How to organize a U-shaped kitchen – 6 steps to streamlined perfection

A U-shaped kitchen is largely touted as one of the most efficient kitchen layouts with ample floor space, counter space, and storage opportunities making it a favorite for chefs and home cooks alike.

With so much space, this three-sided kitchen layout can be tricky to organize efficiently to ensure a smooth workflow and easy access to all your kitchen essentials.

We spoke to top professional organizers to learn more about organizing a U-shaped kitchen for the best workflow that minimizes clutter.

How to organize a U-shaped kitchen

A U-shaped kitchen may be one of the most efficient kitchen layouts in theory, but they can quickly become overwhelming if you don’t nail your kitchen organizing. These six expert tips will ensure U-shaped kitchens both big and small stay practical.

1. Create dedicated zones

With so much space to work with, it pays to organize kitchen cabinets into zones, says Christina Lee, professional organizer and co-founder of Graceful Spaces Organizing.

‘Consider using painter's tape and a Sharpie to label different zones in your kitchen before placing items,’ she begins. ‘This approach saves time and energy by allowing you to adjust zones easily.

‘Identify key kitchen categories: dishes, cups, kids' items, plates, lunchboxes, paper goods, flatware, coffee, supplements, entertaining, and baking supplies, and then centralize everyday needs near the sink, dishwasher, and stove.

‘Position items like spatulas, tongs, oven mitts, spices, pots, and pans near the stove. Keep everyday glassware, plates, dishes, and utensils close to the dishwasher. Allocate zones for lunch, smoothie, and coffee supplies in areas away from major appliances to reduce congestion.

‘Ensure each zone contains all necessary items for a specific task,’ Christine urges. ‘For instance, a coffee zone might include the coffee maker, grinder, pods, tea bags, sugar, and mugs.'

2. Keep counters clear

Although it is important to decorate kitchen counters to add personality to a space, it is important to keep only the essentials out to keep the space clean for working, says Meaghan Kessman, professional organizer and owner of the eponymous organizing company – ‘U-shaped kitchens can feel cramped if not organized well. Maintaining countertop space and ensuring easy access to all cabinets are important considerations.’

As such, Robyn Reynolds, certified professional organizer and owner of Organize2Harmonize recommends keeping your appliances tucked away in cabinets:

‘When it comes to small appliances, the ones that you use daily you should keep on the counter if you have the space. The ones that you only use occasionally can be stored in harder-to-reach cabinets, pantry areas, or any other place.’

3. Use higher shelves for lesser-used equipment

To maintain efficiency in a U-shaped kitchen, you need to plan your kitchen cabinet storage carefully. Overstuffing your cabinets or configuring your organizing system incorrectly will quickly lead to a build-up of clutter, rendering your kitchen storage less than practical.

‘On the shelves in the higher cabinets, it is best to store things you don't use regularly such as entertaining items, barware, seasonal items, baking supplies, etc.’ suggests Robyn Reynolds, certified professional organizer.

4. Set key appliances in the golden triangle

One of the biggest advantages of a U-shaped kitchen is that you have cabinet and counter space on three of the walls, making arranging your three key appliances (the stove, the fridge, and the sink) in the golden kitchen triangle relatively easy points out Barbara Brock, founder and CEO of Barbara Brock Inc., a professional organizing and staging company. Each appliance should be on one of the three sides.

‘Where possible, use drawers over cabinets in the under-counter spaces around these key appliances. Food items, kitchen tools such as cutlery, utensils, pots, and pans are more accessible in drawers,’ she adds.

5. Maximize corner cabinets

‘Make friends with your corners,’ urges Courtney Cummings, professional home organizer and owner at The Stylish Organizer. ‘With two kitchen corner cabinets in a U-shaped kitchen, don’t waste any space.

‘Opt for lazy susan style lower cabinets or pull-out cabinets that take full advantage of the corners. These cabinets are great for pantry backstock items, less-used smaller appliances like blenders and food processors, and smaller bakeware items.’

6. Use open shelving

U-shaped kitchens work in any size of space. In a large kitchen, you can afford to have enough upper cabinets to provide extra concealed storage for clutter and appliances. In a small kitchen layout, however, this can often feel cramped. To open the space up without cutting back on essential storage, Courtney Cummings, a professional organizer, suggests using open kitchen shelving ideas instead:

‘This style of kitchen can feel cramped in a small footprint, so think about swapping the upper cabinets next to the stove for floating shelves. It will help open up the space and allow for practical and aesthetic storage of spices, oils, cookbooks, and more.'

Much like organizing an L-shaped kitchen, or organizing a galley-style kitchen, getting your storage right will make or break the functionality of the space. Get it right and your kitchen will serve you perfectly with little inconvenience no matter its size.