A clean kitchen sets a tone and culture for the entire home. While promoting opportunity and possibility for culinary creativity, it communicates calm and order. So how do we avoid kitchen clutter in a room that is a natural gathering place for a family and requires messes to be made during use? These simple suggestions will help you organize your kitchen and keep it a clutter-free zone:
- Empty Cabinets and Group Similar Items
Since most kitchens are short on space, the goal is to keep only the things you use and love. As you empty your cabinets, discard or donate things that are broken, not frequently used or are duplicate items. Now that your cabinets are empty, start by sorting and grouping similar items. Consider what works best for you. Group all baking items together, do the same with cooking items, dishes, glassware, seasonal items, etc.
- Store It Where You Need It
Now that everything is sorted, you can decide where it should be stored. Cooking and baking pieces should be kept close to where you do food preparation. Utensils should be in the drawer nearest to the prep area as well. Glassware might be best near the sink or refrigerator. Make a coffee or tea station that includes sugar, mugs and filters, and place it near the water source.
- Use Clear Storage Containers
Use clear containers to streamline the inside your cabinets. Group together things like packets of sauce mixes, gravy mixes, hot cereal packets and hot cocoa envelopes, then put them into small plastic containers to avoid them being scattered all over the cabinet.
- Store Containers and Lids Together
Discard containers without lids, and store the remaining plastic containers either with the lids on them, or store the lids in another larger container so they all stay together. Do the same with the lids for your pots and pans. A wire rack will keep the lids nicely together on their side.
- Make use of Vertical Space
Free up flat space inside a cabinet by placing hooks underneath cabinets to hold mugs above the countertop, or hang a stemware rack in the same spot for wine glasses. You could also hang adhesive hooks on the inside of cabinet doors or pantry doors to hold tools such as measuring cups, oven mitts or other kitchen gadgets.
- Use Rotating Trays
Rotating trays can be used to hold cooking ingredients, spices vitamins and medications. They are a great accessory to make sure nothing is every forgotten or lost in the cabinet.
- Use Drawer Dividers
Drawer dividers are great for cooking utensil drawers and junk drawers. Everyone needs a place to keep those little miscellaneous things, but they don’t have to be overflowing and junky. Drawer dividers will allow you to assign a little spot for each thing, and you’ll be able to find things when you need them.
- Multitasking Sinks and Faucets
Sinks with integral accessories like drain grids and cutting boards all in one tidy area are a growing trend. One of my personal favorites is the Blanco Stainless Steel sink which offers a workstation that is designed for cooking and cleaning in one, compact area. This sink, coupled with a multiuse faucet, will improve your kitchen experience and reduce the need for extra gadget.
If you invest the time and energy in creating a clutter-free kitchen, you will begin to enjoy this clean and clear space. This is the room where we spend most of our time. Organize it to your style. Enjoy its versatility and happy cooking!