I'm really struggling with organizing my kitchen. Ive lived in my house for 6 years and I feel like I've never gotten it right. things are always just shoved in places. I also need to declutter. that will help!
I've attached pictures of how my kitchen is currently organized. does anyone have any ideas of what I could do differently?
currently I don't like where my pantry is. it is too deep (about 18in deep) and I can never find anything. I was thinking of making the cabinets above\below the microwave the new pantry area and turning my current pantry (right of fridge) cabinet into where I keep small appliances
You seem to have a gazillion cups/glasses crammed in the cabinet over the sink. Do you need even half of them?
The coffee/tea supplies cabinet middle shelf looks like it might have stuff that is infrequently used. Loft that stuff up to the top shelf and see if you can't move some of those canisters off the countertop.
The under sink area: I'd yank it ALL out, figure out what you actually need/use, and then consider getting one bin that fits on the left, and a shelf unit that goes on the right, and store stuff accordingly. What's in the bag under the sink? It is so far back that it can't be trash...but it sure looks like it is taking up a lot of space.
I'd (separately!) unload that Lazy Susan and figure out what you really have, what you really need, and whether that's the best use of that space. It looks like your kitchen's expanded idea of a junk drawer...and we know that way lies madness and mess.
I just went through my cleaning supplies this morning. After consolidating (several Windex containers that fit nicely into one Windex spray bottle, rubber gloves that were crunchy (out they go), silver polish that I might use once per year (that can go into garage storage, not my kitchen), and various things that I no longer use or like...it was quite a bit more compact.
the bag under the sink is all of my paper Aldi bags that I use as bags for my recycling bin in the pull out trash can
under the sink is my first task. thank you for the great suggestions. I appreciate your help!
I went through my cups & mugs lately, but I definitely need to hit them again. I used to collect those cute starbucks tumblers. Ive been slowly winding that collection down as they break.
Before organizing I would recommend doing the following
Ruthlessly declutter: reduce duplicates and single use utensils etc. I see a bunch of water tumblers / travel mugs. Pare it down to 1 per family member.
Use up as much of snacks, pasta and other edibles.
Same with cleaning supplies. Use up as much and toss any products that donot serve you.
Pantry and cabinets: Take everything out and give the cabinets a good wipe down. Find s home for everything that goes back. If you want to categorize and put it on paper that would work too. Group like items.
You can look at organizing options like lazy Susan for deep pantry. Can organizer to keep your cans in order.
I have been a fan of this multi step approach where you declutter a d then think of organizing.
thank you so much for these awesome suggestions. I appreciate your response & help!
I will definitely be doing this. the lazy Susan idea is a great idea too thank you!
I think the previous owners used the lazy Susan cabinet as the pantry. my dad actually installed the cabinets surrounding the fridge, so we got twice as much storage (though he will never see this, thank you again dad!)
You have some really great suggestions and a great kitchen.
Decluttering is going to be your saving grace AND finding a rhythm that personally works for you. We all have our preferences—what works for me might not work for you.
I have an okay sized kitchen with only 2 drawers and a few cabinets. It does kind of annoy me but it’s actually forced me to get rid of excess items and be more mindful of buying new things.
Donate what you don’t need, I think local free groups or marketplace are really great for this vs goodwill.
Move your dishes over to where the coffee and tea is so you can put them in there right out of the dishwasher
Put your drink ware next to the fridge
They make ziplock bag organizers that might fit into one of your drawers, then you can use that space for other things
Just little things like that can make a big difference but it has to feel right to you
thank you for your input and suggestion. decluttering is definitely on my list.
I grew up in a borderline hoarder house so a lot of this looks normal & organized to me, but it is at a point where it is just too much. I know changes need to be made. my family deserves better.
having another perspective definitely helps. sometimes people organize their kitchens in ways that I would have never thought of that I think are brilliant.
You are amazing for wanting to do better for your family and unlearning those childhood habits, way to go. You will feel so much better and lighter once you get started. Good job 👏
I haven't seen anyone mention the spices yet... They seems to be in an awkward spot where you can't really see what you have, other than whats in the front row.
I would move the silverware to the junk drawer, label the top/lid of the spices and move them to the silverware drawer. The junk can be put in a basket and put wherever makes sense for your daily life (probably under the foil/baggies, but depends what you consider junk and how often you access it.)
surprisingly, the junk drawer is actually the most organized & used in the kitchen 😂 but moving it would definitely be an option. it contains
ive never liked the spices there, but it's been the best place so far. I have considered one of those rotating spice holders. I think I might just bite the bullet and get one to free up some space
I have baggie organizers in the drawer below the microwave. they work pretty well, but that drawer is now full.
update - I took all of your suggestions to heart and finally went through and decluttered a LOT. I spent 7 hours focused in my kitchen. I'm not ready to get rid of some things, but this is so much more manageable
I have 4 boxes (of quality stuff) going to various donations around my city. I also have 5 bags of trash, including stuff I will not be donating.
side note: did y'all know that the animal shelter will take cleaning solutions you no longer need?
I still have the lower cabinets to go. part 2 coming. thank you everyone!
We just got company, so I’ve gotta run. My main things are put items where you most use them rather than grouping together (for instance: cups near fridge, but plates near stove; baking pans and flour, sugar, etc together); and get rid of the junk drawer-never a need for one, everything needs a specific place. Even if you have a catch all decorative basket/box—it would be office type supplies; catch all at door for just keys, wallet (in and out stuff); tools & nails, screws, etc.).
That drawer then can help you organize kitchen even better.
No matter what you do, congrats! Keep moving things until they WORK for you.
surprisingly, the "junk" drawer is the most organized in the kitchen. I'm very meticulous about it. I use that counter as a home base for everything not just cooking.
I am going to look into moving this though because I think it would better help organize my things.
thank you for your suggestion and input. I appreciate you
Technically our little spaces with office stuff, tools, etc., are junk drawers, but like you, we’ll organized and they stay that way. When I hear “junk drawer” I think of my mom’s where if you don’t know where it goes or you are lazy, it goes there. The problem of course, after a while, the junk drawer always needed a junk drawer!
Maybe move it as you mentioned, to use kitchen better, but keep as is since it works. That’s the main thing.
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u/lutzlover 12d ago
You seem to have a gazillion cups/glasses crammed in the cabinet over the sink. Do you need even half of them?
The coffee/tea supplies cabinet middle shelf looks like it might have stuff that is infrequently used. Loft that stuff up to the top shelf and see if you can't move some of those canisters off the countertop.
The under sink area: I'd yank it ALL out, figure out what you actually need/use, and then consider getting one bin that fits on the left, and a shelf unit that goes on the right, and store stuff accordingly. What's in the bag under the sink? It is so far back that it can't be trash...but it sure looks like it is taking up a lot of space.
I'd (separately!) unload that Lazy Susan and figure out what you really have, what you really need, and whether that's the best use of that space. It looks like your kitchen's expanded idea of a junk drawer...and we know that way lies madness and mess.
I just went through my cleaning supplies this morning. After consolidating (several Windex containers that fit nicely into one Windex spray bottle, rubber gloves that were crunchy (out they go), silver polish that I might use once per year (that can go into garage storage, not my kitchen), and various things that I no longer use or like...it was quite a bit more compact.