Welcome to Day 23 of my month long series “How to Organize Your Kitchen Frugally in 31 Days”. Every day during the month of October I will be sharing an organized space in my kitchen with you. My goal is to inspire you and give you ideas on how you can organize your kitchen.
If you missed it, you may want to read why I’m embracing my outdated kitchen. It might give you a little perspective on why the pictures of my kitchen organization won’t be “magazine worthy”, but helpful for real life organization.
One thing you may have noticed if you have been following this series from the beginning is that I love organizing cupboards and drawers by filling the space with smaller bins, baskets, and containers. It sets boundaries on how much you can store and forces you to recognize when you have too many things.
Some of the least used cupboards in most kitchens I’ve been in are the small cupboards above the fridge. They are typically hard to reach so people tend to store stuff they don’t use often in that space. That’s great! Some things we don’t use regularly so they don’t need to be front and center in the kitchen. However, did you ever think about how you store those little used items? Even though they are out of reach, do you make it easy on yourself when you DO need to reach them?
I had always kept my paper party supplies in those cupboards. Since birthdays only happen in our house every other month, it was a good spot to keep it: out of the way, but still accessible. But, it was a pain to sort through whenever I did have to get to it!
I knew I needed a simpler solution. I found these great bins at Target and have used them in my pantry, so I knew they would be perfect for organizing the cupboards above my fridge – and they are!
I can now store my party supplies neatly and easily grab them when needed. The cupboard doesn’t get overrun with supplies either.
I store the plates and napkins on their ends so I can easily see what I have and what I might need for the next party. I get most of my party supplies at a dollar store and since the patterns don’t change very often, I usually save the leftover plates and napkins for the next party. I can usually find the same pattern to supplement what I might need for the next party.
I also keep plastic party tablecloths in this bin.
Whatever you store in the cupboards above your fridge, you should consider how to make it easier to access. Using bins to fill the space also helps to keep things from getting lost in hard to reach places.
Great idea Ginny!
We actually removed our cupboards above the fridge when we got our new fridge as it was taller than the old one. I have my seldom used appliances up there right now and a large bin for snacks (read…potato chips 🙂 )
I may use this idea in another cupboard though.
Keep the great ideas coming!
Now why didn’t I think of that? I also store paper goods in those cupboards and stuff always falls out when I open the cupboard or doesn’t get put back because there is no room! so the extras sit on top of the fridge! Thanks for the great idea!
I use my above-the-refrigerator cabinet to store Christmas items that I use in the kitchen- candy molds, cupcake papers, cookie cutters, fabric napkins and bread basket liners, pot holders, left-over Christmas paper plates and napkins, holiday cookbooks, and Christmas mugs. Once I bring down the Christmas mugs, I put the everyday mugs up into this cabinet until Christmas is over, then switch them back out after the holidays 🙂 My cabinet has a shelf in it, so for my needs I do not use the larger storage tubs. My cookie cutters and small items like that are in old holiday tins so that they are all together. I’ve enjoyed reading each day’s post, and you have shared some wonderful ideas for organizing my own kitchen. Have a blessed day 🙂
I love, LOVE, love this idea for those cabinets. I actually live in a an older home and have those cabinets around the rest of our cabinets and was looking for ideas to use them. They are not in reach unless there is a step stool and those bins would remedy the problem of ease of access. Thank you!
What are the dimensions of these baskets? I love them! This would be so helpful in keeping that stuff all together neatly. Great idea!
I just found your website, got hooked. I cant stop reading, really enjoy it. Love how your described everything so clearly. I learn new things. Got inspiration to clean my unorganised kitchen. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge. I have been blessed to know you. I just subcribed. God bless!
Great place for your party supplies. If you ever need more room in your gadget drawer, you could move the party supplies there into these bins, too. I have vases and other things I can’t even remember above my frig. Because I have indoor cats, I don’t have too many flowers inside. Not only do they get knocked over, but many of the flowers I love, such as lilies, are toxic to cats. It is hard for me to reach this area, but bins would make it much easier if I ever move the vases somewhere else. Thanks!
I like the baskets you’ve used. Great idea!! Mary
This is another great idea in your kitchen organization series. Now I need to measure these cabinets in my kitchen to figure out what bins could fit 🙂
What are the sizes of those baskets? Thanks!