Kitchen Organizing the Smart Way!

There are lots of commercially-made organizers on the market today. Just visit any home center or organizing store in your area (or the internet) to find items that will work perfectly for your needs.

UPPER CABINETS: If your budget is tight, you will find that you can make many storage compartments and racks from cardboard boxes, and the cost will be little to nothing. On upper shelves, you can use boxes — tissue, cheese, canned pop (without a top or lid and covered with contact paper) to make attractive, simple organizers. Keep the front side of the container cut low enough so you can see the contents of the box. Be sure to label the exposed side of the box so that you can see it when you open the cabinet door. Use broad terms on the labels, such as “spices” or “canned fruit” instead of specifics, and then put the items inside the box “in alphabetical” order so they can be easily found. To make better use of your 12-inch-deep shelves in upper cabinets, install wire racks on the doors of the cabinets to make the small items visible and accessible.

DRAWERS: Importantly, all your drawers should have dividers separating like items from unlike items so every-thing is easily seen and retrieved. An average kitchen needs about 10 drawers.

BASE AND DEEP PANTRY CABINETS: The use of paper-grocery bags (with the sides folded to the inside to adjust the height and make them stronger, and a label on the side) make “no-cost” pull-out containers for deep cabinets. This type of storage is ideal for seasonal Christmas candles, picnic supplies, and table decorations. When you store items at the back of deep cupboards, put a label on the cabinet door identifying what is at the rear. This will save you search time and you‟ll be able to quickly find that special cake pan you only use at Christmas-time. The most convenient improvement you can make is to install “pull-out” shelves in deep cabinets. It is not necessary to install “custom-made” wood pull-outs. There are many, inexpensive, pull-out wire racks on the market that install easily on top of your existing shelves.

A WORD OF ADVICE! It is not advisable to store items on “open” shelves (no doors) unless you use the items almost every day or are prepared to wash „”all” the items and the shelf surfaces regularly. This holds true for using pot racks hung from the ceiling and open utensil containers on the counter. Restaurants use open shelves because there is “daily” use of everything on the shelf or rack and everything gets washed constantly. Probably not so in your home. Yes, it is extremely convenient to reach for items without opening doors, but unless you want to become a cleaning slave (taking time and energy) to keep your kitchen sanitary, it is not a wise thing to do.

Go to Worksheet 11 to see the many choices you have for maximizing storage space in your kitchen.

Check out Lifestyle Systems complete line of drawer and shelf organizers for the home and office at www.lifestylessystems.com. If you want to be an active participant to change/plan your kitchen download the corresponding worksheet for the workshop by clicking on the worksheet below:

Worksheet 1 – Cooks Profile
Worksheet 2 – Draw Your Kitchen
Worksheet 3 – My Work Triangle
Worksheet 4 – Location Of My Work Centers
Worksheet 5 – Measure My Counterspace
Worksheet 6 – Measure Heights of Work Surfaces
Worksheet 7 – Part 1 – Kitchen Storage Test
Worksheet 7 – Part 2 – Measure Your Kitchen Storage
Worksheet 8 – Part 1 – Kitchen Equipment Checklist
Worksheet 8 – Part 2 – Kitchen Equipment Checklist
Worksheet 8 – Part 3 – Tableware Storage Checklist
Worksheet 8 – Part 4 – Tableware Checklist Continued
Worksheet 8 – Part 5 – Supplies and Food Items Checklist
Worksheet 9  – Measure Points You Can Easily Reach In Your Kitchen
Worksheet 10 – How To Place Items In A Work Center
Worksheet 11 – Part 1 – Suggestions For Maximizing Storage Space In My Kitchen
Worksheet 11 – Part 2 – Suggestions For Maximizing Storage Space
Worksheet 11 – Part 3 – Suggestions For Maximizing Storage Space In My Kitchen
Worksheet 11 – Part 4 – Suggestions For Maximizing Storage Space In My Kitchen
Worksheet 12 – A Shopping List For Kitchen Equipment And Tableware
Worksheet 13 – Survey The Lighting And Electrical Outlets In My Kitchen
Worksheet 14 – Decorating Your Kitchen
Worksheet 15 – Gather Samples For My Kitchen
Worksheet 16 – Part 1 – Sources And Appointments
Worksheet 16 – Page 2 – Budget and Priority Schedule For My Kitchen

Copyright:  Lifestyle Systems – 2011 – 2012