The kitchen is the one room in the house that almost everyone uses very frequently, and it can be one of the hardest spaces to get and keep organized. However, if you've ever experienced the magic of a well organized kitchen, you know how far that organization goes to save time, reduce stress, and make meal prep easier. In this post, we'll explore tips to get your kitchen cabinets organized for maximum efficiency and the aesthetic that you've always dreamed of.
As with any major organizing project, you want to start the process by pulling everything out of the cabinets. Starting with an empty space will allow you to clean each cabinet thoroughly, and take measurements for organizing product like pot and pan racks, risers, and organizing baskets. It also helps to set out some tables to lay everything out if you don't have a large kitchen island that will fit everything.
Once everything is laid out, group similar items together. For instance, baking dishes should be in one space, tupperware in another, and so on. This is a good time to donate items that you don't use regularly, as well as food and spices that are already expired. As long as you're taking the time to get your kitchen organized, you should also consider a minimalist approach, keeping only what you need. You may also identify new kitchen appliances or tools that may need replacing, or that you have been waiting to add to your kitchen but haven't had space for in the past.
If you haven't already gone shopping for your organizing products, take a minute to create a shopping list of those solutions that will fit the space. Once you get everything grouped together, create zones for the different categories that you've organized. Similar items together in different zones is going to help you gain access to everything and help categorize, reducing confusion and saving time. You'll find if you make visibility of every item a priority, you'll be much happier with the result, and your kitchen will be much more functional in the long term. Start with the most difficult to store items first, like cutting boards, pot and pan lids, and other items that may need a custom storage solution to prevent taking up too much space in a tall cabinet.
Before you solidify the zone for each category, consider who in your family will be using these items the most. For instance, if you have food containers that you use for your kid's lunches, put these in a lower cabinet where your kids can access them as well. The same goes for items that are going to be in the highest cabinets. This space should reserved for infrequently used appliances or dishes that your shorter family members don't need to access.
Unless you've been blessed with a massive kitchen, maximizing space in your cabinets is key to achieving the functionality that you're looking for. Adding shelves, risers, stackable bins or containers can help create additional layers in your cabinets. You may also want to consider hanging pots and pans on cabinet door hooks, or utilizing pot and pan lid racks on the back of the cabinet doors. Lazy Susans are potential game changers, particularly in difficult to reach spaces like the corners of your cabinets.
Some custom built-ins can help you make the most of some of these spaces. Pull out shelves are increasingly popular, and cabinets with glass windows help with visibility and also add an aesthetic flare to your cabinets. Ceiling mounted pot and pan racks will help you free up some cabinet space and give your kitchen that "gourmet chef" look.
You'll be much happier with your organizing efforts if you have a plan for keeping your cabinets organized. Make a habit of returning each item to its place after you've cooked a meal or completed food prep. No matter what space you're organizing, having a home for each item is going to be the secret to maintaining that organization. Do you have "pinterest perfect" kitchen cabinets? Share your secrets with us at Kevin@inspiredorganizersaz.com.
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