step-by-step guide for organizing your kitchen

Step-by-Step Guide for Organizing Your Kitchen

In honor of GO Month, we’re wrapping up our room

room organizational spree in the kitchen. For many of us,

the kitchen is the heart of our home, so it is important to

keep it uncluttered and functional.

some inspiration to make the most of the space you

have… which is probably more space than you think!

The kitchen tends to be the busiest room in the house, so

it’s also the easiest place to amass a mess. When getting

organized here, don’t bite off more than you can chew.

It’s a big job, so it’s okay to tackle the cabinets and

drawers on one day, and save the pantry and the fridge for

another. As always, the best way to get started is by removing everything from where it’s hiding, so

you can see it all and truly take stock of what you have.

Start by creating a staging area.

out on the floor, if necessary, and begin to group everything by category: cookware, cleaning

supplies, storage items, etc. Confine everything you remove from the cabinets and drawers to this

area to prevent the kitchen clutter from exploding all over another part of your house.

Deal with your duplicates.

overcrowding in your kitchen isn’t always due to lack of space, but rather an overabundance of

stuff! Multiples gather because when you need something and you can’t find it, you buy another

one. But no one needs three pressure cooke

and even your dishes to what you will realistically use. Unburden yourself by letting go of bulky

items like that ice cream maker you used once five years ago, or the popcorn popper collecting dust

on top of your fridge. Then box up the rest for your local charity organization or, if you’re brave,

your next garage sale .

Make sense of what’s left.

by size and locate the coordinating

larger containers to keep the lids from getting lost in the shuffle. If your drawer space is limited, try

moving your knives to a magnetic strip for safe

glassware, serving pieces or other necessary but rarely used items, move them to your dining room

buffet or store them in your basement until they’re needed.

Wipe down every shelf before you refill your cabinets.

slip-free and to make your upcoming spring cleaning a cinch. Use modular drawer and shelf

expanding inserts to maximize your storage space and make things easier to see, so they won’t get

forgotten in the back of your cabinets. There are also countle

sink (to wrangle cleaning supplies and plastic bags) and inside the fridge (like soda can stackers)

that can maximize your space and keep things organized week after week.

When you’re ready to start putting things back

you cook every day or just once in a while? Do the kids spread out here to do homework? Make

sure you designate a space for each activity and that will serve as the roadmap to getting organized.

Return items to their logical “home” by placing items near where they’ll be used. Dishes should be

Step Guide for Organizing Your Kitchen

, we’re wrapping up our room-by-

room organizational spree in the kitchen. For many of us,

the kitchen is the heart of our home, so it is important to

keep it uncluttered and functional. This post will give you

some inspiration to make the most of the space you

have… which is probably more space than you think!

The kitchen tends to be the busiest room in the house, so

it’s also the easiest place to amass a mess. When getting

, don’t bite off more than you can chew.

It’s a big job, so it’s okay to tackle the cabinets and

drawers on one day, and save the pantry and the fridge for

another. As always, the best way to get started is by removing everything from where it’s hiding, so

you can see it all and truly take stock of what you have.

Start by creating a staging area. Use your dining room table, use a folding table, or spread a sheet

out on the floor, if necessary, and begin to group everything by category: cookware, cleaning

pplies, storage items, etc. Confine everything you remove from the cabinets and drawers to this

area to prevent the kitchen clutter from exploding all over another part of your house.

Deal with your duplicates. When everything is out on your staging area,

overcrowding in your kitchen isn’t always due to lack of space, but rather an overabundance of

stuff! Multiples gather because when you need something and you can’t find it, you buy another

one. But no one needs three pressure cookers… do they? Pare down your gadgets, pots and pans,

and even your dishes to what you will realistically use. Unburden yourself by letting go of bulky

items like that ice cream maker you used once five years ago, or the popcorn popper collecting dust

of your fridge. Then box up the rest for your local charity organization or, if you’re brave,

Make sense of what’s left. If you have an unruly collection of plastic storage containers, sort them

by size and locate the coordinating lids. Designate a drawer or shelf for these, and use one of the

larger containers to keep the lids from getting lost in the shuffle. If your drawer space is limited, try

moving your knives to a magnetic strip for safe-keeping and easy access. If you have e

glassware, serving pieces or other necessary but rarely used items, move them to your dining room

buffet or store them in your basement until they’re needed.

