Cluttered Kitchen? 8 Ways to Make It Practical and Functional
Inside: Do you have a cluttered kitchen? Here are eight ways to make it more practical and functional.
A guest post by Cora Gold
The kitchen is the welcoming heart of your home.
From cooking to entertaining, it’s a central gathering place for your family and friends.
However, clutter can make this space frustrating and far less functional.
How can you manage the mess? Here are eight organizational tips for your kitchen.
8 Ways to Make a Cluttered Kitchen More Functional
Here are eight ways to make a cluttered kitchen more practical and functional.
1. Garbage Can Cabinet
Even a small garbage can can occupy more than its fair share of space in the kitchen. One way to reduce clutter is to store this trash bin in the cabinet.
This strategy is terrific for reducing odors and making your kitchen more attractive to guests. The last thing anyone wants to smell is what you had for dinner last night.
Increase functionality by putting the garbage can on a rolling rack that lets you pull the bin in and out as you please.
This kitchen hack also helps kids avoid spilling trash and causing accidents. Consider getting a rack big enough for two cans if you have a large household.
2. Appliance Storage
Small kitchen appliances can be helpful for weeknight meals. Slow cookers and air fryers make tasty dinners easier than ever.
However, these devices can be cumbersome on your counters. You need plenty of space for prepping veggies or making your kid’s school lunch.
Therefore, it’s helpful to first assess if you really need a kitchen gadget, and if so then determine where you can store it so it doesn’t take up all of your counter space.
When you’re not using the rice steamer or pressure cooker, find a drawer, cabinet, or shelf large enough to hold these items until the next time you need them.
The appliances you use daily have more reasons to stay. For example, it may make sense to keep a toaster or coffee pot on the counter for easy access.
3. Revolving Tray
Your kitchen may seem streamlined and organized at first glance. However, a look inside the cabinets might tell a different story.
If you always have to dig around to find seasonings or baking staples like flour, you need a revolving tray to save yourself time and effort.
A lazy Susan is among the best organizational hacks for kitchens because it fits seamlessly in your pantry. It’s perfect for putting spices and other ingredients within your reach.
End the frustration of kitchen chaos when looking for thyme or oregano — no more knocking over containers like dominos.
If you have a corner cabinet in your kitchen a lazy Susan can be a great storage solution for a number of items including appliances and pots and pans.
4. Labeled Containers
Your cabinets contain differently shaped boxes and cans. When you unload them from the grocery store, they can quickly add to your kitchen clutter.
How can you organize the shelves and increase functionality? Use labeled containers to make searching and sorting more manageable.
Seasonings are an excellent starting point — many home chefs already have a cabinet full of herbs and spices. Put your seasonings in designated spice jars and label them with the appropriate name.
Now, it’s a snap to identify dried parsley, lemon pepper, cumin, and other favorite ingredients. You can also use jars or canisters to store staples like rice, flour, pasta, sugar, and coffee.
Resist the temptation to decant every item in the pantry though as it can create challenges.
5. Durable and Organized Countertops
Countertops are central to your kitchen’s activities. From cutting veggies to serving food, they get plenty of use and can collect germs quickly.
Some types of counters, like quartz, can be cleaned easily with soap and water, while others may require specific products. Be sure to know what’s right for your kitchen.
Then, consider the items sitting on your counters, such as cookbooks and appliances. How can you keep them tidy? Do your best to store everything in drawers and cabinets.
The only items you should keep on the counter are ones that you use every day or ones that don’t fit anywhere else. For example, if you use your toaster every day, you don’t need to hide it away for the sake of a clear countertop.
On the other hand, if you only use your stand mixer a few times a year, it’s better kept in a cabinet.
6. Pot-and-Pan Organization
From breakfast to dinner, pots and pans are essential tools for preparing meals. A large family or frequent guests means you have plenty of cookware around your kitchen.
If you’re not careful, these skillets and kettles can make your stovetop and cabinets chaotic.
If the space in your kitchen is limited, installing a rack for hanging large pots and pans will instantly increase your storage space.
A pot and pan rack brings practicality and style to your kitchen. It also makes your pots and pans more accessible — no more bending over to rummage through a cabinet!
When your pots and pans are easier to get to, your space becomes more practical and functional.
7. Increased Lighting
Vision is critical when prepping and cooking meals. Plentiful lighting options will increase your functionality and productivity. How can you make this area brighter and more appealing?
Start by getting more efficient bulbs. LED lighting is beneficial because it lasts at least 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs while increasing the brightness.
While LED bulbs are a quick fix, there are other ways to improve lighting in your kitchen. For example, lights under the cabinets make it easier to see your belongings at night.
Pendant lights are a practical and decorative element for your ceiling, adding ambiance and intimacy to your parties.
Other minor changes include welcoming more natural light through windows and painting the walls in a brighter color.
8. Consistent Cleaning Schedule
Decluttering your kitchen can make you feel accomplished. After all, a job well done deserves a pat on the back.
However, organizing is only half the battle — now, to keep it clean. You can maintain practicality and functionality by consistently tidying your kitchen to keep it clutter-free. Implementing a schedule makes this chore more manageable.
Keep your kitchen clean by dividing daily, weekly, and monthly tasks to ensure they aren’t overwhelming. Daily chores should include washing dishes, scrubbing the sink, and removing trash.
Your less frequent tasks could be cleaning the microwave and oven, taking inventory of your pantry, and decluttering the cupboards and drawers.
Increasing Functionality in Your Cluttered Kitchen
Cleanliness is essential in every room of your home. However, it means a little more in the kitchen due to the culinary and entertainment aspects.
Maintaining functionality and practicality should be your priority, whether you live alone or with family. Start with small changes to see how they work for you before progressing to more significant adjustments.
Cora Gold is the Editor-in-Chief of Revivalist magazine. She loves writing about family and living life to the fullest. Follow Cora on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.
Is your kitchen cluttered? Which of these tips would make the biggest difference in your space? Let us know in the comments section below.
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First, actually declutter and get rid of all the stuff you don’t really need or use. Single-use items like a chicken shredder (two forks work fine), a bagel slicer (knife), avocado scoop (spoon). Spices you intended to use but never touch. Expired food. Multiples like ten spatulas. Chintzy decor items — if I see one more sign that says, “But first, coffee” I’ll scream.
These suggestions are great for a nice modern kitchen like in the pictures but a lot of us have to deal with older, smaller kitchens. I would love to have hanging pots and pans (I have had them before)but it’s a rental and it’s doubtful the landlord would agree to it.
Thank you!
I would love to put my stand mixer in a cabinet but it’s very heavy and the only cabinet large enough is above the refrigerator. Trash cans in a cabinet? I dream of such a luxury as that kind of cabinet space. Overhead pot rack? My ceilings are too low.
Much of this would not apply to me as I live in a rental with a small galley kitchen. However, suggestions like those made by Sue speak volumes. Thank you, Sue.
Revolving trays, organized counter space, and consistent cleaning schedule are non-negotiable. It’s the only way I can manage in my tiny space. It’s not easy though, particularly since I have limited counter real estate and things like mixer, blender, food processor, microwave, and frequently used cookbooks must live on top.
Cast iron pans are also an issue. They currently live in the oven, which is a bit of a nuisance since I use the oven at least 4 times per week. They’re large and heavy and a bit unsightly. Any ideas? The cabinets that house pots and pans are full – that after a big kitchen declutter!