Since I know you all love kitchen ideas as much as I do, today I’m sharing some tips and ideas for designing a clean, clutter-free kitchen. In our previous home, our kitchen was open to the main living area, in plain view to everyone as they walked in the front door! And while an open-concept layout was great for family togetherness, it was a constant struggle to keep our kitchen clean and organized.
Even though the kitchen in our current home is hidden from view when you walk in the front door (thank goodness!), I still like to keep our kitchen clutter-free and organized, simply because it saves me time and makes me feel happier!
If you’re looking for ideas to organize your kitchen, today I’m sharing 17 easy ways to make your kitchen more organized and functional. I hope you find these ideas useful and helpful!
17 Simple Tips for a Clean and Organized Kitchen
1. Clear your counters
Evaluate everything you have out on your countertops. If it’s something you don’t use daily, put it away.
You might want to leave out the items you use every day, like the coffee maker, toaster, canisters, and salt and pepper shakers.
2. Clean the fridge
Remove all the food from your fridge, wipe down the shelves, bins, and doors with a warm soapy sponge, and check the expiration date for each item before you put it back in.
Repeat this process with your freezer, pantry, and kitchen cabinets. This seemingly overwhelming task can be amazingly satisfying and doesn’t really take very long.
3. Designate a place for mail and papers
Create a spot (perhaps a pretty tray or basket) to place mail and school papers and establish a weekly ritual to sort and handle each item.
4. Wash your dishes immediately after eating
Load and run your dishwasher nightly, or at least every other day. I like to empty the dishwasher before I go to bed at night, which leaves one less thing to do in the morning.
5. Use attractive storage containers
Cooking utensils, fruits, and vegetables can be placed in baskets and stored on the shelves of an island or bar cart.
6. Clean as you go while cooking and baking
7. Store garbage bags at the bottom of the trash can
Place several garbage bags at the bottom of the trash can so you don’t have to search when you empty the garbage. And use twin trash cans for easier recycling.
8. Hang your pretty cookware from a baker’s rack or on the wall
9. Add a bookcase or shelf to the kitchen for your favorite cookbooks
Or, try propping your cookbooks in a basket, like I do:
canister and basket are no longer available
10. Store fruit in a pretty way
Fruit stands and cake stands are handy for storing fruit decoratively on the counter top.
11. Hang your collections on the wall
Platters, coffee cups, market baskets, dish towels–and even a mini dustpan–can all double as display.
12. Clear off the top of the fridge
Try not to use the top of your refrigerator as storage space unless you use decorative baskets or boxes to place things in.
13. Creative pantry ideas
Walk-in pantries are wonderful, but unfortunately we don’t all have that kind of space. Consider converting a kitchen or laundry room closet into a pantry.
Put a glazed glass door on the pantry to open up the space, or paint the door with chalkboard paint for lists and notes or allow your children or grandchildren to create art for you there.
14. Functional furniture is essential to an organized kitchen
Dressers, armoires, and bar carts can add beauty and style to the kitchen, while also providing surface and storage space.
The added storage space is great for special glassware and tableware, towels, dishcloths, place mats, and tablecloths.
15. Make use of kitchen shelves
If your kitchen has open shelving, like ours, make it functional by storing plates, cups, glasses and serve-ware you use often.
16. Keep a step stool handy
Step stools, especially pretty ones, are always nice to have in a kitchen. Not only do they allow easy access to items stored on the top shelves of your cabinets, they can add a decorative touch to your kitchen.
17. Utilize folding chairs
Rather than keeping extra chairs out all the time, utilize folding chairs for additional seating for guests. They can be stored in a nearby closet, pantry, or in the garage by hanging them on the wall.
Have a wonderful day! xo jane
See these related posts for more kitchen organization, decorating, and design ideas:
20 Must-Know Tips for Using Lemon Essential Oil for Cleaning
Spring Cleaning with Essential Oils & Natural Ingredients
Beautiful Kitchen Design Ideas to Inspire Your Next Renovation
How to Declutter Your Home: Simple Step-by-Step Tips
Content might contain affiliate links. If you purchase through a link, I may receive a commission at no cost to you. Please see my disclosure policy for details.
2 Comments
Your Happy Place: How to Design a Healthy, Happy Home
August 28, 2016 at 6:15 am[…] the Kitchen the Heart of the Home. There are countless ways to make the kitchen the focal point of the home, a place to encourage joyful activities, togetherness, and healthy home […]
Empty nest? 30 things to do after the kids leave home
August 21, 2016 at 7:22 pm[…] your closets, your kitchen, your home office, and your life. Getting organized was first on my agenda after my kids left […]