How to Organize a Kitchen

10 Tips and Ideas

One of the most popular ways to organize a kitchen is to start with a good drawer divider system

Learning how to organize a kitchen not only ensures that your kitchen is consistently neat and tidy, but also helps to streamline kitchen activities. Regardless of whether you have just moved into a new house or want to improve the functionality of your current kitchen, we believe these tips will help.

One of the most popular ways to organize a kitchen is to start with a good drawer divider system

1. Dispose of Clutter: Donate or discard anything that you are no longer using in the kitchen. You can hand it down to a relative, donate it to charity, or sell it on eBay or at a yard sale. While some of the cookware in your kitchen may have some sort of sentimental value to you, be sure to weigh how much you use it versus how much space it consumes. For example, when did you last use the cookie press? Is the melon baller gathering dust? Do you use all the gizmos in your kitchen? Getting rid of kitchenware that you no longer use will create space for the items you really use. If you want great de-cluttering ideas and inspiration, read Clutter's Last Stand by Don Aslett.


2. Go Shopping: If there is broken kitchenware, replace it with cookware that is functioning. For example, if the fry pan keeps scorching your delicate dishes, replace it with a non-stick fry pan. If you do not have the money to replace the kitchenware, include it in your birthday or anniversary request list.

3. Sort Smarter: Keep utensils that are frequently used in an area that can easily be reached. For instance, you can have a cupboard for keeping utensils that are rarely used and shelves for keeping cookware that is frequently utilized. Then again, if you lack enough room in your kitchen to build shelves and cabinets, rarely used items can be kept in an protective container in the garage.

A pull-out spice rack is a great way to keep your spices organized in one place.

4. Create Work Zones: Consider various centers of activities and keep related cookware close to one another. If you happen to be remodeling, consider building a pantry near the refrigerator to consolidate your food zones, adding a preparation area where meals are prepared before cooking, and a cooking area where the stove is to be placed with appropriate spices and utensils close by. Other zones to consider are a cleaning and waste disposal area as well as a baking and serving area. Creating these activity zones will streamline operations in your kitchen. Check out Blum Dynamic Space for more suggestions on ideal work zones, which are introduced in the video below:

Beyond the Work Triangle: After studying the workflow of kitchen users worldwide, Blum has developed a planning guide called DYNAMIC SPACE which aims to make kitchen tasks more comfortable, less time-consuming, and more ergonomic. The core of their solution begins with planning the kitchen in five zones: Consumables, Non-Consumables, Cleaning, Preparation, and Cooking.
5. Clear the Countertops: The kitchen counter is your main workspace. Do not forget to clean it in addition to removing clutter from it. How often do you use the appliances currently taking up space on the countertop? Is the mixer, toaster oven, rice cooker, or juicer collecting dust? If you any of your countertop appliances infrequently, consider storing them in a nearby cabinet instead to be pulled out when needed.

Save counter space by storing your stand mixer in a base cabinet. This one is built onto a mechanized cabinet lift for frequent access

6. Organize Shopping Lists: For couples and families, keeping a consistent place for a shopping list is very helpful, so that anyone can mark the things that you do not have in your kitchen. Also, maintaining a separate list of supplies you like to store your kitchen will help you in ensuring that your kitchen is always stocked. Maintaining this supply list aids you in buying what is necessary for your kitchen, thus avoiding impulse buying.

7. Setup a Workstation: Do you use your kitchen when sending mail or helping your kids with homework? Do you find yourself reading the morning newspaper in the kitchen? If you find yourself using the kitchen for other activities besides cooking, make sure that there is a tidy location within your kitchen where you can sit and read a book or help your child with their homework. See this gallery of Kitchen Desks on Pinterest for more inspiration.

Kitchen Desk
An increasing number of families now use the kitchen for everyday tasks, from checking email to doing homework. If you plan to have a desk in your kitchen, be sure to keep it tidy. See more pictures of this kitchen.
8. Get a Tune Up: Your kitchen will not be at its optimum if there are broken or damaged components, such as leaking faucets or partially clogged drains. If something is broken in your kitchen, make a point of replacing or fixing it as soon as possible.

9. Sort by Frequency of Use: Ideally, an efficient kitchen basically boils down to having what you need at your fingertips. If there are items that you use on a frequent basis, you can keep them close to the area where they are most used, while lesser-used items should be placed in harder-to-reach areas.

10. Keep Tidy Habits: Finally, do not forget to clean the kitchen as you work. Once you are through with a pan, have it cleaned and stored away. This is the most productive habit to maintain. Cleaning as you work ensures that clutter does not pile up to unmanageable sizes in the kitchen.

For more inspiration, browse Dunelm Mill's kitchen storage department for a variety of other organizing options including bread bins, canisters, jars, and containers.

Picture Perfect Wall Collage

Interior Designers always advise their clients to add that personal touch to their home. One way to do that is to put together a picture collage. A collage will not only add a personal touch but it will also create visual impact and enhance the character of your home.

Throughout my career as an interior designer I’ve installed quite a few picture collages. There are no real rules when putting one together. There are many different ways you can do it, but I would like to give you some pointers and guidelines to make it easier.

1. Pick a theme of your collage. Maybe it’s all family pictures, black and white’s, all pencil drawings etc. If you chose to do a mix of things make sure there is a common denominator like a color pallet or a shape that runs through the majority or the pictures. Keep in mind the more uniform you keep your objects and frames, the more harmonious your wall will look. It will make it easier on the eye.  

2. Determine the size you want your collage to be. I have seen a recent trend in making collages go from floor to ceiling covering entire walls. If you want to start smaller you can showcase groupings above a console, sofa or a bed.

3. Now it’s time for the placement and layout of your collage. Trace your frames and make templates out of newspaper so you can easily try it out on your wall before you make a final decision. It also helps to lay out the frames on the floor and try different configurations. I personally like to keep the distance between frames less than 2”. Keep your collage balanced, I like to center bigger frames and keep the smaller ones toward the edges. Symmetry also plays a big role.

4. When it comes to implementing your project I would recommend a level, hammer, nails (with medium size heads) and a pencil. The secret to keep your frames hanging straight is to use two nails (varying distance depending on the size of the frame), instead of one.  Double stick tape will also do the trick of keeping the frames leveled. 

Do you have mismatching plates lying around in your cupboard; why not display them on your walls with plate hangers. Play with shapes and colors, use adhesive decals to add some interest if it feels too plain.