4 Steps to a More Organized Kitchen

Sooner or later, kitchen clutter undoes even the most laid-back cook. With most of us spending more time in the kitchen than other areas of the house, kitchen organization can translate to greater sanity.. Here are some tips to declutter your space and bring back your peace of mind. Tip #1: Overhaul Your Cabinets To start, empty your cabinets and discard or donate things you no longer need. Keep only those things you love and use. Decide where each item should be stored; glassware might be best near the sink or refrigerator. Try a cabinet door hanger, which can hold anything from baking trays and cupcake tins to cutting boards. Consider installing sliding shelves; they make it easier to see what's in the very back of your cabinet. Tip #2: Compartmentalize It Use clear containers to streamline the inside of your cabinets. Group together things like sauce mixes, cocoa, hot cereal packets into plastic containers to avoid them being scattered all over. To gain control of mismatched lids and containers, re-purpose stackable or acrylic key-holder trays. For cutlery, employ bamboo 5+ piece trays which are often interchangeable with each other to create the most efficient in storage. A knife block or magnetic strip is a great way to separate knives or metal serving ware for easy and safe access. Tip #3: Let It Hang Hidden isn't always synonymous with organized. Consider taking advantage of tall ceilings by hanging an old-fashioned pot rack. Get creative with the shape and style to really show off those cooking sets, using everything from maple frames with aluminum hangers and spacers to old-fashioned iron. You can also hang ladles, strainers and long-handled cooking utensils, or even bunches of fresh herbs and peppers. Tip #4: Create a primary storage zone This should be a highly accessible area, a place you can go to without needing to excessively bend over or use a ladder for. Store your most-used items here — measuring cups, utensils, cooking gadgets, spices, common pots and pans, anything you use on a day-to-day basis. With one easy motion, you can grab what you use all the time. Courtesy of Lyon Real Estate September 2016