Whether you bake on certain holidays or every weekend, it's helpful to have the supplies and ingredients at your fingertips when the mood strikes you. 

Before you get started, survey your kitchen for everything you might need for baking so you can determine how much space to carve out. By creating a special section in your kitchen for baking, you can easily access everything you need whenever you want. Here are some tips for setting up a baking/prep station in your kitchen.

Location in the kitchen

Most kitchens are set up around a functional triangle, incorporating the stove, sink, and refrigerator. Try to use an area within the triangle that has usable counter space for your baking station. Clear a section of your cabinets to store cookbooks, ingredients, and small bowls. Glass jars are a functional and decorative way to store sugar, flour and other frequently used ingredients in your cabinet. When you can see your ingredients, it's easier to keep track of inventory.  A stand-alone cart or rack can also be utilized as a baking station when cabinet space is limited. The key is to keep everything together in one section of your kitchen.

Baking utensils and measuring cups

Keep measuring spoons and cups at eye-level by hanging them on a peg board on the inside of a cabinet door. Mixing utensils can be displayed on the counter in a decorative jar or in easy to access drawers. Measure your drawer space to configure different size organizers. The wider ones are perfect for spatulas and whisks, while the smaller ones can house food coloring, sprinkles, and more.

Baking sheets and muffin tins

Vertical dividers can help you to see and access baking sheets and tins in the lower cabinets. This customizable solution is also great for cutting boards, baking dishes, and serving platters. If you're tight on cabinet space, consider using a large basket to store these items.

Mixers and bowls

Store small appliances and bowls on glide-out shelving beneath your workable counter space to keep your counters clear when not in use. Mixers tend to be heavy and bulky, and often difficult to store. Glide-out shelving allows you to look at everything in the cabinet without having to move around all the items everytime you need something.

A dedicated space can make baking easy and more enjoyable. Set aside some time to create a baking station in your kitchen. When it comes time to make your next batch of cookies, you'll be glad you did!