There’s a certain peace that comes with knowing everything in your home has its rightful place. If you’re like me, clutter can be a huge distraction, and even the smallest mess can make it hard to focus. I find comfort in knowing that everything is neatly stored, from the fridge’s interior to those harder-to-reach corners of the kitchen.
One spot that often gets overlooked is the cupboard above the refrigerator. When I was younger, I never gave much thought to where things went, but my mom was the queen of home organization. Our house was always immaculate, like something out of a real estate magazine, thanks to her eye for detail and clever storage tricks. One of her best lessons was how to take advantage of every available space, including those tiny upper cabinets that sit just above the fridge. If you have those in your kitchen, then you probably know how oddly shaped and difficult to access they can be.
They’re not big enough for certain items, and placing things you use every day up there just doesn’t make sense. Still, just because they’re out of reach doesn’t mean they’re useless. In fact, there are plenty of smart ways to put them to good use. One of the most practical ideas is storing kitchen appliances you don’t use on a daily basis. Think about your waffle maker, food processor, or that holiday blender you only bring out for family dinners. These items take up valuable space in lower cabinets, so why not move them up top where they can stay until they’re needed? Another smart use is for canned goods. Because they have such a long shelf life, you don’t need to access them often, making the cupboard above the fridge an ideal spot.
The same goes for baking supplies like flour, sugar, sprinkles, and other non-perishables that you only pull out when you’re baking cookies or making birthday cakes. Keeping these items up high keeps the rest of your kitchen more streamlined. If you’re someone who owns a lot of cookbooks but doesn’t want them cluttering your counter, storing them in this cupboard is a great solution. I’ve kept my collection up there for years, and it’s a perfect place to keep them clean, out of the way, yet accessible when I want to try something new in the kitchen. Pantry overflow can also go up there—extra bags of rice, beans, pasta, or even rarely used spices. I’ve even added a mini spice rack up there once, and it helped keep my spice cabinet more manageable.
@withmaikiI filmed the process of my over the fridge DIY 🤗 For those who are asking, I got these floating shelves from @wilcondepot.ph ✨
Then there’s bulk household items like kitchen towels. My wife has a habit of stocking up whenever there’s a sale, and those little cupboards turned out to be the perfect hiding spot for all those extra towels. We just reach up and grab a few when the drawer starts to run low. And of course, there’s the fine china—those plates or utensils that only make an appearance during Thanksgiving or special family gatherings. Keeping them out of everyday reach makes sense, and they stay safe and clean until it’s their time to shine. That said, it’s important to stay safe when using this high-up space. Don’t risk pulling a muscle or dropping something heavy. Always use a proper step stool or ladder, and avoid placing anything too sensitive to heat up there since the top of the fridge tends to be a warm area. Choosing the right items to store in this spot makes all the difference. So, what about you? Do you use the space above your fridge in a creative way? I’d love to hear how others manage this often-forgotten area. Sometimes, the best storage spots are right in front of us—all we have to do is look up.
