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Organization

Organizing Pots and Pans in a Corner Cabinet

February 19, 2021

Do you have a corner cabinet lazy susan in your house?  These spinning contraptions make great use of dead space that seems to exist in most kitchens, but from the bendy door to the awkward pie-shaped shelves, it’s a bit of a mystery how best to organize the space.

I’ve never had much of a plan for actually organizing the space.  I followed more of a “toss it in and slam the door” method.  But in my recent quest to maximize and organize every inch of my small kitchen, I decided to take it on.  

This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualified purchases.

corner kitchen cabinet

And boy am I glad I took the time to rethink this space.  By adding a few specific organizational items I was able to hugely increase the function of this corner.  No longer are my pots and pans scattered haphazardly or my lids awkwardly piled up.  It actually makes me giddy to open up the cabinet and easily slide out the pan I need for scrambled eggs.

Use a tower to stack your nonstick pans without scratching

For years we have stacked our frying pans, in two uneven, tippy stacks in this cabinet.  Anytime we needed a specific pan we would have to move all the other pans just to get to the one we wanted.  While this was fine for our stainless steel, I noticed all the stacking and moving was scratching up our non-stack pans.  Turns out you aren’t supposed to stack non-stick pans because it can chip the coating.  Not good!  

Since I actually have quite a few frying pans, I purchased two white towers and placed them on the bottom rotating shelf.  Placed at an angle, they fill the space nicely and even my largest, deepest frying pans fit nicely without overhanging the shelf.  

frying pan organizer

frying pan rack

Each rack fits 4 frying pans and creates a very clear, defined space for pans.  Since there was only room for 8 pans, I needed to reduce my collection of pans to 8.  But you know what? I’m OK with that! 

Having self-imposed number limits prevent mindless accumulation.  It’s a great trick for keeping belongings in check – provide a defined space or number and don’t allow yourself to go over.  

But don’t be afraid to stack stainless steel pots and colanders on your lazy susan

Even though I went away from stacking my frying pans, I did decide to continue stacking my colanders and my pots.  In my case, they are made of stainless steel, so I wasn’t as concerned about scratches. I found that I was able to nest them together smallest to largest in a tidy stack.

nesting cooking pots

The spinning shelf makes it easy to grab what I need.  Grouping by type (colanders with colanders, pots with pots) makes it easy to quickly find what I’m looking for.  There was even space at the back to store my large stockpot. 

nesting colanders

Turn large pot lids around to save space in your corner cabinet

Large pan lids not fitting?  Or awkward to store?  Try turning them upside down on top of the pan.  This places the knob or handle inside the pan, instead of sticking up awkwardly.  For my largest pot, this was the only way it would fit in the cabinet.  As a bonus, it keeps the lid with the pot which makes it easy to find when you need it.  

Use an organizer for small to medium-sized lids

Want to know my absolute favorite Dollar Tree organizing product?  This $1 white metal organizer is incredibly multipurpose and so cheap, you won’t feel guilty buying one (or four!)

I found that it’s just the right size for organizing small to medium-sized lids.  It stores the lids vertically and makes it easy to grab what you need.  No more digging through slippery piles of lids! 

dollar store lid organizer

Look for this lid organizer at your local Dollar Tree, but if you can’t find one there, here’s a similar lid organizer from Amazon.

Purge what you don’t use

Please remember to actually go through your pots and pans before attempting to organize them.  It’s not worth your time to organize clutter.  The only way to do this is to take everything out of the cabinet and actually LOOK at what you have.  Assess each pan by asking the following questions:

  1. Do I use this pan?
  2. Is it in good shape? Or is the non-stick coating scratched and old?
  3. Do I have duplicates of the same size pot or pan?

Keep only the best of the best and donate the rest.

I noticed I had a duplicate set of small/large nonstick frying pans.  It seems that when I purchased a new set last year, I forgot to actually get rid of the old, scratched set.  So remember, if you buy a new set, get rid of the old set! Don’t keep both!

organized corner cabinet lazy susan

frying pan rack

In conclusion, a corner cabinet lazy susan doesn’t need to be a dumping ground.  The space is perfect for storing pots and pans and with a few simple additions, it can be an organized space that is a joy to use.  

Do you want to see this in action?  Check out my 30-second video of this space:

@smallishhome

Organizing a corner cabinet with pots and pans! #kitchenorganization #kitchenstorage #homeorganization #organizing #organizingtips #potsandpans

♬ Right Round – Flo Rida

Looking for more kitchen organization?  Click the links below to see how I organize my:

Mugs

Food Storage Containers

Baking pans

clean organized kitchen

And be sure to follow me on Instagram @smallishhome for more small home organization tips and tricks!

Happy organizing!

