THE BEST TIPS ON KEEPING YOUR KITCHEN CLEAN AND ORGANISED
No matter what size your kitchen is, keeping it organised and free of clutter can be quite a challenge. Between our work lives, social lives, family obligations and countless responsibilities, it can be easy to forget that kitchen flow and function, matters.
If you’ve searched endlessly for the right Tupperware lid, opened the pantry to a plastic avalanche or purchased another jar of cinnamon because the other one was hiding in the dark depths of the cupboard (yes, I am talking to you) – it’s time for you to give your kitchen some attention.
Contrary to what many of us believe – you don’t need an enormous space to have a functional, stylish kitchen – you just need a sustainable plan about how you organise the space you do have.
ASSEMBLE & STORE
Begin by decluttering your cabinets – remove every item and assess whether you need/use each piece. When did you last ACTUALLY use that juicing machine that is taking up 1/3 of your cupboard space? If it hasn’t been used in the last 12 months, we recommend selling or donating it to someone.
Once you’ve assembled your items in reusable jars or containers, start organising them into cupboards or drawers close to where their function is performed. In the pantry, fridge and cabinets, place the foods and cookware that you use most often in the easiest-to-reach places.
Silicone covers are an excellent replacement for single-use plastic wrap. They are readily available in kitchen and homeware stores and perfect to seal dishes, bowls, cans, cups and fruit and vegetables. They can also be used to keep food fresh longer with their air-tight seal.
Organise your food storage containers, plastic wraps and labels near the fridge to make it a super-simple process when putting leftovers away.
Make the area around your stovetop a dedicated ‘cooking zone’ so you can have pots and pans close at hand.
Store lids separately to your containers in lid racks.
Put away appliances that you seldom use – if you only have toast once a fortnight, do you really need the toaster sitting out on the bench? We suggest tucking it away in a cabinet and then pull out when needed.
ACCESSORIES
MAGNETIC KNIFE RACK Large wooden knife blocks may be practical, but they cost you prime real estate on your kitchen benchtop or in your pantry. A wall-mounted knife rack is a perfect accessory for storing your essential cooking utensils – welcoming the feeling of luxe in the most unsuspecting ways! DRAWER ORGANISER A drawer organiser is a no-nonsense way of storing silverware, measuring spoons, and other small, narrow utensils. Simply place the organiser in the drawer and sort your utensils into specified spots. Look for a drawer organiser that is convertible, allowing you to change the size of the organiser depending on the size of the drawer. ELYSIAN HAND TOWEL HOLDER Boasting versatility with a range of functions, the Elysian Hand Towel Holder represents the new way to handle our household essentials. If you are frequently searching for your paper towel, chux roll or kitchen cloths, then the Elysian is the perfect kitchen accessory for you as it can be used for all of the above.
LABEL! LABEL! LABEL!
When transferring foods (with foreseeable expiration) from their packaging into containers, we suggest writing or labelling the contents and expiration date on the back of the jar – a wine glass pens or laminated labels should do the trick just fine! When foods are accurately labelled and organised, it makes it easier to take a quick inventory of your kitchen items so that you know exactly what you need to purchase when shopping next. Having food labels will also contribute to reducing waste; when you know the expiry date and exactly what the contents are, the less likely you are to double up or forget about its shelf-life. Happy kitchens make for an even happier planet!
FREE DOWNLOADABLE LABELS
When you arrive home and unload your belongings (which can often mean dumping it on the bench…), make it your new mission to put things away in its home straight away. If you still find yourself scattering your belongings across the kitchen, it will most likely be because these items do not have a specified ‘home’ – so consider creating one for it somewhere.
Renewing your area with a few stylish yet manageable components will encourage routine organisation and a newfound appreciation for your space.
Oh, and to make it even easier, we have created a booklet of kitchen container labels to act as your go-to guide for maintaining organisation in your space. From labelling your pantry containers to reusing coffee jars – this guide has something in here for everyone!
We would love to see what your labels look like in your home – share your kitchen pantry labels with us on Instagram – @abiinteriors.
