My kitchen cabinets each serve a vital storage purpose, especially because we’re always in danger of having more items than we have space to keep, which is why nesting items together to make use of vertical space is vital.
But one thing I struggled with was lifting up those tall piles to grab something from the lowest layer. I have chronic pain and found it painful to lift multiple plates and bowls every time I needed something.
That’s until I found a nifty two-tiered corner shelf riser on Amazon and it became my favorite kitchen cabinet storage idea.
This corner shelf riser solved my storage woes
My cabinets are not very deep and each shelf houses multiple items. I opted for a corner tier which is compact, and has two tiers to fit my needs perfectly. This is a two pack so you can utilize this great storage hack in two busy areas.
When you’re living in a tiny or compact home, or simply have a lot of stuff to organize and keep tidy, space-saving ways to use vertical storage is a top-tier idea.
In my kitchen cabinets, I fitted extra shelves to decrease dead vertical space and give me more surface area to store items. However where my plates and bowls were concerned, I needed something more specific to solve the inaccessible stacking issue.
That was when I added this cheap and cheerful two-tier shelf riser from Amazon, separating the nesting piles from each other, and it was a game changer. It means I can now still make use of all my vertical kitchen cabinet space whilst also having easy access to the bottom nest of dinnerware.
The two-tier shelf riser in my kitchen cabinet makes it easy to grab larger plates from the bottom pile
I also recently swapped out my heavier ceramic dinner service with beautiful, dishwasher safe melamine ones, and it’s been transformative for my pain and accessibly needs. It's also easier for my young daughter to manage.
Melamine is a light and durable plastic, and this one safe in the dishwasher. It cannot be used in the microwave or oven. I swapped out my heavy ceramic for beautiful melamine and it's easier for me on an accessibility scale.
Before using the shelf riser, I stored nests of bowls and various sized plates to make use of the vertical cabinet space. However, as I have chronic pain and weak, very-bendy wrists due to a genetic connective tissue disorder, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, heavy ceramic stacks were problematic.
It meant in order for me to get a dinner plate – the largest of my nested tower and at the bottom – I had to lift a stack of heavy pasta bowls and side plates first. It hurt my wrists every time and there were a number of dinnerware breakages as a result of my wrists giving way mid lifting.
Now, the shelf riser has fixed that and makes the best use of my vertical storage space.
What to shop
There are plenty of kitchen storage solutions I employ in my cabinets to make best use of the space I have. Here are three of my favorites for space-saving and increasing functionality of my vital cabinet spaces.
All prices correct at time of publication.
Use the vertical space inside cabinet doors to store spices you use a lot. This will save you pulling out everything to find the vital ingredients you use daily. I keep mine in the cabinet to the left of my oven so I can reach it easily when cooking.
A drawer organizer will keep your cutlery and utensils neatly stored. It's also helpful in avoiding duplication of items, or if you have a large drawer, stopping different categories of items mixing or rolling into one another. This one is expandable, but you'll need a minimum of 12.91 x 16.73 x 1.89 inches.
Food safe and BPA free, these clear plastic storage bins are perfect for organizing pantries or kitchen cabinets. I use mine to group my busy spice cabinet into single, mixed, herbs, spices, and refills. I use removable labels to help my household understand my storage system and help maintain it.
Next, learn what things tidy people always have in their kitchens.
-
Martha Stewart's 'innovative' kitchen storage is over a decade old, but it's still as smart today – she uses spaces that 'would otherwise be lost'The best storage solutions are discreet, smart, and, above all, timeless – Stewart's kitchen encompasses all three qualities (11 years later)
-
Where to place a snake plant to bring protection, purification and positive energy to your home, according to Feng Shui expertsIn the Year of the Snake, strategically incorporating snake plants into your Feng Shui practice can help to create a harmonious and empowered space
-
7 organizing icks professional home organizers hate – and what you should always do insteadThey're actually making your home harder to maintain, experts say
-
Have you tried the C.H.A.O.S organizing method? Professional organizers reveal this 'simple and actionable approach' transforms messy homesTurn chaos into calm in just five steps without indecision
-
Are micro-resets the key to a tidy home? 'Tiny pockets of time here and there add up to big changes,' say professional organizersOur experts reveal tips for maximizing your micro-resets and avoiding overwhelm
-
Chefs and professional organizers reveal 8 easy-access blender storage ideas to help conceal your applianceAvoid countertop hogging with these storage ideas
-
This unexpected kitchenware item is a 'fun and unique' way to store your beauty productsExperts say using a cake stand to cut clutter chaos will overhaul your vanity
-
The beauty of a tidy home and the 5 brilliant benefits professional organizers promise it will bringBetter for you, the planet and your pocket
-
The 5 storage mistakes including 'vertical vacancy' that are making your organizing products less functional – and what the pros always do insteadMake storage work hard, not hard work, with these quick fixes
-
How wire hangers are ruining your clothes – and what professional organizers and stylists use insteadThey might save space, but they will only cost you in the long run
