Useful High Cabinet Storage

Rena Noele
by Rena Noele
2 Materials
The cabinet above my main pantry cabinet starts at 5 ft. high and goes up to 7 ft. high. It hasn't been used to its full potential, because everything was just at arms length. The cookie sheets and cutting boards were toppling, even after adding a divider through the middle.
I purchased two plastic coated wire dividers that are sold at kitchen supply places. I purchased mine on Amazon. I knew that one wouldn't be enough, because it's such a deep cabinet.


I used coaxial cable anchors to hold down the dividers in six places. It was necessary to use an awl to start the nail holes, so that the items wouldn't jump when being hammered into place.
The reason that I purchased two, is because this cabinet is 24" deep. There was one finished, half shelf, that I used for attaching the front piece.


I traced that nice shelf onto a piece of medium density fiberboard (MDF), for use with the back part of the cabinet. No one would see it back there.
Once I figured out how I was going to get the two shelf pieces into the cabinet, WITH the wire racks already installed, I pulled them out and added some 3 1/2" cleats to the bottom sides.


The cooling racks always had shifted around, when it was just divided into two sections, and I was hoping there'd be room to place them in the bottom. After measuring the cookie sheets, I realized that I could cut some cleats from the scrap MDF and still give the cookie sheets 2" of extra height.


The area didn't allow for a drawer and since it's so high up there, who could look into a drawer. I was hoping for enough room to place some clear plastic containers but that wasn't going to work out.


You may call me Lady MacGyver, if you wish. LOL
Suggested materials:
  • 2 plastic coated wire racks   (Amazon)
  • Medium density fiberboard   (Home Depot)
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  • Hillela G. Hillela G. on Sep 08, 2016
    Lady MacGvyer indeed! I'm taking notes- I have a whole bunch of kitchen cabinets that are too high up, thank you for sharing this awesome idea!!!
    • Rena Noele Rena Noele on Sep 08, 2016
      Hillela G., glad you can use the info. The phrase, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade," really applies here. In order to get the half shelves to go in, with the wire racks already attached, I had to stand them up and turn them slightly. Each piece, just made it past the cabinet door and then laid down into place. If I'd had a shelf that was the full depth of the cabinet, I couldn't have installed the racks ahead of time. Lemonade!
  • Linda Sikut Linda Sikut on Oct 01, 2017

    I have two high up shelves that are above the refrigerator. Total waste of space. I can't even reach the top of the refrigerator to clean it. [sigh] I used to put my 2 glass salad bowls up there with the matching single serving bowls, but then I started using it more and ended up making room in our DR cupboard that was built sort of like a buffet. I hate being short! LOL Good job on your project. I love organization. I do have a pullout drawer under my range that has slots for my baking sheets. It's not perfect but it works.

    • See 1 previous
    • Linda Sikut Linda Sikut on Oct 01, 2017
      I can't wait to see that one! Of course, I still don't know how I'm going to reach it. LOL
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