Organize Your Kitchen: Utilize Countertop Space Wisely

The kitchen can be the hardest room to organize, since it has so many items that can't be conveniently stored in other rooms of the house. It is, however, one of the most important rooms to have organized since it is used every day and often serves as the central hub of a household. It can be overwhelming to tackle the kitchen in one go, so start by making sure that your countertop space is used wisely.

Chances are you wished you had more counter space. Since remodels are expensive, you need to work smartly with the room that you do have. Having everything you want on the counter while maintaining sufficient clear space to do cooking prep work can be hard to juggle, but it is doable. Start by evaluating each appliance that currently sits on the counter. Do you use it every day? If so, it makes sense to keep it there. Common appliances that fall into this category include the microwave and the coffeepot.

Items that aren't used every day should be stored in a cabinet where you have easy access to them. Store things overhead that are easy to remove and lightweight. Heavier and larger items work better in lower cabinets. If the item is especially heavy, you might prefer to leave it on the counter unless you have lifting cabinet that can lift the appliance to counter-height.

You might also want to look at under-the-counter versions of simple appliances and other basics. You can find some things, such as can openers, that mount under cabinets. If you are looking to replace these items anyway, it's a good way to upgrade and save more space. If you aren't in the market for anything, you might want to hold out, unless space is a more pressing concern than budget for you. These things can be fairly inexpensive and they are convenient.

Of course, not every appliance in your kitchen is going to make the cut. Anything that you don't use should be gotten rid of. If you have knives that are too dull to use, either sharpen them or throw them out. If you have a popcorn maker and haven't used it in the past year, sell it. Specialty appliances can be great if you use them regularly, but often when the novelty wears off we end up storing them in the cabinet. If you don't use it, lose it. Later down the road you can always get another one if necessary. And it will probably be better than the one you have.

After you have cleared off your kitchen countertops, arrange the items that are left for optimal efficiency. For example, the coffeemaker should be near the sink with mugs, creamer, and sugar near by. Small things like this will save you time every morning.

Don't be overwhelmed by your kitchen when you are organizing your home. Follow the simple steps above and you will be utilizing your available counter space in the best way possible. Cooking will be more relaxing with the extra space you've made available.