Sprucing up and organizing your kitchen isn't just about finding that missing spatula in a flash, it's about transforming chaos into a peaceful cooking oasis. Dive into the pantry, cabinets, drawers, and fridge to whip up a kitchen that's not only organized but also a joy to cook in!
No matter which area you begin in, here are some general kitchen organization ideas that will get your space, as a whole, in order.
Step One: Assess Your Space
The first step in organizing your kitchen is to take a good look at the space you have. Evaluate your pantry, cabinets, drawers, and fridge to determine what items you have and how much space you have to work with.
Step Two: Declutter
Before you can begin organizing, it's important to declutter your kitchen. Go through your pantry, fridge, and cabinets and get rid of any items that are expired, no longer needed, or rarely used. This will make it easier to see what you have and make more efficient use of your space.
Step Three: Create Zones
Divide your kitchen into zones based on how you use it. For example, create a baking zone, a cooking zone, a snack zone, etc. This will help you keep similar items together and make it easier to find what you need when you need it. Within your pantry, you can create specific zones to help you know where certain items can go, too! In my own pantry, I have a kid snack zone that is accessible to my son, a baking zone for flour, sugar, etc., and additional areas for pastas, canned items, and nuts/granola. Tailor your space to fit your needs and lifestyle so when you purchase new items, you can find a home for them in a snap!
Step Four: Invest in Storage Solutions
There are many storage solutions available to help you maximize your space and keep your kitchen organized. Consider investing in drawer dividers, shelf risers, spice racks, and clear containers for your cabinet and pantry items. Keep reading for specific product recommendations!
Step Five: Label Everything
Labels are your best friend when it comes to kitchen organization. Use labels on your containers, shelves, and drawers to help you quickly locate items and keep everything in its place.
Step Six: Utilize Vertical Space
Don't forget to make use of your vertical space in the pantry and cabinets. Install hooks for mugs, hang pots and pans from a rack, and use stackable shelves to make the most of your space.
Step Seven: Maintain Regularly
Once you have organized your kitchen, make sure to maintain it regularly. Take a few minutes each day to put things back where they belong and do a quick check to see if anything needs to be restocked or reorganized.
Now, let's delve into how you can implement these steps specifically in each area of your kitchen.
Organizing Your Pantry:
Take everything out of the pantry and sort through it. Throw away anything that is expired or you no longer need. Clean the shelves thoroughly to ensure you have a tidy surface to work on.
Group similar items together such as baking supplies, snacks, and canned items.
Use clear airtight containers to store items like pasta, cereal, and snacks. This will make it easier to see what you have and know when you need to restock.
Consider using risers to maximize vertical space in your pantry. We often use expandable spice racks in the pantries we organize. You can use them for canned goods or other packaged items. The multi-tiers allow everything to be visible, and the expanding size makes it very versatile no matter what size shelf you are working with.
Label everything! Well, maybe not "everything", but most things. This will help you and others in your household find what you need quickly and easily. There are pre-made labels you can purchase, but double check that whichever package or brand you choose has labels for the items in your pantry. If you want to be able to customize your labels, you could opt for an erasable set that can be cleaned off and reused. Or you can simply use a chalk marker to write directly on the acrylic containers. If you are utilizing bins and baskets, these clip on labels are very versatile, and any extras can be used to label other bins around your home.
Organizing Your Cabinets and Drawers:
Sort through everything in your cabinets and drawers. Get rid of any items you no longer use or need. Group small appliances that get more use together in a more accessible cabinet. Others that you don’t use as often could get moved to the back of a lower cabinet or to the top shelf of an upper cabinet.
Group similar items together such as pots and pans, baking sheets, and utensils, based on the “zones” you created. Pots, pans, and baking sheets usually make the most sense located near the oven. Group similar utensils together based on size, purpose, or frequency of use. In my kitchen, I have my cooking utensils in drawers near my stovetop so they are within arm's reach while I'm cooking. Every person is different, so use a system that makes sense to you.
Consider using a lazy Susan in your corner cabinet to maximize space and make items more accessible. Lazy Susan’s are a great addition to any space in your pantry, fridge, or even under the sink!
Use drawer dividers to keep utensils and other small items organized. The tension bar dividers are a great option for versatility. They come in plastic or bamboo finishes, depending on the style of your kitchen. Preconfigured drawer organizers are great too, and they also come in expandable options to better fit the different sizing of drawers.
*Pro Tip: Before purchasing any drawer organization products, create a template of the inner space of the drawer using craft or tissue paper. Take it to the store with you when looking at options. You can lay the template on the floor and place various drawer organizers on top of it to see what will actually fit.
Organizing your Refrigerator:
Take everything out of the fridge and sort through it. Throw away any expired items and wipe down the shelves and drawers.
Group similar items together such as dairy, fruits, and vegetables.
Use clear containers to store items like leftovers and condiments. This will make it easier to see what you have and what you are running low on. Storage products with handles simplify the task of pulling out containers and viewing items at the back.
Use a lazy Susan or turntable to make items in the back of the fridge more accessible.
Consider using bins to keep items like cheese and deli meat organized. In my fridge, I've got these nifty drawer containers that are like mini treasure chests of storage magic. The small ones are great for lemons, limes, and clementines. They not only hold stuff in place but also create bonus space for tiny goodies or those random leftovers to chill out.
By following these steps and incorporating some creative storage solutions, you can transform your kitchen into a well-organized and efficient space that makes cooking and meal prep a breeze.
If you need help figuring out how to best utilize the space in your kitchen, give us a call. Bluebird Design Co would be happy to meet for a free consultation and create a custom proposal based on the dimensions of your space and your specific needs.
Happy organizing!
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