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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.

• 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.)

• 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.)

• 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)

• 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)?

• 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

• 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 Ramona Creel, all rights reserved-- you are welcome to reprint any article, but you MUST include this resource box.

Ramona Creel is a modern Renaissance woman and guru of simplicity -- traveling the country as a full-time RVer, sharing her story of radically downsizing, and inspiring others to regain control of their own lives. As a Professional Organizer and Accountability Coach, Ramona will help you create the time and space to focus on your true priorities -- clearing away the clutter other obstacles and standing in the way of that life you've always wanted to be living. As a Professional Photographer, Ramona captures powerful images of places and people as she travels. And as a travel writer, social commentator, and blogger, she shares her experiences and insights about the world as we know it. 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. And be sure to follow her on Twitter and on Facebook.

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