If you take some time to organize coffee mugs—with a bit of rearranging and maybe a new organizer or two—they always look tidy and easy to reach.
A well-organized kitchen cabinet looks and functions far better than one cluttered with mismatched cups, and it’s also easy to clean. So what are the best ways to do this?
Organizing by color and size is a good start, but there are more space-saving solutions than you might think. Gone are the days of cramming unsteadily balanced mugs in the cupboard.
How to organize coffee cups
We asked a former barista and home organization expert for the space-saving tips and tricks they actually use in their own homes. Here are 7 clever ways to organize coffee mugs for a smooth morning routine.
1. Keep them in a low drawer
(Photo credit: John Lewis of Hungerford)
Laura Honey, ecommerce editor at Homes & Gardens and former barista, recommends moving haphazardly stacked cups to a low drawer for practicality and convenience.
“Before caffeine, reaching for triple-stacked cups can be a bit risky.” It’s almost inevitable that your favorite item will break. “In my house, I keep all my cups in a low drawer,” she begins.
“I have a grip liner from Amazon.” (opens in new tab) at the bottom of the drawer so that the cups do not slip when opening. I’m lucky because I usually buy the same size and shape so they look neatly tessellated. I also hold them upside down so no dust or stagnant water gets trapped inside. “I’m biased but I think it’s the best option because you don’t have to reach up and you can see all the space available.”
If you want to store large travel mugs, try Amazon’s bamboo drawer dividers (opens in new tab)so they don’t fall over when you open the drawer.
Laura darling
Ecommerce Editor
As a device lover and language lover, Laura is at home in the e-commerce sector. Whether she’s cathartic cleaning, mass baking, or gardening outside, she’s always thinking about what products would be useful and helpful.
2. Use a cup stand
However, it is a shame not to exhibit our coffee mug collections. Eliminate dead space by hanging a wall shelf in the kitchen, creating a relaxed and functional aesthetic.
“Our mugs have such characters and stories behind them, so my next favorite option is a mug rack, also on Amazon.” (opens in new tab)says Laura Honey. “It’s a simple organizer, keeps your cups safe and large cups don’t clutter up your entire stacking system.” This makes it easy to reach for your favorite cups and doesn’t limit how much you can store on each hook.
For extensive collections, there is this six-tier cup rack on Amazon (opens in new tab) keeps things tidy and frees up space in cupboards, shelves or other kitchen storage spaces that you use for mugs.
3. Create a coffee station
(Image credit: Spiffy Chicks)
Professional home organizer Amy Berryhill (opens in new tab) says that if coffee is part of your morning ritual, it pays to make your storage space something you enjoy seeing and using every day. Setting up a small coffee station near your best coffee maker is a practical option for coffee lovers, provided you have the space.
“Put coffee mugs, travel mugs, and anything you need to make your coffee in this area,” says Amy. “Arranging the cups in the same direction (meaning all handles point to the right) creates a clean and calm appearance when the cabinet is opened.”
Amy Berryhill
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Professional organizer
Amy is a professional home organizer based in the San Francisco Bay Area and has organized hundreds of kitchens. She founded Spiffy Chicks Organizing in 2007 with the goal of helping people struggling with the stress and anxiety of cluttered spaces.
4. View and rotate favorites
(Photo credit: John Lewis of Hungerford)
“A great way to organize your coffee mugs is to alternate displaying your favorite mugs and tucking the others in a cabinet,” says home organizer Laura Price (opens in new tab). “Having too many things outside, especially in a smaller space, can make your kitchen feel cluttered and cluttered.
So she suggests you revise and only select 4-8 cups to display at a time on an exposed shelf or in a display case. You can then decide which cups you want depending on the style and season.
Laura Price
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Professional organizer
Laura Price’s goal is to help others experience the benefits of an organized life, having discovered that an organized home brings her peace while raising three children in a busy home. Hence the birth of The Home Organization, a dedicated team of professional organizers.
5. Try shelf risers
If you have a lot of mugs and want to store them that way, shelf risers could be the solution. Make the most of the height of your kitchen cabinets by using shelf risers. This way you avoid creating a lot of empty space directly above your cup collection. If you have deep cupboard shelves, you can use space more efficiently by just attaching one at the back without having to stack cups directly on top of each other.
Interior designer Chantelle Hartman Malarkey (opens in new tab) agrees that stands are a good option, especially in small kitchens, as they allow you to store more cups and keep everyone in view.
Chantelle Malarkey
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interior design
Chantelle Malarkey is an interior designer and photographer who inspires others to follow their dreams and transform any space into its most beautiful version.
6. Go retro with a mug tree
“I know it’s a bit dated, but I also love mug trees.” They have all the advantages of a mug rack: easy access, careful storage, and they’re not an eyesore, either,” Laura Honey continues. “Cup trees are great because you can put them almost anywhere.” “You don’t need a wall and they’re easy to move.”
7. Arrange on shelves with rails and barriers
Wood and brass display rack at Magnolia (opens in new tab)
(Image credit: Magnolia)
Professional organizer Laura Price is a big proponent of adding extra kitchen shelves to help organize coffee mugs.
“This is especially useful for small kitchens that need cabinet storage for appliances and items that you don’t want to display,” she says. “Using shelves with a rail or barrier can also help you keep your cups safe without fear of breaking them.”
What is the best way to put coffee cups in a cupboard?
“The best way to store coffee cups depends on the size and arrangement of the closet,” says Laura Price. “While some cabinets may already be perfect for storing mugs, others may need extra help.” If there’s a lot of space between shelves, add shelf risers so you can store as many mugs as possible. Likewise, screwing hooks to the bottom of the shelves to hang your cups can avoid wasting space.”
By using kitchen organizers that either wall mount or fit in cabinets, you can keep kitchen countertops free to maximize food prep space and maintain a degree of tranquility. And those sentimental mugs you can’t part with? “Consider using this mug elsewhere in your home as a pen holder, a toothbrush holder, or even a bud vase,” says Homes & Gardens expert Caroline Roberts.
