12 Lazy Susan Hacks That Make Awkward Spaces More Useful

photos showing various ways to use a lazy susan

Brilliant Lazy Susan Hacks For Organizing And More

Today we’ll be discussing a genius invention with a surprisingly long history: the Lazy Susan. Rotating platforms like these have been in use since the mid-1700s, and while technology has advanced by leaps and bounds since then, the design of the Lazy Susan has remained relatively unchanged.

And they’re just as useful today as they were back then! But what is a Lazy Susan, anyway?

To put it simply, a Lazy Susan is a platter or vessel of some type that rotates on its base, enabling you to spin it as needed to access the items you’ve set on it. They range in size from small organizers all the way up to tables with Lazy Susans built right in!

If you’re wondering what to do with a Lazy Susan, look no further, because I’ve got 12 especially clever uses for Lazy Susans to share with you here. I hope they provide plenty of inspiration for how you might use them in your own home. (I’ll also show you how to make a simple DIY Lazy Susan near the end of this post!)

12 Brilliant Ways To Use A Lazy Susan

1. Spice Cabinet

I have a handful of spices and seasonings that I use frequently when I cook, and I keep those in the cupboard above my stove. It keeps them handy, but the cupboard is pretty high up, which makes it hard to reach the stuff that gets pushed into the back of the cupboard.

It recently occurred to me that I could solve this problem easily by putting in a Lazy Susan! This Lazy Susan hack lets me just spin it to find what I need, without having to struggle to reach way into the back.

baking supplies in a lazy susan on a shelf

2. Baking Supplies

Keep all your baking supplies on a Lazy Susan in your cupboard. Not only does that keep all your baking stuff in once place, but it also makes it easier to keep track of smaller items like sprinkles and vanilla extract.

various bottles in a lazy susan in a refrigerator

3. Refrigerator

Keep your fridge nice and tidy with a Lazy Susan! Keep all of one type of item on one, like condiments and spreads. You could also just put one in the back of the fridge to make things easier to grab!

4. Craft Room

A Lazy Susan can make the perfect addition to your craft room (or any surface you happen to be using as a craft table). ;-) Put all your supplies for your project on it, and spin it to keep everything accessible while you work! It’ll keep you more organized and less messy.

5. Gift Wrap

You can use the same Lazy Susan hack described above when you’re wrapping gifts! Place your scissors, tape, ribbon, and whatever else you’re using onto it to keep it all close at hand.

butter and salt and pepper shakers on a lazy susan in the middle of a dinner table

6. Dining Table

The Lazy Susan was a popular addition to dining tables in the 19th century. The idea was that if you kept food and drinks on a rotating table, people could easily serve themselves without those pesky servants getting in the way. (The “first world problems” of the 1800s!)

But the overall concept is a good one, and can easily be applied to your 21st century dining table. Use a Lazy Susan to make food, condiments, or seasonings easily accessible for the whole table. It’s especially helpful for round-shaped tables!

using a lazy susan to decorate a cake on a kitchen counter

7. Decorating Cakes

Putting a cake on a Lazy Susan can be really helpful for decorating! You can spin the cake as you work rather than having to move around it.

plastic silverware in a lazy susan on a picnic table

8. Barbecues & Picnics

Use a Lazy Susan for utensils and napkins at a barbecue or picnic! You could also use one for condiments. It’ll save space on your table for other foods too.

9. Cleaning Supplies

Use a Lazy Susan to keep your cleaning supplies organized under the sink! It makes it much easier to grab what you need without having to bend over so far.

hair products in a lazy susan on a bathroom counter

10. Hair Products

Save space in your bathroom by keeping your hair products in a Lazy Susan. You could also use a small one to keep your makeup organized and handy.

gardening supplies in a lazy susan sitting in grass

11. Gardening

Keep a Lazy Susan on your potting bench for gardening. All your seeds and tools will be easy to find and use!

12. Laundry Room

My laundry room is pretty short on storage space, so I use a Lazy Susan to help keep things tidy. I keep it in the cupboard above my washing machine, so I always know right where everything is.

How To Make A DIY Lazy Susan

You can find Lazy Susans online in many different sizes, but it’s also really easy to make your own! Here’s how to do it at home.

You’ll need:

Two pie plates of the same size
A bag of marbles

Instructions:

Place the marbles in the bottom of one of your pie plates. Add just enough so that it forms a single layer of marbles. Place the other pie plate on top of the layer of marbles. Add your items, and spin gently to use your DIY Lazy Susan! :-)

Do you know of any other uses for a Lazy Susan?