Kitchen Organization: Get it together and put it in its place!
Picture yourself hunched over with your arm out-stretched, feeling for that baking dish you so haphazardly threw into the cabinet, only to find you actually put it in the cupboard above. You know it’s happened to you. Most likely, everyone is guilty at some time or another of kitchen upheaval. While we all love the appearance of a clean and organized kitchen, often they don’t look their best due to messy countertops and cabinetry.
Clutter. It’s what causes kitchen catastrophes and keeps us constantly dialing for take-out pizza. But don’t surrender to the phone book just yet. Kitchen organization is possible. The days of breaking your back to find that steaming pot or wok are long gone, thanks to a few helpful tips that Designer Dream Homes has collected to keep your kitchen neat and tidy.
Did you know that just 20 percent of the total items in your kitchen are used 80 percent of the time? According to mainstreetmom.com, homeowners are cluttering their kitchens with specialty appliances such as juicers and bread makers that are rarely used. The first trick to a cleaner and more functional kitchen is to relocate those items that have no place on the countertop.
You will, however, want to keep your most-used appliances within close reach. If you constantly use an electric can opener, find one in your color scheme and keep it out on the counter so that you aren’t continuously reaching into the cabinets to find it. This will minimize prep time and keep your body happy. A toaster oven is another appliance that gets frequent use and is versatile enough to warrant a permanent place on the counter. Just try to keep any oversized or futuristic-looking appliances to a minimum when choosing which ones deserve permanent placement.
After you have removed the superfluous gadgets, try to streamline your countertops even more by moving knick-knacks to another part of the kitchen. If you have a nice dish to display, consider hanging it on the wall instead of resting it on an easel. Display photos in magnetic frames on the refrigerator rather than in a frame on the counter. The goal is to keep your countertops as free from clutter as possible, which in turn creates a smooth, clean appearance in the kitchen.
If you don’t know where to begin to get your kitchen organized, remember the art of storage. Cabinets have doors for a reason and most people find their cabinets filled with various sizes of plastic lids and mismatched bowls. Why not keep those lids in a bin that attaches to the inside of the cabinet door, so they are easy to find and never go astray? Think of it as a big pocket for your plastic ware. If your cabinets consist of one big space, consider installing wire shelves to double or triple their storage capacity. A Lazy Susan is the ideal way to take advantage of a big corner cabinet to store cookware as well as canned goods. The rotating shelves ensure easy access to everything inside.
For those who don’t cook often but find their kitchen still tends to be cluttered, consider installing deep drawers instead of cabinets. This makes it easy to pull out pot holders, oversized cooking utensils, serving platters and other flat or long items without a lot of unnecessary reaching or bending.
What to do with all of those pantry items that just won’t fit? How about installing over-the-door hangars in your pantry to create a place to store your spices, cooking oils and sprays? Picture a shoe rack that hangs on the back of your closet door filled with pantry goods.
If you are someone who needs spices frequently, consider placing them above the range so that they are within easy reach for that dash of salt at the last minute. Other items to consider having nearby are pot holders—preferably hanging over the oven rack—and any pots or baking utensils that are used frequently. If you love to cook pasta, make sure your pots and strainer are in drawers and cabinets within your cooking triangle. Remember the point of first use: place items where you would logically use them. This is especially helpful for those who don’t cook. Rolling pins and food processors are tucked away for a rainy day and your phone book and take out menus have first priority.
Kids like to do homework or surf the Web in the kitchen, but don’t let it become a makeshift office or place for miscellaneous trash and papers. Make sure that each family member has his or her place in the kitchen for mail or important documents. Sick of that junk drawer? Try taking frozen dinner containers and after washing, place them in the drawer to house pushpins, scissors, loose change and batteries. Give your “junk” an organized appearance.
The most important thing to remember in kitchen organization is cleaning off those countertops and giving everything its place. Once your storage is under control, your kitchen will look and function at its best.
Products:
It’s Easy Being Green
Recycling is easy when you convert any base cabinet into a recycling center with Simple Human’s pull out recycler. The one-piece track needs just four screws to install, and the commercial-grade ball bearings allow it to slide in and out of the cabinet easily. The twin buckets make it easy to separate trash from recyclables in one convenient location. www.simplehuman.com
Keep it Fresh
Good Grips POP Containers are airtight, stackable, and space-efficient, making it easy to keep your dry foods fresh and your kitchen organized. The containers have a unique push-button mechanism that creates an airtight seal with one touch. The button also serves as a handle to lift off the lid. The containers are available in 11 sizes designed for modular stacking and easily meet your storage needs. www.oxo.com
Effortless Organization
KraftMaid’s Harmony Storage Solutions base cabinets maximize storage space and organization in the kitchen. Stainless steel panels accept a variety of hooks and pegs, allowing you to customize the cabinets to your needs. The unit features full extension runners for easy access to everything in the cabinet without bending or reaching. KraftMaid offers a huge selection of cabinet door styles and finishes to suit any décor.
www.kraftmaid.com
Zero-Gravity Spice Racks
The space-efficient Zero Gravity™ Magnetic Spice Rack lives up to its name, as the spice canisters can be placed on or hung below the included stainless steel accented shelf or any other metallic surface. Each canister includes a rubber foot with prevents scratching and also allows the canister to be placed on vertical surfaces. With a flip of the finger, the patent-pending pour control system adjusts between closed, sprinkle and pour, allowing for easy, one-handed use of the canisters. www.zevro.com
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