How to Arrange a Kitchen with more stuff – 12 Approaches to Clutter-free cooking space

Arranging a kitchen with abundant belongings may be a considerable request, but it’s feasible and well worth the exertion. Apart from cultivating a more visually pleasing kitchen atmosphere, coordinating – and reducing – your culinary equipment compilation brings many other advantages. Clutter-free coking space Cooking becomes more straightforward and delightful (perhaps even superior), as does hosting guests, while the post-cooking cleanup becomes notably swifter – a bonus.

Irrespective of the number of possessions you possess, decluttering is the foremost recommendation from any proficient source before embarking on kitchen organization. Should your kitchen be home to a slightly larger assemblage of utensils and gadgets than usual, a comprehensive register for decluttering the kitchen serves as a solid point of origin.

‘Decluttering is a progression. 

Thus, allocating ample time and exhibiting patience toward oneself is imperative. Initiate by removing everything from the cupboards and drawers, enabling you to assess your inventory and determine what to retain. Exercise candid self-assessment and include solely those items employed regularly,’ advises Mary Jurek, interior designer and President of Mary Jurek Design.

However, it’s vital to acknowledge that eliminating clutter isn’t sufficient – incorporating space-efficient notions for kitchen storage and systematic techniques is equally important if you aspire to uphold an organized area.

Guidelines for Arranging a Kitchen Overflowing with Belongings

Whether you are reorganizing a kitchen to downsize, streamlining a compact kitchen, or merely seeking to liberate some space, we’ve compiled an assortment of recommendations, counsel, and strategies (assisted by experts) to help you bid farewell to cramped culinary surroundings indefinitely.

IDENTIFY THE TROUBLED AREAS 

Embarking to address an entire kitchen simultaneously can be overwhelming. Commence by observing and ascertaining the zones that pose challenges. Are the countertops inundated with seldom-used gadgets? Are you grappling with closing kitchen drawers crammed with utensils or attempting to structure an overfilled pantry? Tackle the problematic regions sequentially, commencing with the ones that perturb you the most.

It’s also imperative to consider your kitchen decor – an abundance of trifling ornaments devoid of practical purpose hampers cleaning and generates unhygienic conditions.

Donate unused articles

Discarding defective or damaged items is straightforward, yet we all grapple with parting from possessions we perceive as potentially ‘useful.’ However, this ‘just in case’ attitude invariably leads to a cluttered kitchen. If you cannot recollect the last instance an item was used, it’s probably time to relinquish it, irrespective of its original cost or ‘novelty.’

“I tend to maintain a donation receptacle close at hand while decluttering. This simplifies decision-making by providing a designated spot for items meant for donation,” asserts professional home organizer Toula Adu, the founder of BizzyBee Organizing. This approach aligns with eco-conscious principles and renders the decluttering process less overwhelming.

EVALUATE YOUR APPLIANCES

Substantial, cumbersome, and known space-consumers appliances contribute significantly to the ‘belongings’ in our kitchens. Unless items like a coffee machine or juicer are utilized daily, they don’t warrant occupying space. Scrutinize each appliance individually and initially contemplate if retaining it is justified.

“The same principle applies to attachments,” discloses Laura Price, a professional organizer at The Home Organization. “If the spiralizer or ice cream maker attachment isn’t used, consider donating them. Spare parts are in demand, and you’d be astonished by the space that can be reclaimed.”

MAINTAIN CONTROL OVER FOOD STORAGE 

The extent of food stored in your kitchen may astonish you. Often-overlooked regions like spice organization or deep pantry shelves are typically the culprits. Yet, we can guarantee that even your fridge freezer harbors outdated salad dressings or frozen meals. Whether your kitchen is petite or not, optimizing food storage is crucial, making periodic inventory checks essential.

“Eradicating expired items is straightforward, but candidly assess consumables such as herbs and spices that are unlikely to be consumed. Consider donating them to a food bank if they’re unexpired and unopened. Alternatively, place them in the food recycling bin,” advises Suzanne Roynon, an interior therapist specializing in Feng Shui.

