The first step to getting organized is to assess what you have to organize. Pair down to what you really need then you will be able to sort it efficiently. The primary goal of organizing is accessibility. Some of our favorites for kitchen counter de-cluttering while keeping items accessible are:
Make the space under your cabinets do the work for you. Under-cabinet storage pieces can hold items that would otherwise sit on the countertop in your way. You can easily install organizers under the cabinets and free up valuable counter space. After all it is more fun to cook when you know exactly where to find things. A pull-out cabinet containing alphabetized spices. Spice drawer organizers are available to give you the right angle and spacing. To take the idea one step further you can collect matching jars to store the spices in. Clear jars allow you to see what is inside but your spice drawer organizer can be turned so the tops of the jars face you as you pull it out and labels on the tops of the jars are easy to see all at once. A label maker could be used to label your jar collection. Another pull out may have colorful grains and dried beans to reflect the same design sense.
Utilize your wall space.Many kitchens have wall space and space on the sides of cabinets that go unused. Hooks help to hang items in easy reach. Perhaps a strainer would be conveniently located on a nail in the side of the cabinet closest to the sink or some of your most used spices on a small shelf near your stove. Potholders in easy reach on a hook or hooks for some of your most frequently used utensils. The hooks don’t have to be fancy. They will be covered by the item that they are intended for most of the time. Look around your countertops. You are sure to find a few items that are usually out but don’t need to be using counter space.
Under wall-cabinet storage. There are under cabinet lights, radios, appliances designed for under cabinet storage and flat screen television sets that fold up under the wall cabinets for storage. The proper storage systems make it possible to store enough items in clear sight that it is no longer necessary to leave items on the countertop.
Hide the Waste Bin.Sometimes a client tells me they don’t have an extra cabinet to give up for trash cans. Every time I look at a kitchen I am able to find a more functional use of the storage space by allocating one of the cabinets to the waste bin. There are several pull-out mechanisms available to neatly tuck away the unsightly waste containers. What most clients don’t consider is that the space that is currently taken up by waste bins could be filled with an attractive item. You may ask yourself if you would rather look at your trash or at your pots, pans, spice jars, utensils or whatever other attractive item might be in a cabinet that would be better utilized to hide your waste bin. Please put unsightly items out of sight.
Now walk into your kitchen and take a good look around. Items left on the countertops often need a more accessible storage location. If you aren’t able to find it when you need it there is no point to having it in your space. Eliminate excess items then organize remaining items where you can easily access them when you need them. Look for unused spaces in your kitchen that could be used to increase the functionality. Hide unsightly items but keep your most frequently used items in sight. It may take a couple of rounds to get things where you like them but a well organized kitchen can improve your lifestyle. After all, your kitchen is probably the hub of your home.
