Cupboard Makeover Magic: Calm Cupboard, Happy Hobbies

Cupboards are sneaky.

They look tidy from the outside… but open the door (or look under the table) and it’s a very different story.

This client, based in the Canberra and NSW surrounds, reached out to Spritz Cleaning Co because they were tired of:

• Arts and craft supplies spilling out from under a clear square table
• Cupboards full of random bits and pieces
• Board games shoved in wherever they’d fit
• Knowing they had storage… but not using it properly

They didn’t need a bigger house.
They needed their cupboards to work smarter.

In this blog, we’ll walk you through the transformation – including the before and after photos – and share how we turned everyday cupboards into organised, easy-to-use storage.

The “Before”: When Storage Becomes a Dumping Ground

In the before photos, you’ll see:

• Arts and crafts stored under a square glass/clear table, fully visible and visually cluttered
• Two cupboards packed with a mix of board games and completely random items
• No clear system, no clear zones, and no clear idea of what was even in there

The client’s main goals were simple:

• Hide the visual clutter
• Make things easy to find
• Use the cupboards to their maximum potential
• Let go of what they no longer needed

The client’s response to “what if we can completely clear under the table and have nothing there?”

Client: “I’d jump for joy!” – and that we did.

Step 1: Empty, Sort, and See What You Actually Own

The first step of any good cupboard reset is to take everything out.

For this Canberra home, we:

• Emptied the table area and both cupboards completely
• Grouped everything into categories: arts & crafts, board games, toys, stationery, random items, sentimental, rubbish
• Created piles for keep / donate / rehome / discard

This stage always looks messier before it looks better – but it’s where the magic happens.
You can’t organise what you can’t see.

✨ Pro tip: If you’re doing this at home, work cupboard by cupboard so you don’t end up with every storage space in the house emptied at once!

Step 2: Decluttering – Making Space for What You Actually Use

Once everything was out and sorted, we helped the client make clear, calm decisions.

Together, we:

• Made donation piles for things they no longer used
• Let go of old, broken or incomplete things
• Rehomed items that belonged in other areas of the house
• Cleared out “just in case” items that had been sitting untouched for years

By the end of this stage, we weren’t trying to cram “too much stuff” into the cupboards anymore.
We were working with what the family actually needed and loved.

Step 3: Smart Cupboard Zones – One Cupboard, One Purpose

Now for the fun bit: using the cupboards to their maximum potential.

Instead of everything being spread out and half-hidden under the table, we created clear, simple zones:

Cupboard 1: Arts & Crafts Hub

This cupboard became the dedicated arts and craft station.

We:

• Stored all craft supplies together in one easy-to-access spot
• Used baskets/containers to group similar items (paints, paper, glues, tools, kids’ craft kits etc.)
• Placed everyday items at eye or arm level
• Kept messier items in easy-to-clean containers or tubs

Now, when anyone wants to get creative, they open one cupboard and have everything they need right there.

Cupboard 2: Board Game Zone

The second cupboard became a board game and family fun zone.

We:

• Stacked board games according to sizewhere possible so titles are easy to read
• Grouped games and puzzles by type (family games, kids’ games, card games, party games)
• Removed bulky or broken packaging where appropriate and used boxes or tubs
• Left enough space so games can be taken out and put away easily

Tagline: Gooooodbye screens, hello games night!

Now, instead of rummaging through piles or digging behind random items, the family can open one cupboard and see all their board games at a glance.

Step 4: Clearing the Visual Clutter Under the Table

One of the biggest visual wins for this client was the area under the clear square table.

Before, it was crammed with:

• Boxes and baskets
• Loose craft items
• Random “no home” bits

Because the table was see-through, all that clutter was always on display.

After we moved the arts and crafts into their dedicated cupboard and rehomed/donated the extra items:

• The space under the table was completely cleared
• The room instantly felt more open, calm and spacious
• The table went back to being a feature, not a storage dump

The Result: Cupboards That Actually Work

By the end of the session, we’d achieved:

• One cupboard dedicated to arts and crafts
• One cupboard dedicated to board games
• No more random “stuff” hidden (or not so hidden) under the table
• A pile of items donated or rehomed, instead of taking up precious storage space
• A home that feels visually calmer and much easier to use day-to-day

The client now knows:

• Exactly where everything lives
• How to keep the system going
• That their cupboards are finally doing their job

How to Maximise Your Own Cupboards at Home

Want to try this in your own Canberra or NSW home? Here are some simple steps:

1. Choose one cupboard or storage area – don’t try to do them all at once.
2. Empty it completely so you can see what you own.
3. Declutter: donate/sell/throw away anything broken, unused or duplicated.
4. Pick a purpose for that cupboard (e.g. crafts, games, cleaning, snacks, linen).
5. Group similar items in baskets, tubs or containers.
6. Store by frequency – everyday items at eye level, rarely used items higher or lower.
7. Label if helpful so everyone in the house knows where things belong.

Remember: a cupboard doesn’t have to look Pinterest-perfect to be powerful.
It just needs a clear purpose and a simple system you can stick to.

Need Help Reclaiming Your Cupboards?

If your cupboards are bursting… but you still feel like you “don’t have enough storage”, it might not be a space problem. It might be a systems problem.

At Spritz Cleaning Co, we help clients across Canberra and the NSW surrounds to:

• Declutter cupboards, pantries, wardrobes and more
• Create clear, easy-to-maintain storage zones
• Organise arts & crafts, toys, board games, paperwork and everyday essentials
• Rehome, recycle or donate items that no longer serve you

???? Want your own cupboard before & after?
Get in touch with Spritz Cleaning Co to book a declutter, organise and clean session and let’s turn your hidden chaos into smart, functional storage.