Get your Kitchen Organised

By Britta Reinecke – The Urban Organiser

Our lives have changes dramatically recently, and we are spending more time at home, and in our kitchens, than ever before. Whether you are working on your gastronomic skills or struggling to find a clear surface to prepare dinner, now is the perfect time to organise your kitchen.

An organised kitchen has a number of benefits, including saving you time and money when preparing the shopping list, enabling other family members to help out with meal preparation, and best of all it’s easier to keep clean and tidy. Who does’t want that?

If you are ready, here are some top tips to get your kitchen organised.

1. Make a plan

Know where you’re going so you know what you are aiming for.

Think about what needs to change for you to achieve your goal.
What resources do you need to get your kitchen organised?
How much time will you need and what is your budget?
Who else uses the space and what will they need?

2. Stocktake & Declutter

In order to get your kitchen organised properly, begin by taking everything out of the drawers and cupboards, so you can see how much space you have and how many items, gadgets and appliances you need to create a home for. Recycle or discard any items you don’t want to keep or that are broken. Though it might take some time and require you to make difficult decisions, try to focus on the end goal of creating a kitchen that is functional and easy to keep clean and tidy.

→ Tip: Instead of trying to decide what to throw out, decide what to keep.

Pulling everything out of your pantry and grouping like items is a great to work out double ups and see what you should discard.

Deep Clean

While the cupboards and drawers are empty, it’s the perfect time to give them a thorough clean. Start by vacuuming out all the drawers and cupboards to remove crumbs and dirt.

Use non-toxic, natural cleaner to wipe all the surfaces, removing any grime or sticky patches along the way. When you are finally get your kitchen organised, it will not only look and feel fabulous, it will smell incredible too!

→ Tip: if you are time poor and not able to tackle the entire kitchen at once, that is totally ok. Just clean the drawer or cupboard you are planning on organising now.

4. Get Organised

Now it’s time to put your plan into action.

Firstly, gather the resources you need, such as plastic tubs, drawer inserts and canisters.

Next, separate everything into categories that resonate with you.

Finally, create zones within your kitchen for these categories to live. For example, keep your cooking and baking items near the oven and stove, keep your coffee/tea items close to the coffee machine or kettle, and allocate a drawer for kitchen utensils or tea-towels.

→ Tip: store frequently used items within arms reach of standing, place heavy and bulky items down low for safety, and store less-frequently used items up high.

5. Storage Solutions to keep your kitchen organised

To maximise the space you have, and to help keep items in their designated zone, there are some amazing storage solutions that are a must-have in any kitchen.

Turntables are a fantastic addition to kitchens, particularly in hard-to-reach corners or niches. Use them in the pantry, under the sink or next to the stove

SHOP LAZY SUSANS

Store pot lids, baking trays and chopping boards on their sides, using a storage rack or document holder. Much like a filing system, this will keep trays and chopping boards in place and enable quick and easy access when you need them.

Install solid freestanding shelving in cupboards to increase storage capacity. Using a shelf with a solid base provides extra stability and is perfect for coffee cups, tinned foods, or smaller jars. They are also a great addition to the under-sink cupboard.

SHOP SHELVES & RACKS

madesmart Carbon Range Drawer Organisers

Drawer inserts are an invaluable addition to kitchen drawers as they help keep “like” products together and make it easy to find what you need when you need it. They are often available in various sizes so you can create tailored storage for your drawers

SHOP DRAWER ORGANISERS

Give your children more independence in the kitchen by dedicating a drawer or low cupboard for their plastic plates, cups and lunchboxes.

Caddi Organisers to organise your drawers

SHOP PANTRY

→ Tip: only install solutions that you will find easy to use. Keep it simple!

A kitchen is a dynamic and creative space, and it will get dirty and untidy from time to time. Including a few clever storage solutions and keeping things as simple as possible, will enable you to put things away effortlessly and it will save you time and energy on cleaning.

Enjoy your newly organised kitchen!