Do you have a million things in this kitchen but can’t seem to find anything? You’re not alone. Kitchen clutter is one of the most cited sources of frustration.
If you have a hard time finding what you need when you need it, your answer might be to get organized. Whether you’re looking for a few quick fixes or a complete kitchen makeover, here are some tips to help you get started.
Getting Organized
Start by getting rid of what you don’t need or use. You can do this gradually or all at once. If your kitchen is small and there is room in another area of the house, keep items that you rarely use there until you decide what to do with them. Then, give yourself more time to decide.
Before you discard something, consider how you will use it in the future. Then think about how much storage space it takes up in your kitchen. If a dish is only used occasionally, consider donating it or throwing it away. If a few dishes are still useful but take up too much space, find creative ways to store them until you know what to do with them at a later date.
If you don’t have a second home to store your extras at, you might want to consider downsizing for the long term. If you don’t need or use a certain item of clothing, for example, consider donating it to charity or selling it on eBay.
You might be tempted to buy more kitchen gadgets in order to remedy your clutter woes. But before you get too excited about adding equipment, consider where you will keep them. Will your cabinets be large enough to hold the new items? What kind of storage space do you have in your kitchen? If you don’t have enough space, get rid of the items that take up too much room.
As you decide what to do with things, use a yard sale or consignment shop to sell them. You can find different ways of selling your unwanted items at sites like Craigslist. Before you throw something away, consider storing it for future reference. If it’s safe and there is room, keep it in your attic or basement.
Then, let go of the items that you know aren’t worth keeping. When you’re done with your initial cleanup, take a picture of the space. This will help you see what good looks like and how to get there. Make a list of everything that needs to be organized in your kitchen and then tackle them one by one.
Do you need more storage space? There are many creative ways to add storage to your kitchen.
For example, you could install a shelf in one of your cabinets or buy a cabinet for extra storage. You could also hang shelves in your pantry or add them under the sink for storing cleaning supplies and other small items.
Do you want to be able to see what’s inside of your cabinets? Consider adding some shelf paper to the fronts of the shelves. This will make it easier to see what is inside of them.
Is your kitchen messy or disorganized? Consider getting rid of the bulky packaging that you might find inside of many food items. For example, do you really need six boxes of pasta instead of just one?
Do you need two cans of tomato paste and a bottle when only one will do? Getting rid of the excess packaging will help your cabinets look less cluttered and allow you to see the foods that you have at a glance.
Do you have a lot of dry goods that could be put into airtight containers? You will be amazed at how much this can help your kitchen look clean and organized.
By getting rid of the items that you don’t need, finding creative ways to use your space, and eliminating the clutter, you’ll find that it’s easier to keep your kitchen organized.