Today I want to focus on one of the key rooms in the house to get (and keep) organised – the kitchen.
Kitchens are notoriously hard to keep organised because there is so much stuff being used so often that nothing tends to stay put for very long. Without having the right storage set up things can get messy very quickly, and that’s why I wanted to look specifically at some clever kitchen storage ideas that will really help to keep things under control.
As such, here are my top 5 ideas found from all over the web (and of my own of course!) to give you inspiration when organising your own kitchen. I am sure there will be something new for you to try, and hope that it makes a real difference.
#1 – Think vertically!
I always like to make sure that all space is used as much as possible, especially when you are short of storage.
The perfect example of this is to add extra shelving and/or hooks to areas that would otherwise be wasted.
Other ways to use this idea is to add extra shelving and hooks to the inside of cupboards, especially where the shelves are far apart and therefore the height isn’t being maximised.
#2 – Add free standing furniture to the room
We are not always fortunate with the kitchen that we have in our home, and usually we inherit it from the previous owners.
As such, it’s always a good idea to look at some free standing options, as this can add your own character, extra storage space, and even extra work surface if needed.
My top 3 options for using free standing storage are to have a larder style unit, a dresser, and a butchers block/table.
A larder style unit could have glass doors or hidden doors, but can keep all your food in one area, and is really useful for being able to see everything you have in one go. I always try and put all food together when organising a kitchen if at all possible, whether it be a free standing unit like the one above, or a set of fitted cupboards like in my own space.
A dresser gives plenty of storage and display for all the glassware and crockery for your home – freeing up valuable hidden storage space in the actual kitchen units (where you can hide away food items and things you don’t really want to see as much).
The above picture is my own dresser which I put on a spare wall in my kitchen (actually, its just the top half of the dresser as the ceiling was slightly too low to accommodate the whole thing, but I quite like this as it’s quirky!) – I love to be able to store and display all my nicer items, and my recipe books etc… and have plans to update this area of the kitchen still further this year so watch this space for more ideas!
And lastly – a butchers block style trolley or table unit can be a fantastic way of getting an island without having to go to the expense and hassle of putting one into the kitchen formally.
#3 – Get clever storage integrated into your design
This article on The Top 5 Kitchen Trends to watch has rated storage as an essential to build into your kitchen, and if you have the budget to add in some fitted storage (or are thinking of updating your kitchen this year), then it’s definitely worth a look.
I love how the pull out unit they feature has everything you would usually have cluttering your work surface all hidden away but still totally accessible for day to day living (knives, utensils etc..). Perfect!
Secondly – basket drawers would be handy not only for fruit and veg that have to be stored as such (which in themselves would be perfect as there would be no need for a fruit basket or other storage on your work surfaces), but could also be used for a variety of items in the kitchen that you need to grab quickly such as tableware, recipe books and even food like snacks or regularly used ingredients.
#4 – Lazy susans are the best kept secret!
I’m in love with using Lazy Susans as they can provide accessibility to difficult to reach areas, and are especially good for corner units/shelves, high shelves where you can’t see the back very well, or for ensuring taller units make the most of the height as well.
#5 – Don’t forget cupboard doors…
Lastly – but by no means least – are cupboard doors.
The inside of these can be used for all manner of storage, and they are often such wasted space.
Why not add a few hooks on, or a unit that hooks over the door itself – and get some extra storage where you had nothing before…
What I love about all storage is that you can tailor it to your needs – so never think that something has to be used for it’s correct purpose. Look firstly at the space you have available, what you want to store in that space, and how accessible it is, and then choose your storage based on these.
You won’t go far wrong if you follow these guidelines, and I really hope that the ideas above have given you a little inspiration along the way.
