The Do’s and Don’ts of Organizing Your Kitchen
*EARNS COMMISSION*
Don’t: Store spices upright on a flat surface
Do: Use a tiered storage solution to see all spice labels
If you have deep cabinets, or really any cabinets at all, you store spices within - are your spices set one in front of the other in that space? Does the lack of tiered shelving or general visibility drive you crazy? I can imagine you are recognizing spices by their caps, only to realize you grabbed your Trader Joes garlic powder instead of the onion powder.
Instead of just using the flat surface to store the products, grab some form of tiered shelving or drawer storage solutions that allow for maximum visibility and ease of use!
Don’t: Organize pots and pans stacked on top of one another
Do: Organize post and pans vertically
I can speak from experience, stacking your pots and pans on top of one another is a classic and compact way of storing said items. That said? What if you need to lift your heavy cast iron to access your everyday frying pan, simply because you used the cast iron most recently? What about the lids falling all over each other each time you need the one buried on the bottom? Not to mention, imagine the less than obvious wear and tear occurring on your nice pieces over time. Not necessary! This is why vertical storage is KEY to appropriate pot, pan, and lid storage!
Don’t: Keep Costco or other bulk packaging to store extra food items
Do: Empty boxes and replace with labeled bins
While it may save time and energy to stack your Costco sized back stock of food and drinks on top of each other once back from the grocery store, what you are not realizing is the amount of wasted space you’re creating in the process. Many product boxes have ~25% of the space as air within them. Some are oddly shaped and can't even fit in your pantry appropriately, sending much of those products into the garage or under the stairs. Instead of taking this approach, you’ll want to set up systems in the pantry with labeled bins and decanting jars to save space, provide better accessibility, and create an improved aesthetic!
Don’t: Leave all appliances out on the counter
Do: Create a dedicated appliance section for non-use times
My FAVORITE thing to instill in a kitchen is a concealed appliance area. This may be a drawer, cabinet, or large lazy susan dependent upon the space in question. I personally utilize the large drawer under our stove at home to store all of our appliances. Having a toaster, coffee machine, blender, and air fryer all out on the counter is only doing a few things: cluttering cooking counter space, making the area feel constantly messy, and taking away from the potential aesthetic you could create in the heart of the home. I’d say keep the 2 most frequently used appliances out, and store the rest away. This will allow an easier and more accomplished clean up every time! (This will also force you to likely downsize to the appliances you ACTUALLY use, as you have limited space to work with.)
Don’t: Shove items where they fit when you restock on groceries
Do: Stick to dedicated zones and avoid double purchasing
We’ve all done it. Done a big grocery haul only to come home in a rush and throw your items in drawers or cabinets without any thought to get them out of the grocery bags. But what happens if the next time you need to purchase vanilla extract, you check the baking section to see none, and buy more. Only to find out you actually had some the next time you reach into your spice drawer. Creating dedicated zones - and sticking to them when you unload - will help avoid all of this!
Many more “rules” and “tips” exist within the organizing arena to make your journey easier and more consistent. These are just a few to help you get started!
Are you following them? If not, is it time to try?
