Effectively stocking a lazy susan cabinet involves categorizing items, utilizing organizational tools like bins and dividers, and arranging items for easy access and visibility, placing frequently used items towards the front of sections.
Lazy susan cabinets, often found in corner kitchen cabinets, provide excellent storage potential but can become cluttered and difficult to navigate without proper organization. The spinning feature is a great advantage, but items can fall over or get lost in the back if not contained.
Why Use Organizational Tools?
Organizing tools are crucial for maximizing the functionality of a lazy susan. Items placed directly on the spinning shelves can tip over when rotated, making it hard to find what you need and potentially creating a mess. By using containers, you group similar items and provide stability.
For instance, as shown in the reference, using a bin to store items like jars you like to save and squeeze containers for condiments is an effective strategy. These were previously kept in a "blank cabinet" and forgotten, highlighting how consolidating and organizing them in an accessible spot like the lazy susan, within a bin, improves visibility and ensures they are remembered and used.
Steps and Tips for Stocking Your Lazy Susan
Here's a breakdown of how to approach stocking your lazy susan cabinet:
- Empty and Clean: Start by taking everything out. Wipe down the shelves to ensure a clean space.
- Categorize Items: Group similar items together. Common categories for kitchen lazy susans include:
- Spices and seasonings
- Oils and vinegars
- Baking supplies (extracts, sprinkles)
- Canned goods (smaller ones)
- Condiments and sauces
- Small jars or containers (like the saved jars from the reference)
- Cleaning supplies (if under the sink)
- Choose Organizing Tools: Select bins, baskets, or lazy susan dividers that fit your cabinet shelves. Clear containers are often helpful as they allow you to see contents without removing the bin.
- Place Items in Containers: Put your categorized items into the selected bins or onto specific sections created by dividers. This prevents items from toppling over and keeps categories together. The reference specifically demonstrates placing jars you like to save and squeeze condiment containers together in a bin.
- Load the Lazy Susan: Place the bins or organized categories onto the lazy susan shelves. Arrange them logically around the circle.
- Consider Frequency of Use: Place items you reach for most often in easily accessible bins or sections that are frequently rotated towards the cabinet opening.
- Avoid Overcrowding: Don't stuff the shelves or bins too full. This makes it difficult to rotate and retrieve items. Leave a little space to make accessing contents easy.
- Label (Optional but Recommended): If using opaque bins or for categories like spices, consider adding labels to the bins or the shelf edge for quick identification.
By following these steps and utilizing containers like bins for specific categories, such as saved jars and condiments, you can transform a potentially chaotic lazy susan into a highly functional and accessible storage space, ensuring items like those previously forgotten are always within reach.
