When the mess of my kitchen’s open shelving started bringing me frustration rather than joy, I took a leaf straight out of the fashion magazines and used the trendy 'sandwich method' for storage instead of outfits.
My kitchen storage has now been restored back to a little corner of joy, with enchanting glass jars of dried food and condiments, sandwiched between matching, pretty sage baskets, rather than lined up without thought.
Whilst open shelving like this makes it’s easy to access my cooking books and ingredients, I'm glad to have stumbled on this unusual organizing method because I love how intentional and functional it's made the space.
What is the Sandwich Method for storage?
The Sandwich Method concept is simple. Much like making a sandwich for lunch, use two matching items (the 'bread', if you will) to corral something that can look cluttered on its own, and place it in the middle.
In my case, I have three kitchen shelves situated in an L-shape. Before using this method, I had half my baskets on the left top shelf, and the others on the right bottom corner. In honesty, I sometimes felt stressed by the visual clutter of open storage, with stacks of books and jars of food scattered in between.
After reading about the sleek Sandwich Method for optimizing your outfit, I gave it a go on my shelving and was thrilled with the results.
Jennifer Ebert, Editor of Homes & Gardens, says, 'I started my career in fashion, but I've been writing about homes and interiors for over a decade, and there is much to be said about borrowing inspiration from the latest fashion trends. And there is no reason why your storage shouldn't follow suit.
'In fact, I love to use the 'sandwich method' to create visual contrast in interior design. In the same way you would add life and vibrancy to a black pant suit with red heels and a red headband, you can use storage to recreate a similar look. The concept is rooted in nature, think opposites attract. If it works in fashion, there is a good chance it will work in your home.
In my case, i simply made sure my matching sage green baskets from Amazon were now positioned on the top and bottom shelves, and the middle shelves had the glass jars. It was an instant improvement and made the organization really intentional.
Ben Soreff, professional organizer of House 2 Home Organizing, and expert in working with level five hoarders, agrees this simple trick works to reduce visual noise.
He says, ‘The Sandwich Method is all about the visual, since the top and the bottom match while the middle contrasts. This can be applied to organizing your items to be visually appealing.’
Shelf organizing essentials
These popular baskets come in five sizes from small to extra large so you can mix and match to best suit your storage needs. Also available in a case of six.
These clear dividers are great for keeping your kitchen or bathroom shelves organized, and perfect for trying the Sandwich Method for storage areas.
Don't leave bags of dried goods open on your pantry shelves. Swap in these non-toxic, air-tight glass, bamboo and silicone jars.
Meet the expert
Next, delve into our small kitchen storage ideas to expertly optimize your space, or learn about how our contributing editor used the Japanese concept of Ma in her kitchen cabinets with fabulous results.
