartments for every item. Adjustable dividers customize spaces for utensils, gadgets, spice jars, aluminum foil, plastic wrap and anything else.

Look for organizers with deep compartments and non-slip bottoms to corral contents. Cutlery inserts with built-in sections keep types of utensils separate. Take measurements and use dividers to truly maximize each drawer's potential. An organized drawer cuts down on time spent digging.

6. Use Fillers and Nooks

Take advantage of the narrow gaps and holes around your cabinets with specialized storage options. Skinny cabinet inserts designed to occupy filler spaces beside your stove or fridge are great for baking sheets, cutting boards and other flat items. Narrow wall mounts for cleaning supplies turn tiny gaps into storage real estate.

Vertical in-cabinet organizers make use of awkward narrow spaces between cabinets for things like foil, trash bags and tall thin items. Even the sliver of space beside your sink can be utilized with a specialized caddy. Look for wasted nooks and fill them.

7. Free Up Counter Space

Counter space is always at a premium in kitchens. But items like knife blocks, paper towel holders and certain appliances can be moved off the counters. Mount them underneath cabinets to free up precious square footage for food prep and cooking. DIY or purchase under-cabinet racks designed for everything from utensils to pots and pans. Your counters will thank you.

Measure carefully so items don't interfere with drawers or doors. Allow for a few inches of clearance. Installing underside is as easy as drilling pilot holes and screwing directly into the cabinet bottom. Get things off the counter and gain back usable workspace.

8. Use Vertical Space Under Cabinets

Another way to maximize vertical real estate is installing storage under your upper cabinets for pans and lids. Simple pot racks screw or adhesive directly to the underside for hanging pans, freeing up cabinet space. Mesh hanging baskets are great for awkward lids. Mount them a few inches under the cabinet for easy access.

Make sure screws go into solid wood, not just cabinet veneer to safely hold items. Measure carefully so doors and drawers aren't obstructed. A few simple mounts create storage space where there was only empty air before. Those annoying lid and pan piles can finally be tamed.

9. Add Over-Cabinet Storage

The flat top of your cabinets is prime storage space just waiting to be utilized. Risers or floating shelves mounted to the wall above cabinets let you stow lesser used items like decor, appliances and cookbooks. Wire pot racks and baskets can also be mounted if you have adequate clearance from the ceiling.

Be sure to only place items you won't need regular access to since reaching up high is required. But for things used occasionally, over-cabinet storage takes advantage of valuable vertical space that typically goes to waste. Just be sure to securely anchor mounts to studs.

10. Organize the Pantry

Don't forget about your pantry! This storage zone is notorious for becoming a black hole of expired mystery food and haphazard boxes. Take everything out and only put back what you actually use. Make use of shelves, bins and storage containers to neatly categorize and see everything easily.

Arranging your pantry with the most-used ingredients at eye level within reach saves tons of time. Labeling bins clearly also avoids the guessing game. Regularly editing and donating unused items prevents a repeat of pantry chaos. A little ongoing maintenance keeps this massive storage space maximized.

With a little strategic planning and DIY spirit, you can revolutionize your kitchen's storage capacity. Assess where you have the most clutter and organizational pain points. Then implement solutions to target those specific problem areas.

A few hours invested installing clever racks, risers and containers will pay back double in convenience and reduced frustration. Ditch the constant digging through cabinet chaos. Aplace for everything streamlined system is possible in your kitchen with these brilliant hacks. Go ahead, double your storage and enjoy the serenity.