When you have a well organized kitchen, it makes your every day routine feel simpler and more efficient. When your counters are crowded and cabinets are cluttered, even basic kitchen tasks end up being more time-consuming than they should be.
Start With A Clear Kitchen Reset
You need to hit rest by clearing your kitchen of any visual or physical clutter. Do a quick kitchen inventory, so you know what you actually own and where it is.
Group your items by their purpose; prep, cooking, baking, storage and clean-up. As you’re sorting through everything, identify your most essential tools, and the items you use every week, and make sure you separate them from the more specialty gadgets and tools.
Connect your reset to your meal planning. Keep the tools you use for everyday meals closest to the main preparation zone, so you’re not hunting around for the basics. Think of the meals you cook most, and then arrange your kitchen set-up to support those habits.
Declutter Before You Organize
Even the smartest storage system can’t fix a kitchen that is crammed with stuff you never use. Before you introduce new storage items, clear some space. Empty just one cabinet or one drawer at a time, and then group everything by category. Ask yourself if each item is an item you use regularly, and not just once a year.
If you find any duplicates, put them to one side and donate the unused gadgets so you’re not taking up valuable space.
Keep your versatile and multi-functional tools, and get rid of single-purpose items you rarely use. Look for expired food, and donate any food you know you won’t get round to using, before it expires.
You can use a seasonal rotation system for more bulkier gear. Store your holiday bakeware or specialty appliances in a higher cabinet, or in another room, and swap them in when their season returns.
Use Drawer Dividers To Keep Things Tidy
Once you’ve got rid of all your clutter, you can use drawer dividers to make your drawers more streamlined and organized. Start by grouping what you use the most, like baking tools, prep gadgets and measuring spoons, and assign each group their own section with a divider.
For your drawer dividers, choose a material that will match how hard you’ll use the space. Sturdy bamboo or plastic will work well for heavier utensils, whilst clear acrylic dividers lets you see everything easily, and it looks sleek within the drawer.
You can use shallow segments for your smaller items, like clips or peelers, and use the longer segments for items like rolling pins or tongs. This will help you to maximize your space.
Use Vertical Space To Reduce Clutter
Two of the biggest causes of kitchen clutter are overcrowded counters and crammed cabinets, so vertical space can help sort both of those issues.
Instead of spreading out, you can start building up. Add some shelf rises inside your cabinets, so you can stack your plates, bowls or mugs without making an unstable tower.
If you mount magnetic strips to the wall or a backsplash, they can hold your knives, metal spice tins or your smaller tools. It’ll keep your drawers lighter, and make your counters clearer too.
Pegboards are also handy, as you can arrange hooks and small shelves for your pans, strainers or your cutting boards. You can also add some hanging baskets under your cabinets, or from any ceiling racks to store produce, your dish towels or coffee supplies, without wasting your counter or cabinet space.
