The kitchen is the one space in your home that has many different categories of stuff. As a result, it is often difficult to organize it and maintain tidiness. If you are planning a renovation, it’s essential to analyze your space to maximize storage and organization in your kitchen. Your needs will vary and depend on how much cooking and baking you do and the other tasks for which you need space.
The best way to maximize storage and organization in your kitchen is to buy the most effective tools you can find. I have many favourite products for customizing kitchens – everything from fridge organizers to drawer organizers to under-cabinet systems. However, each kitchen is slightly different, so the storage solutions are rarely the same. For example, my Before and After photos show some of my favourite kitchen renovations and storage solutions. Here are a few of the most challenging categories and a few of my favourite solutions.
Recycling And Garbage Solutions
In Nova Scotia, we are excellent recyclers. However, allocating space for recycling bins is sometimes challenging, especially if space is limited. Ideally, have rollouts with two large bins, one behind the other. If you have enough cupboard space, install two sets. Three bins will be for recycling (paper, bottles/cans/cartons, and refundables). The final bin is for garbage. If you don’t have room for recycling bins in the kitchen, look for a nearby closet and place them on the floor.
If you don’t have space for garbage in your cabinets, purchase an attractive, high-quality garbage can, but be sure to get the right size and shape to fit in your kitchen. This is one of my favourite garbage cans because it is tall and narrow with a hands-free open/close function. Also, you can remove the inner bin for easy cleaning.
Ideas for Organizing Spices
All those bottles of spices can be tricky to organize. Of course, location is key, and you need different solutions depending on where you plan to store the spices. Ideally, they should be close to the stove so they are easily accessible but not so close as to be damaged by the heat.
If you have the drawer space, a spice tray is a practical solution because you can sort your spices alphabetically and see what’s in each bottle. If you don’t have drawer space, a pullout or door-mounted rack in a lower or overhead cabinet also works nicely.
Keeping Utensils Organized
Cooking utensils can be difficult to organize if you don’t have the right solution. I am not a fan of storing items on the countertop but placing a utensil container next to your stove is very practical. Keep the frequently used tools in that container and put the others in a drawer with the proper dividers for the size and type of utensil.
Spring-loaded drawer dividers are often the best choice. You can place them anywhere in the drawer and move them around if necessary. Unfortunately, most store-bought utensil trays don’t hold large utensils. However, the expandable ones generally work well (and they are my favourite).
Choosing Under-Cabinet Storage Solutions
Over the years, I have helped many clients organize their kitchens and designed many from scratch for a complete renovation. If you currently have lower cabinets with only a shelf, you know how difficult it is to see and organize what you store there. In my opinion, the best solution for lower cabinets is a combination of drawers and rollouts. In fact, I consider rollouts essential in a pantry cabinet. For that nasty, frustrating corner cabinet, a LeMans Corner Unit (watch the video below) is your best choice if you have the budget. It uses a fair bit of space but gives you access to everything in a flash.
Plan for The Future
Plan ahead by thinking about your needs in the future as your family grows and changes. Consider purchasing solutions to maximize storage and organization in your kitchen that you can use in your current home and a new kitchen if you plan to move or renovate. And remember, before installing your new kitchen organizing products, declutter what you don’t use!
If you have a kitchen design challenge, feel free to contact me to book a consultation.