Creating Space: No-Fail Kitchen Organizing Ideas

When you begin thinking about the kitchen of your dreams, one of the best things to do first is inventory everything already in your cabinets, drawers and pantry, on your countertops and elsewhere in the kitchen. It’s a good idea even if you’re not planning to remodel. Consider your cookware, bakeware, kitchen tools, storage containers, cutlery, knives, utensils, gadgets and countertop appliances and estimate frequency of use. Items that you never use should be tossed or donated. Items that you use infrequently or even as little as once a year (the large roasting pan for Thanksgiving turkey) can be relegated to upper cabinets or to other rooms in your home to open up the most accessible places for the utensils and equipment that you use most frequently. Inventorying your kitchen every two to three years is a sure bet to make your kitchen more functional and enjoyable to use. Here are some tips that may help: Glassware and Mugs Do you have too many glasses in your kitchen? How often to you drink champagne – do you really need to store a dozen or half dozen flutes in the kitchen? Apply the same logic to coffee mugs. How many do you have in your kitchen, and how many do you really need? You can create space by paring down the glassware and mugs that you store in your kitchen to those that you use on a weekly basis. Perhaps you can donate those that you don’t need and then store the others in another room of the house so that you can retrieve them for family affairs, dinner parties and when guests come to visit. Dish Towels and Pot Holders You need just one set of silicone potholders, and when it comes to dish towels, seven is the magic number. Getting rid of the dish towels and potholders you don’t need will create new space that can be repurposed. Cabinets Installing pull out drawers in cabinets is not difficult and can improve the functionality of your kitchen significantly by maximizing space for storage containers and food stuffs. It also helps prevent items that are at placed in the back of a drawer from being forgotten. If space is at a premium, consider hanging rails to store commonly used utensils, knives, pots, pans and even potted herbs. Alternatively, determine if your kitchen can accommodate a wall- or ceiling-mounted pot rack. Open shelving can also be a space saver and a venue for pots, pans, small appliances and other kitchen equipment. Pantry and Refrigerator
Create space by using clear plastic containers and large mason jars to store dry goods such as pasta, rice and beans. Drawers There are great organizational dividers made for almost any type and size of drawer. Countertops Many kitchens’ effectiveness is compromised by having too many items on the countertop. It may make sense to store small appliances such as toasters and coffee makers on the countertop, but if you have a sandwich press or waffle iron another venue most likely is a better option. If you have limited drawer space, consider storing the utensils you use most often, such as spatulas, slotted and wooden spoons, ladles, etc., vertically in a cannister. There are numerous options available to help you better organize and enjoy your kitchen. If you are interested in taking advantage of the best kitchen organizational tools and strategies, give us a call at 215-357-9300 or visit our showroom, just minutes away from Montgomery County, at 350 Bustleton Pike, Feasterville, PA 19053.