The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is
over for another year, giving you a much-needed break from the kitchen! If you
found yourself feeling extra stressed this holiday season when baking Christmas
cookies, cooking large family feasts or hosting your annual get-together, your
kitchen’s organizational system may be to blame. Now’s the time to get your
kitchen in order for a more Zen experience and figure out systems that work
best for you when you’re in a high-pressure cooking or baking situation. Here
are a few tips for minimizing kitchen clutter, optimizing your counter space
usage and getting rid of anything that you haven’t used in a while (or ever) to
make room for the things you need every day.
Delete Duplicates
When a couple gets married or moves in together,
the chances of having duplicates in your kitchen increases. Suddenly you find
yourselves with two of everything: toasters, coffee makers, blenders...you get
the idea. The possibility of owning more than one of every small appliance gets
even greater when the wedding gifts start rolling in from well-meaning friends
and relatives. While it can be hard to part with the Mr. Coffee that kept you
sane through all those all-nighters in college, or give away the lookalike food
processors you received from Uncle Ed, Cousin Jenny and Grandma Sue on your
wedding day, you’ll be much happier when you whittle down your kitchen
appliance collection to just one of everything.
Play “Sell, Toss, Donate” With Kitchen Items
Be honest, have you ever used that waffle maker
that’s currently taking up valuable real estate on your kitchen countertop? How
about the enormous bread maker you bought at a garage sale during your homemade
baking phase? If you haven’t used a kitchen appliance in a year or longer,
consider selling it on Craigslist or eBay or donating it to Goodwill or another
charity-based thrift store. Any kitchen appliances that are beyond repair or
are unsafe to use should be disposed of responsibly. Getting rid of appliances
can be hard when you think you’re still going to need them one day, but you’ll
be rewarded with a sleek, clutter-free kitchen that cuts down significantly on
everyday stress.
Devise a System- and Stick to It!
Most of us already have designated cabinets and
drawers for the things we need and use everyday in our kitchens. However, when
life gets in the way, it can be difficult to stick to an organizational system
and put things back where they belong after each use. If you find that your
current system is hard to remember or doesn’t make sense to you, maybe it’s
time to do a complete reorganization of your kitchen to help you make the best
use of your counter space, utensils and appliances.
A new year can be a fresh start- why not begin
with your kitchen? By following these organization tips, you can turn your
kitchen into an inviting, clutter-free space that inspires creativity,
conversation and happiness!
