Kitchen & pantry organization

In most homes, there’s one area where the whole family likes to gather, the one area where your guests want to hang out during a party, and the one area where there’s life, food, and happiness. For most of us, that place is our kitchen. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and everything in between. If this describes your family kitchen, then it’s the heart of your house. Unfortunately for most, this is probably the one area of the home that is the most cluttered, disorganized, and neglected.

Whether your kitchen is big or small, it needs function, form, a logical flow, counter space, and last but definitely not least, organization. Here are just a few helpful hints to guide you in the right direction.

Purge, Purge, Purge
We all have too much! Let’s just admit it so we can actually do something about it. We have 8 different types of canned beans, three containers of lemon pepper, 47 types of Ziplock bags, a drawer full of condiments and chopsticks, and a few of those “as seen on TV” gadgets we thought we couldn’t live without. If this is not you, then congratulations! You don’t need to read any further but for the rest of us, we must get to work.

​The Dreaded Tupperware Cabinet
If we don’t have 15,000 pieces of Tupperware floating in every drawer and cabinet in our kitchen, are we really living life to the fullest? But really, we don’t need every single size & shape that exists. If they’re stained, broken, missing a lid, why are we keeping them? So, go ahead and purge away and then organize what you really need to keep.

Here’s how to do it: Pull every single container you have out of your cabinets (and by cabinets, I mean every and any cabinet or closet or drawer in your home and not just your kitchen). Once you have it in a pile, separate by size and use. After you’ve completed this process, you are ready to purge. Be serious about your purge. Do you have the room or the need to keep all of them? When you are finally ready to part ways with some of them and they happen to still be in good shape, then please donate instead of trashing.

Counter Space
If you have a small kitchen, counters are a much needed and valued real estate. Try to keep them clear by using hooks to hang a variety of kitchen necessities (cooking utensils, the paper towel holder, etc.). You can even use hooks on the inside of your cabinets to maximize space. Keep in mind, just because you have it, it doesn’t mean it needs to be displayed on your counters. Keeping most things tucked away makes for a cleaner, more organized-looking kitchen.

The Pantry
Go through all of your food items and get rid of anything that’s expired, stale, or is no longer needed. If you want to get creative, buy air-tight matching canisters and bottles and fill them with everyday necessities like pasta, sugar, and cereal. Taking things out of their packaging and putting them in jars and baskets gives your pantry a clean and organized look. It also creates more room and makes it easier to find things. And when you can easily find what you need, then making a list before a grocery store trip is easier and keeps you from purchasing duplicates.

If your pantry is on the small side, use the pantry door to hang an over-the-door-organizer or you can go the inexpensive route and use a shoe organizer. Again, hooks are perfect for hanging items such as measuring cups and spoons. In my pantry, I have a magazine holder screwed-in to the wall for foil & saran wrap. There are tons of other clever ideas out there that could be helpful in creating space. You just need to look for them in stores or on-line.

If you don’t have a pantry, use a turntable (rotating tray) inside a cabinet for spices and sauces. A can rack is inexpensive and can give you that extra usable vertical space in a cabinet for your canned goods. Labeled baskets and bins also work in cabinets and they can hide mismatched food items. Make a basket for all the different pastas or one for all your coffee and tea items.

Junk Drawer
Recently, I re-worked a junk drawer for a client. She had an assortment of plastic containers she needed to purge, so instead I used a few of them to create separate spaces for things like pushpins, pens, rubber bands, bag clips, etc. Her junk drawer is no longer a scary mix of “stuff” scattered throughout the drawer, and she can now easily find what she’s looking for. Again, no need to spend extra money for fancy drawer dividers. Use what you already have.

Here’s how to do it: Pull everything out of the drawer, sort it, get rid of what you no longer need, create separate spaces with either drawer dividers or old containers and then start putting everything back.

Dishes & Utensils
If you can afford to part ways with mismatched items, then great. If not, then organizing them and having them close to the stove is best. You know your kitchen, so changing the layout of your kitchen to where it’s user-friendly is the main goal. Utensil trays in drawers & dish racks in upper cabinets are an affordable way to create an organized space. Use the same techniques as before to create order in these areas.

Coffee/Tea Bar
If you’re into caffeine like I am and you happen to have extra room, choose a counter and set up a cozy coffee/tea bar. Make sure you include everything you need to make a nice cup of something delicious all within reach. Access and function are key so use the space above and below the counter if you need more room.

I Don’t Want to Spend Tons of Money, Now What?
If you want and can afford getting organized on a Container Store budget, then do it! They have some amazing organizational items that can beautifully transform your kitchen. However, if you’re on a smaller budget, then IKEA, the Dollar Tree, Target, Walmart, or any other similar store in your area will have all kinds of beautiful and affordable items to help you get organized. If you don’t have any of these stores near you, then consider ordering online. Again, it’s not about how much money you spend, it’s about what you do with what you can afford or even with what you already own.

Extra Tip #1
One of the mistakes made in the kitchen is how herbs and spices are stored. They shouldn’t be kept near a stove, in direct sunlight, in the fridge, or even the freezer. Here’s why - the flavor in seasoning comes from its oils and heat will dry out these oils. Also, storing them in the fridge or the freezer, will drastically change its temperature which in turn will cause condensation which will then lead to mold. So, the best thing to do is to keep your herbs and spices in an airtight container in a cool, dry place and discard when old.

Extra Tip #2
When storing wine glasses, alternate tops and bottoms. This way, you’ll be able to store more in an already tight cabinet.

Hope these tips and ideas were helpful to you and will let you create an efficient and decluttered kitchen. Now, go forth and organize!

Katy, Texas