Are you struggling to keep the heart of your home organized? You’re not alone. Everyone wants to have a neat and organized kitchen. Such a kitchen is simple to use, fun to work in and makes cleaning more manageable. Unfortunately, achieving that isn’t easy. The good news is you can avoid a lot of headaches as you try to get that perfect design for your kitchen by using smart organization. Here are 10 clever ways to keep your kitchen organized and make your life easier.
1. Eliminate Kitchen Clutter
The first step to an organized kitchen is decluttering. The kitchen has a unique set of clutter: cookbooks that are never read, excessive knife sets, gadgets that were bought on impulse from TV infomercials, and machines that are rarely used but are kept due to the “maybe someday” mentality. Such clutter makes your kitchen feel cramped and makes you have to dash around the room for every single item you need. Weed out the cookbooks and kitchen tools you never use, throw out expired bulk spices, reboot your diet and get rid of the junk-filled pantry, and keenly evaluate whether you must keep items in the kitchen beyond the essential ones. Also, go to Veranda Interiors for more ideas since it is loaded with pictures which can also help you arrange clutter in your kitchen.
2. Use See-Through Storage
One of the leading causes of kitchen chaos is piles of mismatched containers. Get a few clear storage containers to hold your spices. If the containers stack up well, they’ll help you maximize on storage space. You can also use mason jars for storing salads, extra cooked grains, and smoothies in your freezer. See-through wire baskets are excellent for snacks. Also, go to Apartment Therapy for more ideas and tips for storage using wire baskets.
3. Let Cabinet Doors Do Double Duty
You can put the space inside your cabinet doors to good use by attaching hooks to it or hanging and organization rack. This inconspicuous spot can then be used to store anything from spices to troublesome pot lids to measuring cups, spoons, knives, and other small utensils for easy access. But that’s not all. You can paint the space with whiteboard or blackboard paint and use it for weekly meal plans and grocery lists.
4. Store Food Properly in the Fridge
You shouldn’t store the foods in your fridge haphazardly. Some spots in the refrigerator are best suited to certain types of food. For example, the top shelf is ideal for dairy because it has the most constant temperature. The bottom shelf is perfect for meat because it’s the coldest. What’s more, any leaks from the meat won’t contaminate your other foods. It’s also a good idea to label freezer containers with the type of food and date you made it, and then store them in a specific order. For example, you can keep newer items behind older ones to ensure you consume them on a timely basis.
5. Set Up Cooking Zones
A great way to keep everything organized in the kitchen is by storing items according to the related zones. For instance, you can store pots and pans close to the range. If you make a smoothie or protein shake every day, consider keeping the blender on the kitchen counter and seeds, nut butter, protein powder, cups and other related items in a nearby cupboard or basket. You can also create any other specialty zones such as a baking zone.
6. Get Rid of Dead Space
You can avoid overwhelming your countertop by making the most of dead space. Magnetic space savers with racks and hooks can give towels and tools a new home on the refrigerator. Hanging individual hooks or a bar on the side of a cabinet will also give you more room to store utensils.
7. Add a Slide-Out Drawer
Why dig through drawers or knock items over as you reach for something when you can just slide things out of the drawer and see everything you need quickly? A secret pull-out spice drawer installed into your cabinets will save on space and conceal your spices with high efficiency.
8. Hang Essential Pots
You don’t have to hang the entire 10-piece set you bought on the wall. Get the essential utensils you use, such as a frying pan, saucepan, large sauté pan, and cast-iron skillet and hang them on a pegboard on the kitchen wall or a ceiling-mounted rack. The items you use the most should be the easiest to reach.
9. Divide Drawers
When drawers are in chaos, you’ll have to rummage around for whatever item you need. Therefore, it’s essential to have a system in place. Compartmentalize your drawers with dividers and containers. Group similar kitchen items together by size or function.
10. Have an Inventory List
An inventory list can help you keep your kitchen organized. Use it to jot down the ingredients you’ve prepped. Keep it on the kitchen counter or fridge so you can quickly refer to it later, keep track of your foods, and know when they’re about to expire.
Disorderly kitchens can drive even the most experienced cooks nuts. Try out these organization ideas to keep your sanity as you cook up a storm.