Kitchen Storage Repurposing Planner
Find a new job for something you own, then print your project worksheet.
Magazine file · 0 of 5 checked
1. Choose your project
Your kitchen project stays in this browser. Print a copy to take it to the cupboard.
Your project worksheet
Magazine file → kitchen papers
- Holds
- Cookbooks, meal cards and takeout menus
- Goes
- A dry, easy-reach cabinet shelf
Try it this way
- Stand the file upright on a flat shelf and put the tallest book inside first.
- Add the books and papers you use together. Keep the spine or label facing out.
- Pull out the heaviest book with one hand. If the file tips or bends, use it only for light papers.
Check the loaded file fits below the next shelf and the door shuts. Keep paper and cardboard away from the sink and stove.
Measurements / changes: _______________________
2. Check before keeping it
0 of 5 checked
Household items with a second job in the kitchen
Start with one problem: loose meal cards, bottles that fall over or packets that get lost. Try a container you already have before buying a new one. Clean it, check how it fits and load it with the things it will really hold. A box that looks right empty may bend or catch once it is full.
A magazine file can hold kitchen papers upright. A pocket organizer can keep light pantry packets in view. Small boxes, jars and cups can give loose items a home. The best choice is the one you can reach, clean and put back each day. Use the steps below to try one small change at a time.
| Reuse | Try it for | Check first |
|---|---|---|
| Magazine file → kitchen papers | Cookbooks, meal cards and takeout menus | Check the loaded file fits below the next shelf and the door shuts. Keep paper and cardboard away from the sink and stove. |
| Pocket organizer → pantry packets | Sealed snack packs and small packets | Follow the maker’s load and mounting limits. Skip glass jars if the pockets are not designed to hold them; keep labels and dates visible. |
| Shallow box → drawer sections | Bag clips, spare lids or wrapped tea bags | Cardboard is for dry storage. Replace it if it gets damp, greasy or hard to clean. Do not put loose food directly in it. |
| Empty jar → small-tool holder | Bag clips, measuring spoons or twist ties | An old candle or cosmetic jar is for non-food items. For food, use a container intended for food storage and keep the food’s label and storage directions. |
| Magazine file → water bottles | Empty, fully dry reusable bottles | Let bottles and lids dry before storage. Check the holder stays flat and does not slide when you remove a bottle. |
| Binder clip → napkin bundle | A matching set of clean cloth napkins | Try the clip on an inconspicuous fold first. Skip delicate fabric or any clip that leaves marks, rust or sharp edges. |
| Shower caddy → sink supplies | Clean sponges, brushes or small cloths | Suction cups need a suitable smooth surface and can release. Follow the maker’s instructions; keep cleaners in their original containers and out of children’s reach. |
| Spare silicone cups → tiny items | Bag ties, clips and small non-sharp parts | Use cups with intact surfaces. Keep sharp blades and heavy tools elsewhere. Do not mix food-contact utensils with dirty repair parts. |
| Spare tray → one kitchen group | Coffee filters, sealed tea packs or condiments | A decorative tray may not suit spills or heavy loads. Follow its care instructions and do not use an unverified surface for direct food contact. |
| Spare suitcase → seasonal linens | Clean, fully dry tablecloths and spare napkins | Check for moisture, musty smells and pests before reuse. Keep it out of damp rooms and do not store food in luggage. |
Magazine file → kitchen papers
Start here: A dry, easy-reach cabinet shelf.
- Stand the file upright on a flat shelf and put the tallest book inside first.
- Add the books and papers you use together. Keep the spine or label facing out.
- Pull out the heaviest book with one hand. If the file tips or bends, use it only for light papers.
Check the loaded file fits below the next shelf and the door shuts. Keep paper and cardboard away from the sink and stove.
Pocket organizer → pantry packets
Start here: Inside the pantry door.
- Measure the door, the hook thickness and the gap to the shelves before hanging anything.
- Use the organizer’s intended mounting hardware. Start with a few light, sealed packets in lower pockets.
- Close the door slowly, then open it fully. Move any pocket that hits a shelf, hinge or handle.
Follow the maker’s load and mounting limits. Skip glass jars if the pockets are not designed to hold them; keep labels and dates visible.
Shallow box → drawer sections
Start here: A dry kitchen drawer.
- Choose a clean, dry box or lid with firm sides. Remove staples or rough edges.
- Arrange small boxes inside the empty drawer, then fill each with one group.
- Slide the drawer fully in and out. Shorten the layout or choose a lower box if it catches.
Cardboard is for dry storage. Replace it if it gets damp, greasy or hard to clean. Do not put loose food directly in it.
Empty jar → small-tool holder
Start here: A stable shelf or drawer.
- Use a sound jar without chips or cracks. Wash it and let it dry.
- Group one kind of small item inside so you can see and reach it.
- Choose a low, stable spot and check that your hand can reach the bottom without getting stuck.
An old candle or cosmetic jar is for non-food items. For food, use a container intended for food storage and keep the food’s label and storage directions.
