4 Steps to an Organized Kitchen

It’s that time of year again. Some welcome it with open arms while others put it off. For those who are apprehensive, we promise it isn’t as daunting as it looks and it’s a good way to be productive with time spent at home. Whether you’re planning to get a jump on spring cleaning or you’re overdue for a major kitchen organization makeover, here are some tips to help you achieve an organized kitchen.

Purge

For best results, the first thing you should do is get rid of the things that you don’t need. This may be difficult for those of us who like to hold onto things “just in case”, but a good rule of thumb is if you haven’t used it for a year or longer then there’s a good chance you likely don’t need it and can afford to let it go. To start, take everything out of the cabinets and lay it out so you can really see how much you have. You should choose what you keep wisely. Set aside things you’ve used recently in the “keep” pile. Then think about whether things hold sentimental value for you (such as an heirloom or a wedding gift from a beloved family member, for example). You may have heard of the popular KonMari method by Marie Kondo. She encourages people to think about whether items spark joy and to distinguish that feeling from mere attachments to items. Anything you have doubts about probably needs to be tossed or donated. Once you’ve gone through the process of purging, you will have a clearer idea of what’s left and how best to organize it.

Identify Kitchen Work Zones 

The “kitchen work triangle” or the “golden triangle” has its roots back to the early 20th century. It’s used to describe the path that follows an imaginary triangle shape that should form between the stove, sink, and refrigerator for maximum efficiency in the kitchen. There are several mathematical points to use to determine if a kitchen adheres to the golden triangle, but the bottom line is that it would create a kitchen with good flow and high efficiency – making it easy for a cook to go from refrigerator to sink to stove or any combination between the three while working in the kitchen. If you find that your kitchen is difficult to navigate, then it may be time to consider and plan for a remodel. 

In terms of organization, it is ideal to also follow a more updated version of this triangle to identify work zones. All the kitchen tools you need for prepping and chopping (such as knives, measuring spoons, or food processors) should be located in the sink area. Cleaning supplies are also best kept underneath the sink. All your cookware and serveware should be located near the stove. Have one cabinet for all your pots and pans and another for your plates and bowls. 

It should go without saying, but most kitchens do have smaller drawers and these drawers should be used for smaller items. Cooking utensils such as turners, ladles, and spatulas should be separate from spoons, forks, and knives. Cabinet and drawer organizers would make a world of difference in sorting these for greatest convenience. Check out a selection of kitchen accessories here. 

Utilize Vertical Space

As mentioned above, it would be a great idea to utilize cabinet organizers to maximize storage space. Vertical space is often neglected in cabinets so we are left with tons of unused space that we could be using. For example, if it is difficult to find spices in your cabinet then it might be worth considering the addition of a spice rack for easier access to the jars in the back that go unseen. Spice racks allow you to put spice containers on top of one another so you can see the contents, read the labels, and grab what you need easily. To maximize space, you can even consider a spice rack that mounts inside your cabinet door.  

Pots and pans can also be a potential problem when it comes to kitchen organization. It’s common to see people stack pots and pans directly on top of one another. This makes it more difficult to grab the one you need without having to rearrange the stack. Another common problem is locating the correct pot lid because they look similar and people often leave them as a pile inside cabinets (or wherever there is little room). The best way to keep this mess at bay is to purchase pot and pan organizers. There are varieties available that slide out so everything is in its place. You can see everything you have at a glance so no more searching for pot lids! 

Organization systems also exist for awkward spaces like corner cabinets and under-sink cabinets (which is often obstructed by plumbing). Install a multi-level revolving lazy susan in a corner cabinet or adjustable under-sink caddies for a neat and tidy kitchen!   

Ensure Frequently-Used Items Are Within Reach

It may seem obvious, but don’t place items that you use daily in the back of or on your highest cabinet shelves. You can even leave your most frequently-used pots and pans on the stove or hanging nearby! A cost-effective and portable solution for storing cleaning supplies under the sink would be to utilize narrow tension rods. Going back to using vertical space, this will allow spray products to be suspended above other items so everything can be seen at once. 

Let Us Help You!

Whether you’ve just started the purging process of spring cleaning, you’re considering the addition of countertop or in-cabinet organization, or you’re ready to consider planning a kitchen remodel to achieve that golden kitchen triangle, feel free to reach out to our Design Specialists who are always happy to help answer your questions and navigate this process.