10 Tips for Designing a Kitchen That’s Easy to Keep Organised
A professional home organiser shares her favourite design ideas to help keep your kitchen clutter-free
As the heart of the home, the kitchen is where we gather with friends and family to cook, eat, celebrate and socialise. Spending so much time in the kitchen also means it can easily become messy and disorganised. Fortunately, you can design your space so it’s easy to find what you need – and return items to their rightful places.
Read on for 10 ways to create a tidy, clutter-free kitchen.
Read on for 10 ways to create a tidy, clutter-free kitchen.
2. Think about island storage
Many of my clients prefer generous-sized kitchen islands with bar seating, because they entertain frequently and enjoy chatting with guests while preparing food. That means they may have to move bar stools to access island storage, depending on the design, which can be cumbersome.
Consider where your bar stools will be if you plan on incorporating storage into an island with lots of seating. Or try to store infrequently used items in the cabinets where there will be seating. (Also consider whether your kitchen has the square footage necessary to accommodate an expansive island. In some cases, a large island can impede traffic flow.)
More: Do I Have Room for a Kitchen Island?
Many of my clients prefer generous-sized kitchen islands with bar seating, because they entertain frequently and enjoy chatting with guests while preparing food. That means they may have to move bar stools to access island storage, depending on the design, which can be cumbersome.
Consider where your bar stools will be if you plan on incorporating storage into an island with lots of seating. Or try to store infrequently used items in the cabinets where there will be seating. (Also consider whether your kitchen has the square footage necessary to accommodate an expansive island. In some cases, a large island can impede traffic flow.)
More: Do I Have Room for a Kitchen Island?
3. Opt for large drawers instead of cupboards in base units
I recommend using large drawers beneath worktops instead of conventional cupboards with shelves. I like this option because access is so much easier. With drawers, you won’t need to stoop down to search for something hiding in the back of a lower cabinet. Also, items can be more easily organised and stored.
Keep in mind that drawers are more expensive than cabinets because of the additional internal hardware. However, depending on your budget, the added functionality may be worth the splurge.
Find a reviewed kitchen designer on Houzz today.
I recommend using large drawers beneath worktops instead of conventional cupboards with shelves. I like this option because access is so much easier. With drawers, you won’t need to stoop down to search for something hiding in the back of a lower cabinet. Also, items can be more easily organised and stored.
Keep in mind that drawers are more expensive than cabinets because of the additional internal hardware. However, depending on your budget, the added functionality may be worth the splurge.
Find a reviewed kitchen designer on Houzz today.
A pegboard with adjustable pegs at the bottom of a drawer, like this one, makes it easy to keep items organised and in place.
4. Reconsider open shelving
As a professional organiser, I recommend investing in traditional wall cabinets with doors for most of your upper storage. Unless everyone in your family is extremely organised, open shelves can quickly become cluttered and messy. Also, the items on shelves can become magnets for dust, grime and grease from cooking oil.
A small shelf area, as seen here, might be all you need to display a few favourite pieces.
As a professional organiser, I recommend investing in traditional wall cabinets with doors for most of your upper storage. Unless everyone in your family is extremely organised, open shelves can quickly become cluttered and messy. Also, the items on shelves can become magnets for dust, grime and grease from cooking oil.
A small shelf area, as seen here, might be all you need to display a few favourite pieces.
5. Choose solid doors for wall cupboards
Glass-fronted cabinets can be tempting, especially if you have beautiful glasses or dinnerware you want to display. However, cabinets can easily look cluttered if everything isn’t organised.
If you love this look, perhaps consider installing only a few glazed cabinets to display standout decor or kitchen items that aren’t used frequently.
Glass-fronted cabinets can be tempting, especially if you have beautiful glasses or dinnerware you want to display. However, cabinets can easily look cluttered if everything isn’t organised.
If you love this look, perhaps consider installing only a few glazed cabinets to display standout decor or kitchen items that aren’t used frequently.
