Have you been putting off organizing your kitchen because you don’t want to spend an entire weekend doing it? Here's how to organize your kitchen in one day!
Have you been putting off organizing your apartment because you don’t want to spend an entire weekend doing it? For all of your procrastinators out there, don’t worry.
You’re not alone!
Organizing, especially when it’s not something you enjoy, can seem like an overwhelming task. But if you tackle one room at a time, it can be done in just a matter of hours.
Today we’re focusing on the kitchen, one of the most used rooms in any home. If you can be focused, diligent, and willing to make some quick decisions, you can get your kitchen organized faster than you may think.
Ready to learn how? Here’s how to efficiently organize your kitchen in one afternoon.
Clear Off Your Kitchen Countertops
The first step is to create a workspace, so start by clearing off your countertops. You’ll need that empty space when it comes time to clean out your cabinets, pantry, and refrigerator.
Get rid of anything that you don’t need or don’t want. That might be an old tea kettle, a Keurig that you don’t use anymore, or a cookie jar that you don’t need.
Once you’re left with the things you plan to keep, move them to another room so that they’re not in your way.
Empty Every Cabinet
With cleared countertops, it’s time to start emptying every cabinet. Take every single item out and place it on your empty counter. Now take a step back and look at what you have.
Do you really need it all?
Get rid of things you don’t need, have never used, or simply don’t want. Set aside anything you can donate and trash anything that’s damaged or unusable.
Organize Cabinet Items by Category (And Only Keep What Fits!)
Once you’ve whittled down what you need to store in your cabinets, it’s time to start putting it all away. The easiest and most efficient way to do so is to keep similar items together.
Stack all of your dishes on the same shelf. Put all glasses and drinkware together. Store serving platters and bakeware in the same cabinet.
Try to keep your most frequently used items at eye level. The things that you only use on rare occasions can go in those cabinets above your fridge that are difficult to access.
As you start putting things away, you may find that you don’t have room for it all.
And here’s where you may have to make some quick decisions:
If you don’t have room for it, don’t keep it! Put it in a donation box and give it to someone who can actually use it.
At this point, your countertops should be empty again. Everything should either be tossed away, set aside for donation, or put back into a cabinet.
Empty Your Drawers
It’s time to tackle your drawers, and you can follow the same method you used for cleaning out your cabinets. Empty every drawer, throw away anything you don’t need, and get rid of anything that doesn’t belong.
Organizing a kitchen in one afternoon is absolutely possible. But it helps if you gather some supplies and organizational tools before you start.
If you know you’re going to organize your kitchen this weekend or next week, jump on Amazon and order some drawer organizers. Utensil trays aren’t just for forks and knives. They’re also useful for drawers that hold a variety of small, miscellaneous items.
With utensil trays in your drawers, you can put everything back in a neat, organized manner. This will make it much easier to locate items you need in the future.
Clean Out the Pantry
Now that you’ve organized your cabinets and drawers, it’s time to organize your food.
Start with the pantry.
Empty your shelves and put everything on your counters, grouping like items together as you go.
If you come across expired items, throw them in the trash.
Have items that are still safe to use but that you don’t think you’ll ever eat? Put them in a box and donate them to a food pantry or a local shelter.
Once you’ve cut down on your stockpile, it’s time to start putting items back where they belong.
Group pastas together. Stack cereals on the same shelf. Put baking products and spices together. Keeping similar items together is the key to organization!
Empty That Fridge
Cleaning your refrigerator may seem like an exhausting task, but it’s an essential part of having a neat, organized kitchen.
Follow the same method as the pantry.
Clear everything out. Throw away old, expired items. Put items back in an orderly fashion.
Like your cabinets, it’s best to organize your refrigerator with your most frequently used items at eye level.
Organize Your Countertops
If you’re following our method step by step, you’re at a great point in the process. In fact, you’re almost done!
Your fridge and pantry are organized. Your cabinets and drawers are neatly arranged. The only thing left to do is to arrange the items on your countertop.
The less you can see, the more organized your kitchen will appear to be. And that means that your countertop should only hold the things that you use on a regular basis.
Think of your countertops as prime real estate. Reserve that space for the most important things.
The coffee pot, the toaster, the knife block, and the cutting board that you use every single day belong on the counter. Those choppers, blenders, and mixers that you only use once in a while are better stored in a cabinet.
Minimize the clutter on your countertops, and your kitchen will instantly look better!
Conclusion
Ready to organize your kitchen in one afternoon? Here’s what you need to do:
- Clear off your countertops and empty every cabinet and drawer.
- Get rid of items you don’t need or don’t use.
- Donate items that someone else can use.
- Empty your pantry and fridge and throw away old, expired items.
- Organize your cabinets, fridge, and pantry by grouping like items together.
- Rearrange your countertops, keeping them as clutter-free as possible.
Now that you know how to organize your kitchen in a few hours, there’s no reason not to. So stop procrastinating and get to it.
A few hours from now, your kitchen will look better and function more efficiently than you ever thought it could!
Author Bio:
Caitlin Sinclair is the Property Manager at The Charlie.
