Best Practices for a Clutter-Free Kitchen
The number one regret among homeowners in Northeast Ohio and nationwide who recently renovated their kitchens was insufficient storage and organizational tools. We highly recommend that homeowners plan for adequate storage because a well-designed kitchen is an organized kitchen. A good starting point is to measure and inventory the kitchenware you use most often that caters to your lifestyle and family needs.
An endless array of options is available to store cookware, food, utensils, countertop appliances (blenders, mixers, etc.), recycling containers, etc. The first step in maximizing storage is to assess what currently exists in your kitchen. Next, inventory and measure your cookware, bakeware, kitchen tools, storage containers, cutlery, knives, utensils, gadgets, and countertop appliances, and estimate the frequency of use. This is a great time to purge items that you never use too. Space permitting, items you use infrequently or even as little as once a year (the large roasting pan for Thanksgiving turkey) can be relegated to upper cabinets or other rooms in the home to open up prime real estate for the utensils and equipment that you use most frequently.
When you identify your most-used items, you’ll empower your kitchen designer to make your kitchen function much more effectively than with standard-sized drawer widths and depths. A combination of drawer and shelf cabinets can be customized to your preferences. For example, a drawer at the top of the cabinet combined with shelving underneath allows for storage of smaller, frequently used items in the more reachable drawer, while the shelf storage accommodates more oversized and less frequently used items, such as food processors and stand mixers. Not only does this approach save time in preparing meals, it is also easier on your back.
Here are several of our favorite storage solutions.
Drawer organizers: These tools allow homeowners a specific place for flatware, utensils, knives, and other kitchen tools.
Lid storage: Lid storage is a welcomed option because pan and pot lids are often difficult to organize. A lid storage compartment typically comprises a drawer within a drawer with a shallow compartment on top for lids and the pots located underneath. The drawer within a drawer slides individually.
Vertical storage: Many homeowners first think of storing their kitchen utensils in a horizontal position. Vertical storage compartments for whisks, spatulas, slotted spoons, etc., make it easier to see and retrieve those tools. A vertical storage cabinet can often use small spaces that might otherwise go unused, such as spaces next to the stove or kitchen sink that can house cookie sheets, cutting boards, trays, and platters. Vertical storage is also appropriate for cutlery. It’s not difficult to divide a drawer into small deep individual compartments for knives, forks, teaspoons, soup spoons, and salad forks.
Corner cabinet storage: Corner cabinets with pull-out storage make productive use of space that can be used to store pots, pans, food items, small appliances, or other commonly used kitchen items.
In-drawer charging systems: A docking drawer can not only be used to store kitchen items, but it also serves as a place to charge laptops, cellphones, and tablets and contributes to cleaner lines in a newly remodeled kitchen because it eliminates the need to see wires and set devices on countertops.
Broom closets: We often recommend, space permitting, homeowners install a tall narrow cabinet that can be used to house brooms, mops, vacuum cleaners, and other tall cleaning tools that are equipped with a power outlet for recharging.
Pantries: Either walk-in or pull-out in kitchens where space is at a premium.
Spice cabinets: Homeowners who cook often relish having spices organized and easy to reach. Usually, spice cabinets are located in a narrow pull-out cabinet next to the cooktop or range.
When you inventory your kitchen, make a list of and measure the items you currently store and those you would like to store. Remember, storage capacity affects usable counter space. Many existing kitchens include mixers, blenders, food processors, coffee pots, et al. sitting on the counter because there is insufficient cabinet space. Cluttered countertops eliminate the possibility of having a clean look.
If you would like assistance in creating a clutter-free kitchen, call us at 440-543-8050 or visit our showroom at 8454 Washington Street in Chagrin Falls.