One Hundred Dollars a Month

There is something about January that makes me in a “I’m gonna get my crap together!” sort of mood.

This is the year I am getting organized, getting more sleep and eating right {well, as soon as all the holiday candy is gone}. 😉  I’m getting my Chi centered, I tell ya, and what better place to start than the kitchen?  I pretty much spend half the day there, so I might as well make sure it’s organized.

In case you care to join me, here’s 12 easy ways to get your kitchen organized:

1. Lazy Susans.  I love these things!  If you have lost food to the deep dark abyss of the pantry, only to be seen again years later with a dust bunny clinging to the lid for dear life, then the lazy susan is for you.  Lazy susans keep everything visible with a quick spin, so no more food getting pushed out of sight.
2. Go vertical.  If you have run out of space, don’t underestimate the organizational power of hooks on the back of the pantry door, the walls, etc.  Hang aprons, plastic grocery bags, pot holders, dish towels, etc.  Hooks keep everything accessible without cluttering your counters and drawers.  If you don’t want hooks to appear unsightly, hang hooks on the inside of the kitchen cabinets.
3. You know that drawer of spoons and gadgets that you can’t seem to keep organized?  Dump them into a box.  All of them.  As you need them, dig them out and put them back in the drawer.  At the end of 2 months, get rid of the ones you haven’t had to dig out of the box or tuck them away—they either don’t get used or don’t get used with enough frequency to deserve a spot right in the center of the kitchen.  Clutter leads to chaos in the kitchen.  Chaos leads to burnt enchiladas.
4. Put like with like.  Assume this is an elementary school assignment—take everything out of the cupboards and categorize them {i.e. bakeware, dishes, etc.}  Each category should get stored together, to avoid having to dig for something all over the kitchen in the moment that you need it.
5. Invest in lid and pan racks.  I know it seems like a waste of money, but they last forever, and make your life easier.  Storage racks for baking sheets and lids give the items a home and make it easy for you to grab with just a glance.
6. Divide drawers with drawer organizers or even just simple plastic bins.  It will help you keep rule number 4 and again, you won’t be rooting around in the drawers for what you need.
7. Use clear storage containers for food.  I love to store my bulk purchases in mason jars.  I can see exactly how much I have left and they look pretty lined up on the shelf.  Big glass canisters do the same for larger staples, like flour and sugar.
8. Baskets.  I love baskets, and they are pretty plentiful at the craft store and sometimes at the thrift store.  Big baskets are a great way to hide bread, or other items you’d like to keep on the counter, without looking like clutter.
9. Shoe organizers work great on the back of the door for snack items.  Throw granola bars, fruit leathers, etc. into the pockets and the kids can easily see and grab what they need {instead of digging through your pantry, and stirring up all your efforts}.
10. Hang kitchen pots and pans.  I have always wanted a hanging rack for my pots and pans.  It’s supposed to be so much better for the pots and pans, plus, it looks very culinary, if I do say so myself.  Best of all, it only takes up air space, not valuable drawer and shelf space.
11. Create command central.  This cool stick on chalkboard paper can be applied to the inside of your cabinets.  You can keep your grocery list, appointments, etc. written down {I recommend a chalk pen, they aren’t messy like actual chalk and the bright color against the black chalkboard paper makes me smile} and easily accessible, but also, close the cabinet door so that house guests don’t know all of your business.
12. Wall mounted spice racks are a great way to get things up off the counter, but still keep spices organized and handy.  If you have a tile backsplash from the counter to the cabinets, you can always mount them on the inside of cabinet doors.

How about you, do you have any more tips for getting organized in the kitchen?

~Mavis