As you are trying to prepare your family dinner, nothing can be quite as stressful as a kitchen that is disorganized and full of clutter. Yet most people don’t want to spend a lot of time or money investing in a crazy organizational method. Luckily, it doesn’t take a lot of either in order to create a kitchen that is a dream to cook in. Check out our list of five simple, yet totally genius organizational tips to help you enjoy every second you spend in your kitchen.
Tip #1: Utilize the Lazy Susan
Most people have heard about the wonders of the lazy susan turntable. Place one in your cabinets to help you see and access the items in the back of your cabinet. However, did you know that a lazy susan turntable can be effective outside of a cabinet? Place one inside of your fridge to help you showcase your items – and to prevent that container of food from getting lost in the back.
Tip #2: Hang it Up
One of the easiest ways to declutter your cabinets is to take items out of them. You can create a chic, European look to your kitchen by creating a wall where all of your pots and pans hang. Other options include hooks for your beaters, canvas shopping bags, and measuring tools. You can even hang tools inside your pantry to help keep your cleaning supplies organized and off the floor.
Tip #3: Reuse and Recycle
Many people think that they have to buy fancy new bins or storage units to get the level of organization they crave. However, you can get the same effect by reusing and recycling items that are already found in you kitchen. Whenever you finish a food item with an interesting container – including jam jars, baking powder tins, or even pickle jars – don’t throw it away. Clean it out, peel of the label and voila. You have a new container that you can use to help your overall organization. If you are crafty, you can even decorate them to help compliment your overall kitchen design.
Tip #4: Divide Your Drawers
Most kitchens have a designated “junk drawer”. Unfortunately, the clutter in that drawer often spreads to the rest of your drawers, making it hard to find what you need when cooking. Use small baskets, flat bins or even an extra utensil divider to create distinct spaces in all of your drawers. The dividing units will help keep your items from rolling around, making it easy for you to find exactly what you need.
Tip #5: Use Layers
The best way to reclaim unused space is to create layers. Put a wire shelf inside your fridge to divide the vertical space of your large shelves. Use a cake stand to store your most commonly used cooking ingredients on top, while sheltering herbs and spices underneath. Use a magazine holder in your shelves to create clear definitions for your cutting boards or cookie trays.
