Many may argue that the kitchen is the most important room in a home, and having a kitchen that is clean, clutter-free, and organized can make food prepping and cooking a lot more delightful. Whether you’re an aspiring amateur chef on the rise, a single person, or a grandparent cooking for a family of six, these helpful tips will get your kitchen looking and feeling peaceful and homey.
Before you embark on this project of organizing your kitchen, it’s important to have an idea in mind of what the result should look like. It will make the journey more enjoyable, knowing that you are working towards something that is both attainable and worthwhile. Let’s get started.
Cabinets
As with any organization project, having a process in place will make the task at hand easier and seamless. The first step is to take stock of the items you currently have and separate them into categories.
- Start by emptying the cabinets. During this process, you will want to throw away anything that is expired, such as spices, baking supplies, and any other consumable items.
- Discard or give away items you are no longer using. For example, if you have lots of baking supplies that are taking up space and you know you aren’t going to use them, give them to someone who loves baking.
- Once the cabinets are emptied and the expired items are tossed, group like items together. Canned foods should be grouped together, cereals together, spices together, etc.
- Next, to save space, transfer all dry foods into clear plastic containers. This way, you will be able see everything when you open the cabinets. If you don’t have containers readily available, it might be a good idea to invest in some. You can find these products on Amazon or at the Container Store.
- As you organize, make use of vertical space and make items easily accessible. For example, don’t place frequently used items such as consumables or kitchen utensils on shelves or cabinets where they are difficult to reach and access.
Drawers
- Move on to the drawers next. Empty them out and throw away or give away anything you don’t use and know you won’t use.
- If applicable and possible, make good use of drawer space by using dividers, organizers, or trays to make the organization process simpler. These items can also be ordered via Amazon or the Container Store.
- Be sure to group like items; make a separate utensil drawer, a kitchen towel drawer, a pots and pans drawer, etc.
Refrigerator
- The last step is cleaning out the refrigerator. Throw away any expired food items. Remind yourself to check your dairy products weekly and everything else at least once a month.
- Organize your fridge and freezer so you can see everything; there may be items hiding that you forgot all about!
- Use a system that places everything where it makes sense. Use the drawers for vegetables and fruits, use the small cubbies on the door for smaller items such as condiments, etc. Don’t take up space in the fridge or freezer with items that do not need to be frozen or refrigerated.
It is a good idea to re-evaluate the status of your kitchen’s organization once a month and maybe add in new and creative solutions. You may want to have a rack installed to hang your pots and pans (if it is going to be accessible to you) or install a corkboard to pin your favorite recipes. If you are a wine drinker or know someone who is, then ask them to collect corks for you; you can use these wine corks for a DIY corkboard!
The main goal of organizing your kitchen is to clear off the counterspace. This promotes more room for cooking or baking in the kitchen, or maybe just more room for wine racks or potted flowers! Good luck.