Is your kitchen sinking into chaos? From kitchen organisation to order systems: our tips will help you create lasting order.
The kitchen is the hub of all our lives, not just because it’s where we prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s also the most sociable and emotional space in our homes: it’s where we meet, exchange ideas, debate – and sometimes even have arguments – and reconcile. As we all know, the best parties always happen in the kitchen, regardless of whether it’s a separate room or an open-plan living kitchen.
For these reasons, good kitchen planning is essential. Because cooking and celebrating are even better in a clean and well-organised kitchen.
Where to start? The first step in organising the kitchen The countertops are cluttered, the drawers and kitchen cabinets are in total chaos, and just looking at them, you’re overwhelmed and don’t know where or how to start? No panic! Clearing out is the first step before tidying up.
Empty absolutely everything out of the cabinets and drawers and have rubbish bags and baskets ready. Dispose of all expired food and keep only the kitchen tools you really use. This point is particularly important in minimalist kitchens that offer little space. Any equipment you haven’t used in the past year or have duplicates of can be given away or sold.
Try to be organised as you clear out and sort items into categories. That means separating food supplies from kitchen gadgets, cutlery from dishes, food storage containers from pots and pans, and so on.
Book and Netflix suggestion: Japanese organising consultant Marie Kondo follows this exact system. Her KonMari method has gained worldwide fame. The book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” has become a bestseller, and the series “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo” has been a streaming hit. Keeping only what you truly need and what makes you happy creates order and, according to Kondo, frees not just your home from unnecessary clutter but also your soul.
The goal of perfect kitchen organisation: Utilise available space and tidy everything away Try to store everything in cabinets and drawers. Even dishcloths and washing-up liquid should be tucked away under the sink. Depending on the size of the kitchen, this sometimes works better, sometimes not so well, especially if there’s not much storage space available. But even then, there are clever solutions besides just thorough decluttering. More on that later.
The major advantage of having completely clear countertops? You’ll not only have enough space for future cooking endeavours, but they’re also a breeze to wipe down.
5 Kitchen Zones: The Key to Efficient Kitchen Organisation While emptying, you’ve already sorted all your items into categories. Now it’s time to maintain them precisely that way. Professionals divide the kitchen into five zones, making processes as efficient and relaxed as possible:
- The cooking and baking zone Keep cooking utensils like pans and spoons within easy reach of the stove. Baking trays and cake tins should be stored near the oven.
The area around the sink and dishwasher should have a handy pull-out or base cabinet for quickly accessing cleaning tools. Rubbish bags can also be stored here.
The preparation zone is ideally the countertop, which should be cleared. Around it, in drawers, store kitchen tools you frequently need for food prep. These might include open food items like spices and oils, working utensils, or chopping boards.
Plates, cups, glasses, bowls, and food storage containers should be in lower and upper cabinets outside the cooking and preparation zone, ideally near the washing zone. This shortens paths when unloading the dishwasher. Infrequently used household or small electrical appliances can also be stored in this zone.
Tall cabinets and pull-out pantries are alternatives to a traditional pantry, serving as storage for food supplies like dried pasta, rice, tea, coffee, cereal, or canned goods.
Practical Structuring for the Kitchen: Order Systems for Drawers and Cabinets However, storing all appliances and tools in a designated place is only half the battle. Because only those who also sort their drawers and cabinets will keep chaos at bay permanently.
- Organising drawers Flat drawers are for storing small kitchen tools and accessories like cutlery, spoons, etc. To prevent these items from constantly getting mixed up and to save you time searching through a jumble of clattering forks, knives, and spoons, you should invest in a drawer organisation system. Cutlery trays come in various sizes and materials, so you should find the right insert for your kitchen. There are even clever solutions that stack the cutlery at an angle if you want to save even more space in the drawer.
Deep drawers are suitable for pots, pans, or baking dishes. Drawer dividers are perfect for organising your kitchen tools. They’re also suitable for any other zone. They allow you to separate rubbish bags from cleaning products and tea towels, as well as food storage containers and kitchen appliances. sensor bin
Tip: With a separated area on the side, you can also store frying pans vertically. Special stands are available for this purpose, which are also ideal for pots and pans.
For flat drawers directly under the countertop near the stove, there’s also a great storage idea for spices: a slanted spice rack with several levels. This way, you can position the jars so that the label is always easily readable. Plus, the jars are well stored and not always in plain sight, where they mostly just collect dust.
Also, kitchen knives should go into a flat drawer with an insert box. If you don’t have enough storage space, a knife block on the countertop is an alternative. Or, a space-saving magnetic strip for the wall, installed at a child-safe height, also works.
- Sorting the kitchen cabinet properly You should also sort your kitchen cabinets by category. Plates go on the first shelf, glasses on the second, and so on.
If you’re using a kitchen cabinet for oils, vinegars, or spices, you can install small turntables to maintain a better overview. An idea for those looking for additional storage space: Alternatively, spice racks can be mounted on the inside of the cabinet door.
- Organising the pantry When filling the pantry – whether it’s a standard kitchen cabinet or a pull-out pantry – maintaining order is key. Specifically, this means dividing your supplies into categories. Store canned foods together, place sauces and dressings in another area, and put baking ingredients in a separate section. This way, you’ll have a better overview and find everything more quickly. Plus, you’re more likely to use up open food items before they expire. Always place items with a shorter shelf life at the front and longer-lasting products at the back.
Tip: Transparent storage boxes or baskets are practical for grouping smaller items together. Labels can help here, too, so that every family member can find what they’re looking for quickly.
Conclusion: Anyone Can Achieve Perfect Kitchen Organisation With a little effort, you can create lasting order in your kitchen. The main thing is to keep an overview, maintain your established systems, and continue to question the necessity of each item. If you keep these principles in mind and tidy up regularly, you’ll enjoy your kitchen even more – and cooking and celebrating together will be even more fun!
