From Total Chaos to Zen in the Kitchen

Struggling to find that missing pizza cutter or spice blend for your favorite recipe? Your kitchen is a vital workspace, but when it’s overflowing with tools and trinkets you can easily lose track of the items you need. To make things easier on yourself (and spruce up those shelves at the same time) give everything in your kitchen its own special place – so they’re always ready when inspiration strikes!

When we tackle organizing our kitchen there are some key things to consider!

• Declutter + Chunk
• Workflow
• Frequency of use

Declutter + Chunk

The first step of the organization is always to declutter. Take EVERYTHING out of your cabinets. Put them in piles of like items or items you would use together. This is called chunking! Then take inventory. Are you actually going to use that super special tool your aunt Sally gave you last Christmas?

Be honest with yourself!

Keep in mind the size of your kitchen. If you are tight on space your list of essentials needs to be much smaller. If you are not sure to fully let go, put some items in a Rubbermaid and put them aside. Wait a few months and see if you actually use them. If not let them go.

Workflow

Because this space is a workspace we really need to consider the task we complete on a regular basis. It seems like common sense but families prepare different types and styles of meals. I like to take a station approach if possible. Some common station examples would be: breakfast, Coffee, Baking, Smoothies,  Dishes, Prep. When considering these stations and the workflow I want you to think through how you function as you work through those task. Consider your cooking triangle.  You may need to think outside of the box and how you have been using your kitchen. A couple of good examples are; putting your dishes within reach of your dishwasher, to make unloading easy, Keeping your cutting boards stashed behind your knife block, and having baking supplies in one cabinet.

Frequency of use

Evaluate how often you use items. The items you use every day should be easily accessible. The goal is to put items you use most often within reach of where you would use them. Don’t put your cooking utensils across the kitchen from your stove top. Being mindful of the items you can grab without bending down or having to get on your tip toes or a stool. This is prime storage and should be saved for frequently used items.

When you go through this process, be mindful of what has been working, and honest with yourself of what hasn’t been.

Run Down of Favorite Kitchen Organization Products