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	Organizing Your Kitchen

	By Ramona Creel

Feel free to use this tip sheet / checklist as you tackle your own ""do-it-yourself"" organizing projects. If you would like to REPRINT or DISTRIBUTE this information, please click here for reprinting instructions.

FIVE CENTERS

set up a "station" for each of the five basic kitchen activities
keep your equipment nearest the appropriate center
making it easier for you to perform kitchen duties
cleaning (sink, dishwasher, trashcan, soap, rags, sponges, etc.)
cooking (stove, pots, pans, microwave, toaster, etc.)
food prep (countertop, mixing bowls, blender, measuring cups, etc.)
food storage (refrigerator, Tupperware, canned foods, etc.)
serving (dishes, linens, candles, flatware, glasses, etc.)

FOLLOWING THE TRIANGLE THEORY

pay attention to your movement from one center to the next
you should be able to reach major appliances in only a few steps
set up your kitchen as a triangle
moving from stove to sink to refrigerator
keep these paths clear of obstacles (trash cans, dog dish, etc.)

HONEY, IS THIS GOOD?

remember that even non-perishable foods go bad
go through your cabinets and clean out
get rid of anything rancid, old, stale, or hairy
follow some basic guidelines about how long food stays edible
canned foods (2-5 years)
cereal (6 months)
pasta (1 year)
spices (6-12 months)
flours (3-6 months)
grains and legumes (1 year)
dried herbs (6 months)
condiments (1 year)

KITCHEN DESIGN

ask some questions that influence the design of your kitchen
how often do you shop for groceries?
do you buy in bulk?
what do you normally buy (more boxed, frozen, fresh, etc.)?
do you eat in the kitchen or in the dining room?
is the kitchen a social and family center?
do you have need of a computer in the kitchen?
do you want a TV or CD player in the kitchen?
how many meals a day do you cook?
how many people do you cook for?
do you do much large-scale entertaining?
do you prepare many elaborate or complicated meals?
do you bake often?
do you want a "pass-through" to the dining room?
what items do you use most frequently in your kitchen?
how many recipe books do you have?
how often do you use your recipe books?
do you have any physical limitations?
are you tall or short (determines high and low storage)?

ORGANIZING YOUR CABINETS

limit yourself to one category of paraphernalia per area
ex: glasses on one shelf, dishes on another, appliances separate
avoid storing food and cookware together in the same cabinet
group your foods together in categories for easy access
ex: canned vegetables, baking goods, breakfast foods
alphabetize spices in a rack to make them easier to locate
keep small packets (gravy, Jell-O, sauces) together in a basket
ex: canned vegetables, baking goods, breakfast foods

TRANSFORM YOUR EXISTING STORAGE SPACE

storage tools can do wonders with your current spaces
stepped shelving makes use of the back space in a deep cabinet
drawer dividers keep utensils under control
rectangular storage containers take less space than round ones
choose containers that stack
line up pot lids and flat cookware in a vertical rack
use overhead bins, cup hooks, and racks for hanging storage
use pullout racks and stacking bins to make use of dead space
save your counters for items you use daily

Copyright 2000-2009 Ramona Creel -- you are welcome to reprint any article, but you MUST include this resource box.

Ramona Creel is a Professional Organizer and NAPO Golden Circle Member. A former Social Worker, she has always enjoyed helping people find the resources and solutions they need to improve their lives. Ramona now travels the country as a full-time RVer, sharing her story of simplicity with everyone she meets. She leads by example -- having worked for more than 10 years as a Professional Organizer, and having radically downsized and simplified her own life as a full-time RVer. Ramona now considers herself a "Renaissance Woman" -- bringing all of her passions together into one satisfying career. As a "Virtual Organizer", she can create a customized organizing plan for your home or office. As a "Simplicity and Accountability Coach ", Ramona provides a proven program for making every area of your life a little bit easier -- perfect for those who want to make the time and space to focus on their true priorities. As a Professional Photographer, Ramona captures powerful images of places and people as she travels. And as a freelance writer and blogger, she shares organizing techniques, travel tips, and social commentary with others. You can see all these sides of Ramona -- read her articles, browse through her photographs, and even hire her to help get your life in order -- at www.RamonaCreel.com. You can also follow her on Twitter, check out her Facebook profile.

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