If your kitchen is starting to feel cramped and cluttered, you’ve come to the right place. As an organizing expert and busy woman, I know how hard it can be to keep our cooking spaces clean and efficient as we juggle family, work, and hobbies. But having an organized kitchen not only reduces stress, it makes cooking easier and more enjoyable too!
In this post, I’ll share my top tips for decluttering and streamlining your kitchen and pantry, along with some of my favorite organizational products from Amazon (as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I always recommend products I know/love/use at no cost to you). Just click on the product image to find out more.
Get ready to bid farewell to messy cabinets and drawer chaos once and for all!
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First Things First
Do a Thorough Declutter First
Before buying any new containers or storage units, it’s important to go through everything in your kitchen and declutter first. I recommend clearing counters and gathering all items from cabinets, drawers and pantries into one space. As you sort through it all, be ruthless! Ask yourself the following questions:
- Do I use this item frequently?
- Does it work properly or is it broken/missing pieces?
- Is it duplicated somewhere else in my kitchen?
- Could it be stored somewhere else like the garage or basement?
If you answer no to any of these, strongly consider donating, recycling or trashing the item. Trust me, we almost always have more stuff in our kitchens than we need.
Decluttering first creates space for better organization systems.
After decluttering, it’s always a good idea to clean the surfaces first before putting things back.
Organize your Kitchen into Categories that Work for You
Okay, once you’ve pared down your kitchen belongings, it’s time to start corralling what remains into a more organized system.
As you think about putting your things away now, you’ll notice, after decluttering, there are several categories that your kitchen items can be grouped in. I call these “zones.” Think about how you use your kitchen and pantry.
Kitchen zones, or categories, you may use include:
- Food prep
- Cooking
- Eating
- Food Storage
- Cleaning
Zones or categories for your pantry or food storage include:
- General Food Storage (canned goods, pasta, rice & grains, condiments)
- Breakfast Items
- Lunch Items
- Snacks
- Entertaining
- Beverages
- Baking Supplies
- Easy Weeknight Meals
- Bulk Items and Extra Stoc
- Appliances and Kitchen Tools
Recommended Storage Solutions
Use Baskets and Turntables to Corral Food Items
I happen to love the look of baskets. Helpful tip: Think about how you want your kitchen and pantry to look. Aesthetics matter – not just the usefulness. What are your preferences? Hyacinth baskets, wire baskets, plastic – what do you like?
If you like the aesthetic of a basket, they look great in a pantry!
Use bigger baskets for snacks and items you have a lot of. I store my potatoes and onions in larger baskets.
And turntables are perfect for condiments! A 360 degree spinning Lazy Susan allows you to easily see and access every bottle. Turntables are great to have in shelf corners or hard to reach places.
Turntables are also great by the side of your stove for items you cook a lot with – like salt, pepper, oil and spray oil for example.
click on the images to find out more and to purchase
Clear Acrylic Storage for a Clutter-Free Look
When it comes to clearing kitchen cabinet and pantry clutter, I’m obsessed with clear acrylic storage solutions. They keep everything visible at a glance while maintaining a streamlined look. Some of my top picks are from MDesign.
They’re fantastic to use in the fridge because you can see what the food or beverages are. And, they corral a lot of your smaller size bottles (like condiments, olives, and the like) in one area.
I have found, however, over time, they these do tend to get dirty-looking. But, a little soap and water cleans them right up!
They can also be pricy. However, I think they’re worth it and aesthetically, they make your space look amazing and well put-together.
Invest in Durable Modular Storage Bins
For bigger bulk items, use modular storage bins.
Bigger bins are better on the bottom because they’re easier to get to. Also, for bulk items and future stock, use the bigger bins up at the top where you won’t be needing them as often.
That food container drawer? Use a storage bin to corral the lids in. Use bins to store water bottles, bigger food items, and items that may need a more solid base (compared to straw baskets or wire baskets).
Other Amazing Organizing Storage Solutions
For items like baking pans, pan lids, cutting boards and plastic container lids, think about using sturdy organizing products that keep things neatly organized and accessible but out of the way.
Shelf risers are an excellent product to use for maximizing. the most of your cupboard space. Two levels of storage make it so easy to find and quickly get what you need.
Don’t Forget Cabinet Door Storage!
Take advantage of the vertical storage space on the inside of cabinet doors using clever solutions like a door organizer. Find one with extras that have adjustable bins for spices, oils and condiments you use while cooking.
Or mount a paper towel holder, aluminum foil/wrap dispenser or cutting board holder. There are lots of options for better utilizing this often ignored real estate.
Invest in Quality Food Storage Containers
Improper food storage leads to spoilage and waste. When decluttering your kitchen, take stock of plastic containers and ditch any that are cracked, stained or missing lids. Replace them with higher quality, airtight options. Consider glass storage as an option.
Don’t Forget Under-Sink Organizers!