  

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4 Comments

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Comments

  1. Jennifer says

    January 8, 2022 at 9:11 pm

    I was wondering where you purchased your lazy susan? I have been looking for it, but I haven’t seen one quite like it. I also like how you organized your pots and pans in the video.
    Thanks for the ideas!

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      January 10, 2022 at 9:56 pm

      Hi! It’s actually built into the corner cabinet. These are IKEA cabinets, so I’m not sure if there is something you can buy that is similar. Thanks for reading and commenting!

      Reply
  2. Christine Hanline says

    February 24, 2022 at 10:06 pm

    Hello, I have a similar lazy susan. I think the previous owners bought the cabinets from Ikea. This is my question do you know how to take it apart? I can’t seem to find instructions anywhere. The base screws have come out and it constantly slides back and forth. The space is to put a screw in is to close to cabinet bottom to put the screws back in… I’m wondering if you know a solution? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      March 1, 2022 at 1:39 pm

      Ohhh, that’s an interesting question. It might be the older line of IKEA cabinets (AKURUM – stopped production in 2015). Try searching for Ikea AKURUM corner cabinet instructions – I think there may be a YouTube video where someone assembles the cabinet. Good luck!

      Reply

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Hi! I’m Lisa and I dig smallish homes. I believe they bring families together and provide a constraint on the accumulation of stuff. I’m obsessed with rethinking room design and storage solutions in order to live the life I want in the house I have. I hope you stay a while!
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Only three more sleeps until Christmas and I’ve Only three more sleeps until Christmas and I’ve literally just crossed the last thing off my to-do list.  All the planning, shopping and prep work is done and I’m ready to enjoy the next few days.  If you need me I’ll be eating a gingerbread cookie (or two) while drinking cup after cup of coffee.

Before I go, I wanted to share a few pictures of our minimalist holiday decorations in our living room/ dining room. 

This year we tried something different and cut our own mountain grown tree and I’m LOVING the change.  Even though it’s real skinny, it has the nicest placement of branches and is truly a beautiful tree.

The delicate branches can’t hold heavy lights or ornaments, so I reused the white crocheted snowflakes  and matte black balls from last year, along with a single string of copper LED lights.  So simple, so easy, but still beautiful.  Just what I needed this year.

Wishing you a very happy holiday!
The crows are back! The best decorations are the o The crows are back!
The best decorations are the ones you are  EXCITED to see each year. The ones you instantly pull from the box and start placing in your home. They don’t need to be fancy, or new each year. They just need to bring joy to you and your family. ✨❤️
Surprise! We bought a new home!  And sold our ho Surprise!

We bought a new home!  And sold our home!  It’s been a whirlwind and I’m exhausted.

We are incredibly lucky to have bought our neighbor’s home FSBO.  It’s larger than our current home by ~700 square feet and is a split entry home with most of the living space upstairs and a bonus family room/bedroom in the basement.  

While the rooms (and closets!) are still small, there are more of them.  There will be room for office space for both my husband and myself, a bit more storage, and even a laundry room/mudroom (woo hoo! No more garage laundry for me!)

So what do you think? Do I need to change my name from smallishhome to sortofmidsizehome?  No matter what, I’ll continue to share how I maximize storage in small spaces, because, well, that’s my life and my passion!  

Be sure to check out my stories for a walk through of the new house.  Don’t miss the avocado green tub and original 1960’s kitchen cabinets. So many projects ahead of us!
Hey there! It’s been a while! I’ve had a lot Hey there! It’s been a while!

I’ve had a lot on my plate personally these last few weeks and have had to drop all social media as a way to stay sane and focused on the path ahead.  I love this community, but I just couldn’t give it the time it deserved, so I took a break.  Hopefully you understand. 

I’m trying to ramp back up but could use your help.  What spaces are you having trouble organizing?  What kind of videos would you like to see?  I appreciate each and every one of you and love hearing your suggestions.  It’s what keeps me going when I start to feel stuck!

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Only three more sleeps until Christmas and I’ve Only three more sleeps until Christmas and I’ve literally just crossed the last thing off my to-do list.  All the planning, shopping and prep work is done and I’m ready to enjoy the next few days.  If you need me I’ll be eating a gingerbread cookie (or two) while drinking cup after cup of coffee.

Before I go, I wanted to share a few pictures of our minimalist holiday decorations in our living room/ dining room. 

This year we tried something different and cut our own mountain grown tree and I’m LOVING the change.  Even though it’s real skinny, it has the nicest placement of branches and is truly a beautiful tree.

The delicate branches can’t hold heavy lights or ornaments, so I reused the white crocheted snowflakes  and matte black balls from last year, along with a single string of copper LED lights.  So simple, so easy, but still beautiful.  Just what I needed this year.

Wishing you a very happy holiday!
The crows are back! The best decorations are the o The crows are back!
The best decorations are the ones you are  EXCITED to see each year. The ones you instantly pull from the box and start placing in your home. They don’t need to be fancy, or new each year. They just need to bring joy to you and your family. ✨❤️
Surprise! We bought a new home!  And sold our ho Surprise!

