Creating a Clutter-Free Kitchen
The kitchen is the heart of a home, it is the place where meals and memories are made, where love is poured and measured to create delicious food that nurtures and pleases the people in our lives. By eliminating clutter and creating a harmonious, well-organized and calm kitchen environment people can make their time there all the more enjoyable.
Clear the countertops!
According to Houzz, when kitchen countertops become the dumping grounds for clutter like mail, shopping bags, appliances, tools and gadgets, being in the kitchen becomes much less pleasant. These surfaces are designed for food preparation, but when they are not easily available for use cooking becomes a challenge.
Visually, cluttered and messy counter space makes entering and using the kitchen feel more stressful. Clearing the countertops of all clutter and unessential items will magically draw the eye to a calm space and it will actually make room for cooks to get cooking.
Mydomaine offers tips from expert interior designers for keeping counter space streamlined including using a roll up dish rack that can be stored when not in use, utilizing trays to gather loose items, and installing pullout counter drawers to store big and unsightly appliances.
Another tip they offer is to use the cleared off space of the counter top to display one beautiful item that contributes an aesthetic beauty to the kitchen. Suggested items can include vintage cutting boards, handcrafted items like a marble mortar and pestle or a bowl with fresh fruit which lends a pop of color and accessible healthy snacking alternatives.
Get rid of excess stuff
According to Good Housekeeping, one of the biggest challenges in kitchen organization is that most kitchens are way overstocked. People possess more cups, bowls, and platters than they really need, but find it hard to let go of what they perceive as necessary kitchen items.
Practically speaking, a kitchen only needs to stock enough for regular family meals and just a few extras for guests. When the time comes for entertaining, it is always an option to borrow extra gear from friends or neighbors.
Creating functionality
Good Housekeeping suggests that people rearrange their kitchen around what it is most often used for. That means storing away items that are rarely used and prominently featuring items that are used on a daily basis.
A clever idea is to create a small station in the kitchen designated to make tea, where all tea supplies, like a kettle, mugs, teas and spoons are all stored together close at hand, making the experience less stressful and faster.
Arranging food so it can be seen
Arranging stored food in a manner that makes it clear exactly what is being stored helps to dramatically reduce waste, Good Housekeeping reports. If people can see what they already have it means that they won’t find themselves buying unnecessary duplicates of ingredients to try out a new recipe.
Another tip is to utilize baskets to group together items like pasta or rice that can potentially create a big mess inside of cabinets once opened. Storing these items in a neat basket means easy access and less mess.
Baskets can also be a great solution for spices, which when stored in a cabinet can easily get out of hand and messy. A spice basket allows cooks to save time and easily find just the right flavor they were searching for.
By eliminating unnecessary mess and creating balanced and calm work spaces, people can transform their experiences in the kitchen into happier and more peaceful ones.
