Do YOU have beautifully tidy drawers and cupboards? I need help! *pics*

[GimbleInTheWabe]

Oh tidy ones of MN, please heed my call.

My drawers and cupboards are a mess. Disorganised, dirty, hard to find anything- a mess. And I need help!

I've seen lots of impressive looking pots and Tupperware, dividers and storage bins online but I don't know what is tosh and what actually works. I think I need something to properly store all the pasta and rice and then all the breakfast things and different oils. I love to cook and would like to think I'm quite adventurous so I often have weird and wonderful stuff kicking about in there. We're in a compact one bed flat and there's a carousel cupboard (that stores all the pots and pans and is actually organised quite well) and then basically the big cupboard and three drawers as shown in the photos.

From shopping around it looks like it could end up costing a lot to store everything well but I'm on a massive budget (we have a 7 month old and are saving to move) so would love to knows your tips and tricks if you are a tidy person.

Please, thank you and you're the best.

After!!
Loads of stuff chucked away, depressingly. Most because it's after it's use by date (by about 2 years ) and some because it had been left open for an unknown length of time.
But wow! Looks so much better and also it didn't even take that long.
Haven't had the chance to buy the caddy boxes, though I intend to do that's help accumulate the rice/cous cous sections.
Thanks for the help everyone

👍🏻 😀 @Gimbleinthewade

Are you a bread fridger @Goldenpombear?

No! 😀 @gimbleinthewabe (apologies for previous misspelling) but I do have a rather ancient degree in microbiology which makes me a bit pedentic about where things should be kept 😂

I put the cutlery in a caddy on the surface, got rid of any drawer organiser things (space wasters), lined the drawer and laid out all my cooking implements in it in order of size. Much much easier.

Those fiddly items I don't use much are in a big biscuit tin in the cupboard or even on top of it. It's not hard to get it out when I need to.

I've got a spice rack on the inside of the boiler cupboard door, and magnetic spice tins on the back of the hob.

I've got those Ikea mini shelves- very good value and really helpful.

I also use crates or fabric boxes to store things. So I can pull out the Tupperware pot box, or the snack/junk food box.

Oh and btw thank you @CakeUpWall! I don't think anyone has got the reference before it's one of my favourite poems too!

I already have a magnetised spice rack which is great, but the ikea spice pots are a bit fiddly and prone to popping open (leaving cumin bloody everywhere!) which do you use @picklemepopcorn? Yes I've gone for the 'group in boxes' technique now, it's much easier!

I love my lazy Susans for storing my herbs and condiments. Makes access easy and is fun giving them a spin

I like it! Where are they from?

My lazy Susan's were from amazon. The single ones were madesmart ones but they have lots of different ones. They fit just lovely in my narrow cupboards. I do love storage ideas.

Also from Lakeland...

www.lakeland.co.uk/22357/3-Stackable-Clear-Plastic-Shoe-Storage-Boxes---Up-to-Size-8-Shoe

Not airtight but fabulous...I think I have 15 in this size and 3 larger but I’m sure I need more!!! Means you can fit so much more in deep cupboards Nd still get to it easily...

Ive got https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B007EEE6AU/ref=ohauisearch_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1these in my pantry for canned food. It's not clear from the amazon photos, but tins fit perfectly in them, lying on their sides. You can stack quite a few in a box and they don't take up much space.

I've also got other shapes and sizes in the same range. They're not the cheapest, but I make them work hard for a living and none of them have failed yet. Really sturdy.

Here are the Lakeland caddies doing their thing. I think they're fine for herbs & spices, as they are so easy to lift down to extract the ones you need.
I had so many I thought it would be easiest to sort them alphabetically. Turns out that most spices begin with C. Who knew? So the C's have the luxury of a box all to themselves!

Oh @Allsloppy 30 pts for your lazy Susan usage, that is inspired!!

Thanks for the further storage inspo and very happy to know I'm not alone in my enjoyment of arranging. I just wish I had more time to properly finish the job!

Cutlery drawer will def be tackled next. I do want to go for a drawer insert but I know @picklemepopcorn said they were a waste of space. Does anyone have one they like?

I've lined my drawer with a table runner. That stops things sliding around and makes it quieter. I have two shallow tins for teaspoons and sharp knives. Everything else just lines up nicely.

I love my cutlery organiser (lol what a saddo I am), I'm not sure how to link on my phone, hang on and I'll give it a try...

Joseph Joseph Drawer Store with Cutlery Tray - Dark Grey https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0093VYWRY/ref=cmswwrcppapiii_k1VgBbMKVG854

Hope this works?

Love threads like this

Really like the idea of those lazy Susan's too!

My top tips:

Minimise - get rid of stuff you don't use (be ruthless!)
Store frequently used stuff where it's most convenient
Stuff used infrequently in top cupboards/out of the way
Use every bit of space - eg you can get shelf units (Ikea do them) to fit inside cupboards so for example store tins under them and on top (not explained that very well, sorry)
Use baskets and caddies so you can pull them out instead of pulling out about 100 tins to find what you want (Wilko has a fab selection at really good prices)
Keep decluttering- it's a constant job. As a pp said even while waiting for the kettle to boil

Start small - so one shelf or drawer at a time - it won't take as long as you think.

Good luck op!