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In many homes, kitchen cabinets are magnets for clutter. Sure, they seem spacious at first, those wide cupboards practically begging for some fine china to be stored in there. But soon, you’re stacking plates on cups, and risking a dinner plate avalanche every time you open the cabinet door. If you’re searching for a way to finally deal with overwhelming clutter in your kitchen, have you considered using vertical spacers? They just might be the answer to your cluttered kitchen cupboards. Vertical spacers help you utilize every inch of your cabinet space by dividing your cabinets into smaller compartments, allowing upright storage. They’re easy to install and are very effective in decluttering cupboards. 

With vertical spacers, your dishware can be arranged more efficiently. Rather than piling dinner plates in precarious stacks, you can arrange them vertically, saving space and tackling a major safety hazard. This arrangement also ensures you find your plates quicker. You can forget about rummaging around the cupboards for your grandma’s favorite plate when she comes over. They’re very helpful for organization, as you can decide which slots will house your dinner plates and which will hold your pots, pans, and trays. You can get vertical spacers from stores, or you could whip out your DIY gloves to make one. Either way, there are some tips you should know before you begin. 

So, you’ve decided to end the risky game of Jenga you play with your plates by getting a vertical spacer. That’s great — now here are some tips on getting it done properly. First, measure your cupboard to ensure the spacers fit properly. This obviously goes without saying for DIYers, but it also wouldn’t be ideal to get a spacer like these CY craft Acrylic Shelf Dividers and find that they don’t fit. Check the dimensions on the product description page before making your purchase. 

The next thing to note would be the material of choice. Your kitchen is one of the most humid areas of your home, and plates usually come straight from the dishwasher with water, so be sure to buy or DIY your spacer with water-resistant materials. Online options like the YouCopia StoreMore Adjustable Rack are already made of water-resistant material. However, since most vertical spacer DIYs are made with plywood, you’ll need to know everything about waterproofing wood. You could also choose bamboo for your DIY as it’s naturally moisture-resistant. Unfortunately, it can also be on the pricy side, so you may be better off applying a waterproofing sealant on regular wood and working with that. With the water barrier a sealant like epoxy resin gives, you can DIY your vertical spacers and use them with the confidence that they’re safe from water damage.