3 Easy Steps for the Most Organized Kitchen

William Morris is famous for his attitude towards living and the idea that you should “have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” This month we’re following in the footsteps of Morris’ mantra and sharing ways to declutter and organize our home before the warm weather arrives. A few weeks ago, we discussed how to do a spring closet clean in 3 easy steps. This week, we’re moving onto the kitchen and exploring ways to make it a clutter-free, organized, and efficient workspace.

Below we’ve provided some tips and broken down this massive project into three simple steps so you can stop making excuses to get take-out, and create a space in which you’ll actually want to cook.

Minimal breakfast nook

Step 1: Get rid of excess clutter

The first step in kitchen organization is to reduce the number of items in your cupboards. Unpack each cupboard and throw away old stained tupperware, donate any dishware or kitchen utensils you haven’t used in the last eight months, and get rid of any expired food items. If you’re struggling to part with that blender you haven’t use since the 1980s or your grandma’s favourite casserole dish, take a quick look at our post on minimalist living for some inspiration and tips on letting go of excess items.

Once you’ve tackled all of the cabinets, it’s time to take on the fridge. Without regular maintenance, the fridge can accumulate a lot of excess clutter and grime over the course of a single year. Start by throwing away all forgotten contents and washing the shelving in soapy water. If you have removable shelving, soak them in your sink or bathtub for a few minutes and wash away any mystery residue. Before putting old jars back in the fridge be sure to wipe them down and don’t forget to grab a box of baking powder to eliminate odours. Be sure to also wipe down the exterior of the fridge and remove any fliers, papers, or coupons cluttering the doors. If you need a quick and eco-friendly stainless steel cleaner, take a look at our list of recipes for homemade environmentally safe cleaning products.

Peg board pot rack - via designsponge.com

Step 2: Organize

Once you’ve reduced the amount of clutter in the kitchen, it’s time to get things organized. If you’re working with minimal cabinet and drawer space, find some creative ways to display your kitchen utensils. For example, instead of stuffing aprons, dish holders, and oven mitts into drawers, display them by hanging them on pegs. Aprons and dishtowels often feature beautiful prints and can also add some colour to the kitchen. Be sure to hang these items at least 2-3 feet away from the stove area for safety reasons. Design Sponge features a tutorial on how to make your own DIY pegboard pot rack. This allows you to display your dishware on the wall, adding a pop of colour and character to the kitchen. You can also turn all those odds and ends on your surfaces into a beautifully curated display with a simple cake stand. Display olive oil, salt, pepper, and other often-used items to keep them at arm’s reach.

Cake stand display - via pinterest

The area under the kitchen sink can become a graveyard of old cleaning products, dishwashing detergents, and plastic bags. If this cupboard has become overrun with plastic bags you eventually intend to reuse, try storing them in an empty wipes container. You can also create space and keep this area organized by mounting inexpensive IKEA cutlery holders to the inside of the cabinet door. This keeps scrubbing brushes and sponges out of sight while also allowing them to air dry. Racks, over the door hangers, and even some shower caddies also make great devices for organizing items under the sink. Some have even adopted this strategy for managing loose produce!

Magazine racks can be used as an inexpensive way to organize baking dishes, while suspension curtain rods can keep cleaning supplies tidy under the sink or keep baking sheets, cutting boards, and large platters easily accessible in the cupboard. Mason jars have also become trendy and double as a great way to efficiently store food or loose kitchen items. The jars are durable, stackable, and extremely easy to customize to your needs. Get crafty and add the top of a Morton Salt Box to a mason jar lid to make the perfect spout, or nail the lids of mason jars to the underside of a cabinet or shelving for quick and unique storage.

If you’re still in need of some inspiration, Design Sponge has curated a great list of functional yet beautiful organizational tools designed specifically for the kitchen, and Apartment Therapy also published a list of handy organizational tools for small and compact kitchens.

Mason jar storage - via pinterest

Step 3: Keep it efficient

Now that you’ve let go of excess items and organized the ones you plan to keep, it’s time to make sure the kitchen is efficient. It’s very important to keep things tidy while you cook and be prepared for a quick and easy clean-up.

If you find yourself bouncing all over the kitchen while you cook, Martha Stewart recommends creating a “cooking zone” by storing pots, pans, and other necessary utensils as close to your cooking range as possible. Martha also recommends grouping similar objects by purpose (ie. baking needs) and assigning them to their own cabinet. Similarly, plastic wrap, aluminum foil, wax paper, and parchment paper can all be stored near the fridge where you’re most likely to store leftovers. If you’re lacking drawer space you can also place magnets on the inside of the boxes and stick them to the side of the fridge for easy access and quick storage.

Cutting board over garbage - via pinterest

There are some great little “kitchen hacks” that can help keep things organized while you’re cooking. If you’re in the process of preparing a large batch of appetizers or baking a ton of cookies but short for counter space, The Kitchn recommends using LEGOs to stack cookie sheets. These handy pieces are dishwasher safe and easy to store when you’re not in the middle of a cooking frenzy. You can also reduce mess and save counter space by setting up a cutting board over your garbage or use magnetic strips to store spices vertically and keep them off the counter.

The freezer is another space that can quickly get out of control but is easily tamed with a few quick tricks. To manage the contents of your freezer, try hanging a whiteboard or chalkboard near or on the refrigerator. Keep a list of all of the items in your freezer so that you don’t forget about that frozen dinner or discover a freezer burned tub of ice cream six months down the road. We also stumbled upon this useful chalkboard idea for those who need a little help organizing measuring spoons and keeping conversions straight.

Chalkboard measuring system - via Creative Idea's Facebook page

If your kitchen is particularly unruly head over to The Kitchn and get some advice from the experts. Once you’ve purged, organized, and systematized the kitchen you’ll be ready to take your cooking skills to the next level! If you're buying a new home, skip right to step three!