Introduction: The revolution of rotating storage
Tired of digging to the back of your cabinets to find that spice jar or can that’s always hiding behind the others? Rotating trays (also called "lazy susans") are the miracle solution to transform your chaotic storage spaces into perfectly organized and accessible zones.
These simple yet clever rotating discs can gain up to 40% more usable space in your cabinets while making every product accessible with a single gesture. In this complete guide, discover how to optimize your kitchen storage with rotating trays and say goodbye to clutter forever.
Why are rotating trays revolutionizing kitchen storage?
✅ Full 360° accessibility
The main advantage of a rotating tray is obvious: everything is accessible with a simple turn. No more:
- Moving 10 jars to reach the one at the back
- Emptying half the cabinet to find a product
- Twisting to grab something at the back
- Forgetting expired products hidden behind others
📏 Vertical and horizontal space optimization
Rotating trays allow smart use of space:
- Space saving: Up to 40% more usable space
- Optimized height: Stack multiple trays to use the full height
- Utilized corners: Perfect for hard-to-reach corner cabinets
- Controlled depth: Even deep cabinets become practical
🎯 Instant visual organization
- Overview of all your products at a glance
- Quick identification of what’s missing
- Prevents duplicate purchases
- Facilitates inventory and stock rotation
🧹 Simplified cleaning
- Remove the tray in one motion to clean
- Smooth surface easy to wipe
- Prevents dust and crumb buildup
- Keeps the cabinet clean
Rotating tray to organize and easily access all your products
Different types of rotating trays
🔄 Simple (classic) rotating tray
Features:
- Flat disc with low edge or no edge
- Diameter: generally 20 to 45 cm
- Smooth 360° rotation
- Materials: plastic, wood, glass, metal
Ideal for:
- Spices and condiments
- Oils and vinegars
- Breakfast products
- Centerpiece
Price: €10 to €30
📦 Multi-tier rotating tray
Features:
- 2 or 3 stacked levels
- Each level rotates independently
- Optimizes vertical space
- Total height: 30 to 50 cm
Ideal for:
- Upper cabinets
- Large spice collection
- Products of various sizes
- Maximize available space
Price: €20 to €50
🔲 Corner rotating tray
Features:
- Quarter circle or half-moon shape
- Specifically designed for corners
- Fits perfectly in corner cabinets
- Often with high edges
Ideal for:
- Hard-to-reach corner cupboards
- Lost corners of the kitchen
- Optimization of dead zones
Price: €25 to €60
🍽️ Lazy Susan with compartments
Features:
- Divided into separate sections
- Keeps products in place
- Prevents items from tipping over
- Facilitated category organization
Ideal for:
- Small spice jars
- Tubes and bottles
- Products that roll easily
- Very precise organization
Price: €15 to €40
❄️ Lazy Susan for refrigerator
Features:
- Cold-resistant materials
- High edges to prevent falls
- Easy-to-clean surface
- Size adapted to fridge shelves
Ideal for:
- Condiments and sauces
- Jam jars
- Dairy products
- Leftovers in containers
Price: €12 to €35
Where to use lazy Susans in your kitchen?
🧂 In spice cupboards
Optimal organization:
- Group spices by cuisine type (French, Asian, Indian)
- Or by frequency of use (daily in the center, occasional on the edges)
- Label the tops of jars for quick identification
- Use a 2-tier tray for large collections
Capacity: A 30 cm tray can hold 20-30 spice jars
🥫 In the pantry
Products to organize:
- Level 1 (bottom): Heavy canned goods, vegetable jars
- Level 2 (middle): Oils, vinegars, sauces
- Level 3 (top): Light products, spice packets
Tip: Use several trays of different sizes to optimize each shelf
❄️ In the refrigerator
Strategic zones:
- Door: Condiments, sauces, jams
- Upper shelf: Leftovers, opened products
- Lower shelf: Drinks, bottles
Advantage: Prevents products from getting lost at the back and expiring
🔺 In corner cupboards
Miracle solution:
- Corner cupboards are often dead zones
- A corner lazy Susan transforms this wasted space
- Easy access to everything without bending
- Can hold: pots, salad bowls, electrical appliances
🍳 Under the sink
Household product organization:
- Cleaning products
- Sponges and brushes
- Trash bags
- Gloves and accessories
Tip: Choose a model with high edges to prevent falls
🧴 On the countertop
Everyday products:
- Olive oil, vinegar, salt, pepper
- Coffee, tea, sugar
- Fresh fruits
- Frequently used utensils
Advantage: Aesthetic and practical, everything is within reach
How to choose the right lazy Susan?
