Kitchens are the heart of the home. It’s where you prepare meals, where homework and school projects are completed, and where your family gathers for meals around the table. It’s no wonder this hubbub of family gatherings can become such a hot spot for clutter. Having a properly functioning kitchen is essential to streamlining your everyday life. Check out these steps for maximizing space no matter your kitchen size.
Have a spot for everything.
In large, spacious kitchens it seems like it would be easy to have a special drawer or place for everything to go. When you have a more modest kitchen you can still have a place for everything, it just takes a little planning. You can create a paper organization center to help corral mail, important papers, and permission slips for school. Hang small hooks on the inside of a small cabinet door for keys. Utilize baskets, bins, lazy susans, and dividers to neatly store items inside cabinets.
Get rid of what you don’t need.
Decluttering is the easiest way to free up some extra room. Bulky kitchen appliances that rarely, if ever, get used can take up a lot of real estate in kitchens. Make sure all food containers have matching lids. If not, toss ‘em. Go through your lids for your pots and pans. Discard any lids that may have gone to old or discarded cookware.
Utilize vertical space.
Install floating shelves on an empty wall. Use them to store any items that need a home. You could use clear canisters to store sugar, flour, rice, pasta, and other frequently used pantry staples on your shelves. Or, you could neatly stack your everyday dinnerware. These shelves can be extremely versatile and go a long way towards freeing up some valuable real estate in your kitchen. Toss in a framed family photo or one of grandma’s handwritten recipes for a special touch.
Get creative!
It’s amazing what you can do when you think outside the box. Store pet treats and food in pretty canisters on your kitchen counters. Use decorative trays to house the paper towel holder, salt and pepper shakers, and favorite cookbooks. Turn a thrifted dresser or bathroom vanity into a DIY island for even more storage and prep space. Add wheels, if desired, for the ability to store against a wall when not in use. The internet offers tons of inspiration if you need some help getting your creative wheels turning.
Having a beautiful and functional kitchen makes your everyday life run smoothly. With a little investment and just a few hours of your time, you can transform how your family uses the heart of your home.
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