How To Organize Your Kitchen And Spice Up The Storage
By Kathleen Elias, Fri Dec 9th

When you organize your kitchen, you are creating an invitationto linger for good food and conversation. After all, yourkitchen is the heart of your home and you want friends andfamily to feel comfortable to help themselves—without theembarrassment of a chaotic mess!

To help you organize your kitchen, identify why you need totackle this project: •Are you having trouble locating utensils,spices, or container lids? •Do you want to reduce the number ofduplicate items? (Really, how many juicers do we need?) •Doplastic containers tumble down when you open the cupboard? •Dothe kids have trouble finding snacks?

To solve these dilemmas, you want to organize your kitchen in away that creates a natural flow that accommodates your kitchenactivities. Think of your kitchen as four corners: The DishStorage Corner, the Food Preparation Corner, the Food StorageCorner, and the Corner.

1.The Dish Storage Corner Are your everyday dishes scatteredaround the kitchen? Maybe the glasses are by the refrigerator,the silverware by the stove, and the cereal bowls next to thesink? If this is your situation, you know how aggravating it canbe to unload the dishwasher! Instead, simplify your dish storageby creating a Dish Storage Corner. This is a grouping of youreveryday glassware, dishes, silverware, dish towels, anddetergent—as close to the sink and dishwasher as possible. Thiswill make unloading the dishwasher or hand washing the dishesall within reach!

Additional Dish Storage Center Tips:

•Keep dish detergent and scouring pads stored under the kitchensink. A cleaning caddy or sliding utility basket keeps itemsorganized and convenient. •Dish towels can be stored in a nearbydrawer, or in a container under the sink. •You probably only useone set of dishes, glasses, and utensils. If so, get rid ofduplicate sets. Or, place them in another storage area outsideof the kitchen. •Stack plates and bowls of different sizes inseparate piles so you don’t have to lift the bowls to get to theplates. •Place glasses of different heights into rows front toback, rather than short glasses in front and taller in back.•Decorative shelves are ideal for displaying beautiful servingbowls, dishes, baskets, and vases. •Keep extra serving platters,tablecloths, place mats, serving utensils, candlesticks,breadbaskets, etc. in a separate buffet in the dining room orother area. Since these aren’t everyday items, the kitchen isnot a wise location for them, unless of course you do have thespace! If you have this extra space, designate an out-of-the-waycupboard for these items.

2.The Food Preparation Corner

How many times have you tried to make a nice meal, but found ita real challenge because the counter you use is too small toadequately handle all the preparation? You can solve this stickysituation by designating a Food Preparation Corner. This shouldbe a big corner or the longest available counter, between thesink and the stove or the sink and the fridge. This should giveyou plenty of room to cut, chop, mix, season, slice, and diceyour

favorite ingredients.

Use the cupboards above and below this countertop to storeregular food preparation supplies such as spices, mixing bowls,knives, cutting boards, measuring cups, spoons, blenders,mixers, and plastic wraps. With all of these supplies in onecorner, your supplies will be more convenient and foodpreparation will be quicker.

Additional Food Preparation Corner Tips: •If you don’t haveenough space in these cupboards, you could utilize a microwavecart, butcher’s block, or island to store your extra supplies.•Use door-mount spice racks. •If you have multiple containers ofthe same type of spice, consolidate. •For cookbooks, add a shelfon or above the counter.

3.The Food Storage Corner

Does this sound familiar “Where are the chips?” “I can’t findthe peanut butter!” It can be a real ordeal finding all thesupplies to make a midnight snack if the munchies aren’torganized. The Food Storage Corner is where you keep all thefood, ideally using the cupboards and/or pantry next to therefrigerator. This includes canned goods, boxed goods, bottles,jars, and bread products. With all your food together in thesame area, it will make preparation and clean-up a snap!

Additional Food Storage Corner Tips: •Add extra shelves betweenthe current shelves to utilize the extra air space. •Add wireracks that stand on shelves to add more storage capacity. •Add alazy susan or plastic turntable to keep items within easy reach.•Organize your food by category. •Give canned or boxed food thatyou haven’t used within a year, to a charity organization (aslong as they haven’t expired!)

4.The Corner

It’s important to be comfortable in your own kitchen,but when pots and pans are out of reach and utensils areunorganized, it’s enough to make you boil over! Organize yourkitchen supplies in The Corner—located near the stoveand oven. These cupboards and drawers are for storing pots andpans, bake ware, utensils, and pot holders.

Additional Corner Tips: •Store heavy pots and pans indeep, lower cupboards. •Use ceiling or wall pot racks. •To savevaluable space, nest pots and pans by their type (saucepans,frying pans, etc.) Group all the lids with a lid organizer or ina plastic container. •For plastic containers used for leftovers,keep the lids together with a plastic lid holder. •Use a maplerack to store trays and baking sheets upright in a cabinet.

With this four corner system, you’ll be able to organize yourkitchen sensibly for those who cook and those who enjoy the goodcooking!

Copyright 2005 by Kathleen Elias - Editors are welcome to usethis article for content as long as the article and authorbiography are reprinted in their entirety and an active weblinkremains intact.

About the author:Kathleen Elias is the editor of www.Home-Organizing-Ideas.com, awebsite focused on organizing your home room by room. It offersoriginal ideas, expert advice, and a monthly newsletter to helpyou reach your organizing goals. To contact the editor or findmore information on organizing your home and life visitwww.Home-Organizing-Ideas.com.