📐 Size and dimensions
Measure your space:
- Width and depth of the cupboard
- Available height (watch out for shelves)
- Leave 2-3 cm of space around for rotation
Standard sizes:
- Small (20-25 cm): Spices, condiments, fridge
- Medium (30-35 cm): Versatile, pantry
- Large (40-45 cm): Deep cupboards, pots
🏗️ Materials
Plastic:
- ✅ Lightweight, affordable, easy to clean
- ✅ Moisture resistant
- ❌ May discolor over time
- Price: €10 to €25
Wood:
- ✅ Aesthetic, solid, durable
- ✅ Perfect for countertop
- ❌ Requires regular maintenance
- ❌ Sensitive to moisture
- Price: €20 to €50
Glass:
- ✅ Elegant, hygienic, easy to clean
- ✅ Ideal for refrigerator
- ❌ Fragile, heavier
- Price: €15 to €40
Metal/Stainless steel:
- ✅ Very resistant, professional
- ✅ Hygienic, durable
- ❌ More expensive
- Price: €25 to €60
🔄 Rotation mechanism
Points to check:
- Smooth and silent rotation
- Quality bearings (preferably ball bearings)
- Stability: should not tip when loaded
- Non-slip base to prevent sliding
📏 Edges
Without edge:
- Ideal for flat and stable items
- Facilitates cleaning
- Clean aesthetic
With low edges (1-2 cm):
- Prevents small items from falling
- Versatile
With high edges (5-8 cm):
- Secures bottles and jars
- Ideal for refrigerator and under the sink
- Contains possible spills
Organization by zones: professional method
🎯 Zone 1: Daily essentials
Location: Countertop or eye-level cupboard
Contents:
- Salt, pepper, olive oil
- Most used spices
- Coffee, tea, sugar
Recommended tray: Medium (30 cm), wood or glass for aesthetics
🥘 Zone 2: Cooking and preparation
Location: Cupboard near the stove
Contents:
- Various cooking oils
- Vinegars
- Asian sauces
- Broths and stocks
Recommended tray: With medium edges, plastic or metal
🍞 Zone 3: Breakfast
Location: Pantry or dedicated cupboard
Contents:
- Jams, honey, spreads
- Cereals, granola
- Teas and herbal brews
Recommended tray: 2-tier to optimize space
🥫 Zone 4: Canned goods and stocks
Location: Pantry, lower shelves
Contents:
- Canned vegetables
- Tomato sauces
- Legumes in jars
Recommended tray: Large (40 cm), sturdy, with edges
🧴 Zone 5: Cleaning products
Location: Under the sink
Contents:
- Dish soap, sponges
- Multi-purpose cleaners
- Trash bags
Recommended tray: Plastic with high edges, easy to clean
Advanced organization tips
🏷️ Labeling system
- Label the top of jars for an overview
- Use erasable labels for flexibility
- Color code according to categories
- Note expiration dates on the labels
📅 FIFO Rotation (First In, First Out)
- Place new products behind the old ones
- Rotate the tray to regularly check dates
- Consume what is in front first
- Avoids waste and expired products
📦 Uniform containers
- Transfer products into containers of the same height
- Optimizes vertical space
- Creates a harmonious aesthetic
- Facilitates stacking if necessary
🎨 Organization by color
- Group products by shade
- Creates a calming visual effect
- Facilitates quick identification
- Perfect for open kitchens
📏 Use of dividers
- Add removable dividers on the tray
- Create sections for different categories
- Prevents products from mixing
- Maintains organization over time
Common mistakes to avoid
❌ Overloading the tray
Problem: Difficult rotation, risk of tipping, objects falling
Solution: Respect load capacity (usually 5-10 kg), do not fill more than 80%
❌ Choosing an inappropriate size
Problem: Tray too large that doesn’t rotate, or too small that wastes space
Solution: Measure precisely before buying, leave 2-3 cm of free space
❌ Mixing incompatible products
Problem: Odor transfer, cross-contamination
Solution: Separate food products from household products, use dedicated trays
