16 Clever In-Cabinet Storage Hacks To Organize And Declutter Your Coffee Mugs

Facing an overflowing coffee mug cabinet is not a relaxing way to start your day. If your mug storage consists of near-toppling stacks of cups, it's time to organize. While there are plenty of creative ways to store mugs outside of your cabinets, not every kitchen has the space. If you're restricted to a cabinet, there's still a lot you can do to keep your mug collection in check. To help, we've rounded up some in-cabinet mug storage hacks for you to try. 

Getting rid of some mugs is the first step (some decluttering strategies can help). Hold onto the mugs you use most often and those with sentimental value. Donate or toss mugs that are looking worse for wear, like if they're chipped, cracked, faded, or stained (try to remove stains to save the mug if it's only the latter). There's no use in storing mugs you don't use, so clearing out some extras can help. But if your mug cabinet is still overflowing after a quick declutter, that's when you should try one of these hacks. From smart stacking solutions to repurposing organization products, here are some in-cabinet storage solutions to organize your coffee mug cabinet.

When your cabinet is running out of space, it's second nature to start stacking mugs on top of each other. It's a good idea to take advantage of your cabinet's vertical space, but there's a better way than just stacking mugs willy-nilly: stack according to size. For example, place large mugs upside down then smaller mugs on top. If possible, stack mugs on top of large accessories like teapots. This hack isn't the most aesthetically-pleasing solution, but it's perfect for those who don't want to buy any new products (whether that's for budget or environmental reasons).

If your mugs came with saucers, you already have some built-in matching stackers. Instead of placing mugs in the cabinets and stacking the saucers elsewhere, stack each saucer and mug together as a pair. Again, this uses the vertical space in the cabinet, which is the best way to boost in-cabinet storage. Even if you don't use them for your daily cuppa, it's nice to have saucers for serving guests. If your mugs didn't include saucers, it's possible to buy them individually. One good basic option is the Marin White Saucer for $6.95 from Crate & Barrel.

If you don't want to use saucers to stack your mugs, you can buy specific products to do the job. Mug stackers are a good idea for really cramped cabinets since they take up less space on each side. A product like the Elypro Coffee Mug Organizers ($24.99 from Amazon for a six-pack) is adjustable so it can fit almost any mug, big or small. It adjusts to the diameter of the mug with a gentle squeeze, so there's no space wasted. As this video from @itschelseahope shows, it can even work on mugs with slightly irregular lips.

Many kitchen cupboards have adjustable shelves. If you can adjust the height of yours, this is another no-buy option that can help you fit more mugs. Move the shelves to fit the height of your cups and eliminate empty vertical space. This may also involve adding more shelves to take full advantage of your cupboard. This is a great kitchen cabinet hack in general; use it in any cabinet with empty gaps to fit more dinnerware inside.

A few small hooks can make all the difference in your crammed coffee mug cupboard. Install a few hooks underneath the shelves of your cabinet and use them to hang mugs by their handle. This hack takes advantage of vertical space in a creative way, and it looks nice too. Just make sure to use a hook that has a tight curve so the mug doesn't easily slip off. For example, the Everbilt Cup Hook ($1.38 on The Home Depot) Chunky Carpentry Hook ($2.72 on Etsy) are great options. Read more about this coffee mug cabinet DIY here.

Don't want to drill any holes into your cabinet shelves? You can still install some convenient mug hooks! Choose a slide-in under-cabinet mug hook organizer, like the Better Houseware Cup Hooks Cabinet Organizer ($8.00 on Amazon). They won't leave any holes so they're renter-friendly, but they do tend to have a lower weight capacity since they aren't anchored to the shelf. This type of product is better for holding lighter cups. Since they're affordable and so easy to install, they are worth considering for your mug cabinet.

One alternative to slide-on hooks is slide-on storage baskets. This is another renter-friendly hack that avoids some potential pitfalls of hooks. Slide-on baskets tend to be sturdier, with a higher weight capacity. They can generally hold more mugs since you can fill the basket completely; the setup doesn't require a bit of empty space in between mugs like hooks do. They're also a good idea if you don't like the idea of hanging delicate or sentimental mugs by their handle. Just one caveat; your mugs need to be short enough to fit into the basket section.

