Guest Blogger: Essential Organizing Tips to Maximize your Kitchen Space

Guest Blogger #403, Entry #1001, March 8, 2012

Well organized kitchens tend to be more attractive, productive and efficient. However, getting your kitchen to that blissful state of a “well-oiled machine” requires an organizational plan that includes innovative storage ideas. Follow these helpful tips to organize and maximize the space in your kitchen.

Declutter your kitchen to maximize space

Image via: BHG

Declutter

You’ve heard the decluttering advice before, but it’s true. Clearing the clutter is the first step toward organizing your kitchen space. Clean out the food pantry and kitchen cabinets, discarding expired food, medicine and broken items. Donate unwanted dishes, linens, small appliances and other kitchen items to charity. Pick up personal articles, toys, shoes and other objects off the kitchen floor and put them in their proper places. Remove everything from your kitchen countertops, sorting items to keep, give away and discard. Kitchen counters provide your food prep spaces and should be kept free of clutter. Be very selective in the few items you place on your countertops. A coffee maker, bowl of fresh fruit and potted plant are typical items that can remain on your kitchen counter.

Organized kitchens help you function and enjoy your cooking

Image via: Cococozy

Organize

Group similar items and store them together. For example, assemble pots and pans in a cabinet near the stove and group bakeware items together in a convenient cabinet area. A variety of kitchen organizers are available to help you save space and find items when they’re needed. Spice and canned good racks, stemware and cookware holders, and plastic bag and drawer organizers are handy items to help keep you organized. Assorted door racks, wall hooks and magnetic strips neatly hold kitchen towels, cooking utensils and other kitchen articles.

Refrigerators, such as the Inglis refrigerator, that contain shelves, bins and small compartments help to keep your cold foods organized and fresh.

Organize your utensils and small kitchenware

Image via: BHG

Storage

Keep your kitchen neat and tidy and your countertops clear of clutter by storing most items. Cabinets equipped with slide out trays, drawers that have been fitted with adjustable dividers, and corner cabinets constructed with lazy susans make optimum use of hard-to-reach spaces. Pantries that contain open shelves, hidden drawers and closed cabinet areas make ideal storage areas for dishes, cookbooks and assorted boxed and canned food items. Use plastic bins, wire stacking racks and woven baskets to contain smaller items. Clear glass containers in assorted sizes attractively store spaghetti, tea bags, coffee, candies and other food items and can be situated on top of your counters.

For more organizing ideas, refer to the home decorating ideas at Reader’s Digest.

Mary Cockrill is an accomplished interior decorator and designer. She has authored over 250 home articles, worked as a nationally recognized top design consultant and has owned an interior design and decorating business. Mary earned her professional interior design certification from Sheffield School of Interior Design, is a certified home stager and holds a B.S. in Secondary Education.

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