Kitchen organization

We helped some clients get moved into their brand new home this week by unpacking their kitchen and pantry items. The pantry was styled with products but the kitchen was a last-minute request by our client who realized she needed extra help while we were there. So... we didn't have many products on-hand for the kitchen cabinets and drawers, but we did at least get everything put away, each item in a place that made the most sense. Let me share a few tips for smart placement of your kitchen items!

What's the worst household chore in the world? For me, that would be emptying the dishwasher! (I'd rather clean bathrooms tbh.) What items get used every single day and therefore need to be unloaded from the dishwasher every time? Plates, cups, bowls, and utensils!

**TIP #1: Keep the "everyday" items like utensils close to the dishwasher.

(Cutlery trays are Better Homes & Gardens brand, found at Walmart.)

(sidenote: when deciding which cabinet to put plates and bowls vs cups, we chose the cabinet closer to the ice maker for the cups/hydroflasks etc)

This seems like an obvious tip, but I'll share it anyway:

**Tip #2: Keep your food prep items close to the stovetop/oven.

This cabinet is right next to the stove, making meal prep easier. We kept all like-items together in this cabinet, and used turntables we had on hand!

The oven mitts (seen in the very top of this picture) are closest to the oven. Always keep hot pads and oven mitts close when you're baking!

**Tip #3: Categorize your kitchen tools, and keep them separated in your drawers.

The categories we used in this kitchen were: stirring spoons (food prep) / knives and scissors / spatulas / serving (tongs and ladles) / whisks and slicers / miscellaneous kitchen tools / rubber spatulas / grilling (utensils and skewers).

Grilling utensils and skewers are kept together, at the edge of this kitchen and close to the backyard where the grill will be located.

**Tip #4: Store small appliance-type items together (if possible), and keep the most-used items in the place that is easiest to access.

The items on the top shelf are not used often; the items on the bottom shelf are used almost daily! (Larger items like waffle maker & skillet are kept in lower cabinets, right underneath this.)

**Tip #5: If your cabinet shelves are adjustable, take advantage!

We removed a shelf from this cabinet space so that we'd have room to stand cookie sheets etc on their side (such a better option compared to stacking them on top of each other)!

**Tip #6: Don't take up valuable space with items used only on special occasions.

If you must keep some items in a location different than your kitchen, choose those things that are used less often.

These "party" type items are kept in a room off of the kitchen since they aren't needed often.

sidenote: If you have cabinets up really high in your kitchen you can also use those for storing less-used items. If you do: label the very top of the cabinet right below it (the one that gets opened daily), that way you never forget where you've put something! (For example: the label would say "Christmas serving dishes in cabinet above")

**Tip #7: Label inside your drawers (and cabinets if necessary!) to stay organized.

Maintaining an organized kitchen is easy if all family members and guests know where to put things away!

This drawer designated for baking has sub categories, and the labels inside the drawer make that clear!

This post focused on making sense of WHERE to store things in your kitchen. Soon, I'll share some of my favorite organizing products and HOW to use them in your cabinets and drawers!