Practical Tips to Organize Your Kitchen for a Cleaner, More Functional Space

Hey everybody! Who’s up for some kitchen How often have you walked through your house and just wondered why everything is making life difficult? Maybe this sounds familiar: Pots and pans here, a mad professor’s nest of spices there, tools of all kinds lying wet behind turned brown from lack of use (looking at you, avocado slicer!), then just throw those gadgets on top too Why was that biscuit cutter in the sink? It should have gone back in its slot twelve hours ago. Those cutting boards and Tupperware with half-eaten dinners inside them piling up on top of each other, nobody ever putting anything away ‘I really should get rid of some of this,’ you think. Then you see the piles on the counters and don’t know where to start.

Don’t be anxious! With a few practical tips, you can convert your kitchen into a clean, user-friendly place that’s great for food preparation. Are you ready to go?

Break Things Down to Get Them Out

Before you start to organize, you have to get rid of some things. Take everything out of your cupboards, drawers, and pantry so that they’re empty. It might seem a little overwhelming at first, but believe me: it’ll be worth the effort.

When I did this last year, I found spices that had gone bad in 2015. I found three can openers. (What did I have three can openers for anyway?) You need to go through your stuff and be really hard. If you didn’t touch it last year, you probably won’t need it anytime soon.

Do you: Give away things that are still good but you don’t want any more or give them to your friends. That waffle maker you only used twice in two years might be just what someone else has been looking for all their life.

Organize Your Kitchen by Zones

Plan your kitchen in terms of work zones. Designate certain areas within the kitchen for particular tasks like prepping, cooking, Heavy-tacncorporating and cleaning. Keep items which belong together together within whichever work zone you use them frequently.

So, for example, I put all of my cutting boards, knives, and mixing bowls in one corner near the prep area. Everything for cooking—pots, pans and spatulas--lives within arm's reach of the stove, and baking paraphernalia like measuring cups or beaters may well be found close to my oven. It’s just one simple principle which works wonders in making food more straightforward.

Maximize Your Cabinet Space

Cabinets can become an abyss of clutter if you aren't careful. Invest in some organizers to make the most of them. It could be shelf risers, a pull-out baskets, or stackable bins.

I put a pull-out rack under my sink for cleaning supplies and it has been revolutionary. No more will I have to dig through a mess of old garbage bags and various other items just to find the dish soap. I also use tension rods inside cabinets to hold lids up straight--cheap and clever!

Decant Your Pantry Staples

Say goodbye to half-empty bags of flour and cereal spilling everywhere. Decant your pantry staples into clear, labeled containers. Not only is it a super satisfying sight to behold (Goodbye messy corner of the kitchen! Hello Instagram-worthy pantry!), but it also makes it much easier to see what you have.

I started doing this a couple months ago and it's been a total game changer. I can now see at a glance if we're running low on rice or pasta, and it's way easier to stack containers than hassle with slippery bags.

DIY hack: save money by reusing jars from pasta sauce or pickles. Just give them a good wash and label them with a marker or stickers.

Use Vertical Space

Keep in mind your walls and doors! Adding hooks, magnetic strips or pegboards can free up valuable counter and cabinet space.

I hung a magnetic knife strip on my wall and I honestly rank it an A+. Not only does it save drawer space, but it keeps my knives within easy reach. I also added a pegboard for hanging pots and utensils. It's functional and brings a cool, industrial vibe to my kitchen.

Keep Counters Clear

The perils of counters that are cluttered can not be overemphasized. No matter how clean it may be, if your kitchen has an atmosphere of chaos caused by its packed work surfaces, then change how you make or store things there at once. Keep only the necessary things on hand (such as your coffee pot and fruit bowl). Anything else should be put away in cabinets or drawers that are designated for it alone.

The blender and toaster used to be an eyesore. They are now tucked neatly away in a drawer at the bottom of my prep station, and it feels so much less claustrophobic. The great thing about this new arrangement? A few quick wipes with a sponge, and off you go.

Add Drawer Dividers

Drawer dividers can really help bring some order into all these utensils that seem to be jostling for space in your drawers. Use them especially for spatulas, whisks or measuring spoons.

Not even my garbage drawer misses out on the care a divider can inspire. Now I find battteries and tape in minutes, not hours of rooting around for them like before.

Think Beyond the Kitchen

Every now and then, the most effective storage solutions out there aren't even meant to be put in kitchens at all. I use a rolling cart that is actually meant for office stuff as a portable coffee station Keurig, mugs and a cute sugarbowl all fit snugly inside, yet at the same time the whole works can be whisked up and pushed wherever need be.

Somewhat more exotically, I've hung a shoe organizer on the back of my pantry door to carry out foodstuffs (cereal bars, spices and little packets). It's amazing just how much space you can liberate with a little imagination.

Make It Easy to Clean

A fine kitchen is a clean kitchen. Keep all your cleaning supplies at hand and in a place where they will be easily accessible tract of counter or rip on the floor

I have a caddy in my cabinet under the sink with all the basics: dish soap, sponges and all-porpuse cleaner. It's so much easier to just grab the whole caddy and sweep clean when you're done with everything instead of having to hunt for supplies.

7.Personalize Your Area.

Last words, don't forget to make your kitchen like yours. Put a cute rug down, tack up some high art, or show off that canister set (that lucky find with the "Laura Ashley" look). I have a small blackboard hanging on the wall where I write my weekly menu or a fun quote. It's nothing big, but even that small piece of chalk makes this space satisfactory.

Summing Up

And there you have it—practical advice on how to get your kitchen in shape and make it a cleaner, more welcoming place. I assure you, once you clear the mess, put it into zones, and provide some astute storage solutions-you will wonder how ever lived without them!SO what are you waiting for? Get to work on that kitchen today. And oh, by the way, let me know how it goes if you happen to use any of these suggestions! I would like to see both your before photo and after photos.