A Well Organized Kitchen

The most used space in any home is the kitchen. It is important to take some time to get this space right. Once your kitchen is organized, you’ll find the rest of your home will follow suit.

Everyone in the home uses the kitchen and everyone in the home may have their own idea of where and how things should be stored. If you decide to do a major overhaul, it can be a challenge, but it will be most effective. It’s like hitting the reset button on the family’s household habits. It will be worth every minute you spend when everything is stored where it makes sense, is labeled, and has a place to live. Check out our Abundance Declutter Group on Facebook for support!

Creating zones is the most important rule about kitchens. We have identified these zones below for your reference. Each zone below has been identified by the task that will occur in the zone. Beneath each zone is a list of tools needed to complete the task. The tools live in that zone because it makes sense for them to be stored where they will be used. You will see that when you create zones in your kitchen, you break down your kitchen into smaller, more manageable spaces.

COFFEE STATION ZONE

This zone should be located closely to the sink or in a nook with very little counter space. The coffee station is where you store the coffee pot, tea pot, coffee/tea, tea strainers, sweeteners, mugs, milk frothers, and any other items you use while making coffee/tea.

CLEAN-UP ZONE

The best place for this zone is under the sink. The Cleanup zone contains the trash can, recycling, dish soap, sponges and rags, and cleaning supplies.

SERVING ZONE

This zone should be located within close proximity to the dishwasher for ease. The Serving zone of your kitchen stores flatware, dishes, glasses, serving pieces, and serving utensils.

JUNK DRAWER ZONE

This zone is needed in every kitchen! Be sure to keep your junk drawer away from daily kitchen functions and keep the drawer tidy with drawer dividers. Here is a blog post with tips for organizing your junk drawer, and a link to some of our favorite drawer organizing products.

FOOD PREPARATION ZONE

This zone needs to be located where you have the most counter space. This is where you will be doing all the chopping, mixing, measuring, pureeing, and anything else that involves preparing food. Items in this zone include knives, can opener, cutting boards, mixing bowls, measuring spoons/cups, food processor, and blender/mixer.

COOKING/BAKING ZONE

This zone should be closest to your stovetop and oven because you will use these items to cook and bake. Store the following items where you cook: oils, vinegars, herbs, spices, spatulas, wood spoons and tongs. Store the following items close to your oven: pots and pans, microwave, toaster, pot holders, baking sheets, cake pans, and any and all bakeware. 

FOOD STORAGE ZONE

This zone should be close to your refrigerator. Store the following items in this zone: plastic wrap, foil, wax paper, plastic bags, chip clips, and food storage containers.

PANTRY ZONE 

This zone is the place in your kitchen that is the designated space for nonperishables. Whether it be a large walk-in pantry, or a small shelving unit, our organizing techniques are the same. We break down every pantry into categories like those listed in all caps. Some items may be in more than one category-as always, you will need to decide what works best for your household. Suggested Pantry Categories: BREAKFAST FOODS, PASTA/RICE, SNACKS, CANNED GOODS, BAKING.

Here are links to our favorite kitchen and pantry organizing products. Enjoy! Don’t forget to check out our Abundance Declutter Group on Facebook if you have any questions. We love to hear from you!

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