How To Organize your Kitchen

The kitchen is often the heart of the home with people gathering there to do many activities in addition to cooking and eating. So why not have an organized kitchen? It will help you to be more efficient when you cook and entertain. Here are some simple tips for how to easily organize your kitchen.

Take Inventory

The best way to help with kitchen organization is actually doing an audit of your pantry and kitchen cabinets, followed by some serious purging and then re-organizing.

This first step of taking inventory in your kitchen is a very important one because once you are done, you will know exactly what you have in your kitchen. A great way to start is to take a walk through your kitchen with pen and paper in hand and jot down every single item that you see. Are there items that you don’t really need or use? If so Get rid of them! This process may sound tedious, but doing so will give you an accurate picture of what you have—and make it easier for you to plan your storage space so that you can begin to systematically organize your kitchen

Make A Plan

Both large and small kitchens have their own unique layout and will have an impact on how you organize your kitchen tools, dishes, and cooking supplies. A great way to do this is to sketch out a diagram of the layout of your kitchen space including kitchen counter, drawer space, upper and lower cabinets. Jot down where you will arrange items around your kitchen on your drawing. A few kitchen organization tips to think about are the frequency that you use an item and putting those that you use often within easy reach. Once your diagram is complete, use it to start placing items in their appropriate kitchen space.

If you are organizing your kitchen in your new home, it may take some experimenting to figure out what kind of system works best for you. But once you have everything set up, you might be surprised by how much more organized your kitchen will feel and how much time you’ll save cooking meals for your family.

Plates Bowls Glasses and silverware

It’s a good idea to store your dishes, glassware, and silverware near the dishwasher or sink. This will reduce the amount of time you spend putting them away. If you are short on kitchen cabinet space, there are plenty of cabinet and drawer organizers out there that can help maximize your space for storing your silverware and dishes, too.

Pots, Pans, Cutting Board, Utensils

If possible, store your pots and pans on open shelving that is close to your cooktop and stove which will provide easy access when you are cooking. Store kitchen tools such as wooden spoons that are frequently used in a utensil holder on your countertop near the cooking area for easy access.

These organizing tips will keep your kitchen from looking cluttered or messy. If you don’t have enough space for open shelves, you can purchase some storage containers for these utensils, pans and cutting boards.

Small Appliances 

It might seem counterintuitive, but some of your most frequently used kitchen appliances should be kept right on your kitchen counter. Your coffee maker and blender might get quite a bit of use and putting them out of sight will only make you less likely to use them. Keep these appliances out where you can see them will help remind you that they’re there for your convenience. It also means more space for other items in your cabinets.

Spices 

Spices are likely going to be some of your most-used kitchen supplies, so you want them within arm’s reach. When it comes to storing spices, there’s more than one way to do it well. If you don’t have a designated storage spot for your spices, the next best thing is to keep them together on one shelf of your pantry with all other pantry items.

Pantry

Pantry items are typically dry goods like flour, sugar, rice, pasta,  canned goods, and beans. If you have your pantry already stocked, it will help to stay organized if you keep a pantry inventory. Grab a notebook and pen and take careful stock of everything you currently have on hand. Look at expiration dates, use them as an indicator for how much you’ll actually use something. If something has passed its expiration date, toss it. Keep note of the items and the expiration date to avoid food waste. Store older pantry items toward the front of your pantry and newer items in the back.

Keeping things stored properly can help keep your pantry organized. Depending on what you plan to store, it’s important to use the right containers or storage bags. For example, if you buy prepackaged and canned goods, make sure they don’t take up too much space so that other items can fit without being stacked on top of each other.

Pots and Pans

Store your pots and pans close to your cooking area, this will make it easy to grab them quick if necessary. Some pots and pans don’t fit right in cabinets. By hanging them on a bracket-mounted, ceiling-mounted frame with hooks, you are not only saving valuable shelf space but making the pots and pans easier to access.

There are many great designs available for purchase that will work with almost any décor; many have a cast-iron or stainless look. You can also make a basic one from wood, dowel rods, and hooks. They can be mounted over the stovetop or island.

Storage Helpers

There are many organization and storage units that can help expand your kitchen storage space. Even just an extra set of shelving mounted to the top of the cabinet or cabinet organizers can help increase your space.

Canisters can help keep your baking supplies not only looking great but will stay fresh for longer. Open canisters also make a great place to store larger utensils that don’t always fit comfortably in the drawers.

Organizing your kitchen can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. If you follow these simple organization tips, you should find that everything will find its place in your kitchen! Plus, with an organized kitchen comes happy cooking; so get started today for some peace of mind tomorrow!