Making the Most of Those Hard-to-Reach Kitchen Cabinets

We all have them and if you're short like me even more shelves fall in the hard to reach category. They are great in theory (extra storage!) but in reality, this space is inconvenient and underused. As a professional organizer, I see this all the time and with the holidays coming up, it’s the perfect moment to put that space to good use.

1. Store once-a-year holiday items.Those upper cabinets are prime real estate for things you only need seasonally, Thanksgiving serving platters, Christmas mugs, special table linens, or that punch bowl you break out once a year. You don’t need to reach for them every week, so tucking them up high keeps your everyday space clutter-free.

2. Give your “someday” china a home.If you’ve inherited family china or have beautiful dishes you just can’t part with (even if you rarely use them), the upper cabinets are perfect. Just put them on the hard to reach shelves or store them safely in padded bins or boxes and label them clearly so you know exactly what’s there. This honors the sentimental value without crowding your daily shelves. I know many organizers encourage people to part with them but I get it I'm sentimental too! There is just no need for these rarely used pieces to take up prime relastate.

3. Use bins and labels. Contain similar items together, for example, “Holiday Baking” or “Entertaining Essentials.” Clear or labeled bins make it easy to grab what you need when the season rolls around.

4. Keep it light and safe. Avoid storing anything overly heavy or fragile directly on high shelves. Instead, pack delicate items carefully and use lightweight containers to make retrieval easier (and safer!).

5. Bring in a good step stool. A sturdy, step stool that lives nearby will make those upper cabinets much more usable. Choose one you can easily fold away or keep tucked in a pantry. Or if you use it multiple times a day like me get one that matches with your kitchen and find a spot it can stay out.

6. Reevaluate after the holidays.Once the season’s over, take a moment to see what you actually used and what you didn’t. It’s an easy way to decide what’s worth keeping for next year and what might be ready to let go.

With a little planning, those high, hard-to-reach cabinets can transform from wasted space into your hidden holiday headquarters and the perfect spot for meaningful pieces and festive favorites that deserve a place (even if not an everyday one).