I am not sure how many of you do this, but every 6 months, I go through the kitchen and re-organize it a little.
I look at how my small kitchen is laid out and figure out how it could be more efficient for my everyday life.
The first time is difficult, but all subsequent times thereafter are just minor tweaks to an already organized kitchen.
5 Benefits to having an organized kitchen
- You can see what you actually use or don’t use (which means you can get rid of clutter)
- You are more efficient when prepping or cooking food, which gets it to your belly faster
- You will definitely feel less pressed for time and stress less, as everything is within reach
- You will have a safer kitchen if you make note of the danger zones (knives + little hands)
- You will have more space, and less of an urge to get a bigger home or apartment
We can’t all be lucky to have homes with industrial sized kitchens like this one!!!
Keep a mental note of recurring problems
For example, while you’re making pasta sauce for spaghetti, you may realize that you don’t have a big spoon handy and you have to leave the stove area to keep grabbing things.
If this is a recurring problem, then make a mental (or physical) note of it, and when you re-organize the kitchen next, you can make sure that the drawer closest to the stove is accessible.
Map out your sections
I think of my kitchen as having 3 sections:
- Sink/Garbage Area
- Pantry
- Stove/Main Cooking Section
When I block out my kitchen like that, it helps me figure out what I need in each particular area, instead of just trying to find a spot to put something.
Put things where they make sense
This sounds like stupid common sense, but just put things where they will be easily reached for what you are doing in the kitchen.
Pots & Pans/Cooking Things
If you have a stove against one wall, put the pots and pans close to the stove, as well as cooking utensils such as a spatula or a pair of (very) handy tongs.
Don’t put the pots and pans all the way at the bottom, across the kitchen.
You’re going to get frustrated, and possibly hurt yourself in rushing back and forth to get the right item to use.
Spices/Condiments
For what you use a LOT of, such as salt or pepper, keep it close by the stove, near the pots and pans so you can reach up and grab it in a second.
Dishes, Cups
As for dishes and cups, I put them close to the sink (usually right above), so that they’re easily accessed as they are grouped in one area, and when I finish drying them, I can pop them back up in half a second, instead of carrying them across the kitchen.
Cutlery (Eating Utensils)
They go in the TOP drawer of my kitchen, preferably near the sink. You can reach and grab a utensil like a spoon easily, while your left hand is busy holding a colander and draining the pasta over the sink.
Out of the way areas
Put the pantry items here, such as dried food (pasta), cans, and stored goods.
I would also suggest putting very heavy platters and other special “once-a-year” serving dishes for that extra large turkey you made for Christmas.
Rice Cookers/Toaster Ovens/Small Appliances
I know some people like to put away things every day, and take them back out every morning, but I am not one of them.
I value function and efficiency over looks.
It may not be very sexy and minimalist, but I leave my rice cooker out on the counter in an out of way place, close to a socket.
Why? Because I am ALWAYS using it, and it is a bit heavy to lug out from my bottom cupboards every day.
It is also too heavy to always be pulling down from my top cupboards, that’s just dangerous!
As you’re organizing, de-clutter along the way..
Do a double-duty task.
As you are organizing out your kitchen to put the knives close to the area where you usually prep your food, clean out your kitchen.
You don’t need to start defrosting your freezer or wiping down your fridge, but think about what you use and don’t use any longer.
That juicer you got 2 years ago, on a health food kick that has been collecting dust? Give it away.
That one wonky knife that keeps bending or twisting strangely in your hands? Get rid of it.
The fact that you have 2 toasters, but don’t use either, because of the toaster oven? De-clutter!
You may find that you will end up with a big box of things you haven’t used in the past 2 years.
How to let your kitchen things go:
I understand that this can be a difficult box to let go, especially if you invested a lot of money in those tools, but just keep these things in mind:
- You haven’t used it in at least 2-3 years. Are you going to really start using it now?
- Do you want a constant reminder of your bad purchase & to always feel guilty about it?
- Someone else might actually use it, and get a kick out of it. It goes to a better home.
After you’re done, keep it neat
After you’re done doing a quick re-organization of your kitchen, just keep it neat.
Keep up on your “zones”, and making sure that soup spoon doesn’t make its way across the kitchen again, because you were too lazy to take 3 seconds to put it in its rightful place.
I do this every 6 months, and every time I do it, I always find something to tweak, which ends up giving me more space and letting me prep faster.
Minimalist Kitchen Inspiration
This one is fairly functional…
Where I feel as though this one is TOO minimalist for me 
Christine Simiriglia
on Dec 26th, 2009
@ 7:00 pm:
My husband and I bought a very tiny Victorian with a very tiny kitchen. We are both good cooks and love to cook. We cook fresh whole foods and use the kitchen a lot. This was a great post. We too go through the kitchen occasionally on a “reorganize, de-clutter, give away and trash mission”. It is some of our most productive time and makes our dinner prep much easier each evening. Your tips are tops. One area that is very important is knives. You can read more here: http://www.organize-more-stress-less.com/home/2009/7/14/get-your-knives-in-order-your-love-life-just-might-follow.html
Christine Simiriglia´s last blog ..Waste Now Want Not
Jenny
on Jan 12th, 2010
@ 6:06 am:
When I re organized my kitchen, I tried putting healthier foods in a top cupboard at eye level, and overly processed (kd, etc) or junky snack items (chips, etc) either on a high shelf where I had to stretch for them, or at the back of a bottom shelf. This way when I was looking for food, I was going to see healthy food first and be more likely to make/eat that, and I would have to go searching for the less healthy stuff.
Did it work? When I cleaned out my cupboards, I found 3 part bags of stale chips, that wouldn't have gotten that way otherwise. I generally don't like wasting food, but given that this was junk I shouldn't have been eating anyways, I felt pretty good about it (I did use some of them as casserole topper and hamburger filler, so not a total waste)
Saturday Project: Organize your Kitchen | The Everyday Minimalist | WetSalad --- Why have the normal?
on Feb 4th, 2010
@ 5:39 pm:
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