Ready to organise your kitchen? Our guide is full of ideas to make decluttering super simple.
Jars, jars, jars
Let’s face it, when it comes to pantry items, most of us have no idea what’s lurking in the back of our cupboards. Half-empty packets and boxes of dry goods, ancient tuna tins and a jar of olives you can’t even remember buying – we’ve all been there. A much simpler way to organise your kitchen and know what you have and what you’re running low on is to decant your dry goods into glass jars or tubs.
There are so many options when it comes to food storage containers, you’re bound to find a material and style that looks great in your kitchen and makes everything accessible. Labelling and dating your jars and tubs is also a great way to stay organised with your food – this can help you cut down on waste and avoid overbuying at the supermarket. It’s also the perfect excuse to look for that label maker you’ve always wanted on Gumtree but could never justify. You’re welcome!
Planning wisely
To make it easier to grab what you need, consider grouping similar things together. These could be related ingredients and food products, or cutlery and plates. Whatever size of kitchen you have, storing items in a logical way can take the stress out of cooking. Being able to find what you need fast can also keep you from scrolling a takeaway app during the busy working week. There are many ways to organise your kitchen in this way, but the simplest is to set zones. A cleaning zone houses your cleaning products, a food prep zone stores chopping boards and knives within easy reach … you get the picture.
Another way to organise your cupboards is by activity. You can form sections according to your routine, such as setting up a breakfast area with all your teas, coffees and cereals in one place. If you’re really into juicing, you could create a small station that contains all the equipment and ingredients you need to quickly throw together a kale concoction. We’d prefer a peanut butter smoothie, but you do you!
However you want to organise your kitchen, it’s helpful to keep bulkier items in the bottom cupboards for easy access. If possible, try storing dry foods at eye level so you can better keep stock of your supplies. You might also want to keep pots, pans and utensils close to the hob, with the most frequently used items at the top for efficient meal prep.
Shelf stacking
If you find you need extra storage in your kitchen, compartmentalising your cupboards with stacked shelving is a functional way to maximise whatever space you’ve got. This is particularly useful when you don’t want to cram delicate glassware next to heavier items. Extra shelf sections can also prevent cans and jars from piling up to the point of being a hazard. You can make these changes simply by slotting in brackets to your cupboards or drilling box sections with pieces of wood. This would be a quick job for a professional if DIYing isn’t your cup of tea.
Open cupboards and storage shelves can create better access to awkward kitchen items and encourage you to stack everything neatly. This also means you can also decide what you want to show and what you prefer to hide from sight by tucking that stained but sturdy skillet away and letting the pretty new Dutch oven take centre stage. Plus, kitchen racks for both pans and lids can be a great solution to the age-old problem of lid hunting.
Door and wall storage
Your doors and walls can be just as handy as cupboards when it comes to maximising storage space. Here are a few simple but effective ideas:
- Hanging baskets from the tops of doors or fixing them on with a bracket
- Fixing bars to the inside of low cupboards to store cleaning sprays or tea towels
- Attaching racks that sit inside cupboard doors (Note: positioning is everything when it comes to this add on. If needed, you can remove an inch or two from your cupboard shelves to make space for racks)
- Adding a hook for utensils on the underside of cupboards or inside the doors
- Installing a magnetic strip near your food prep area to store knives – no more rummaging around a crowded drawer!
- Fitting hooks under shelves to hang up cups and mugs
Cupboard carousels
It can be so frustrating when you can’t find what you’re looking for in the kitchen, especially if you’re a serial condiment collector. A nifty trick is to install a circular turn shelf or cupboard carousel that can reveal all those small bottles and jars in seconds. Your dinner won’t get cold while you search for the hot sauce ever again!
A carousel can be just as useful when it comes to spices. You might find it helpful to group your spices according to the flavours you like to create or the meals you make regularly – this small change can save a lot of time when you’re whipping something up.
Additional storage
The world would be a better place if we all had Nigella Lawson’s pantry. Luckily, if you can’t manage an entire room dedicated to food storage in your home, you can organise your kitchen and create extra space with pull-out storage organisers. No matter your kitchen set-up, you can insert pull-out bins or drawers within larger cupboards to compartmentalise them. You could also place portable trolleys and baskets under tables or in corners to store bulkier items or even to keep dinner sets together to simplify setting the table.
Kitchen storage baskets are another brilliant way to prevent overcrowding in your cupboards. You can place them easily on top of your cupboards or under some work surfaces. Just like jars and tubs, there are plenty of baskets to choose from out there, so you can match them to your kitchen’s décor. Depending on your height and that of your cupboards, you may need a step stool if you go down the basket route – or not, if you prefer to keep the biscuits out of temptation’s reach.
For more eco-friendly storage ideas, take a look at our guide to sustainable kitchen storage to help reduce plastic waste.
Making lists
Keeping track of what you need to restock your cupboards is essential in any kitchen. So why not make it simple and convenient? You could fix a blackboard to a cupboard door to write your grocery list, for example, or attach a corkboard to a free wall. A corkboard can also be a practical way to pin recipes or things to remember throughout the day. Once you organise your cupboards, you’ll rediscover what you have to work with, which may inspire new menus or methods of cooking.
If you prefer things a little neater, another option is to hang a notepad using small hooks inside one of your cupboard doors. This way, your shopping list of chocolates and sweets can be hidden from visitors.
Colour yourself happy
Adding a colourful lining to cupboard shelves and drawers not only makes your kitchen space that bit prettier, it also can be a useful kitchen cupboard organiser. Patterns or colours are a handy visual way to organise your foods and designate where to place specific items. This can be especially helpful in busy family kitchens where not everyone eats the same things or where certain foods need to be kept separate.
Lining your cupboards and drawers can also prevent food stains and make cleaning a breeze. With the right colours, your kitchen cupboards can be a calming or even therapeutic space. Better still, cupboard and drawer liners are a much more affordable way to transform your kitchen than a full gut-job.
A kitchen should be a place of ease and practicality, especially if you have a full house. We can’t promise your dream chef’s kitchen, but, trust us, an efficient, decluttered space is within easy reach. Next up: How to choose the right dining table and chairs set.
