If you spend a lot of time in your kitchen like so many of us do, then you have probably, at some point, wondered how you could make your kitchen better. Maybe your kitchen just feels a bit too small or you aren’t sure what to do with all of the things you use the most. Many kitchens can quickly become overcrowded by all that is contained within them and lose their appeal. If this sounds like you and your kitchen, then we have a few fun ways that you can go about getting the kitchen you’ve always dreamed of. The great news is, many of the things we are going to discuss are so simple that you’re going to wonder why you haven’t done them already.
First and Foremost: Declutter
Whenever you are trying to make any room in your home reach its full potential, the first thing you want to do is declutter. The best thing you can do is go through every single drawer, cabinet and all of your counter space and take a look at everything you have. You might be surprised to find that you have a lot of things you don’t actually use. Take those items and either put them away in storage if they have sentimental value or you can sell them or even give them away to charity. There are people out there who will find your ‘junk’ to be a treasure that their kitchen is looking for.
Reanalyze Your Cabinet Space
You probably have had your cabinets set up the exact same way since the day you moved in, but now that you have accumulated more things for your kitchen to hold; it may be time to take another look at what you have to work with. First, remove everything from your cabinets so you can get a true idea of what kinds of items you have. Now, start by putting away all the items that you use the most. You want these things to go on the bottom or middle shelves so you can easily access them. Do not be afraid to readjust your shelf heights either, because this is going to maximize your space and make your kitchen look much more organized.
Another thing many people forget to do is place items inside of one another. Sure, you may be doing that already with bowls and dishes, but do not limit your space by not stacking things such as cups or mixing bowls inside other larger items. All that matters is that things are in a place that makes it easy for you to access and use the things you need when you need them. You shouldn’t be having a rough time when trying to get something out of your cabinets and if you are then something needs to be changed.
Now It’s Time For Your Drawers
Let’s face it, many of us don’t put much thought into our kitchen drawers because they are not out in the open and most people that come over aren’t going to see them and all the secrets they hide. This is why so often these drawers are a complete and utter mess. Looking for a single item can prove to be a very stressful task. If this sounds like your setup, then it may be time to consider something new.
While many of you are probably already using a silverware organizer, there are actually many other types of organizers that can be used in various drawers throughout your kitchen. This simple change is going to make cooking that much easier for you because you won’t have to waste five minutes trying to find the object you are looking for.
Making Sure Containers Have Matches
We know how it can be, you may have started out with a really nice set of containers that all fit neatly inside one another but as time passes some lids were probably broken or lost and it all went downhill from there. If you have various different types and styles of these reusable containers, you may want to consider getting rid of them and investing in brand new ones that will take up much less space and hassle. Of course, whenever you can find ways to make things within your kitchen match, that’s an additional bonus!
Put Extra Focus on Your Fridge and Freezer
While it can be very easy to put it off, a fridge should probably be cleaned at least once a week. This means taking everything out, checking dates to make sure nothing is coming up on its expiration date and cleaning the entire surface within (Quick Tip: Baking Soda helps with smells).
While this is not only a great way to keep your family healthy, it is also the perfect time to have a better idea of everything you have and reorganize your food. If you’re like so many other people out there, if you can’t quickly see something, it doesn’t exist and it can become very tough to remember ever last food item that is in your fridge; especially when you have a very hectic life and schedule to keep up with as it is. When you’re hungry, you should be able to find the things you are looking for quickly so you can move on with your day. No sense in wasting time on the little things in life.
If you feel that a lot of your space inside your fridge and freezer isn’t being put to good use, you may want to check out some of your options. There are many wonderful drawer as well as free-standing organizing systems that can help you keep everything separate and much easier to see. They fit neatly into just about any fridge or freezer, giving you more options when it comes to keeping your food where you want it to be.
Give Your Pantry Some Attention
Pantries definitely have a way when it comes to hiding our food from us. It’s so easy for the area to get jam packed and sometimes it’s hard to know what to put where. If this is the case for you, it may be time to start from scratch. Take everything out and see what you have. Place like-foods together and of course, the things you use most should be on the shelves closer to eye level. If there are things you don’t think your family is going to use, you can always donate the food to local food banks so it doesn’t go to waste.
There are so many wonderful organization options out there. Go to your local kitchen shops and see what you can find. There are cute little containers that your spices can be stored in, neatly stacked on top of one another and all sorts of fun options to choose from. Everyone uses their kitchen differently, so at the end of the day, the only thing that matters is that you are happy with the way your area looks.
Put That Empty Wall Space to Good Use
Too many kitchens have empty wall space that isn’t being used. If you are in need of extra storage, then take a moment to look at your walls. Underneath your cabinets, for example, you could actually hang some of your favorite glasses. Or, near your stove, you could hang magnetic shelves where you can store some of your favorite spices or even knickknacks.
Neat Ways to Incorporate a Kitchen Island
If you are like so many people who feel they can never have quite enough counter space, then you are going to love this idea. There are actually kitchen islands that you can purchase that are completely portable. Some of them are even able to fold up when you are done with them. While that’s a fantastic option, you may want to use yours for two reasons: it could become your newest cooking space but also your kitchen table or a side table that you also use when you are working from home. This is going to give you much more functionality and works for just about any kitchen, even ones on the smaller side so you don’t have to feel that your space is limited.
Endless Number of Options
When it comes to organization and accessibility, there truly are an endless number of fantastic options available to both you and your family. Take a moment or two to come up with a few things that you dislike about your kitchen. They don’t have to be anything drastic, but even just little inconveniences that you have noticed over the years. From there, you can start to research and come up with solutions that may meet your personal kitchen’s current design.
With all of the information available on the internet these days as well as local professionals, it’s never been a better and easier time to make the changes to your home that you’ve always dreamed of. Plus, a lot of the things you are probably wishing you had aren’t actually as tough to get as you may think.
Andy Jones is a London based home remodeller and renovator. He recommends the use of KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer for your daily kitchen activities.
