The kitchen is your sanctuary; your temple where your make savory dishes for you and your family. The last place that should be cluttered and unorganized is your sanctuary. With just a few easy steps, you can de-clutter and purify your kitchen space so you can breathe easy and have a clear mind set for scrumptious recipes.
Divide & Conquer
Divide in sections. Your task will seem much more doable and less overwhelming if you divide your kitchen in three or four sections. Also, always begin inside and move out. Translation? Start by organizing your cabinets before you move around things on your counter (You’ll end up having extra space in cabinets for the counter equipment).
Tupperware
If, when you open your Tupperware cabinet, things start falling out, downsize. Do you really need to have 50 cups of Tupperware? Think about how many you use a week and if you use quite a few, consider tossing out the smaller ones for a few large ones and save yourself some space. The casserole can share space with your chicken; life will go on just fine.
Appliances
Although we’d all love to keep that beautiful mixer we got as a wedding gift on the counter to show off, it just clutters your kitchen. Consider having a cabinet for just your appliances so you don’t end up checking each one every time you need something. Also, if you notice an appliance that you haven’t used in years, why not throw it in the garage or in basement storage? It’ll save you space on things you actually use and you’ll still have it when the time comes.
Set Some Guidelines
After you’ve officially organized your [now]beautiful kitchen, set some guidelines for you and your family to avoid another afternoon of de-cluttering. Write a friendly list on a white board, post-it, etc. to remind everyone that you spent lots of time making the kitchen clean and it should stay that way. If your kids are in those “attitude years” (unfortunately ranging from ages 11-18), mention that anyone who chooses to be careless can bookmark a fun-filled afternoon with their mother on organizing the kitchen again. Hopefully they will appreciate you a little more after that ☺
Having a tidy, systematized kitchen will not only give you peace of mind, it will allow for a pleasant experience when cooking meals for your family. We all know that a clean house is a happy house and with these quick tips, you can relax and look forward to creating delicious moments in the kitchen with your kids.
Author: Maya Szydlowski is a community manager for Veterans United Home Loans, the nation’s leader in VA loans and dedicated to creating a positive impact in the community.
Photos from Flickr.com courtesy of Rubbermaid & ginnerobot