Wipe down every shelf before you refill your cabinets. Install sturdy shelf liners to keep th

free and to make your upcoming spring cleaning a cinch. Use modular drawer and shelf

expanding inserts to maximize your storage space and make things easier to see, so they won’t get

forgotten in the back of your cabinets. There are also countless organizers available for under the

sink (to wrangle cleaning supplies and plastic bags) and inside the fridge (like soda can stackers)

that can maximize your space and keep things organized week after week.

When you’re ready to start putting things back, get real about how you use your kitchen.

you cook every day or just once in a while? Do the kids spread out here to do homework? Make

sure you designate a space for each activity and that will serve as the roadmap to getting organized.

their logical “home” by placing items near where they’ll be used. Dishes should be

Step Guide for Organizing Your Kitchen

another. As always, the best way to get started is by removing everything from where it’s hiding, so

Use your dining room table, use a folding table, or spread a sheet

out on the floor, if necessary, and begin to group everything by category: cookware, cleaning

pplies, storage items, etc. Confine everything you remove from the cabinets and drawers to this

area to prevent the kitchen clutter from exploding all over another part of your house.

When everything is out on your staging area, you’ll realize that the

overcrowding in your kitchen isn’t always due to lack of space, but rather an overabundance of

stuff! Multiples gather because when you need something and you can’t find it, you buy another

rs… do they? Pare down your gadgets, pots and pans,

and even your dishes to what you will realistically use. Unburden yourself by letting go of bulky

items like that ice cream maker you used once five years ago, or the popcorn popper collecting dust

of your fridge. Then box up the rest for your local charity organization or, if you’re brave,

If you have an unruly collection of plastic storage containers, sort them

lids. Designate a drawer or shelf for these, and use one of the

larger containers to keep the lids from getting lost in the shuffle. If your drawer space is limited, try

keeping and easy access. If you have extra

glassware, serving pieces or other necessary but rarely used items, move them to your dining room

Install sturdy shelf liners to keep things

free and to make your upcoming spring cleaning a cinch. Use modular drawer and shelf -

expanding inserts to maximize your storage space and make things easier to see, so they won’t get

ss organizers available for under the

sink (to wrangle cleaning supplies and plastic bags) and inside the fridge (like soda can stackers)

that can maximize your space and keep things organized week after week.

, get real about how you use your kitchen. Do

you cook every day or just once in a while? Do the kids spread out here to do homework? Make

sure you designate a space for each activity and that will serve as the roadmap to getting organized.

their logical “home” by placing items near where they’ll be used. Dishes should be

close to the dishwasher so it’s easy to empty. Coffee and tea should be in the cabinet near your

kettle or coffee maker. If your kitchen island serves double duty as a homework station, make sure

there’s a basket or drawer nearby for school supplies.

$ow that you’ve got everything in order behind closed drawers, make sure that your surfaces

are equally clutter-free. One of the easiest ways to declutter your kitchen is to remove everything

that’s collected on the refrigerator door. Your kids’ art is precious but plentiful, so rather than

jamming everything on there at once, try rotating items every week. You’ll make each piece seem

even more special, while also creating a more visually serene environment.

These ideas will help you reclaim your storage and increase efficiency in everything you do in your

kitchen.

Scott Roewer, Certified Professional Organizer is founder of SolutionsbyScott.com, a Washington,

D.C.-based professional organization company devoted to teaching residential and business clients,

to create and maintain organization systems, master their time management skills, and dramatically

increase their productivity.