Kitchen Organization

Get rid of clutter in your kitchen - Tips for an organized kitchen

Five kitchen organization tips to help you organize your kitchen, get rid of clutter, including pantry organization tips for easier meal planning.

Having an organized kitchen helps to boost your confidence as a cook. A kitchen clear of clutter equals a clear head, which allows you to focus on the task ahead – making a fabulous meal for your friends or family.

But where do you begin? First thing to do is to assess the condition of your kitchen. Chances are if you cook on a regular basis, there is some order to your kitchen already and all that's needed is a little de-cluttering. Or you may have a mess on your hands and don't know where to start. No matter what your circumstances these simple kitchen organization tips can help.

Kitchen Organization Tip 1 - Simply Remove the Clutter

The thing about clutter is that it can't be organized. Yes, you can shuffle items from here to there. But the problem is that it is still somewhere. First step is to remove anything that is not meant to be in the kitchen from the kitchen. This might include items your family regularly places on the kitchen table or counter tops, such as school bags, purses, coats, mail, bills, etc. If you don't use these items for cooking (and you probably don't), find another permanent home for them other than your precious kitchen space.

Kitchen Organization Tip 2 - Evaluate your Kitchen Tools

This may be the hard part. Cooking gadgets can be to some cooks like shoes are to some women – we can't get enough of them. But if they (the gadgets I mean) are a prime culprit of your disorganized kitchen then think again about whether or not you really need them. Ask yourself the hard question, "Do I really use them?" If the answer is rarely, take courage and get rid of them.

You don't have to throw them out either. Offer them to a friend, sell them on E-Bay, give them away to a charity or sell them to a thrift store. If you also have multiples of kitchen items, e.g. measuring spoons, spatulas, etc., you only really need one of something, so give the others way.

Resist the temptation

Now that you've gotten rid of the gadgets you don't use frequently and that were clogging up your valuable drawer space, resist the temptation to buy more. There will always be some sexy gadget on the market. But before you give in to another impulse buy, ask yourself if you'll really use it. If the answer's no, enjoy admiring its beauty on the store shelf and leave it there.

Kitchen Organization Tip 3 - Organize Your Pantry

Having an organized pantry is part of having an organized kitchen. Knowing what is in your pantry also goes a long way in ensuring that you can easily and quickly pull together a meal as needed.

If you don't have a traditional pantry, don't feel that you should skip this tip. By pantry, we mean anywhere that you store your foodstuffs, whether that is in your cabinets or under your kitchen sink. Not sure where to begin? Check out our pantry organization section.

Kitchen Organization Tip 4- Categorize Your Kitchen Cabinets and Drawers

Designate certain items for the various cabinets you have in your kitchen. For example, place baking equipment, such as muffin tins, cookie sheets and cooling racks in a separate cabinet. Do the same for pots and pans, frying pans, large utensils and small utensils. Organizing your cabinets and drawers in this way will save you a lot of time when you start cooking.

Kitchen Organization Tip 5 - Keep Your Counter Tops Clear

No matter how much counter top space you have in your kitchen, treat it like prime real estate.

Keep your counter tops as clear as possible by removing any items you don't use frequently. Find places to store them instead, like in cabinets or on top of cabinets if you have the space. But don't store them too far out of the way; you may not be bothered to retrieve them when you do need them.