How to organise your kitchen: everything you need to know

Look to declutter where possible

If you’ve ever bought duplicate baking ingredients because you couldn’t see any in your cupboard, you’re tired of searching for that elusive lid on the tupperware box or you’ve mislaid a family member or pet in your kitchen— you need to declutter. Consider if each item is necessary or has sentimental value

It's something we all put off as we’d rather be doing anything else, but it doesn’t actually need to be a big deal. Here’s a few tips to get you started.

Assess the damage

Don’t be ashamed, lay it all out and laugh at all the duplicates, unused bread and waffle makers, rediscovered items and forgotten treasures. 

Consider if each item is necessary or has sentimental value

Keep focused! The end result will be worth it. Separate piles to keep and to donate and be ruthless. 

Simple, practical, beautiful

Gone are the primary colour opaque boxes of the past. Storage is now glamorous. Check out The Home Edit kitchen collection for inspiration. But it doesn’t just mean arranging things in storage containers. Everything can serve a purpose and look good doing it. Check out these ideas for a stylish kitchen:

•    Put up a hanging rack for pots and pans. This looks good in a country kitchen (think French provincial-style copper pans hanging from the ceiling, with a few bunches of dried herbs) — but it also looks good in a sophisticated modern kitchen (stainless steel, industrial-style butchers hooks)
•    Hang a spice rack
•    Invest in an enviable pantry
•    Use hanging shoe storage in a tall cupboard to utilise more space 
•    Use drawer organisers — ‘Joseph Joseph’ make some stylish ones 
•    Install pull-out units where you can
•    Utilise wall space with hooks, metal grid storage and floating shelves
•    Put pin-boards on the inside of cupboard doors so that the kitchen doesn’t look messy but you can access notes and takeaway menus in one place

Rethink your sink 

Utilising the area under your sink is a clever way to maximise your kitchen storage. Take a look at some of these ideas:

Tension rod — an internet hack sensation, this is a simple but useful tip. Simply install a tension rod under the sink so that you can hang cleaning spray bottles by the triggers. Quick to see and grab.

Lazy Susan — not just for dim sum, a lazy Susan turntable under the sink will allow you to access all your cleaning products without reaching in and inadvertently toppling everything over. 

Swing-out shelving system — this is perfect for putting the tea, coffee and sugar caddies in, just swing it out when you need to make a cuppa and then hide away again. Even better, get rid of the kettle and install a steaming hot water tap for zero clutter.

Pull-out drawers — under-sink storage space tends to be large and cavernous, so adding drawers is a useful idea. You can store things that often get lost in the kitchen — scissors, spare cleaning cloths and sponges.

Wire baskets — it can sometimes be damp under the sink, so wire baskets make sense for keeping things together while looking stylish. 

Review your organisation zones

Before you begin putting the contents of your kitchen back, it helps to group your kitchen into different zones, for easy access and the most efficient use of space. Here’s an example of one system you could use:

Zone 1: everyday items (easiest to access, near the dishwasher) such as cups, plates etc.

Zone 2: cooking (near to the oven) such as pots, pans, baking ingredients. 

Zone 3: pantry — this is where you would put dry food, tins, electrical gadgets...

 Zone 4: food storage (near the fridge) including foil, food wraps etc.

Zone 5: drinks — tea, coffee, glasses, bar items.

Zone 6: under the sink — cleaning supplies, food caddy. Ideally, install a food waste disposer in the sink and get rid of that smelly food caddy! 

FAQ:

How do you decide where to put things in kitchen cabinets?

Grab a notepad and create a layout that matches function and location near to where it will be used. Everyday items need to be easy to reach! Cooking utensils need to be near the stove and heavy pans and casserole dishes need to be at the bottom of a cupboard, not up high, which would be a safety hazard. 

How do you improve your sink space?

Improve your sink space by streamlining the form and function and making it more efficient:

• Add a steaming hot water tap for instant hot drinks so that you don’t have to keep re-boiling the kettle
• Install a waste disposer so that you can get rid of the unhygienic and smelly food caddy and can help to keep food out of landfill 

Where to seek organisation ideas for your kitchen space?

Instagram is a good place to start because the good-looking glossy images and clever hacks will inspire you into action. It’s a great way to get some tips straight from the experts. Begin by taking a look at:

@TheHomeEdit

@organizingstories

@abowlfulloflemons

@horderly