Making your kitchen both beautiful and functional is always a balancing act. On the one hand, you want the kind of coordination and sleek look that makes magazine kitchens look so wonderful. On the other hand, you have mouths to feed and a whirlwind of dishes and cooking each day, so the structure of the kitchen has to make getting it back to tidy a breeze.
Here are ten great ways to make the most of the space you have with clever storage while also always knowing where everything that you need can be found.
- For deep cabinets, install roll-out shelves that allow you to make use of every square inch, even if it’d be hard to reach those items without the roll-outs.
- Speaking of roll-outs, if there’s no natural spot to keep a trash can out in the kitchen, a roll-out can hold your trash can and keep it tucked out of sight whenever it isn’t in use.
- For small kitchens, take advantage of ceiling space by suspending a pots and pans organizer and hanging a banana hook under one of your upper cabinets – anything that keeps items out of cabinets or off the countertops will make the kitchen easier to use.
- Reclaim more countertop space with an under-cabinet or magnetic-to-the-fridge paper-towel rack, depending on which option makes the space easier to use.
- To save on packaging and also always know what you need to put on the grocery list, consider a set of matching, airtight food bins for staples like rice, pasta, beans, and nuts.
- There are caddies available that have all the plates, forks, knives, spoons, and napkins that are needed for an entire dinner service; if you have little ones who help with setting the table, keeping this caddy stocked is a great way to let them take ownership of the chore without getting in your way as you’re cooking.
- Another great way to reclaim counterspace is to mount a drying rack above your sink, where small drips will fall into the sink but you won’t have to devote the precious space beside the sink to letting your dishes dry.
- It’s an oldie but a goodie: drawer organizers are key to keeping the forks, spoons, and knives separated, and it’s a good idea to get another one for the spatulas, paring knives, and any other serving and cooking utensils.
- This one is very customizable: If you’ve always just let all the different spice jars crowd each other in a cabinet, consider an organizer. From a thin pull-out shelf to a set of magnetic tins that live on the fridge, there’s a way to make sure you can see all your spices without taking up lots of space.
- No island but have a little space to spare? Nearly any kitchen would do better with a small, moveable cart, either for bar supplies, to hold a microwave, or to store more pantry or cooking items. Whatever you do, make it your own!
That is the key to the whole process: learning what is available and picking the items that will make your house look its best. A nice perk is that the kitchen can be part of how a future buyer falls in love with your home when it is for sale. Real estate agents often recommend making the kitchen feel organized but also tidy, with everything put away, so making it a habit to have an organized kitchen now can pay off later!
