One of my goals this year is to bring organization to most of the rooms in our house. I used to be an organized person, but lately with all the projects I get myself into, that organization has been less than desired.
The kitchen is one of the spaces that easily gets out of whack. Since it's the place we love to spend our time in, obviously it gets messy very fast.
This is how the kitchen looks when I've presented to you, this picture below was taken during the holidays.
It looks like the perfect kitchen, but you know, it's a small kitchen, well, a very small kitchen and of course is not perfect. The biggest trouble I have is storage space.
I have to store all of my utensils in only three drawers, and as you can see in the picture below, they don't look good. Drawer No. 2 is my biggest embarrassment! :/
The one in the kitchen island stores most of the silverware we use daily, it's somewhat organized, but I feel like it can be improved. I'm already hating those plastic dividers. Can you see all that wasted space on the left?
UPDATE: The drawer in the kitchen island is done! I love how it looks now, and it stores way more items than with this configuration below. You can check that update right HERE.
However, the space that keeps on bugging me is the cabinet above the fridge, it's always been this big mess and wasted space all at the same time. I need to fix this soon!
ONE MORE UPDATE: This cabinet -above the fridge- was also organized. :) you can check how it looks now right HERE.
Oh well, I feel better now. It's a little secret I kept. I promise I'm going to work on that. ;)
But on another note, not everything is a big jumble mess. I feel happy and proud with some other projects I've tackled around the kitchen and I know you might like to incorporate those into your own.
1. Install pull out shelves in pantry. This project was done a year ago and I had no trouble at all with it. I can find any goods in there and it has stayed pretty much organized all the time.
2. Install a plate rack inside a cabinet. In order to install the plate rack I had to get rid of the cabinet's door, I have to tell you I haven't missed it a bit. In fact it opened up the space. My kids can grab the plates even better than before when they were stacked on top of each other.
3. I haven't done this, but while editing this picture I proved myself I need to add an extra shelf to store more of the short glasses in this cabinet.
4. Build display racks not only to have regular plates handy on your countertop where young kids can grab them easily, but you can also place these racks inside cabinets to store the bake-ware (see the above picture).
5. A utensil canister is kind of a necessity in small kitchens like mine. Wooden spoons, whisks, spatulas, they all have to go there.
6. A knife block de-clutters drawers. I got mine at a thrift store for only a couple of bucks.
7. Food canisters on the counter are not only stylish but functional at freeing space from your pantry.
8. Add a shelf extension to your kitchen island.
9. Install kitchen sink tip-outs. At first I thought on keeping the dreaded sponge out of sight in this space, but didn't like it there. Instead the two little trays store the can opener, vegetable peeler and brushes, the other tray stores eye glass cleaning supplies.
The sponge got its nice drying rack right there inside the sink. ;)
10. In order to start de-cluttering the drawers I got the measuring cups and spoons out of there. A big wooden ruler was cut into three pieces and painted...
Eye hooks were then attached.
And here I'm installing them on the cabinet door. My daughter was laughing at me when she snap this pic, according to her, I was ready to burn my butt. :D
The On the Cabinet Door Measuring cups and Spoons Storage is done!
How about you? What's the biggest messy spot in your kitchen?
Christina, no need to look down in shame over that drawer, we all have "that" drawer. When you find a solution for above the fridge cabinet let me know. i use mine for baskets .
ReplyDeleteChristina,
ReplyDeleteYou always have the very best ideas, going to pin this one!
Jemma
Great ideas! I have a few drawers that look like that. I thought that was normal lol.
ReplyDeleteQue grandes ideas Cristina, en la cocina es tan importante el orden como la limpieza, tus consejos son muy prácticos .
ReplyDeleteUn abrazo
I just made an offer on a house and IF I get it, I get to create a whole new kitchen since I will be turning the existing kitchen into a to.die.for laundry room...anywho, I love all these ideas...great suggestions! BTW, I am dying over your outfit...only because I thought I was the ONLY person who DIYed in (what looks like) my pajamas...lol!!!
ReplyDeleteJust finished a major de-cluttering...linens/meds/bathroom and kitchen. Found 1/2 gal wide mouth canning jars to store dry goods like flour and sugar..the whole process has been quite gratifying. Would love to do your measuring spoon/cup project (I work at Home Depot), but don't have the nerve to drill holes in my beautiful cherry wood cabinets. Any other suggestions for adhesion that wouldn't damage the wood?
ReplyDeleteI use the clear, mini-sized Command hooks inside my pantry; they work great!
DeleteBeck, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you! How exciting it all sounds like. - I guess that's the uniform for us diy'ers, comfy and warm these days and topping it off with inside-out husband's socks! :)
ReplyDeleteNancy in novato, I wish I had the space to store all my dry goods in canning jars, beautiful! For the measuring spoon/cup project I think attaching the strips of wood with double-sided tape would work great.
ReplyDeleteI found out there's kind of a rattling sound each time I open the door, I'm getting used to open it slowly. Anyways it's way better than having them inside the drawer.
I wish my kitchen was half as neat as yours! I feel like I have so much wasted spacec in my kitchen (we have two sets of glass doored cabinets so I hate putting anything in there that doesn't look good)
ReplyDeleteYours looks amazing though!
xoxo, SS
www.TheSouthernStylista.blogspot.com
You inspire me Cristina! Your kitchen is fantastic just the way it is but I am looking forward to all of your organizational ideas.
ReplyDeleteI seriously need to do what you did with your measuring spoons Cristina!
ReplyDeleteHola Cristina ! Que buenas ideas psra tener toda la cocina organizada ,, me gusto mucho la idea de los cajones de la despensa , el rack de platos y el colgador de cucharas de distinto tamaño
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I love your measuring hangers and the picture of you installing them you are so cute! If you saw my drawers you would feel really good about your number 2 drawer. Seriously! :) I have been needing to do some serious organizing projects in my kitchen for a while, in fact your pull out pantry shelves have been on my list I am glad to know they have stayed organized...Pinned!
ReplyDeleteI love the shelf at the end of the island. Your white china in there is lovely. The hooks for your measuring cups and spoons is fabulous.
ReplyDeleteWow ~ when can I schedule you to come over and organize my kitchen! What a fantastic job you have done. I really love your pantry too.
ReplyDeleteBig Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
Above my Refrigerator I opted to not have doors. I use it for kitchen décor and lg. pieces like my big red lobster pot that I don't use to often. I love having that extra decorating space.
ReplyDelete