Ideas for Organizing My Kitchen

ScatteredMama · #1 (**permalink**) 04-05-2005, 05:48 PM

I always get very into making a list, detailing a plan, and trying to get my things together. But I am a disorganized mess, still usually in most areas because I get too nit picky and perfectionistic. When it comes to utilizing my space and deciding WHERE to put WHAT in my kitchen, I just freeze up! Any ideas on how to get this together? It is just terrible right now and I get so frustrated trying to make it work!

barbszy · #2 (**permalink**) 04-07-2005, 12:38 PM

One thing that helped me organize my kitchen when we moved here is to sort my stuff by HOW I USE IT.
Glasses are stored in a cabinet near the refrigerator.
Cleaning supplies are ABOVE THE STOVE since I have a small, curious child.
Tupperware is between the stove and sink.
Dishes are just above the dishwasher.
Cooking spices are in a cabinet near the stove.
All the baking ingredients are stored together.
Pots and pans are all stored together near the stove.
I have a drawer for plastic cups and bowls so my little one can reach his own.
Heavy things and large packages are in lower cabinets to make it easier to get them (such as flour, sugar, breakfast cereal, pancake mix which I buy in bulk).
I have 2 gadget drawers. One is for baking things (rolling pin, most measuring spoons, icing spatulas, pastry blender, etc) and it's near the baking ingredients. The other is for cooking things and it's near the stove (meat thermometer, vegetable peeler, pancake spatulas, can opener, bottle opener, etc)

I read 2 books by Deniece Shofield, "Confessions of an Organized Homemaker" and "Deniece Shofield's Kitchen Organization" that were very helpful.

sugar_n_spice · #3 (**permalink**) 04-08-2005, 05:26 PM

i agree putting things close to where they will be used i also have my pantry organzed by like items all pasta together all canned veggies all sauces all fruits now just help me clear my countertops !!!!

ScatteredMama · #4 (**permalink**) 04-11-2005, 10:00 PM

Thanks so much ladies! These are some GREAT ideas

I appreciate the replies!

I have such an oddly placed kitchen, with things in weird places, hat it is difficult to make it work. I am going to try to map out what I do and where I do it and go from there!

watkinsnewbie · #5 (**permalink**) 04-12-2005, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ScatteredMama

I always get very into making a list, detailing a plan, and trying to get my things together. But I am a disorganized mess, still usually in most areas because I get too nit picky and perfectionistic. When it comes to utilizing my space and deciding WHERE to put WHAT in my kitchen, I just freeze up! Any ideas on how to get this together? It is just terrible right now and I get so frustrated trying to make it work!

Go to the site www.flylady.net

ScatteredMama · #6 (**permalink**) 04-12-2005, 10:39 AM

Thnaks WatkinsNewbie!

I am well acquainte d with Ms Fly lol....but It might just help to hop on over there and peek around again

barbszy · #7 (**permalink**) 03-31-2007, 01:06 PM

Every once in a while I have to empty out these 2 cabinets I have that become "black holes" and find a better way to store stuff.

One of them is above the fridge. It's hard for me to reach that--I can't get ANYTHING out of it without standing on a chair. It's really deep, too. WAY back, I have stuff that I use very rarely like my old slow cooker (only used for parties), pizzelle iron, and an apple peeler/corer/slicer that I HAD to have but never use.

It's practically new in the box. In front of all that is my waffle iron and all the baking pans (pie, muffin, cake and 9X13 sizes). Along one side, where they ALWAYS are, I put the grill tools. Those are DH's, and he hates it when I move stuff he uses. He knows where to look for them if I always keep them there.

The other cabinet is a big one set into a corner. That's where all the pots and pans, rice cooker, blender, pitchers, bread-loaf pans, cutting boards, griddle, and plastic containers go. I also have a dishpan in there that's full of gadgets too big for a drawer, like the beaters for my stand mixer, a large strainer, big rolling pin--stuff like that.

**bluebird** · #8 (**permalink**) 08-02-2007, 12:14 PM

How does everyone store thier stoneware? I have cookie sheets, pizza pans lots of stoneware. Right now I have it stacked but it is heavy when you need whatever is on the bottom. I would like to store them standing up.