Let’s be honest, you have one. That one cabinet in the kitchen. The corner one. The one you open as infrequently as possible.
It’s the Bermuda Triangle of your kitchen, where Tupperware lids go to disappear and that one specialty vinegar you bought in 2019 lives in eternal darkness. You shove things in, close the door quickly, and pretend it doesn’t exist.
But fear not! I’ve been on a quest, a journey into the dark abyss of corner cabinets, and I’ve emerged victorious with tips and tricks that will transform your chaotic corner Corner Cabinet Organisation into a masterpiece of organization. So, grab a coffee, and let’s chat about how to fix it.
In This Article
- 1 Why Are Corner Cabinets Such a Pain?
- 2 The Blind Corner Cabinet
- 3 The Lazy Susan
- 4 Taming the Blind Corner Beast
- 5 The “Magic” Organizers: Are They Worth It?
- 6 Sliding Drawers: A Simpler Solution
- 7 The Budget-Friendly Bin Method
- 8 Making Your Lazy Susan Less… Lazy
- 9 The Pie-Slice Bin Method: A Total Game-Changer
- 10 Stop Wasting Vertical Space!
- 11 Be Strategic About What You Store There
- 12 Thinking Outside the (Cabinet) Box
- 13 The Ultra-Modern Corner Drawers
- 14 The Simple Diagonal Cabinet
- 15 It’s Time to Reclaim Your Corner!
Why Are Corner Cabinets Such a Pain?
Before we dive into the solutions, let’s have a little therapy session about why these cabinets are the absolute worst. Understanding the enemy is the first step to victory, right? There are generally two types of corner cabinet culprits, each with its own special brand of frustration.
The Blind Corner Cabinet

This is the one that’s the most common and, frankly, the most infuriating. You have a standard cabinet door, but the cabinet itself extends deep into the corner, creating a dark, unreachable void.
To get to anything in the back, you practically have to crawl inside, which, unless you’re a professional contortionist, is not ideal. It’s a classic case of wasted, inaccessible space.
The Lazy Susan

Ah, the Lazy Susan. It sounds like a great idea in theory, doesn’t it? Just spin the shelf, and everything comes to you!. The reality is often a spinning vortex of chaos.
Cans topple, bottles clank, and if you spin it a little too enthusiastically, things can fly off the back into the cabinet netherworld, never to be seen again. Plus, a circular shelf inside a square cabinet automatically means you’re losing storage space in the corners.
Lazy? More like infuriating.
Taming the Blind Corner Beast

Okay, deep breaths. Let’s tackle the blind corner cabinet first because, IMO, it’s the bigger challenge. The goal here is to bring the back of the cabinet to you, so you never have to go spelunking for a mixing bowl again.
The “Magic” Organizers: Are They Worth It?

You’ve probably seen videos of these fancy pull-out systems. They have names like “Magic Corner” or “LeMans” and look incredibly slick. These are systems with shelves and baskets that swing and slide out, presenting you with the entire contents of your cabinet right at your fingertips.
I’ve looked into these extensively, and here’s the real talk: they are pretty amazing. They make every single inch of that cabinet usable. But they come with a few catches.
- The Pros:
- Unbeatable Access: You can see and reach everything, even items from the deepest, darkest corner. The front baskets pull out and swing to the side, and the back baskets slide forward into the opening. It’s a very clever mechanism.
- Heavy Duty: Many of these systems are built to hold heavy items like pots, pans, and small appliances.
- Smooth Operation: High-quality ones often have soft-close features, so no more slamming.
- The Cons:
- The Price Tag: These systems are not cheap. They are a significant investment in your kitchen organization.
- The Installation: This is not a casual Sunday afternoon project. The instructions can be complicated, and some reviewers have noted that it’s almost impossible to install if your countertop is already in place. So, FYI, it’s a project best tackled during a bigger kitchen remodel.
Sliding Drawers: A Simpler Solution