6. Position your dishwasher for easy access to storage
In most kitchens, the dishwasher is conveniently located next to the sink to simplify loading. When laying out your space, also think about the ease of unloading clean dishes and cutlery. Consider where you’ll be standing when the dishwasher door is open and how easily you’ll be able to access drawers and cupboards.
Since emptying the dishwasher is a frequent task, convenient access to storage should be a priority. I’ve seen several kitchens where an open dishwasher door blocks access to storage for dinnerware and cutlery. Other kitchen layouts require walking across the room to put away dishes. Also make sure there’s plenty of space to stand at the sink when loading the dishwasher.
In most kitchens, the dishwasher is conveniently located next to the sink to simplify loading. When laying out your space, also think about the ease of unloading clean dishes and cutlery. Consider where you’ll be standing when the dishwasher door is open and how easily you’ll be able to access drawers and cupboards.
Since emptying the dishwasher is a frequent task, convenient access to storage should be a priority. I’ve seen several kitchens where an open dishwasher door blocks access to storage for dinnerware and cutlery. Other kitchen layouts require walking across the room to put away dishes. Also make sure there’s plenty of space to stand at the sink when loading the dishwasher.
7. Hide waste bins
I suggest including a pullout compartment to stash rubbish and recycling. Consider adding a green waste bin as well. This one, for instance, also includes a built-in cutting board on top. A handy opening allows food waste to easily be swept into the composting bin.
I suggest including a pullout compartment to stash rubbish and recycling. Consider adding a green waste bin as well. This one, for instance, also includes a built-in cutting board on top. A handy opening allows food waste to easily be swept into the composting bin.
8. Splurge on a walk-in pantry
If your budget and square footage allow it, I recommend splurging on a walk-in pantry, especially if you have children at home. Generally, shallow shelves make it easy to see and locate items quickly.
Think about installing a shallow worksurface with electrical outlets for small appliances. Your coffee-maker, toaster and other small appliances can live in the pantry permanently, eliminating visual clutter on your kitchen worktops.
If your budget and square footage allow it, I recommend splurging on a walk-in pantry, especially if you have children at home. Generally, shallow shelves make it easy to see and locate items quickly.
Think about installing a shallow worksurface with electrical outlets for small appliances. Your coffee-maker, toaster and other small appliances can live in the pantry permanently, eliminating visual clutter on your kitchen worktops.
9. Consider an appliance garage
If a walk-in pantry isn’t in your plans, an appliance garage might be a viable alternative. Small appliances, such as the toaster, blender and microwave, can be permanently stored on the worktop. In this kitchen, a handy door folds down to keep appliances out of sight when not in use.
Discover why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
If a walk-in pantry isn’t in your plans, an appliance garage might be a viable alternative. Small appliances, such as the toaster, blender and microwave, can be permanently stored on the worktop. In this kitchen, a handy door folds down to keep appliances out of sight when not in use.
Discover why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
10. Add a drop zone for post and paperwork
Incoming paper – post, homework, receipts and other documents – is one of the biggest causes of clutter for many of my clients. I recommend adding a drop zone to sort and organise incoming paper, if space allows.
Consider giving each household member an assigned file slot to temporarily store their documents. Put name labels on each slot, so papers can easily be sorted and retrieved.
Incoming paper – post, homework, receipts and other documents – is one of the biggest causes of clutter for many of my clients. I recommend adding a drop zone to sort and organise incoming paper, if space allows.
Consider giving each household member an assigned file slot to temporarily store their documents. Put name labels on each slot, so papers can easily be sorted and retrieved.
There are so many decisions to make when renovating a kitchen. I recommend selecting a pro team that listens and collaborates with you during the design process, so all your needs are addressed. An experienced team should be able to create a new kitchen that’s both beautiful and functional.
Tell us…
Which kitchen features help you stay organised? Share in the Comments.
Tell us…
Which kitchen features help you stay organised? Share in the Comments.
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Open-plan kitchens, which are open to the main living and dining spaces, are popular in many new and renovated kitchens. But when considering removing walls, bear in mind that you’ll also be eliminating storage space. Ensure there’s adequate storage elsewhere for all your kitchen items and food.