❌ Neglecting maintenance
Problem: Dirt accumulation, squeaky rotation
Solution: Clean monthly, check the mechanism, replace if necessary
❌ Placing objects that are too tall
Problem: Instability, risk of falling during rotation
Solution: Prefer low and stable objects, or use a tray with high edges
Maintenance and durability
🧽 Regular cleaning
Frequency: At least once a month
Method:
- Remove all objects from the tray
- Wash with hot soapy water
- Dry completely before putting back in place
- Take the opportunity to sort and discard expired products
🔧 Mechanism maintenance
- Check that the rotation remains smooth
- If it squeaks: clean the mechanism and apply food-grade lubricant
- Check the stability of the base
- Replace if the tray becomes wobbly
♻️ Extend lifespan
- Do not exceed the maximum load
- Avoid shocks and drops
- Protect from direct sunlight (for plastic)
- Dry immediately in case of spills
Budget and investment
💰 How much to invest?
Minimal budget (30-50€):
- 2-3 basic plastic trays
- Sufficient to start
- Spices + pantry
Average budget (80-120€):
- 4-6 trays of varying quality
- Plastic/wood/glass mix
- Covers the entire kitchen
Optimal budget (150-250€):
- 8-10 premium trays
- Durable materials
- Complete and coherent system
📊 Return on investment
- Savings: Less food waste (€50-100/year)
- Time saved: 5-10 minutes per day of searching avoided
- Space: 40% more usable space
- Durability: A good tray lasts 5-10 years
Alternatives and complements to lazy Susans
📚 Sliding shelves
- Ideal for deep cabinets
- Complementary to lazy Susans
- More expensive but very practical
🗄️ Drawer organizers
- For small items (spice packets, pods)
- Combine well with trays
- Optimize vertical space
🪝 Hanging systems
- Magnetic bars for knives and spices
- Hooks under shelves
- Free up tray space
📦 Stackable storage boxes
- For dry products (pasta, rice, cereals)
- Can be placed on trays
- Create two-level organization
Inspiration: examples of successful organization
🌟 The minimalist kitchen
- 2 wooden trays on the countertop
- Only essentials visible
- Clean and zen aesthetics
👨🍳 The amateur chef's kitchen
- 3-tier tray for 50+ spices
- Dedicated trays by type of cuisine
- Professional organization
👨👩👧👦 The family kitchen
- Trays in every cabinet
- Breakfast area accessible to children
- Rotating system to avoid waste
🏙️ The small urban kitchen
- Wall-mounted trays to save space
- Maximum optimization of every cm²
- Vertical solutions
Conclusion: Transform your kitchen today
Lazy Susans are much more than just a storage accessory: they are a true revolution in organizing your kitchen. For a modest investment (€30 to €250 depending on your needs), you transform chaotic spaces into perfectly organized and accessible zones.
By applying the tips in this guide, you will:
- ✅ Gain up to 40% more usable space in your cabinets
- ✅ Access all your products with a simple gesture
- ✅ Reduce food waste by 50%
- ✅ Save 5-10 minutes per day searching
- ✅ Create a visually harmonious kitchen
- ✅ Simplify cleaning and maintenance
Start small: invest in 2-3 lazy Susans for your most problematic areas (spices, pantry, corner cabinet). Once you see the difference, you'll want to equip your entire kitchen!
Don't forget: the perfect organization is the one that suits you and that you can easily maintain over time. Adapt these tips to your space, habits, and budget.
So, ready to say goodbye to chaos and hello to a perfectly organized kitchen? Your cabinets (and your mental health) will thank you!
And you, how do you use lazy Susans in your kitchen? Share your tips in the comments!