Shelf risers are a must-have for boosting cabinet space. They're useful all over the kitchen, including for organizing mugs. Risers are often large enough to hold dinner plates, which means they can often fit at least two rows of mugs. Since risers are flat and stable, they can feel more stable than using hooks or other storage hacks. We recommend using risers that are adjustable. The Smart Design Kitchen Storage Expandable Shelf Rack costs $13.29 on Amazon and is expandable length-wise. Alternatively, opt for the YouCopia UpSpace Adjustable Shelf ($19.99 from West Elm) which has an adjustable shelf height.

Most people place shelf risers lengthwise in cabinets, leaving a bit of empty space in the front. This is useful for some settings, but if you really want to use every inch of space for mug storage, grab risers that you can place sideways instead. This will let you take full advantage of the cabinet depth. Just make sure to measure your cabinet space first, since some risers will be too long to fit this direction. As this example from @jodie.thedesigntwins shows, this hack can help you condense your mug storage space so you can fit other items in your cabinets.

These in-cabinet coffee mug storage hacks are all about filling up all your cabinet space. If you have plenty of vertical storage area but not enough shelves, make this space usable with stackable shelf risers. This is a renter-friendly solution that's also appealing if you don't want to go through the effort of installing more shelves. Just keep in mind that this system won't be as stable, especially if you stack more than two risers. It helps to anchor the risers together. A product like the Songmics Bamboo Cabinet Organizer ($22.99 from Amazon) is practical and looks nice. 

Tiered can risers are designed so you can see all the cans in a cabinet. Cans are similar in size to some mugs, so these risers are the perfect solution for displaying your cups. It lets you easily see and reach those mugs that end up in the back of the cupboard. If regular shelf risers don't appeal to you because of their lack of visibility, then can risers are the perfect alternative, though they do hold fewer mugs. A pick like the Dial Industries 3 Tiered Adjustable Canned Goods Shelf ($28.83 from Amazon) is expandable to fill your cabinet space.

Another option that lets you easily reach the mugs at the back of a cabinet is a lazy Susan. Plus, if you're careful and use very stable mugs (even better, use stackable mugs) it can be possible to stack mugs on a lazy Susan as well. If you really don't like rifling through the mugs at the front to get your favorite coffee cup, this is a great option. It makes the mugs at the back even more easily accessible than shelf or can risers.

If you have small espresso mugs and saucers, this hack might even save you more space than stacking them on top of each other. Take four mugs and tuck the handles into the opening of the next mug so all four form a shape like a small square. If the saucers are large enough, the mugs should be able to fit on top of one saucer. This hack is great for if you have a coffee mug set for entertaining. It's not ideal for your day-to-day mugs, since once you pull out one cup, the rest will have trouble staying in formation.

A cake stand is one of the best ways to display your baked wonders, but they can take up a lot of space in a cabinet. Make them work double duty by using them as an in-cabinet mug stand. This works best with tall cake holders that have enough space for you to put mugs underneath. Then, use a top surface like a shelf riser to add that extra layer of mugs to a cabinet. This hack is ideal if you use your cake stand occasionally, if you use it often, it might be too much of a hassle to have to take the mugs off each time.

Water bottle holders can improve cabinet organization immensely. They hold water bottles on their side so you can see all of the bottles you have and take them out without knocking over the bottles in front. Since many travel mugs are around the same diameter as water bottles, you can also use one of these holders for holding your carry mugs. Some water bottle holders are stackable so you can also use them to add vertical storage space in your cabinet.

If you can't fathom getting rid of any of your special mugs, then this hack is for you. There's only so much storage space you can add to a cabinet. Once it's well and truly full, you have no choice but to remove some stuff. But if getting rid of some mugs isn't an option, then you can rotate mugs out. Set a schedule, such as monthly or seasonally, and pack some of your mugs away for storage. This method declutters the cabinet without needing to donate or toss any mugs. A mug storage box, like the Simplify Holiday Mug Storage Box for $14.10 on Amazon, keeps your precious mugs safe in storage.