Jennifer Garner's double-stacked kitchen cabinets may have just solved our storage woes

It would seem that nobody is immune from the intricate art of maximizing kitchen storage, including Hollywood's elite. 

Actress Jennifer Garner, known for 13 Going on 30, is the latest of several celebrities who have impressed us with their strategic kitchen storage system (after Florence Pugh exhibited smart vertical storage in her home), and, just like Florence, she encourages us to look up. 

In her classic white kitchen, Jennifer has taken tall cabinetry to new heights, and by this, we mean almost right to her ceiling. With their charming glass front, these cabinets accentuate the room's country-chic aesthetic, but, of course, their qualities extend beyond their good looks. 

Jennifer Garner's cabinets tap into spaces that are often left bare, whether it's wall space near our ceilings or even above our hoods and refrigerators. Granted, we may be reluctant to store too much up there, as they can be hard to access, but as professional organizer Jan Arkwright explains, these spaces still have their uses. '

These areas are typically wasted space, as they are generally too high and awkward for everyday items. However, it is the perfect space for storing infrequently used (just a few times a year) and seasonal items,' she says. So, what should we put in high kitchen cabinets?

'Examples of items to store would be: large roasting pans, baking items, picnic accoutrements, and small appliances not used often,' she says. 'Or, if these cabinets are glass front or just open, use the space to display decorative items or seldom used cookbooks.'

Jan Arkwright

Jan Arkwright is an organizing professional who left her job as an attorney to start her own organizing business in 1997. Before & After Organizing by Jan LLC offers custom, sustainable solutions to help you reach your organizing goals; whether it be managing paperwork, eliminating clutter, or better space utilization. Jan is also a member of the Institute for Challenging Disorganization and a Golden Circle Member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals.

As mentioned, accessing and navigating tall cabinets is often no easy feat, but there are ways to simplify the process. 

'If the space is quite deep, consider installing pull-outs to make viewing and retrieving items in the rear easier,' Jan says. She also recommends using baskets, like these from Amazon, that hold smaller items and make retrieval easier.

'If your cabinets are large or particularly deep, it's a good idea to keep a list of what items you have stored there handy, perhaps in a lower cabinet or drawer. And, always use a step stool when retrieving items to prevent items from falling or getting hurt.'

Similarly, Jan suggests maximizing storage using large cupboards, too. 'These cupboard doors are often overlooked but they shouldn’t be,' she comments. 'Take advantage of this large vertical space door space and install top-to-bottom narrow shelves for things like spices, seasonings, and more.' This is our cue to make use of the space we never knew we had.