STRATEGICALLY ASSIGN STORAGE LOCATIONS 

Sorting out a compact kitchen can be particularly challenging. If you’re grappling with limited kitchen storage concepts, space may be limited despite your thorough efforts. Instead of cramming everything into the culinary space, prioritize allocating room exclusively to your frequently employed items.

“If you possess ‘occasion-specific’ articles that emerge solely during Christmas, stow them in less accessible cupboards. If space is at a premium, safeguard them in boxes and store them elsewhere to optimize your kitchen’s practicality,” advises Suzanne.

ENROLL ‘AIDES’ FOR THE ORGANIZATION TO EXPAND SPACE 

The predicament might not be the volume of ‘belongings’ in your kitchen but how they are stashed. Investing in apt kitchen organizers can render a transformative effect on kitchen storage concepts that tend to overflow. 

When devising a new kitchen layout, contemplate custom options for organizing kitchen cabinets and drawers, or invest in less permanent alternatives like Lazy Susans, pull-out racks for organizing cookware, or stacked elevators similar to those available on Amazon.

Avoid excess on countertops.

Countertops draw an assortment of odds and ends that don’t necessitate a presence in your kitchen – mail, vitamins, study materials, and spare change. If permitted to accumulate, space constraints inevitably arise. Numerous rapid remedies can effectuate substantial change when devising tactics for organizing kitchen countertops. However, mastering efficient countertop decluttering techniques is the initial step – and subsequently, preserving their organized state is imperative.

UTILIZE MOBILE STORAGE SPACE 

If you are confident that you are not overstocking but still confront spatial limitations, consider considering more adaptable options for kitchen storage. “Portable furnishings are a beneficial method for accessing supplementary countertop or storage space as required. 

For instance, a kitchen cart can be wheeled in during bustling occasions like gatherings, subsequently moved away to liberate floor space,” as George Forsyth, director of Drew Forsyth & Co., elucidates. A kitchen cart, available at Wayfair, can effectively create additional space on countertops and within cabinets due to its multifaceted tiers and drawers.

CATEGORIZE ARTICLES WITH BASKETS 

While adept organizational solutions are undeniably advantageous, the unpretentious basket (or receptacle) is the optimal means of categorizing items – mainly when they are abundant. Segregate baking tools in one, table linens in another, and so on. Coherently assembling related articles in one place facilitates storage and retrieval and offers the flexibility of relocating them around the kitchen based on necessity. This is particularly useful if your kitchen zones lack well-defined boundaries.

FORESTALL HOARDING

“Employ the full vertical expanse of your shelves and acquire canisters with square bases for pasta, flour, etc. (compact variations, such as those offered by Amazon, are ideal for arranging spices). This enables the visibility of your inventory while optimizing space. Determine the number that fits within your cupboards and be mindful while shopping – procuring more than the available space allows is a recipe for overflow,” suggests Laura. 

This minimalist philosophy transcends food organization: “Before acquiring a novel gadget or appliance, ponder whether it will witness frequent usage, thereby justifying the space it consumes. Sustain your well-arranged kitchen by periodically assessing and reorganizing belongings as required,” Mary adds.

THE APPROACH TO ORGANIZING A CLUTTERED KITCHEN 

In truth, you don’t ‘organize’ a cluttered kitchen – functionality is compromised irrespective of the level of organization. The primary step entails simplification. Navigate through your kitchen, concentrating on one region at a time. If you grapple with determining what to part with, interrogate yourself. “Is this a duplicate?” “Would I procure this today?” “Does this enhance my daily life?” When plausible, opt for donation over disposal. Persist until your cookware collection is thoughtfully curated. Now, you’re positioned adeptly to contemplate storage and organization strategies.

Conclusion

Thus, fostering the self-assurance to declutter effectively represents the initial stride in arranging an overloaded kitchen. Should your storage space continue to fall short, there’s no need for apprehension. As demonstrated, many organizational techniques can be implemented to ensure that form, utility, and positive sentiment resonate within your kitchen, irrespective of its dimensions.