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The kitchen is one of the busiest rooms in a home. For this reason, it can be a bit difficult to keep organized and tidy. Also, most kitchens are not structured to fit all of the latest new kitchen gadgets we tend to collect over time, so there are typically a few cabinets that tend to be awkward to negotiate. An organized kitchen can help you keep the room tidy, and it can also increase your efficiency when cooking.

To begin to organize your kitchen, take a quick survey of everything you need to store in kitchen cabinets and drawers. You will likely find a few items you keep in the kitchen that you don’t actually use there; these items can be moved into another room. You also need to take note of your cooking habits and determine which items you need access to in each location around the kitchen area. For example, do you like to store pots and pans near the kitchen sink or near the stove? Where is the most convenient place to put dishes and glasses? What about utensils?

Once you decide where you really want things to be, look at the storage solutions you have at hand. If you don’t have a cabinet for pots and pans near your stove, you could place them on a hanging pot rack above the stove or kitchen island. If you want your utensils in a drawer next to the kitchen sink and the drawer there it isn’t big enough, try a drawer utensil organizer or hanging solutions for a nearby wall. You can draw a diagram (including measurements of existing cabinets, drawers, and countertop space) and take it with you to a store to see what options you might consider. Take your time to determine what you really need; consider whether you can make an organizer solution yourself, and if not then purchase helpful organizing systems. Here are a few kitchen organizer ideas to get you started:

Drawers
There are several drawer organizers on the market to help declutter drawers and make good use of space. They come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and are made of a various materials. It is best to measure your drawers before purchasing drawer units or cutlery trays, as well as the items you need to to store in them. Often drawer units are larger than you need and waste space. Some drawer organizers allow you to mix and match shapes for items that are different sizes (such as knives and teaspoons). Drawer dividers are on the market that allow you to buy different shaped compartments that then fit together. Expandable organizers are useful because you can set the size to match the size of your drawer. When comparing which material is best (e.g., wood or plastic) consider how you will clean the unit. If you are storing cutlery, it may be easier to clean a plastic tray than one made of wood.

Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets on their own require that you stack items vertically to utilize all of the space inside. Stacking can be cumbersome when you need the item on the bottom of the stack. A free standing rack or shelf can help with this problem, as it allows you to create two or more smaller stacks. You can hang hooks on the underside of a shelf for mugs, or metal hangers for wine glasses. Sliding drawer units are good for storing cleaning supplies under the kitchen sink. Over cabinet organizers can be used for dish towels, pot holders and paper towels.

Walls
For frequently used items, you might consider hanging shelves on the wall near your kitchen sink or stove. Shelves come in a variety of sizes for things like spices and jars. You can even get decorative or colorful jars to add a little flare to the kitchen. Efficiently placed hooks can be used for pot holders or serving spoons. You can mount metal or wood rails on the wall horizontall and hang wire baskets or other storage containers off the rail.

Tags: kitchen, organizer, storage