Looking to streamline your life (and your kitchen)? You'll find many opportunities to do both by way of a redesigned kitchen. You might think you need to develop new habits, but you’ll find that your established work style is likely just fine if your kitchen is organized to suit you. You will be amazed at how smooth things can run in your kitchen with these solid organization strategies.

Where You Use Stuff Is A Great Place to Store it

The best way to arrange kitchen equipment and dinnerware is near where you use it. Put the dishes next to the dishwasher, pots, and pans next to the stove, and so on. This will make life in the kitchen easier. It will also help you to quickly identify the items you're not using on a regular basis, the ones you may not need at all, and the ones you may be able to store somewhere else. The things you use most often should be stored closest to the work counters.

Alternatively, if you find yourself reaching for the juicer all the way across the counter several times a day, perhaps it’s misplaced and needs to be moved closer to your working counter. This is, of course, trial and error but within a week or so of paying attention to where things are you should be able to identify where improvements can be made for maximum efficiency.

Drawers and storage work best from the inside out

To make your kitchen work well, you also want to focus on storage. Focus less on how the inside of your drawers look and more on how they function. How many times have you opened a kitchen drawer only to find a giant pile of unidentifiable utensils? Drawers have all kinds of organizational tools and sections within them. There’s no reason a junk drawer should literally be a “pile of junk” when it can be an organized sectioned grouping of different tools and gadgets. There are so many options to try including adjustable and roll-out shelves, drawer dividers, and even vertical tray dividers. Organize from the inside out.

Hang Your Pots and Pans

It’s not the look for everyone, but it does work in some kitchens and it’s a huge space saver that can also make for a great aesthetic. Hang your pots and pans from hooks, a pegboard or a rack. They’re easy to grab and use this way. They don’t take up a lot of real estate in drawers and cupboards and can look rustic and pretty hanging in your kitchen.

Go for Height

Don’t overlook height above shelves and in other areas, that’s prime storage space for dishes, bowls, and other items. Use the full length of the space in the kitchen. A great place to store nested mixing bowls or other less often used items would be on an upper shelf above countertops. You’d have access to them for those times when you do need them, and they’d look pretty sitting out on display. You’ll be able to take advantage of the full space of your kitchen without cluttering up lower areas where people sit and eat.

Add a Hanging Barn Door

Finally, a hanging/sliding barn door is a great way to add style and a place to cover hideaway storage. If you use the BlackboardBarn Door, you’ll be bringing a chalkboard into your kitchen which adds efficiency when cooking, preparing for recipes, even keeping little hands busy while you work. Have questions about this? Contact us, we’d love to help you streamline your kitchen with the addition of a barn door--we have so many to choose from to match any interior design style.

A streamlined kitchen is a joy to work and be in, so we hope these tips help you to find your blissful kitchen space, where the family gathers and your kitchen becomes the heart of the home.