We bought a new home!  And sold our home!  It’s been a whirlwind and I’m exhausted.

We are incredibly lucky to have bought our neighbor’s home FSBO.  It’s larger than our current home by ~700 square feet and is a split entry home with most of the living space upstairs and a bonus family room/bedroom in the basement.  

While the rooms (and closets!) are still small, there are more of them.  There will be room for office space for both my husband and myself, a bit more storage, and even a laundry room/mudroom (woo hoo! No more garage laundry for me!)

So what do you think? Do I need to change my name from smallishhome to sortofmidsizehome?  No matter what, I’ll continue to share how I maximize storage in small spaces, because, well, that’s my life and my passion!  

Be sure to check out my stories for a walk through of the new house.  Don’t miss the avocado green tub and original 1960’s kitchen cabinets. So many projects ahead of us!
Hey there! It’s been a while! I’ve had a lot Hey there! It’s been a while!

I’ve had a lot on my plate personally these last few weeks and have had to drop all social media as a way to stay sane and focused on the path ahead.  I love this community, but I just couldn’t give it the time it deserved, so I took a break.  Hopefully you understand. 

I’m trying to ramp back up but could use your help.  What spaces are you having trouble organizing?  What kind of videos would you like to see?  I appreciate each and every one of you and love hearing your suggestions.  It’s what keeps me going when I start to feel stuck!
⁣I woke up today and saw it - 10K. I’m in sho ⁣I woke up today and saw it - 10K.  I’m in shock. ⠀
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I’m so grateful for each and every one of you who chose to follow my account and watch me organize my smallish home. ⠀
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My goal has always been to share my love of organization and design - while hopefully inspiring others to show their own home some love. ⠀
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No matter how small or large your space may be, I hope you are able to walk away with a few ideas of ways to maximize the space you have.⠀
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In the meantime, I’ll keep working space by space in my own home, adding functionality and order that fits the needs of my family and the space that I have.⠀
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I’d love to know what you would all like to see more of - let me know in the comments what you’d like to see me tackle next!⠀
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⁣It’s a rainy Monday here and all I want to do ⁣It’s a rainy Monday here and all I want to do is drink mugs of hot tea nonstop.  But tea can be a tricky item to store!⠀
⠀
When it’s in the box, you never know how many tea bags are left.  But take them out of the box and they slide all over the shelf!⠀
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Using some sort of small, clear, lidded container keeps the bags together and helps you see when it’s time to restock.  Bonus points if the containers can stack, allowing you to store multiple varieties in a small space. ⠀
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These containers are from Target, but any food storage container will work. Even the cheap plastic food storage containers from the grocery store. ⠀
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What is your favorite variety of tea?  I’m a big fan of English Breakfast if I need a little caffeine boost (which I’m definitely in need of today!)
⁣Do you ever have weeks where you just can’t g ⁣Do you ever have weeks where you just can’t get back on track?⠀
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Where you feel tired, and all you see is work that needs to get done?⠀
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It can be hard to figure out where to start.⠀
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I’ve been struggling to get myself moving the last few weeks after experiencing a family emergency that knocked the wind out of my sails. ⠀
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But I know it’s time to turn things around.  Here are my go-to steps for getting back on track: ⠀
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1️⃣Get those machines working for me.  I always get the dishwasher running and then start a load of laundry.  It makes me feel productive and gets the momentum going for the rest of the day.⠀
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2️⃣Grab a pen and a notebook, plus either a glass of water or a cup of coffee, and sit down.⠀
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3️⃣Take everything in my head and write it down.  Everything that needs to be done, everything that needs to be bought, every card that needs to be written, bills that need to be paid, people I need to message back.  I write it down so it isn’t in my head.⠀
 ⠀
4️⃣Circle one thing that I can do now and finish.  Maybe I only have 10 minutes, but in those 10 minutes I can pick up a room, put away laundry, or go through a stack of paperwork.  Anything that will make progress on my list but Isn’t too big of a project that I can’t finish.⠀
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5️⃣Once I’ve done just one thing, I try to reward myself with some sort of self care.  It can be anything that makes me feel good - going for a walk, stopping in at a store, looking at a magazine, or maybe just scrolling on my phone for a few minutes.⠀
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6️⃣Then, I look back at my list and prioritize in order of importance.  I’ll choose the task with the highest priority and start working down. ⠀
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While this process works, it sometimes takes a few days.  I just keep repeating it over and over until things start clicking again. ⠀
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Getting outside helps too.  Fresh air and movement seem to do a world of good.⠀
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How have you been feeling lately?  Are you crushing that to-do list or are you feeling like you need like 3 clones of yourself in order to get it all done?⠀
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