Unruly clutter can quickly lead to chaos in the kitchen, but keeping things organized and functional may just be a tidy drawer away. A standout kitchen starts with a clean, uncluttered kitchen, and back-to-school season also means it’s a great time for kitchen organization.
We’ve all been there and know just how overwhelming it can be, “Where do I even begin?” And even if things get organized, we say to ourselves, they’ll end up right back in their cluttered spaces by the time winter break comes around.
The progression is all too familiar: a neat drawer lives out its usefulness for a few months, then add the take-out menus, daily mail, rubber bands, and spare keys, and before you know it, you’ve got yourself another bona fide junk drawer. It’s much smarter and efficient to organize those drawers, cabinets, and counter spaces on the front end because you’ll have more incentive to keep it that way once you have a solid system in place.
Start with the drawers, where most likely there’s a game of Twister going on with your vegetable peeler, meat tenderizer, spatulas, and serving spoons. Begin by getting rid of the unnecessary junk, the utensils you never use, as well as the repeat items. Don’t worry, we’re also wondering how you ended up with a collection of mandolines.
Adding dividers and simply grouping similar kitchen utensils and tools can make a huge difference in your drawer space. Depending on your preference, organize these items according to size, shape, functionality, the frequency of use, etc.
Move up to the counter spaces next to and go through a similar process. The general rule of thumb is that only everyday appliances, cooking utensils, and food items, as well as seasonal and holiday décor, should occupy your countertops. Everything else can find a different space and be stored elsewhere.
Sure, that beautiful new Italian-made espresso machine makes for a nice conversation piece, but unless it’s absolutely necessary to use on the daily, then it doesn’t warrant taking up half your island.
So where should those unnecessary items go? Get creative with it and utilize the space you have!
Kitchens come in all sizes and shapes, and while you can count on every kitchen has a sink, fridge, oven, and microwave, storage space (even a pantry) is varied and unique. That’s why you’ll have to think creatively on how best to utilize that space and maximize what you have.
A great idea is to sort things by material and size and group them together, such as glass, plastic and metal bowls, cups and containers. In your pantry, get rid of the original packaging for your food items and store flour, sugar, rice, oatmeal, as well as snacks and cereals in labeled, plastic containers. They’ll stay organized, save on space, and keep fresh a lot longer.
With cabinets, consider installing a spinning tray or spice rack to stay organized and functional behind the scenes. You can even do this with larger cupboard spaces and insert wire racks for your brooms, mops and other cleaning supplies.
Want More Kitchen Storage Tips and Tricks? kitchenCRATE Can Help!
When it comes to kitchen design and organization, let the experts at kitchen and bath CRATE help you maximize your space and fit your everyday needs! We have the experience and know-how to help you design the kitchen or bath of your dreams!
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Scott Monday is co-founder and CEO of kitchenCRATE and bathCRATE. Follow him on Facebook or Linked-In.
