Organizing is easy when you have few things and lots of space, which is why organizing my new kitchen was not difficult. So, there’s nothing to be proud of here, nothing to boast about, or show off. A monkey could have organized this kitchen. And so, I simply show because it’s fun and I love organizing, especially a kitchen. To me, it’s like enjoying a jigsaw puzzle. I ask questions like, “Where’s the best place to put this item? How do I make this kitchen intuitive and efficient?”
Sometimes my husband has a few good solutions, although I don’t like to admit it! It’s funny how homeownership sets you up to have the most ridiculous arguments ever with your spouse. We are currently entrenched in a war over the blinds right now: he says we should always keep them up, and I say we lower them at night (we never had blinds before–always stuck to curtains). So every day we undo each other’s actions. Pretty dumb, huh? But you’ll be amazed at the silly and insignificant arguments that arise when you own a home… or when you merely try to live with another human being.
I placed the coffee maker and electric kettle near the sink, and placed the coffee goods on the first shelf in the cabinet next to the sink, and above the coffee maker and electric kettle. The second shelf holds tea goods, and the shelves above house party goods, disposable plates and napkins, and seasonal towels (things we rarely use, which are stored up high).
I organized all the glasses in the cabinet second closest to the sink, because to me, that makes the most logical sense. I grab a glass when I’m near the sink. Top shelf houses all the less frequently used alcoholic drink glasses, and then the wine glasses, then water glasses, then bottom shelf (closest to coffee maker) are coffee and tea mugs.
The middle cabinet (most frequently used) stores plates and bowls.
Sharp knives are up high because we don’t frequently use these knives (other knives are in drawers), and baking goods, naturally, are stored right next to the oven.
Spices and cookbooks are stored in the cabinet right of the oven, next to the fridge.
In the lazy Susan lower corner cabinets, pots and pans are separated. Baking sheets and baking pans are stored in the deep drawer near the oven.
Serving trays, plates, and carafes are stored in the upper shelves near the refrigerator. The items I use rarely are stored on the top shelves. I also organized serving trays and plates by style (so all the seasonal/holiday serving platters are stored on the same shelf).
Fancy dishes, candlesticks, vases are stored together in a cabinet we use infrequently. Below, those fancy dishes in action!
The pantry (tall cabinet right of fridge) holds our dry food and most used appliances. (NOT PICTURED: appliances we rarely use are in the cabinet above the oven: waffle maker, hand-held mixer, etc.)
There are only four long drawers in the kitchen, and they store all the silverware and baking and cooking utensils. (NOT PICTURED: narrow drawers where rags, towels, oven mitts are organized.)
This Mrs. Meyer’s set is a lovely gift from my best friend. Isn’t that so sweet? I love these products!
Under the sink is where I store my cleaning products. This might change if and when small children make their way into my life.
As usual, when organizing my kitchen I try to keep things logical. I place similar items near each other or near an appliance where they are most used. As my husband says, I follow the “cow paths” and figure out the most efficient place to store certain items. ***Keep like with like, in logical, easy places, and make sure everything is visible.*** If you can’t see it, you won’t use it, or you’ll run out and buy another, wasting time and money. Don’t keep what you don’t use or don’t like.
That’s my kitchen! Hope you enjoyed. Now, the question is, how long will this last when/if I have kids? Who knows. That’s why I revel in the tidiness now!
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