How to Make Effective Use of Cabinet Space

Place items as close as possible to the area where they will be used. Keep pots and pans near the stove, microwave containers by the microwave, mugs above the coffeemaker and dishes close to the dishwasher. In bathrooms, store items you use for your everyday routine in upper cabinets so that they're in easy reach. Reserve the lower cabinets for extra toilet paper, towels and soap storage so that you don't have to bend down and get into it every day.

Install storage solutions that make use of the entire depth of each cabinet. If you have room to store canned goods several rows deep, install a pullout rack so that you can see and reach items that are kept in the back. Use a lazy Susan to make herbs and spices or nail polish and travel-size toiletries easily accessible.

Stack shelves, drawers or tubs in tall cabinets if you aren't using the entire height available for each shelf. Shelf dividers will let you keep two sizes of plates or Tupperware -- one size above the other -- without having to actually stack them up. Shallow shelving that hangs beneath a shelf is ideal for a few cookbooks, cooking utensils, towels or washrags. Use drawers to separate potatoes and onions in your cabinets or stash collections of goodies like single-serving bags of chips and cookies.

Use specialized storage solutions for objects that are many in number. Mug racks can corral a collection of coffee mugs. Pan dividers may keep muffin tins, pizza pans and baking sheets in line. Racks for food wrap boxes can organize foil, plastic wrap and wax paper out of the way while keeping them in easy reach.