The Time and Project Management Blog

It’s time to organize your kitchen, but where do you begin and what do you do with everything? For many of us the kitchen is more than a place to prepare food. It is a gathering place, a place to sit and chat, or a place to just hang out around the refrigerator with our family and friends. It is often a very comfortable place for people because it is the heart of the home. It is a place where you want to create an atmosphere that brings peace and calm; a place of order. So where to we begin the organizing process? It is best to start by going through everything you have in the kitchen (or things that belong in the kitchen) and determine what you can get rid of. It is not likely that you will need three sets of steak knives or the baby spoons you used when your current teenager was just a toddler. Unused items are hot on items to get rid of. Consider having a yard sale if you have enough of these things. You might want to check the rest of your house for unused items as well. The best approach may be to do this task of eliminating excess items one cupboard at a time.

Before we go too far let me say that you do not need to accomplish organizing your kitchen in one afternoon. You might want to take small bites and accomplish your goal over a period of a week or two. As you address a single cupboard for excess items, begin by removing everything. When you put things back in the cupboard, group like items together. In The 15 Minute Organizer (Harvest House, 1991), author Emilie Barnes urges, “Things that work together should be stored together.” It means pots, pans and utensils for stirring, flipping and scraping should be near the stove. Bowls, mixers, measuring cups/spoons and other baking paraphernalia should be in another area. Seldom used items should go on top shelves or in awkward corners of cabinets. Appliances should find a storage space together or near the specific work area where they will be used. Put the coffeemaker near the sink, breakfast table, or entrance to the kitchen, and store sugar, creamer, filters and coffee close by.   But what if you don’t have a lot of counter space. Then put those things that you do not use very often in those out of the way places. Those that you use more often, but simply do not have space for on the counter, store in an easily accessible place near the area where you will be using the item.

Store pots and pans in a cabinet beneath or next to the stove for easy access. Place baking sheets, cake pans, pizza pans, etc. in a cabinet beneath or next to the oven. You can use a rack to help arrange baking sheets by size and those used most often. Consider suspending pots and pans on a wall or from a ceiling mounted rack to maximize cabinet and storage space. Store microwave safe containers in a cabinet near the microwave. Arrange containers by size and stack one inside of the other if possible. Throw away plastic containers that are no longer used.

Food items should be grouped together as well. You might want to consider storing the cereals on top of the refrigerator. Store snacks in a drawer or small cupboard or specific area of a cupboard. Store canned goods in another area, being sure to keep labels facing out. Oils/vinegars, salad fixings, etc. can be stored in the cupboard above the stove. Consider clear storage tubs for small items, like gravy packets or taco mix. Store items where they work best for you, but remember to keep like items together. By doing this you are bringing a sense of order to your kitchen and your life. You will know what food items you have on hand and not be so quick to duplicate those items when you go to the grocery store again. This will save you time and eliminate waste.

Don’t forget to organize the area under your sink. You may find quite an array of unused items here. Toss them in the trash. Try to put the items you use on a daily basis in the front. If you keep cleaning supplies here, consider putting those supplies in a bucket and storing the full bucket under the sink. That way you not only have all your cleaning supplies in one place, but when it’s time to clean you can simply grab the bucket and begin.

So what if, after you have organized all the cupboards, the area under the sink, and the countertops, you find you still have items that do not have a home and you are out of space. Then it is time to become creative. Consider stacking things you do no use on a regular basis. Those items that you use only once a year can be stored in a box or plastic container and placed in the basement or garage. Be sure to label the box with the contents. You may also consider hanging some hooks and storing pots and pans suspended from the ceiling.

Consider recycling products to help organize your kitchen. You can label shoe boxes and use them to store items such as cookie cutters, candles, appliance accessories, etc. You can also use checkbook boxes to store items such as matches, batteries, and smaller items. Square containers take up less space and fit more efficiently on shelves than round ones. They can also be easily stacked.

Organizing your kitchen may be challenging, but is essential in keeping everything else in your home organized and in order. Use your imagination and be creative. Check some magazines for some ideas on how you would like your kitchen to look. But remember that you have to function in the kitchen and it needs to be a place where you can do so easily. An organized kitchen will give you a place for everything, as long as you put everything back in its place.

A Brown