How to Organize a Kitchen
Before we start with how to organize a kitchen, always, always, always
declutter
first.
Most people try to arrange what they've already got, and then wonder
why they get frustrated!
It's so much
easier to
clear out and get rid of what isn't really adding
value to your life, and then
organize
what's left.
For
most people, 75% of their stuff is clutter, and that
includes items in the kitchen.
Just imagine if you
let
go of even 50% of what's in your kitchen right
now.

Half of those
mis-matched
coffee mugs.
Half of the
tupperware
that no longer has matching lids (or
that melted in the dishwasher).
Half of the
spices
that you haven't used for sixteen years anyway
(spices DO lose their spicy-ness).
And
then go take a good look at all those
appliances that
you just HAD to have...you know, so you could create cozy
family Sunday
brunches at home with your special juicer and waffle iron and 'Sunday
best' dishes.
If you DO use those
things, by all means keep and cherish them...and
use them often.
If
not, let them go.
They're simply making you feel guilty for not being
Martha Stewart in the kitchen (not to mention taking up a huge amount
of cupboard space counter space).
After
you have cleared the excess from your kitchen, it's time to set it up
to be functional, effecient, and wonderful to cook in.
To organize your kitchen into the five kitchen zones:
Zone
1: Food Preparation Zone
Zone
2: Cooking Zone
Zone
3: Cleanup Zone
Zone
4: Food Serving Zone
Zone
5: Food Storage Zone
Once you have
clearing out all of your kitchen clutter and set up your kitchen zones,
NOW you can focus on the specifics of how to organize a kitchen.
For more information on how to organize kitchen cabinets and
drawers:
Organizing
Dishes, Glasses, and Serving Pieces
Organizing
Pots, Pans, and Bakeware
Organizing
Small Appliances and Cookbooks
Organizing
Silverware and Flatware
Organizing
Mixing, Cooking, and Serving Utensils
I do love the
little racks that you can put in your cupboard to hold plates and cups,
so you don't have to stack the little plates in a big pile on top of
the big plates.
Anything
that makes it super easy to get things out and
put them away in a cupboard is a good thing.
If you're considering expanding, remodeling or adding to your kitchen, check out
A Kitchen Design Ideas Checklist.
This is a free checklist giving you tips and ideas on organizing and
how to save time and money on your kitchen remodel project!
When it gets right down to it, how to organize a kitchen well is mainly
about paring down to what really matters to you in your kitchen and
arranging it in a way that pleases you.