Kitchen Organization Hacks and Time Savers
Kitchens come in all shapes, sizes and layouts. Each shape, size and layout can really affect the organization of your kitchen and how it functions for you. Some have huge pantries and lots of cupboard space and some don’t. It’s so important to organize your kitchen in a way that works well with the space you have.
Here are my kitchen organization hacks and time savers to keep your kitchen functional and a place you want to show off:
Organizing Your Cooking Station
Keep all cooking utensils close to the area you do your cooking. Instead of getting frustrated as you run across the kitchen for a soup spoon, place it in the drawer closest to the stove. You’ll save yourself so much time and effort.
Place meal prep items closest to your meal prep area. Knives, cutting boards measuring utensils are all best kept as close to your meal prep area as possible.
When you’re about to make a larger meal or do some baking, grab all ingredients and utensils first and bring them to your prep area. This can help with time and frustration so you can focus on putting together your yummy creation.
Keep Your Kitchen Shopping Organized
During the week, write down items as soon as you notice you are beginning to run low. Sometimes taking a quick picture of your refrigerator, freezer and pantry before you head to the supermarket can be useful to refer to if find yourself wondering whether or not you need an item. When grocery shopping, just because something is on sale doesn’t mean you have the space to store it. Always remember your grocery list on your way out the door. You will not believe how many times I have left the grocery store without half the necessities I came for because I left my list at home!
If you have a larger family, keep an area of your home for overflow and extra non-perishable food items that you use often. Things like canned goods, dried foods, and snacks are all great options to have on hand. Keeping it well-stocked will cut down on larger grocery shopping hauls during the week. Make sure you keep a running inventory of the items in your stock pile and markdown items as you use them. This way you can check your restock list next time you’re heading out for that larger grocery haul. This is also a great money saving tip in the long run. Watch flyers and wait for those items to go on sale before stocking up again!
Lastly, get labeling! Labeling is the fun part of kitchen organization. It’s a great way to ensure your family puts everything back where it belongs. This tip can save so much headache and time as you continue to keep your kitchen organized beyond the first big project.
At the end of the day, Kitchen organization is one of the most fundamental projects as it saves the most frustration and time in the long run over the course of the day. Kitchens are where you spend so much of your time so make it a space that works for you.
Melanie McConnell is a Professional Organizer and the owner of Mello Spaces. She helps busy professionals and parents get the organized home of their dreams. Check out her website www.mellospaces.com and follow her on Instagram: @mellospaces
Florena Davies is a Professional Organizer and Owner of Organize by Flo. She uses her experience as a wife and mother of 2 to create real life organizational systems and changes for work and home that allow our 2 worlds to co-exist and 'Flo" together. Check out her website at https://www.organizebyflo.com/ and on instagram @organizebyflo.
Marybeth Welty is a Professional Organizer, Interior Designer, and Mindful Living Coach, and is the owner of Sustainable Lifestyle Solutions. She helps her clients create a calm, organized, and sustainable home and the life of their dreams by utilizing refined design principles, organizing best practices, mental wellness strategies, and a holistic lifestyle approach to sustainability. You can connect with her at www.sustainablelifestylesolutions.com and on Instagram at @this_sustainable_lifestyle.