Kitchen Organization – Decluttering and Organizing This Busy Space!

Out of all the inquiries I get to assist people with their organizing needs, the kitchen is definitely the most challenging project that we work on. This room is used many times throughout the day by every person in the household so it’s easy for things to get out of hand and disorganized.

Here are a few of my favorite ways to keep things neat and organized in your kitchen. Of course, the rest of the family is going to have to buy into this but I will leave that up to you!

Store it by how often it’s used

I see a lot of people struggling to find items in the kitchen that they use every day. When organizing your kitchen keep the things that you use every day within easy reach like your plates and cups. Utensils should be in the drawer that is closest to your plates, as they are obviously used with them. If you bake a lot, try to keep your tins and pans close to the stove. You may need to create a “kitchen overstock” area in your basement storage for those rarely used kitchenware items and appliances that come out only a few times a year.

Keep a clean, clutter free counter

I love to see a clutter free flat surface no matter what room it’s in but especially in the kitchen. If you don’t have the space to cook you’re going to get frustrated and start eating poorly or start grabbing whatever is within reach.

Cooking and preparing meals can be a fun time for the whole family so organize your kitchen accordingly. How often do you really use that bread maker you received as a gift? If you aren’t using the small appliances on your counter frequently, store them. My rule of thumb is only one appliance per counter top up to a maximum of 3.

Organize according to the season

This may sound a bit strange but think about it. A crock-pot is used mainly in the colder months. Move it to the back for the summer months and bring the blender to the forefront in the summer for those cool drinks.

The dreaded junk drawer

Even I have given in and accepted the fact that we all need a “junk” drawer in the kitchen. The kitchen is visited so many times throughout the day that it becomes a drop off point for a lot of things. But that doesn’t mean that your junk drawer can’t have a distinct space within it to categorize your “junk”.   And don’t forget to clear this out on a regular basis or you will lose control of this drawer and never find what you are looking for. Make a point to go through this drawer monthly to move things out that don’t really belong there.

Food saving containers – a real challenge (like lost socks)

People differ on how they store their food savers but eventually we all end up with extra lids or containers without a lid. Kind of like those socks that disappear in the dryer. I store my food containers with the lids on. It may take up a bit more space but I lose less lids. If you are challenged for space, store your containers in a plastic bin under the counter, stacking the containers and store the lids vertically within the bin. The bin gives you easy pull-out access and allows you to see it all in one space.

Save space – shelf organizers and turntables

There is an infinite number of space saving items available to maximize space in your kitchen. Shelf dividers will almost double your space and a turntable (they come in various sizes) makes it easy for those hard to reach corner cupboards. Drawer dividers and organizers too will make your kitchen better organized and easier to retrieve utensils.

Clear containers in the pantry

Don’t forget to store like food items in clear containers so they can be easily seen, stored and retrieved. I preach clear containers for most storage but especially in the kitchen. Gravy packets can all go in one clear container, snack bars in another, all for easy access and retrieval.

At ClutterBGone not only do we help you organize and de-clutter your kitchen but we also leave you with a system that is easy to maintain taking into account how you work and function in the space and even take into consideration whether you are left or right handed. When you need assistance in kitchen organization, contact us here to start the discussion.