Creating an Efficient and Enjoyable Kitchen

Would you call me a nerd (or a genius) if I told you that kitchen organization will make it more efficient and more enjoyable?

Think about it. How often are you looking for a cooking utensil or item and can't find it? Or you know exactly where it is but it’s behind 3 bowls, a muffin pan, and 5 Tupperware containers? Then you have to try to dig it out while simultaneously trying to cram the pot back in and shut the door before it falls out on the floor. 

We’ve all been there. It’s such an easy thing to do. But we don’t have to be frustrated with our kitchen forever. We can get back to cooking and actually enjoying it!

And the best news is, it really doesn’t have to be all that complicated. I’m going to share with you a few tips that help make kitchen organization simple and effective. 

How do I organize my kitchen?

I often compare the kitchen to an operating room.

 It needs to run efficiently, has knives, but luckily, no blood. Ironically this is where I started my organizing journey. I was trained to organize doctor's offices and operating rooms. The goal was to make the space efficient and to keep everyone alive. That is the goal of my kitchen as well! 

So the best way to organize your kitchen to make it efficient and enjoyable is by zones.

Tell your husband to help you and that we are going to use zone defense and see what he says- maybe a little football analogy will perk his interest.

So zones are what makes the efficient part come into play. When you create areas or a “ zone” for items, it helps the whole kitchen run smoother. Let me give you some examples:

ZONE 1: COOKING

All cooking utensils, pans, and spices are within an arm's reach of the

stovetop and prep space. 

ZONE 2: DISHWASHING 

All plates, cups, and silverware are stored where she can easily put

them away without running all over the kitchen after every load.

ZONE 3: MEAL PREP

Lunch bags and snacks are organized to make this daily routine

simple and stress-free.

ZONE 4: COFFEE

Let's be honest! This is the most important zone for most moms!

I suggest organizing all of your coffee supplies in one area to make this critical morning a breeze.

I mean even Better Homes and Garden shares an article about creating a Kitchen Makeover based on zones! It’s a great system to make things flow within your “workspace” so to speak.

Where to put things in kitchen cabinets?

As mentioned above, your kitchen organization is going to be based on zones. So you’ll put items in cabinets within those zones. I.e. One of the cabinets (or drawers) by the oven will hold your spices. 

I personally love using a drawer to organize my spices instead of storing them in a cabinet. I find it is really hard to keep your spices organized in the cabinet- most often it turns into a hot mess and you end up with TONS of wasted spices 🤦🏼‍♀️ Check out my spice drawer organization tricks in the top ten kitchen organization tools. And, if you are a little over the top like me, you can set them up in alphabetical order to know exactly what you have, what you need, and where to find it!

How can I get organized in my kitchen?

Baby steps! 

-Simplify

-Systemize

-Sustain

https://virtualhomeorganization.com/kitchenandpantrykit

I just might have mentioned that before, but it’s the system I truly love for any organization process

The best way to tackle kitchen organization is just to take baby steps. Take the time to clean out drawers and cabinets to get rid of the things you don’t need anymore (simplify), or maybe items you have too many of. Then create your zones and decide where you are going to group items (systemize) and use your tools to fill your cabinets and drawers in an efficient way. The tools will help keep the cabinets from getting cluttered or overcrowded, which in turn helps you achieve the “sustain” part.

If that sounds like a little too much to do on your own, then I’d love to help you! I’ve created a mini-course just for cases like this when you really want to make your kitchen more enjoyable. Check out my Kitchen and Pantry kit and find out how you can get started loving your kitchen again.

Kitchen and Pantry Kit

You can also check out all Life Made Simple has to offer on how to organize your entire home. Check out our gallery and courses and see what fits your needs to make not only your kitchen more efficient and enjoyable but every room in your house!