If a full-on “Magic Corner” feels like too much, consider installing sliding drawers or shelves.
Think of it as creating pull-out shelves that go sideways into the blind corner. You can install them on multiple levels to maximize the vertical space.
The beauty of this is its simplicity. You pull a handle, and the shelf slides out, revealing what’s in the back. No complex swinging mechanisms. You can either buy pre-made kits or, if you’re handy, build your own custom solution.
This is a fantastic way to store baking sheets, pans, and cutting boards upright using pan organizers.
The Budget-Friendly Bin Method

Don’t want to install anything? I hear you. A super simple, no-tools-required hack is to use storage bins. The trick is to get long, narrow, rectangular bins. You can line them up inside the cabinet, one in front of the other.
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Place your least-used items in the back bin. To get to them, you just have to pull out the front bin first. It’s not as slick as a pull-out shelf, but it’s a massive improvement over a cluttered mess.
Use clear bins so you can easily see what’s inside, and you’ve got a perfectly functional system for things like extra spices, cleaning supplies, or backstock pantry items.
Making Your Lazy Susan Less… Lazy
If you’re on Team Lazy Susan, don’t despair! You don’t have to rip it out. With a few strategic moves, you can make your Lazy Susan work for you instead of against you. The key is to contain and categorize.
The Pie-Slice Bin Method: A Total Game-Changer

This is my absolute favorite trick. The biggest issue with a Lazy Susan is that everything slides around and falls over. The solution? Pie-shaped bins!
You can buy sets of wedge-shaped containers that fit perfectly onto the round shelves, dividing the circle into manageable “slices.”
Think of it like creating little walled-off zones for your stuff. One slice for baking supplies, one for oils and vinegars, one for canned goods, and so on. Now when you spin it, everything stays in its designated spot.
No more domino effect! It’s such a simple idea, but the impact is huge.
Stop Wasting Vertical Space!

Most Lazy Susans have a ton of headroom between the shelves that goes completely unused. It’s time to fix that. Use stackable containers within your pie-slice zones. You can also add small, freestanding shelves or tiered racks on top of the Lazy Susan shelf itself.
This is perfect for organizing spices or small jars. Instead of having one layer of items, you can now have two or three. Suddenly, you’ve doubled your storage space without any major modifications. Why don’t more people do this?
Be Strategic About What You Store There
A Lazy Susan is not the right place for everything. Tiny, unstable spice jars will likely get lost or fall over unless they are contained. It’s also not great for large, bulky boxes that don’t fit the curved shape.
- What works well:
- Canned goods
- Jars of sauces, pickles, or jams
- Small appliances like a blender or food processor
- Round pots and pans
- Mixing bowls
- Contained spices or baking supplies
By being selective, you can ensure the space stays organized and functional.
Thinking Outside the (Cabinet) Box
If you’re in the planning stages of a kitchen remodel, there are a couple of other cool options you could consider that move beyond the traditional blind corner or Lazy Susan.
The Ultra-Modern Corner Drawers

These are the unicorns of kitchen storage. Instead of a cabinet door, you have a set of drawers that are L-shaped, fitting perfectly into the corner. When you pull the handle, the whole corner pulls out as a drawer.
They look incredibly sleek and are amazing for storing smaller items like utensils, towels, or containers. They provide fantastic visibility and access, but they are a custom solution and will definitely be a splurge.
The Simple Diagonal Cabinet

Another option is the diagonal cabinet. Instead of a 90-degree corner, the cabinet front is a single door set at a 45-degree angle. This eliminates the “blind” corner entirely.
You can put a large, full-circle Lazy Susan inside this type of cabinet, which is far more space-efficient than the kidney-bean-shaped ones in standard corner cabinets. It creates a different aesthetic, but it’s a very practical design.
It’s Time to Reclaim Your Corner!
That corner cabinet doesn’t have to be a source of dread anymore. It’s prime kitchen real estate, and it’s time you made it work for you.
Whether you go for a high-tech pull-out system, get crafty with some DIY drawers, or simply upgrade your Lazy Susan with a few well-placed bins, the goal is the same: to make everything inside visible and accessible.
So, take a good look at your corner cabinet this weekend. Figure out what kind of beast you’re dealing with and choose your weapon. You can absolutely transform it from a cluttered abyss into a shining beacon of organization. You’ve got this. 🙂
