Your kitchen can be transformed into a perfectly organized space where every utensil and ingredient have its place. Whether you are an avid cook or enjoy the convenience of take-out, having a kitchen that seamlessly adapts to your lifestyle enhances the simplicity and joy of meal preparation.
With the right solutions, you can eliminate clutter and maximize storage space. Have the functionality you’ve always wanted, even with a small kitchen.
How Can I Organize My Kitchen?
Kitchen organization is an exercise in patience and planning. To make sure your chosen organizational solution works for you, you must first determine your final results. Before you get started, spend a few minutes looking around your kitchen and envisioning how it will look and function once you finish organizing.
Next, follow our below step-by-step system for organizing your kitchen:
- Declutter: Start by removing everything from your kitchen cabinets, drawers, and countertops. Make separate piles for what you want to keep, donate, or trash.
- Group: Group similar items together. For example, keep all small appliances in one area and group canned foods in another.
- Assess Space: Review the layout and capacity of your kitchen cabinets, pantry, and drawers. Use ShelfGenie® Pull-Out shelves to optimize vertical storage space.
- Organizers: Invest in custom kitchen organizers such as Pull-Out drawers and shelves, drawer dividers, spice racks for spices, and under the kitchen sink storage for accessibility.
- Maintenance: Regularly declutter cabinets, check food expiration dates, and schedule cleanings to keep your kitchen in top shape.
How Do I Organize A Small Kitchen?
Navigating a small kitchen requires solutions to overcome a lack of storage and counter space. Custom Pull-Out drawers and shelves in your pantry or cupboards ensure everything has a designated place. Here are some additional tips:
- Go vertical: Use every inch of available space by installing vertical shelves and pull-out pantry shelves or cupboards. This approach clears up your countertops and takes advantage of the space you already have.
- Cabinet organizers: Use stackable shelves, pull-out baskets, cabinet door organizers, and shelf risers to fully utilize storage space.
- Door solutions: Install hooks or racks on the back of your cabinet doors for things such as pot holders, aprons, and other small items. This takes advantage of often overlooked storage areas.
- Drawer dividers: Drawer dividers are great for organizing utensils and small kitchen tools.
- Under-the-sink storage: Increase storage with under-the-sink risers or shelves, ideal for organizing cleaning supplies (except for toxic chemicals, which should be kept out of child reach) and keeping these items out of sight.
What are the Best Kitchen Storage Containers?
Kitchen storage containers run the gamut from simple plastic containers to woven or wicker baskets. The variety of available storage containers allows for both practical storage and decorative flair, including:
- Cloth storage baskets: These versatile baskets add a touch of style to your kitchen and are particularly useful for storing items such as root vegetables.
- Glass containers: These containers not only allow you to see their contents, making organization straightforward, but also instill confidence in your choice of dishwasher. Glass containers also have microwave-safe features.
- Plastic containers: Plastic containers are simple to handle, lightweight, and easy to maintain. These are perfect for everyday use.
- Reusable bags: Made from environmentally friendly silicone, reusable bags can store a variety of food in the fridge, freezer, or pantry while keeping everything organized.
Should I Consider a ‘Kitchen Triangle'?
Most kitchen design experts will tell you that zoning is the most important thing you can do to improve your kitchen organization. The basic idea is to avoid extra movement and increase your efficiency. With that in mind, the triangle system is made up of three zones: cooking, storage, and cleaning for the sink, the stove, and the refrigerator. When viewed from above, the three usually make up a triangle shape, thereby giving the system its name. It works wonders for saving time and reducing mess—particularly when the kitchen starts to get crowded. General advice from the pros: if you can manage it, you need to seriously consider the triangle.
- Layout: The sink, stove, and refrigerator form a triangle shape, with each side measuring between four and nine feet in length.
- Sink: Ideally, the sink should be in a convenient and central location that is accessible for washing dishes and preparing food. It is usually on the countertop or island, with room on either side for food preparation.
- Stove: The stove should be positioned near the sink to transfer pots, pans, and ingredients easily.
- Refrigerator: This essential appliance should be in a spot that’s accessible from both the sink and the stove.
- Countertop space: Consider the placement of cabinets, drawers, and countertop space when configuring the triangle.
How Can I Get Custom Kitchen Shelving?
A good custom Pull-Out Shelving system can make organizing your space easier, giving you more time to focus on what’s important to you. Ideally, the company you choose should offer the following process:
- Free consultation and custom solutions
- Custom design with the help of designers for materials and finishes
- Professional installation
- Backed by a warranty
How Much Does Custom Kitchen Shelving Cost?
The cost of custom kitchen shelving can vary significantly based on the materials used, the location of your home, and the number of shelves you would like installed. On average, the cost of custom kitchen shelving can range from $500 to $2,000 or more, depending on whether they’re Pull-Out shelves or adjustable shelves.
A good first step is to call professional cabinet shelving experts in your area to get a more accurate estimate based on your specific requirements and preferences. ShelfGenie can easily give you a price estimation along with a custom design plan, all completely free of charge.
Let a ShelfGenie Expert Help with Kitchen Storage and Organization
Organizing your kitchen requires significant time and effort. Don’t make it even more difficult by struggling with DIY cabinets and organization. Let ShelfGenie help! Our three-step process ensures a convenient storage solution tailored to your needs, with every installation backed by our Neighborly Done Right Promise™. Ready to upgrade your kitchen? Find a ShelfGenie location near you or book a free consultation online to get started today.
