HouseHold Organization: Organizing Your Kitchen

This is part of our monthlong HouseHold Organization Series. To see the 1st segment, you can read it here.

The kitchen is often the main focal point in the home , where family gatherings occur in addition to cooking and eating. And if we keep the kitchen well organized, the more inviting it becomes. 

Let’s take a  quick inventory of all your kitchen supplies. Are there items that you have unnecessary duplicates of that you don’t really need? I myself have 2 different types of food processors in my kitchen right now. A large one and a smaller one but all they do is take up much needed space so I’ll have to get rid of one and I suggest you do the same. Maybe you could give one away to a family member or offer it up for sale on Craigslist or you can  save them for a garage sale.  Then sort your kitchen items by use you use most and by size.

You can make a few simple changes in your kitchen to help with storage and organization needs.  Many items don’t fit well in the cupboards, like pots and pans for example, but by hanging them from a frame with hooks, attached to the ceiling, it can not only save precious shelf space but also makes the pots and pans more accessible. And there are many nice designs you can purchase that will fit with most any décor like  cast iron or a stainless look. 

 Of course the way your kitchen is situated out will have an impact in how you organize your tools and cooking supplies.  An island offers a wonderful workspace that also provides a good deal of storage ( I sure wish I had one!!). But if you don’t have one, an inexpensive alternative can be a small island on wheels that can be kept in a cupboard or pantry and only brought out when needed.  These can be a great addition to a smaller kitchen.

Storing your bakewear near the oven is an added convenience.  Sometimes the stove itself will have a storage drawer in the base where you can keep cookie sheets and such. I myself keep all of my bakeware in the bottom cabinet of the stove.  Other baking supplies like spatulas, wooden spoons, and sprinkles, can be best stored in drawers near the oven, too making it easier to find your utensils as needed.

It’s also a good idea to keep dishes, glassware and silverware near the dishwasher or sink.  This will cut down on the amount of time it takes to put things away after washing.  There are also plenty of cabinet organizers that can help maximize your space for storing your dishes and plasticware  as well.  By using mug trees and hooks , it can help  organize all the mugs and coffee cups that we’ve collected over the years,lol!

There are many organization and storage options that can help increase the amount of space you have and its a good idea to look into all the options.  Even an extra set of shelves on top of the cabinet can increase your space.  Think outside the box too. Canisters can help keep your baking supplies not only look attractive, but stay fresh longer.  Open canisters also make a great place to store larger utensils that don’t always fit well in the drawers. You can also make use  some of your children’s crafts which work well too.

Yes, all kitchens are situated differently, so it will take some experimenting to see what sort of system works best for you. But once you establish a system, you’ll be surprised at how much more space you can find once its been organized and how much time you’ll save in preparing meals for your family!

Now I’m not saying to go out and buy all kinds of organizers right away, it will take time to get your kitchen fully organized, but make your list and keep track of it so that when your out and about, you may find something inexpensive that will work for you. Start with a small section of your kitchen and work your way around it one step at a time. For me, I’m starting off with cabinets. I am planning on clearing them all out and placing new shelf liners and I found a few extendable shelves at Target on clearance that I’ll be using to reorganize the cabinets (I will have to dispose of some mugs though!!)

And most of all don’t despair or overwhelmed, just try the 15 minute rule when you start and you’ll find in no time that your kitchen will become an organized haven!

What ideas do you have to keep your kitchen organized and neat?

Next up in our monthlong HouseHold Organizing: Bathroom Organization Tips

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