Combat Annoying Kitchen Cabinet Clutter With An Affordable Dollar Tree Solution

Ever opened your kitchen cupboard to grab a mug and had a stack of mismatched lids come crashing down on you? There are plenty of decluttering tips to help you save space in your kitchen, but what if you've eliminated the duplicates and parted with those "just in case" items, and your kitchen cabinets are still a cluttered mess? This affordable Dollar Tree solution might just be the answer to your home organizing issues. Enter: the humble file folder organizer. Typically an item you can use to organize your desk, these simple stackable trays also work in the kitchen to tame anything from disposable dinnerware and napkins to those rogue granola bar boxes that never seem to stay upright. 

Dollar Tree letter trays are an inexpensive option, but upcycling some you already have on hand is a more planet-friendly option. Either way, putting this hack into practice doesn't take much. Aside from the file trays, you need, well, nothing other than the items you'd like to organize. If you want to go next level with getting your cabinets shipshape, you could pick up a label maker and a few other decorative bits and pieces, but that's about it. However you approach it, turning this budget-friendly hack into a tailored organizing solution that suits your space doesn't take much. Pro tip: if your countertops are cluttered, this hack will free up space in your cabinets so you can easily store everything away.

How much of an upgrade your file organizers-turned-cabinet-clutter-busters get depends on a few things. If you're upcycling old trays, they might need a quick coat of spray paint to bring them back to life — choose paint that's made for plastic to ensure it sticks. Whether you use new or secondhand organizers, lining them with colorful contact paper is a fun way to dress them up (even if you're the only one who sees it). To keep them from shifting every time you open the cabinet, add a few strips of double-sided tape underneath. It's also a bonus if your type-A tendencies demand everything stays ruler straight. Labeling each tray gives you — and everyone else in your home — a visual cue for what goes where. Chalkboard labels or tape is ideal since you can easily switch things up without committing to a permanent label.

Upper cabinets are perfect for storing lightweight items like paper plates, snack boxes, and cloth napkins — things you reach for often but don't want spilling out every time you open the door. In lower cabinets or deep drawers, these trays can help corral tricky items like plastic lids, reusable wraps, or even neatly folded dish towels. It's helpful to keep similar items together (napkins with napkins, lids with lids) to make it easy to find what you need at a glance. You can also stack your trays according to how often you use what's inside: keep daily-use items on top, and stash occasional-use bits and bobs below. While it may not be one of today's hottest cabinet trends, this affordable Dollar Tree solution is still taking basic storage to the next level.