The kitchen is probably the most used room in your home. However, if the counters are covered with crumbs and your cabinets are overflowing with plastic containers, it may be time to reorganize your kitchen. The kitchen should feel homey and inviting, not chaotic and stressful. Luckily, it only takes a few organizational tips to refresh your kitchen and your pantry.
Re-evaluate the Items in Your Kitchen
Begin by looking in each of your drawers and cabinets. Are they overflowering with items you don’t regularly use? Check for expired spices and baking goods or plastic containers without lids and start by throwing those away. Then, see if you have kitchen electronics, such as the breadmaker or the waffle iron that only get used irregularly. Think about a different storing solution for those.
Organize by Zones
Organize your kitchen efficiently by dividing it into functional work zones. Store pots and pans in a cabinet near the stove. Do you use your stand-up mixer frequently? Then store it on the counter, and stock a nearby cabinet with cookie sheets, baking pans, and mixing bowls. Consider setting up a gourmet coffee station with your coffee maker, a basket of k-pods, and a hanging rack of coffee mugs.
Install Creative Kitchen Storage
Install some storage solutions, such as a mounted hanging rack for your cooking utensils. If they’re right near your stove, you won’t have to hunt for them. Another option is to store your kitchen appliances away in sliding out shelves. For another idea, designate a lower shelf in a cabinet or pantry for easy to reach kids’ snacks and water bottles.
Clean Out Your Refrigerator
This is a very important step. Aim to clean out your fridge thoroughly at least once a month and check for expiring and rotting food weekly. Throw out any leftovers older than a few days and anything nearing its expiration date. Remember that produce and lettuce deteriorate quickly so store them in the coldest drawer of your fridge. After wiping down the fridge, organize your foods by type. Keep items like juice, milk, and eggs near the front, and easily accessible.
Purge your Pantry
Take time to re-evaluate your pantry. Begin by removing everything and wiping down the shelves to eliminate any sticky residue and crumbs. Then, look for expired foods and toss them. Next, check your stock of canned goods and see if you can donate any extras to a local food kitchen. Now, it’s time to reorganize the pantry. Store items that are similar together, such as all the breakfast items. Make sure all items are labeled and dated.
Need help organizing your kitchen and pantry? The professionals at Refresh Organizers can assess your kitchen and help you get started. Contact us at 510-984-1607 to get started.