Out of sight, out of mind – which is how cleaning products, sponges and extra cleaning towels end up jumbled messes under kitchen sinks! Fight back with sink organizers, caddies and shelves. Use an over-the-sink shelf basket to neatly store spray bottles upright and accessible. And don’t forget cabinet door mounted paper towel holders too.
Take Advantage of Wall Space
Make use of vertical wall space for extra storage using floating shelves, rail systems with S-hooks or mounted wire racks. These are perfect for coralling cooking utensils, pots and pans near the stove for easy access while cooking.
Mounted knife strips also free up drawer space – plus they look super stylish!
And that ceiling space? Use it, too! Consider a pot rack hung from the ceiling to get your pots, pans, and their lids up and out of the way.
Label Everything!
When it comes to maintaining an organized kitchen, labels are absolutely key. Whether you use chalkboard labels, painter’s tape, permanent marker or printed words, everything should be clearly labeled. This keeps everything in its place and makes putting items away quick and easy.
Pro tip: buy a handheld label maker like the Brother P-Touch for permanent, customized labels. Another pro tip: when you decant ingredients into a canister, store the instructions/label on the back with plastic business card pockets.
Purchase Multipurpose Furniture
If you’re renovating your kitchen, look for furniture and appliances that serve more than one purpose.
For example, island carts with storage drawers and shelves double as extra countertop prep space. Stoves with built-in drawers are perfect for pots/pans.
Don’t Overbuy Kitchen Tools
As you declutter your kitchen, take stock of gadgets and small appliances.
Be honest about what you actually use on a regular basis. Over time, it’s easy to accumulate multiples of similar tools like peelers, whisks and measuring cups. Try downsizing to just 1-2 of your favorites. The same goes for big appliances – if your waffle maker hasn’t seen daylight in over a year, maybe it’s time to pass it along to someone who will use it more.
Establish Zones and Workflow Patterns
Think about how you typically move around your kitchen while prepping meals. Come up with zones based on what tasks happen where, like food storage near the pantry, cooking tools by the stove, and dishware close to the sink.
Frequently used items should be most accessible, with less common tools and appliances stored in farther cabinets and drawers. Optimizing your kitchen’s workflow makes cooking more seamless and much more enjoyable.
Do a Seasonal Reorganizing Review
Make a habit of doing a kitchen overhaul seasonally, like when transitioning from summer to fall cooking. This helps contain kitchen clutter buildup and ensures things are orderly coming into busy holiday cooking months.
Do a sweep of your fridge, pantry and cabinets, reworking how items are stored based on what you use most during that season (and while you’re at it, look for and throw out expired food items).
Overhaul Junk Drawers
Don’t ignore the ubiquitous junk drawer!
Start fresh by completely emptying and decluttering it. Then use organizers to neatly section it off – look for ones with compartments for everything from cutlery and matches to batteries, tape and spice packets.
Label each section using a label maker or letter stickers. Junk drawers stay organized much longer when everything has a dedicated spot.
Display Your Pretty Dishware
One of my favorite tips for making kitchens more joyful is displaying pretty dishware you love!
Add open shelving or glass-front cabinets to show off beautiful plates, bowls and mugs. Then implement a system of using these items for daily meals – not just when company comes over. Your lovely kitchenware will spark daily joy when it’s a part of regular use.
Implement a Clutter Catch-All Zone
No matter how organized you are, kitchen clutter still happens! Bills, mail, school paperwork and more tend to pile up on kitchen counters. Solve this by designating a catch-all zone like a basket, tray or office nook. Quickly stash these items in one spot for dealing with later. Just be sure to actually sort through your catch-all at least 2-3x a week.
Clean as You Go
The best way to maintain order in a busy kitchen is to clean up messes as they happen.
As you prep dinner, place unused ingredient packets back in the pantry and put dirty dishes straight into the dishwasher. Wipe down counters if ingredients like flour explodes or juice spills. Staying on top of quick cleanups prevents entropic chaos!
run tasks like loading the dishwasher or taking out trash immediately after cooking. Don’t leave it for “later”! Streamlined cleanup habits keep chaotic messes at bay.
Recruit Other Family Members
Get your kids or spouse involved in kitchen organization too! Teach them your systems and emphasize returning items to their labeled homes. Expect everyone who uses the kitchen to pitch in maintaining order. Assign quick daily tasks like wiping counters or unloading clean silverware. Shared responsibility results in a smoother running kitchen.
Tackle One Area at a Time
Reorganizing your whole kitchen in one shot sounds daunting. Make it more manageable by breaking the project into zones. Focus first on just your food pantry or a cluttered drawer. Once you organize one space, enjoy that quick win then move onto the next area! Momentum builds as the finishing line comes into view.
Remember, the journey towards an organized kitchen is a process. But armed with the right tools and strategies, you can absolutely achieve a tidy, efficient and downright Pinterest and Instagram-worthy cooking space. Just take it one lazy Susan and drawer divider at a time, friends. Now let’s get decluttering!
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