No More Stress in Kitchen Cupboard with Small Ideas

Too many dishes!

Six plates count in a set for western tableware and five plates in a set for Japanese tableware. In parents’ generation, it was a traditional habit for a mother to provide a set of dinner set when a daughter gets married. So, there is of course a Noritake dinner set.

Other than that, I have small bowls I received as a gift of my friends’ wedding party, a Wajima lacquered bowl I bought on a trip, a curry plate I bought on sale…the list goes on and on.

I have good plates, but I end up using sturdy plates that I’ve been given points for.
When I wanted to use a platter for guests, it was at the very bottom and it was hard to get it out.

Have you ever had this problem?
We’ve gotten used to the small inconveniences of using it every day.
Little things can make everyday inconveniences go away.

You have many beautiful plates and bowls, but what you pick up for daily use are the ones you earned by accumulating points and miles

Even when you want to use a big plate for guests, that is at the very bottom under other plates so that you give up to use them after all.

Do you have an experience like this?

We’ve gotten used to small inconveniences, and they are buried under our busy life.

Little things can free you from inconveniences and make your life more comfortable and happy!

Five Tips for Kitchen Cupboard

1. Start from a part
2. Use “Vertical” space
3. Stack only Two Different types
4. Line Up Glasses and Cups in a Row from the Back
5. Use Partitions/Shelves

Start from a Part

Even if you say a cupboard in one word, there are numerous number of plates and bowls in one cupboard. You can easily imagine if you think of moving. You will need many cardboard boxes more than you imagine.

If you try to tidy up the cupboard at one chance, you might give up everything. So, start from one by one like right top for today and left top for tomorrow.

Empty and sort out. It’s still the same.

From now on, I will write about small tips and tricks that can be applied to any parts you started.

Use “Vertical” space

Do away with the stereotyped idea. Plates are stored not only flat. If there is a vertical space, let them stand. Why? Because you can take out the plate you want right away without removing other plates on the top.

The Opening Space

The photo below is an example of “standing” storage. I took out a middle shelf and used the vertical space.

Before, I stored the biggest plate in the bottom, the next one on top of that, and the next one and so on. So, when I wanted to use the one in the bottom, I had to remove all the plates on top of that. Even worse, I kept one of them in a box just as I was given as a gift.

Who would open that gift box and take one plate when you are busy for cooking?

The “standing” storage released me from such an unnecessary action and made me free from a stress. I can now choose and pick one immediately whenever I want to use.

The photo below (left) is the partition I used for myself. I forgot where I got from, but now there are many types in shops like one-coin shop (Daiso or Seria) or Nitori.

If you plates have some depth, you need width for partition, so check your plates and the space carefully before you buy and find your best!

In a drawer・・

Even in a drawer, you can use the “standing” storage like white plates right below.

Again, I used to stack them. There may be no such big difference in occupying space, but now I can take the bigger plates without removing the smaller plates.

In a shelf like this・・

I made all the container lids “stand”.

Before, I used to store all of them in one basket. It took me a time to find a combination, but now it’s much easier! I can tell it at a glance!

By the way, the partition between containers and lids is a bookstand I got in one-coin shop.

Stack Up to Only Two Different Types

When you have many types of plates, it is likely to stack all of them. But keep it to two types.

If you stack more than two, the plates below will never be used. So don’t hesitate to throw them away, because you have never used them recently, have you?

Line Up Glasses and Cups in a Row from the Back

Cups and glasses come into use everyday.

Line them up in a row from the back to front. The ideal is you have a space between rows for your hand to grab.

Use Partitions/Shelves

If you were loyal to the rule of “stack only two types” and have plates of nowhere to go, use partitions or shelves inside the cupboard. No way of not using the vertical space again.

Stacking type, hanging type: there are many kinds of partitions and shelves in the store. Sometimes, stationaries like file box or other goods like small baskets will solve your problem.

You can choose whatever you like, but what I always care are the following two.

• No protrusion in the way when you take out and put the plates back
• Thing that doesn’t insist too much.

Sometimes plates and cups get caught in partition legs. So even you can stack the plates nicely, you will be feeling a stress every time you take out and put the plates back.

Sometimes you don’t feel satisfied or sense of accomplishment. Why? Perhaps because the partitions and shelves insist too much and spoiling the look. They have to be a supporting character.

I used a Muji’s acrylic shelf.

Ref：

https://www.muji.com/jp/ja/store/cmdty/detail/4547315919833

Summary