Use storage racks to maximize space.
Kitchen cabinets are notoriously difficult to keep organized. You use items from your kitchen cabinets every day. The more often you use items, the harder it is to keep them in their proper place. Cabinets tend to get especially messy during cooking projects that require items you don't use every day. Shuffling through the cabinets to find items at the back usually results in a jumbled space that makes finding items in the future a much greater challenge. Fortunately, there are many tried and true techniques for keeping your cabinets organized and easy to use. Does this Spark an idea?
Clean House
The first step in getting organized is cleaning out your space. Get rid of anything that is past its expiration date or that you don't ever intend to use. Clean out cabinets thoroughly and install contact paper to keep surfaces sanitary and looking fresh. Many people spend a lot of time in the kitchen, and life's detritus tends to accumulate there. Round up all of the stuff that really belongs in another room of the house, and get it out of the kitchen. This includes tools, craft supplies, bills, notes and miscellaneous odds and ends.
Categorize
Make a plan for the layout of your space. Choose a location for bowls, plates, cups, mugs and platters. Choose another location for spices and baking ingredients. Choose a third location for sauces, oil, vinegar and other nonrefrigerated bottled items. You can label shelves to help keep all members of the household informed about your newly organized cabinets. You should place cooking supplies that you use most in a convenient location, close to the stove. You can store spatulas, tongs and cooking spoons in large ceramic jars on the countertop. You can also hang pots and pans for an attractive display that saves on cabinet space.
Make the Most of Your Space
Many kitchens include unused or underused cabinet space. Whether it is behind the haphazardly stacked pots and pans or on a high shelf that is difficult to reach, these spaces can be used more effectively to store items that you don't need on a day-to-day basis. You can use compartmentalized organizers (available from homeware stores) to organize these spaces. You can also use plastic storage containers for mixers, juicers, blenders or other appliances that you want to get off your counter. Purchasing kitchen cookware that nests (such as mixing bowls or tea cups) can also help you make the most of the space you have.
Tags: cabinet space, pots pans, these spaces
