It’s an all-too-common problem. The kitchen is one of the most practical and utility-driven rooms in the entire home. As such, we tend to spend a lot of time working in there, mostly on food prep and cleaning stuff. However, the tools that we use to do that, as well as utensils, cookware, cleaning items, and more, tend to build up over time. This can all turn into a tidal wave of clutter that can threaten to overwhelm the whole kitchen. So, what can you do to turn that wave back?
Downsize what you don’t need
We all tend to keep hold of things for longer than we probably should. This applies to kitchen utensils, cleaning supplies, and even entire appliances. You might have used that coffee machine a lot, once upon a time, but if you spend more time drinking tea from a kettle then you have to question whether it should really be there. You don’t necessarily need to throw away things that you haven’t been using lately, either. You can instead use temporary storage, putting it away so that you open up the space for stuff that you do need at well. However, when it comes to cleaning supplies, it pays to audit them every couple of months or so as they tend to gather up quickly and easily.
Verticality is your best friend
When we’re talking about clutter, we’re usually talking specifically about the items that tend to sit on top of your countertops, removing the practical space that you might otherwise need for food prep and cooking. To open up more of that horizontal space, you might instead want to think about how you’re going to use your vertical space, instead. For instance, if you don’t have any cupboards above a workspace in the kitchen, could it be a good idea to fit a shelf there instead so you don’t have to keep as much on the counter? If you have a knife block taking up a lot of space, could you instead use a magnet strip on the wall?
It’s in the corner of your mind
If there’s one space that so frequently goes underused compared to most, then it has to be the corners. It’s understandable, these spaces aren’t often the most practical when it comes to offering storage space, but that can be changed. For instance, floor corners could be used for things like wicker baskets that can be used to tuck away cleaning supplies and lesser-used utensils until you have a need for them. Corners spaces on your worktops can also be used to host vertical trays with shelves that connect from corner to corner, offering you the use of the space that wouldn’t otherwise be there. Be creative with your corners.
Boost your storage space
Aside from trying to find more ways to store the items that you need, you should also look at the actual storage spaces you’re relying on. Could their size be improved in one way or another? Your cupboards, cabinets, and drawers all have their limits, but there could be ways to remove those limits or at least shift them a little in your favor. If you’re already planning renovations, then making changes to standard cabinet sizes can offer you a lot more room. Otherwise, you can look at choices such as removing the doors from cupboards so that you have just a little more space to store things on the shelves inside of them.
Make a bigger kitchen
It might sound like a simple solution, but it’s not. Most major renovations that would increase the size of your kitchen, whether by knocking down a wall, reorganizing your counter space, or even extending the room, are all going to cost you quite a bit. However, if you’re finding yourself having trouble finding the space you need amongst a growing family, it might be an investment work making. After all, aside from the practical applications, a larger kitchen can also offer some real financial gains on top of the house value. If you can’t increase the size of the kitchen itself, you might want to think about getting rid of the dining room aspect of it to make more storage space.
The kitchen may have an image of being a cluttered, constantly slightly untidy space, but that doesn’t have to be the truth of it at all. With the tips above, you can keep clutter under control and enjoy a more spacious and relaxing space with ease.
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