Written by Becky Branch
Take a moment and picture your kitchen. Does it have everything you need in an easy-to-reach location? Do you feel comfortable in the space? If not, that’s okay. The truth is, most of us don’t love our kitchens - especially if we’re short on time and space. We’re here to help! We’ve found these top kitchen organization strategies that will help you declutter your space and empower your family to create healthy habits when it comes to eating and preparing meals. Read on to find out how to make the most of your kitchen space and create a home that runs like a well-oiled machine.
Life can get crazy, so it's essential to have a central location to store important information that's easy to access. Creating a command center in the kitchen is a great place to have your grocery list, schedules, and important phone numbers that anyone can access. A home command center is where everyone can see the day-to-day activities taking place and can be as simple as a calendar on the wall or a well-defined space. The main elements of a command center should include a calendar, a drop zone for mail, keys, necessary paperwork, a charging station, meal planning, and so on. The command center is entirely customizable for each household. Mornings can quickly become hectic, but having a command center is a great way to help keep your mornings running smoothly.
Your fridge is another essential part of the kitchen that can get unorganized and dirty quickly.
Start by removing all items from your fridge and sorting them into categories such as fruits, vegetables, meat, drinks, and condiments. Then, allocate specific kitchen storage bins, drawers, or shelves for each category. Try to create a monthly cleaning routine to throw out old leftovers and expired foods. Not only will it look visually appealing, but with a quick glance, you can see everything you have for easy meal prep and grab-and-go snacks. Another great idea is to store your healthy snacks at eye level for your kids and spouse, so they are encouraged to choose healthier options. If you’ve ever had to battle a toddler over snack items, you know it can be challenging. Set your family and yourself up for success!
Whether you have a large or small space to store your dry goods, stackable pantry bins can be an excellent way to maximize the storage space in your home. Moving dry goods like flour, sugar, pasta, cookies, and more from their original boxes to clear bins helps keep your pantry from looking cluttered while increasing ingredient shelf-life in airtight containers. They fit nicely together compared to sitting loosely on the shelf in their original packages. If you don’t have enough space to store all your items, consider getting a few extra stackable storage containers to make use of the vertical space in your kitchen pantry. You can also add labels to the bins for ease of use and include expiration dates, so you know when to use it up or toss it. Many options are available for labels, including Bluetooth label makers and ordering custom labels on a website like Etsy. Don’t forget about making a kid-friendly spot as well. This area can include snack bins and cereal dispensers. Having items easily accessible for kids also empowers them to help put groceries away.
Creating a prep station in your kitchen can be a great way to streamline meal-time tasks. Start by finding an area of your kitchen that is a good size to accommodate all your necessary items without taking up too much space. Make sure it’s in a place that’s easy to access and move around in. Setting your prep station up near your trash bin helps streamline meal prep. Once you have all the items, you can start prepping your food and ingredients. Don’t forget to involve the kids! Make sure dishes are at an accessible height for your kids so they can help too. Finally, add a few decorative touches to make the space your own. With a little bit of effort and creativity, you can create a prep station that will make meal-time tasks much easier.
Kitchen organization is an important part of creating a successful and efficient family environment. These simple tips will help you keep your kitchen organized, tidy, and easy to access. By implementing these tips, you can create a kitchen that is not only functional but also inspiring and enjoyable to use. With an organized kitchen, you can empower your family to take on any task or activity with confidence.
Keywords: Kitchen organization, Kitchen ideas, DIY Kitchen storage ideas, family organization, kitchen hacks, organization tips, kitchen cleaning tips, kitchen storage solutions, kitchen pantry organization, small kitchen organization, kitchen storage containers