Louise, professional organizer from The Space Reclaimers, is sharing three easy tips for and efficient and organized kitchen!

The Space Reclaimers are professional organizers who work to bring a sense of relief and freedom to enjoy the things you love doing. I have asked them to round up the top 3 simple tips to organize your kitchen space... and here is what they say!

An organized kitchen is more than just an uncluttered space, it allows:

• A more efficient kitchen. Speed up working and clean up time.
• Makes it easier to get help from the family in prep and clean up
• Entices you to cook at home versus going out, makes it easier to entertain, and
• Can contribute to saving money by not buying multiples of things buried away! 

 

Step 1 - Get Minimal

The first step to organizing any area in my home or a client's is to minimize.

Like really minimize, be strict on what you truly need in your kitchen and what you are keeping. Are you keeping something just because you paid money for it, or you were planning on using it over a year ago.

Step 2 -  Plan your zones

Zone 1: Cooking – this space should include: spices, oils and vinegar, cooking utensils, pots and pans and any other tools you use

Zone 2: Cleaning – Everything related to cleaning your kitchen should be in this zone, which is typically entered around the dishwasher and kitchen sink.

Categories include: kitchen cleaners, under the sink items (sponges, paper towels, microfibre cloths, trash bags, dishwasher detergent) recycling bins, and trash cans.

Zone 3: Preparation – All the items you will need to prep your food. Items might include mixing bowls, knives, cutting boards, blender, kitchen gadgets (but not too many that it takes up space) and other appliances. Specialized areas will form within this zone, like baking, hobby cooking (pasta etc) and school lunch stations.

Zone 4: Storage – This zone would include pantry, if you don’t have a pantry designate a few cupboards or a standing cabinet in which to store food items.

Once you have your zones, list all the items you need to use in each zone and remember less is more especially if you are limited on space. You can find my basic necessities list for the kitchen here Kitchen Basic Items List. 

Step 3 - Assign a home for everything

If you have leftover items you need to purge some more.

Some ways to create more space if you need it to keep your essential items are:

• Install racks, hooks & shelves on the inside of a cupboard
• Adjust shelving to eliminate wasted “prime real estate” space between shelves
• Add open shelving for cookbooks, displays of attractive serving bowls & dishes, stemware, vases or baskets
• To free up cabinet space move stemware & serving pieces only used for company or on the holidays to the dining room
• Shift pantry extras to the basement or garage

As for some tools to help you get your Kitchen organized, here are some expert suggested items:

Lazy Susan to organize spices condiments and snacks. This one is great for snacks, and this one for spices and condiments! 

Shelf risers help you create more storage in the pantry or cupboards and these shelves and this tiered organizer can help you with that.

Drawer dividers are perfect for spaces where you have lots of different items to organize in one space. These ones are great.

Pan/ Pot Lid Racks – for organizing your pot lids and/or bake ware trays. These ones are a game changer in my kitchen!

These 3 simple tips will give you a good head start on getting your kitchen organized and you will love your new space TODAY!

Do you have any stellar tips that were missed? Comment below and let us know!

For more tips check out the Space Reclaimers Blog, and find Louise on Instagram and Facebook