Organize + Energize: 7 Ways to Maximize Space in Your Kitchen for the Holidays
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
The holidays will be here soon. Are you cooking and entertaining this holiday season? Are you frustrated because you wish you could have more space in your kitchen? Keep your kitchen simple in nature and you’ll become more efficient and also reduce your stress levels during this festive time.
Here are 7 ways to maximize the space in your kitchen:
Get rid of the junk drawer. If you’re limited on drawer space in your kitchen, it’s time to get rid of the junk drawer. Most of the items in the junk drawer are usually duplicates of items that are stored in other areas of the home. It’s time to empty the drawer and free it up for items you grab on a regular basis. While you are getting rid of the junk drawer, also make a plan to get rid of the paper in the kitchen.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTCategorize. To become more efficient, keep your baking ingredients and accessories together. Categorize your food to make planning for the market a breeze.
Seasonal Items. Remove any items that you use on special occasions. Make room in a closet or the basement for these items. Store them in an organized fashion, arranged by holiday, on a shelving unit. It’s much easier to function in a kitchen when you only have to look at the items you use on a regular basis.
Appliances. Take inventory of the appliances you have stored in your kitchen. What are you using, what haven’t you used in years, and what is broken? If it’s an appliance that you only use maybe once or twice a year, think about storing it with your seasonal items.
Re-Organize. How long has it been since you took everything (yes, everything) out of the cabinets and drawers in your kitchen? Do you remember what is hiding in the back corners? You may have lived in your home for 10 years and haven’t re-organized things since you moved in. You have only added to the cabinets, but haven’t removed anything. It’s time to take everything out and re-organize. You won’t believe the space you can save once you take inventory and re-organize.
Do you really need it? While you are re-organizing, think about if you really need 20 drinking glasses or 15 mugs stored in your cupboard. How often and how many do you use on a weekly basis? Declutter and toss or donate what you no longer need.
Get creative. Once the kitchen is emptied, you can get a clear vision of what you own and how you want to function in the space going forward. You can’t get a clear vision if the cabinets are full and cluttered. Also, think about using wall space for storing items. Can you add a cabinet? Can you create a cubby space in the wall to use for extra storage? Get creative, stand in the kitchen and brainstorm for a little. The options are endless if you put a little effort into it.
If you’re planning on cooking and entertaining this holiday season, this is a great time to tackle this project. Streamline your kitchen and create systems to help you function better. Don’t let the stress of a disorganized kitchen add to any other holiday stress you’re carrying. Mark this project on your calendar, block off a few hours, tackle it and enjoy the results!
Kristin Carcieri-MacRae, is an organizing & efficiency expert and owner of Organizing in RI. Kristin teaches her clients that living an organized lifestyle will save them time and money, decrease their stress levels and help them become more efficient and productive. Her articles have been published in local and national magazines. Kristin's CD, Organizing Basics, is a 1-hour guide for the person who wants to get organized but doesn't know where to begin. She is also available for organizing workshops.
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