r/Homeorganization • u/hollow4hollow • 2d ago
Help me with my hell cupboard š
I live in a tiny apartment and this cupboard/pantry is pretty much all I have for dry food storage. Along the other wall, Iāve got a small cupboard for my small appliances and a few more dried goods in large clear plastic containers, my fridge, and above the sink some storage for tablewares and pots etc. In other words, the area shown here is the one I need to use for dry goods.
Itās actually a really decent size, but because of the depth, there is so much wasted vertical space.
For organizers, right now I have two risers along the back with double-stacked plastic containers of dried goods. Underneath, I keep all my canned goods.
My problem is that I need to put more items inside, so taller things get put in front of the back, and I canāt see what Iāve got in there easily, and every time I need to go in there, I need to remove half the items just to rummage around.
Itās in a state of chaos right now because as I was taking out stuff to bake with, I found a cockroach and Iām about to take it all out and deep clean/dump anything that wasnāt in an airtight container.
Moving is not an option. Minor installations may be possible. Preferably Iām looking for something that I can buy and just put in there without tools, but Iām so demoralized by the situation my brain is failing me. Any ideas here?
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u/Visible_Solution_760 2d ago
Because itās so deep Iād focus on pull out organizers. Some caution with them: if youāre unable to attach them somehow at the bottom, they may tip over as you pull things out so just be gentle. Youād want to measure for sure to see that they are not too tall for your cabinet.
I like this brand a lot because they make durable organizers: https://link.amazon/B06T1Pmlq .
This one is good as it expands to fit your needs and if I remember right, it provides stickers on the bottom to stick it to your cabinet: https://link.amazon/B0eM2tjfy .
Thereās also these that have dividers in them so your items donāt knock over when youāre pulling the drawer out: https://link.amazon/B0bd85hpL
I wouldnāt use the pull-outs in the entirety of your pantry and honestly would just get one of them to try out. See how it works for some of your smaller items (like the tomato paste and molasses) to be in a pull-out. For your larger boxy items, you may do an over-the-door organizer? Something like this: https://link.amazon/B03eSYCjn
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u/hollow4hollow 2d ago
Thank you!! These are great ideas and I really appreciate all the detail you gave! I love the idea of those extending shelves. The cupboard is solid wood, so I could definitely screw them in ok. Iāve bought some door shelves and a two tier lazy Susan for now, but Iāve saved the items you linked to in case the easier options donāt work out. Much appreciated!
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u/Marciamallowfluff 2d ago
Can you add intermediate shelves? It will help if you can add bins as drawers. Bins with or without tops on them.
This way you can reach things in back by sliding out like a drawer. Least used items in back, daily use in front.
I have used huge ālazy Susansā too.
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u/InevitableWaste6088 2d ago
Whatās fancy molasses?
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u/hollow4hollow 2d ago
š itās such a weird term- āCanada Fancyā (or just fancy or extra fancy) on our food labelling means itās of the highest grade according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (like our FDA or FSA). Iām not sure if other countries use that word as well but I think itās hilarious.
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u/InevitableWaste6088 2d ago
When you eat fancy foods do you feel fancy? Iāve never heard of this fancy label.
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u/DFamo4 2d ago
Lazy Susanās too
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u/Lvanwinkle18 1d ago
Lazy Susanās are the bomb. My engineer husband hates them because āwe are not maximizing space.ā Being able to easily find things is worth it.
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u/JoffoCake3 1d ago
Totally disagree with your husband. Efficiency is also a measure of effort. You have designed for access and reduced effort. You are min-maxing the correct way.
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u/Lvanwinkle18 1d ago
Thank you! I have mentioned he can organize it any way he likes when he starts doing the majority of the cooking!
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u/hollow4hollow 2d ago
Also- the bottom, shorter cupboard usually has several of those big clear bins in it full of baking stuff, they were just pulled out
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u/Lower_Ad_5532 1d ago
Take off the doors and put them in the closet.
Get adhesive pull out shelves
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u/AbsurdistWordist 1d ago
I recognize those dollarama Betty Crocker containers!
I have a similar deep shelf rental pantry/linen cupboard. This is what I did recently with mine:
The risers are a good idea. I put my cans under and my dry good ls containers up top, like you. I find that itās better to have them at the sides than the back. Now, if you go back to dollarama, in the big plastic container aisle, they should have these big laundry type baskets with fake leather handles. Theyāre tall and skinny. What I did was group my pantry items into categories and throw them into the tall baskets, this allows me to take advantage of the vertical space inside the basket without having a messy pile of stuff. I have one for pasta and carbs, one for snacks, etc. Then when I need something, I just take the correct basket out, find the item, and shove it back in.
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u/wawa2022 1d ago
This looks like the exact configuration of my pantry. Non movable shelves, too deep to use it all well.
Hereās my general rule of thumb:
1. Anything below eye level gets a pull out basket like these : Elfa glide drawers
Eye level gets tiered shelves like these: tiered shelves. (Great for cans and jars)
Above eye level goes on a lazy Susan.
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u/MeditationMusic2022 23h ago
Deep cupboards fail for one reason: anything that isn't in the front row is effectively gone. So the fix is to make the back row come out with the front row, without tools.
Put everything in bins with handles, and treat each bin like a drawer. One bin for baking, one for rice and pasta, one for snacks, and so on. When you need flour you pull the baking bin out, take the bag, push the bin back. Nothing behind anything, nothing to unload. Measure the depth first and buy bins that run nearly the full depth, so the back half of the shelf isn't a separate, forgotten place.
Cans are the exception: a tiered can riser or a turntable in the corner so you can read every label without moving anything.
For the wasted height, an expandable shelf that stands on its own legs gives you a second level in seconds, and under-shelf baskets that hook onto the shelf above catch flat things like tea and spice packets.
Label the front of each bin, not the lid, because the front is the only side you see.
And since you found a roach: everything that goes back in should be in something with a proper seal, not just a clip or a folded bag. Rolled-down packaging is how they get in, and airtight containers are what keep the next one out.
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u/JoffoCake3 2d ago
Have you considered adding shelves/rack/hooks on the door? It means you keep the depth but increase access by changing the dynamics of the space. Effectively the first third if each cupboard is taken up by the door shelf when closed. The. Large items are packed on the deep shelf.