Organizing Your Kitchen

A significant part of planning, when it comes to design, is function. It is important to understand how a space will be used in order to plan the layout of the space. That not only applies to the type of furniture and placement of the furniture, to offer functionality, but also takes into account traffic flow around and through the room.

In a kitchen, the layout is also important to allow for functionality, traffic flow and efficiency. However, beyond the floor plan, organizing your kitchen countertops, cabinets and drawers for maximum functionality and efficiency can also be a benefit. Let’s face it, the kitchen is the room in your home where you spend a lot of time working. When your kitchen is thoughtfully organized, it will save you steps and help you find the right tools within arm’s reach of the area you are working in. For example, keep glasses in a cabinet next to the refrigerator. Keep cups next to the coffee maker. Store your dishes in the cabinet closest to the table; your flatware should be in a drawer closest to the table also. This saves time and steps when setting the table for dinner.

It goes without saying that you would keep pots and pans near the stove; keep serving platters and bowls near the stove or oven too. This is where you will be plating the food when done. Also keep oven mitts and utensils used for cooking and stirring in a drawer next to the stove or oven. Herbs and spices are best kept near the stove as well. Keep your prep knives in a block or in a drawer near the area that you typically use for chopping and prep. It is a good idea if you have children, to keep plastic glasses and bowls in a lower cabinet so they can reach them and help themselves to a drink or a snack.

Store items used less frequently in the harder to reach upper shelves of cabinets or in the cabinet above the refrigerator or microwave.