10 kitchen storage hacks you’ll wish you’d known sooner

Forget spring-cleaning: it’s time for an autumn kitchen overhaul! Ditch the clutter and make the most of your space with these tips.

Studies show that more than 1.2 million people in the UK are unable to fight their compulsion to collect and stockpile items they don’t need. As the new show Hoarders: Buried Alive in My Bedroom on CBS Reality (DStv 170) shows, it’s a real psychological problem, with many people having genuine reasons why they’re unable to part with the clutter.

Bedroom aside, the kitchen, it seems, is the next room for excessive hoarding. You know – that Tupperware container you bought in 2002 that no longer has a lid, those cake forks Aunt Jo gave you that you hate but can’t throw away, that bowl your daughter ate Purity from … she’s now 23.

You’ll be amazed, once you start sorting and throwing away, how much extra space you suddenly have. But there are some other cool storage tricks you need to know too.

1. Crockery

Consider installing open shelves if you have some free wall space available. Crockery can add to the appeal of your kitchen when it’s displayed. Alternatively, create more space in cupboards with a shelf raiser – it allows you to stack crockery better and makes it easier to access.

2. Pots and pans

Store pots and pans sideways and not on top of each other. An expanding cookware organiser will allow you to do this.

3. Plastic containers and Tupperware

There’s nothing like plastic containers to cause kitchen clutter and, for some reason, those lids always go missing! One way to neaten your cupboards is to use a plate rack to store lids vertically, and then stack the containers inside each other. Another idea is to store your containers in a pull-out cupboard and install tension rods at the front, where the lids can be stored. 

4. Groceries

The queen of decluttering Marie Kondo has one amazing fallback – boxes. Things are always neater and easier to find when they’re stored in boxes. Invest in either plastic, woven, cane, wooden or wire baskets to store your grocery tins. Stacking units are also a great idea to turn a single shelf into a double shelf. Use storage jars to decant items such as rice, beans, pasta and other grains – it just looks neater and makes things easier to access.

5. Fruit and vegetables

Use the side of a cabinet to install a bracket, chain three tiered baskets together and suspend them from the hook to display fruit and vegetables. 

6. Spices

If you store spices inside a cupboard, consider installing metal spice racks on either side of the cupboard walls. This makes accessing the spices easier and reduces clutter. Another option is spice ledges, which allow you to stack the spices at different levels, or even a Lazy Susan so you can spin the spices until you reach the right one.

7. The fridge

Wire shelf risers can be purchased to create a second tier in your fridge and add extra storage. Boxes are also brilliant to use here, particularly clear Perspex ones, so you can access items quickly and easily.

8. Cleaning products

Again, plastic boxes work wonders. Have different boxes for particular areas of your house to make cleaning as easy and hygienic as possible, and keep all the detergents, cleaning rags and other useful items to clean that area together, so you don’t mix bathroom and kitchen cleaning items together. 

9. General storage

Got some space at the top of your kitchen cupboards? Those hard to reach areas are generally just wasted space. Consider using pretty baskets that match your kitchen and store items you only use on the rare occasion.

10. Wine glasses

Use an under-shelf wine glass hanger to save space in your cupboards and display your wine glasses.

For more insight, watch Hoarders: Buried Alive In My Bedroom S1 on CBS Reality (DStv channel 124) on Saturdays and Sundays at 07:50 and weekdays at 18:50 from 2 April.