A kitchen always has many utensils, vessels, spices, and other items that when kept in the kitchen, take up most of the space on the kitchen cabinets. Putting an order in these cabinets can go a long way in making the kitchen more efficient than it was before. That way, everything has its place, storage space is optimized, the time spent cooking is minimized and unnecessary buying of duplicate items is avoided. In small kitchens, cheap ideas of storage allow kitchen cupboards cleaned and easily reached, which helps in cooking and arranging parties.
Decluttering Your Kitchen Cabinets
Decluttering is the most crucial process before organizing any space and the initial step towards effective kitchen organization is to declutter. One cannot make efficient use of this space if you don’t know exactly what you have in cupboards stashed away. Secondly, a clean kitchen does not only stay clean but is also easy to clean up if it is free from clutter. When there are few items in a particular category, they are used more frequently, because there is no need to go through all the unnecessary trash. More importantly, there is no need to spend time and energy to sort out what is not needed or useful anymore.
To start the decluttering process, follow these steps:
Empty everything: Empty your cabinets so that you know what is inside.
Be ruthless: Give away or throw out any item that is chipped, cracked, faded, or has not been in regular use for at least two months. In any case, it is recommended to donate or sell all items that you have not used in the last half a year (for non-seasonal goods) or the last season (for seasonal goods).
Sort through each item, deciding which pile it belongs in: The three categories are Trash, Donate/Sell, and Keep.
Sweep the cabinets so that they are free from crumbs, dust, and dirt before proceeding with the cleaning process.
Consider alternatives: Thus, for the items that are employed no more than once or twice a year, it is possible to consider whether it is better to borrow it from a friend or a relative’s house.
Clean Your Cabinets Before Organizing
If the cabinets are full of items, empty them and then clean them properly. Sweep or vacuum the loose matter and dirt on the floor and use a cleaner and a microfiber cloth on all sides of the equipment including the top surface. For greasy areas, use warm water mixed in dish soap. In the case of any food stains, wash the surface with a spray and remove any food particles. For scuff marks from pots and pans, scrub with baking soda and water paste or abrasive cleaner. This is important to make sure the environment you are going to organize is clean hence providing a good platform for organization.
Categorize Your Kitchen Items
After decluttering and cleaning, it is now time to organize. Follow these steps:
- Categorize items in a manner that best suits the management of the items in the household and according to the location (kitchen).
- Subdivide articles into groups of pots and pans, cooking utensils, cutting boards, plates, bowls, glasses, mugs, and others.
- Divide into subcategories of food items like drinks, baking products, snacks, canned goods, and other foods stored.
- Assign a cabinet for each of the categories to ensure that everything has its place.
Utilizing vertical space and depth
Before organizing, always measure your cabinet space just as you measure before buying furniture. If you want to organize your kitchen perfectly, it’s essential to utilize the height and depth of your kitchen cabinets properly. Tall narrow cabinets are ideal for slim bins or drawers placed one on the other in the same cabinet. You can add shelves or shelf risers in case you want to get the most out of the height, or under-shelf wine racks and baskets in case you need to fill in the height. When there is a lack of space, one can use the back of the cabinet doors to mount shelves that hold spices or install hooks that will hold spices or other items.
What to Store in Your Upper Cabinets
- Food: Place food items about at a two-arm-reak distance from your main meal preparation space.
- Glasses and Dishes: Store glasses and dishes above the dishwasher or drying rack to make it easier to put away clean items.
- Cookbooks and Recipe Binders: Upper cabinets can also be used if you have a scarcity of counter space for storing cookbooks, recipe cards, or binders.
- Food Storage Containers: Store your food storage containers on the shelf above the counter space where you let them for easy access when doing meal preparation.
What to Store in Your Lower Cabinets
- Appliances: Store more frequently used appliances in lower cabinets where you are most likely to be working. If you use them daily, consider placing them on the countertop after some time.
- Mixing Bowls and Cutting Boards: These should be piled up on a lower shelf, perhaps below the area where the drying rack or the dishwasher is placed.
- Kitchen Cleaning Supplies: Cleaning supplies should be placed on the bottom shelf of a lower cabinet which must be out of children’s and pet’s reach. Always keep cleaning supplies away from food or preferably, never store cleaning items above or near food.
Create Extra Storage by Nesting Items
Nesting items is one of the simplest and best ways when the storage space is almost used up. If you have a smaller bowl that can be placed in a larger one or a casserole dish that can be placed on top of another, just stack them. This is particularly helpful for products that are used sparingly or those dinner sets, which may be used sparingly and help you organize your cabinet space effectively.
Labeled Canisters
Make your cabinets as cute as a button by labeling your canisters for tea, coffee, sugar, and other items. They are all of standard dimensions so you don’t have to keep guessing if something will fit into it. These not only look quite charming and cute placed in the kitchen, but also help keep everything in its rightful place, which makes hectic mornings easier to handle.
Organize Your Spices with a Pull-Out Rack
If your spices are unsorted, the pullout spice rack is the best way to store them. It enables you to keep your spices in one place and this makes it easier to find them without having to search for them around the kitchen It is a practical item; it also adds some beauty to the kitchen and spices are well sorted.
Opt for Open Shelving for an On-Trend Open and Light Feel
Cabinet doors should be removed and replaced with shelves to create a contemporary and light atmosphere in the kitchen. It also makes dishes and essentials that will be needed frequently more easily accessible and easily within reach or grab.
Stackables – Making Life Simpler with Stackable Mugs
If you have mismatched mugs that are giving your cabinet a messy look then try using a set of stackable mugs. They’ll assist in decluttering your home and ensure that in the morning when you are dashing, everything is in order.
Sponge Holders for Additional Space
The holders for sponges can also be used for storage of, for instance, small snacks or ingredients in between meals. Stick one on the door or the side of a cabinet to keep packets in place and from falling off the shelf when the door is opened. A useful and space-saving concept to organize small items!
Tension rods are perfect for that quick no screw type of organization.
Tension rods are inexpensive and do not require hooks or screws to be mounted to hold your cabinets. All that is needed is to slide the rod to the required size and you have yourself an organizer. You can put one under the sink in the kitchen to organize all cleaning supplies or use it inside the cabinet to gain another level of storage.
Cabinet door organizers
The space behind cabinet doors is usually left unused. A mounted spice rack on the door can provide additional space and keep spices conveniently located.
Clear hooks for measuring cups and spoons
A very adorable and efficient idea is to use clear adhesive hooks to hang measuring cups and spoons on the door of a cabinet. You might also want to add a conversion chart near it for more accessibility!