Magazine file → water bottles
Start here: A flat, dry shelf.
- Lay a sturdy file on its broad side with its opening facing you.
- Try one empty bottle sideways. Add only bottles that stay inside the holder without rolling out.
- Pull each bottle out on its own. Keep any bottle that will not stay put upright elsewhere.
Let bottles and lids dry before storage. Check the holder stays flat and does not slide when you remove a bottle.
Binder clip → napkin bundle
Start here: A dry linen drawer.
- Fold matching napkins to the same size and stack them.
- Clip the folded edge gently, using a clip that opens without forcing it.
- Keep the bundle in a shallow drawer so you can lift it out as one set.
Try the clip on an inconspicuous fold first. Skip delicate fabric or any clip that leaves marks, rust or sharp edges.
Shower caddy → sink supplies
Start here: A washable area beside or below the sink.
- Choose a caddy that can be washed and fits the space you have.
- Use the mounting method it was designed for, on a suitable surface. A freestanding caddy can simply sit on a tray.
- Try it empty first, then add a few light items. Check it stays clear of pipes, hinges and shutoff valves.
Suction cups need a suitable smooth surface and can release. Follow the maker’s instructions; keep cleaners in their original containers and out of children’s reach.
Spare silicone cups → tiny items
Start here: A shallow drawer.
- Place clean, dry silicone baking cups in the drawer.
- Give each cup one small category, such as bag ties or reusable caps.
- Open and close the drawer. Use a larger tray underneath if the cups slide around.
Use cups with intact surfaces. Keep sharp blades and heavy tools elsewhere. Do not mix food-contact utensils with dirty repair parts.
Spare tray → one kitchen group
Start here: A level shelf near where you use them.
- Choose a tray with a sound base and sides or handles you can grip.
- Group supplies you use for one task. Keep heavy containers low and near the middle.
- Lift the loaded tray a short distance with both hands before deciding where it should live.
A decorative tray may not suit spills or heavy loads. Follow its care instructions and do not use an unverified surface for direct food contact.
Spare suitcase → seasonal linens
Start here: A dry cupboard outside the daily work area.
- Clean and dry the inside of the case before adding textiles.
- Fold seasonal linens into groups and put a written contents list near the opening.
- Store it where you can retrieve it without moving a heavy stack. Add its location to your plan.
Check for moisture, musty smells and pests before reuse. Keep it out of damp rooms and do not store food in luggage.
Check the space with the contents inside
Measure the smallest opening, then the usable space behind it. Look for hinges, pipes, handles and the shelf above. A pocket organizer needs space when the door is closed as well as when it is open. A drawer box must clear the rail above it. Leave room for your fingers to lift things out.
Put the items you use most where you can reach them without moving a stack. Keep heavier items where you can lift them comfortably. Follow the storage item’s own mounting and load instructions; this worksheet cannot tell you what a door, shelf or hook can hold. For an organizer with recorded dimensions, try the cabinet fit checker.
Keep storage easy to clean
Dry paper goods suit a dry box. Damp brushes need a holder that drains or can be washed and dried. Keep paper, fabric and cardboard clear of cooking heat and splashes. If a reused container gets damp, smells or starts to break down, choose another one.
Keep food in its packaging unless you have a container intended for that food. An attractive old candle jar does not become a food jar when the wax is gone. For decanted food, keep its name, package details and storage instructions. A jar label is useful only if everyone can tell what is inside.
Make the new place a habit
Label the group in words your household uses. Put the new holder where the clutter starts, then use it for a week. If you keep leaving things beside it, change its location or size. A simple arrangement that is easy to put back beats a row of matching containers that blocks the door.
Write down where seasonal linens go so they do not disappear into a spare case. For a whole food cupboard, use our pantry organization planner and labels to group supplies and give each group a shelf.
Sources and the original BHG ideas
Better Homes & Gardens’ archived household repurposing gallery, by Caitlin Sole, covers storage throughout the home. Its examples include magazine files for bottles, boxes for drawer storage, jars for small supplies, clips for linens and a shower caddy for sink supplies. The original gallery and photographs belong to their creators.
The magazine-file cookbook holder, pantry pocket organizer and seasonal suitcase ideas also appear in Taliesyn Realty Group’s home cleaning and storage article by Eddie Scruggs. This page brings the kitchen-related jobs into our own worksheet, with original instructions and fit checks. Use the archive for the full all-room gallery.
Questions before you start
Can a shoe organizer hold pantry food?
Use a clean organizer with light, sealed packets, only within its maker’s mounting and load limits. Check the pocket size and the door clearance. Keep heavy glass jars elsewhere unless the organizer is designed for them.
Can I use cardboard near the sink?
Choose a washable container there instead. Cardboard works better for light, dry items in a dry drawer or cabinet. Replace it when it becomes damp or dirty.
What if the item has no load instructions?
Do not rely on it to hang heavy or breakable things. Start with light items on a supported shelf, or choose storage designed for the job.