Best Ways To Organize Kitchen Drawers

5 Steps For Organizing Kitchen Drawers

Spending time in the kitchen can be stressful – especially if your drawers are a mess. It’s easy to build up a huge collection of cutlery and utensils, but after a while, they start to seriously invade your space. Before you know it, you’re left with overflowing drawers that have absolutely no structure.

If the above situation sounds far too familiar, we’re pleased to inform you that help is on the way. This guide will take you through the best ways to organize kitchen drawers, transforming your kitchen back into a peaceful and inviting place.

Step One: Declutter

The first step is always the messiest and most time-consuming, but once done, you’ll feel a massive weight lift off your shoulders. Tackle one drawer at a time, answering the following questions about every single item you come across:

Have I used this item in the past 6 months?
Do I really need this? Does it serve any purpose?
Do I already have too many of this item?
Would a friend or family member get better use out of this?

Your answers to the above questions will help you make a clear decision on whether the item gets to stay living in your kitchen or not. If you’re strict with yourself, you’ll cut down on a lot of clutter… making the next steps a whole lot easier!

Step Two: Clean The Drawers

Think about it: when did you last clean your drawers? If they’re full of clutter, then we can only imagine that they haven’t had a good scrub in a very long time.

Now that you’ve removed all of the items from the drawers, it’s the perfect time to give them a deep clean. You don’t have to do anything too technical here – simply grab a microfiber cloth and some water and wipe the drawers down. If you come across any stubborn stains, a simple surface cleaning solution should do the trick.

Step Three: Plan Out Your Drawers

Now for the (fun?) part. It’s time to give all of your utensils new homes! Team your items together in terms of use, putting the most frequently used items in drawers with the easiest access. For example, everyday cutlery should go in one drawer and pots should go in another.

To ensure that your drawers never get cluttered again, use some kitchen drawer organizers to keep your items structured and visible. These organizers are an absolute lifesaver and will prevent you from ever needing to use this guide again! The great thing about drawer organizers is that they can be as subtle or vibrant as you like. If you want something discreet, opt for small clear dividers that aren’t obvious at a first glance. If you want to match a loud color theme in your kitchen, however, opt for plastic colorful organizers that add interest to your drawers. If you feel your kitchen is in between being subtle and loud, consider using bamboo or wooden organizers. These add just the right amount of class without being too dull.

Step Four: Decide If Anything Deserves To Be On Display

Have you been keeping items in your drawers that deserve to be on the show? Decor can add further personality to a kitchen, meaning if there are some items that you don’t want to hide, find a nice spot for them to sit. We particularly love how knife sets look in a knife holder – especially if they are top quality chef knives or funky colored ones. Keeping them out of your drawers will also preserve their quality, too.

Step Five: Assess and Evaluate

Now that you’ve filled your drawers with help from organizers and structured the rest of your kitchen, take a long hard look at what you’ve done and decide if you’re happy. You may find that certain things need re-jigging as you start to use the kitchen – this is absolutely fine providing that you ensure all items still have an organized home afterward.

If things still look too cluttered after the above steps have been taken, consider investing in some other forms of kitchen storage to tidy the place up a bit. From hanging baskets to wall racks, there are so many ways to store items in an unconventional – yet highly effective – manner. You’ll be sure to find a form of storage that suits your kitchen perfectly.

Fall Back In Love With Your Kitchen

With help from the five simple steps mentioned in this guide, there’s absolutely nothing stopping you from falling back in love with your kitchen. With help from the right organization methods and tools, your drawers will look as good as the first day you moved in.

To keep on top of your drawer organization, give your kitchen a thorough inspection every week or so. These inspections give you the perfect chance to change anything that isn’t working.

Source:

Kitchen Organization – OSU Extension