How to organize your kitchen?

Trends toward smaller homes and affordable living spaces mean that kitchen organization is more important than ever. While it may sometimes be necessary to reduce the amount of dishes and tableware you use, there are many ways to organize and declutter the space you have. Here are five creative organizing ideas to help you organize even the most cluttered kitchen.

Use vertical space to hang kitchen utensils

If storage is scarce, remember that tall walls can do wonders for kitchen organization, and a few simple modifications can open up cabinet space and organize your kitchen utensils. Quick upgrades, like magnetic strips that hold knives or open shelves for pots and pans, make it easier to access your cooking and baking utensils. A pot rack hanging over your kitchen island is another innovative way to organize, providing plenty of space to hang pots and pans and lids. Perforated kitchen panels are another wall-mounted storage solution that makes it easy to organize items that might otherwise disorganize your countertops.

Add hooks and brackets to every hidden surface

Letting your doors and other unconventional kitchen surfaces work double duty will help you organize and open tons of new drawers, pantries and countertops in your kitchen. Installing hooks, baskets and bars in or under cabinets makes it easy to hang pots, lids and dish towels out of sight, while hanging shelves and spice racks keep your ingredients and other kitchen utensils within reach. Organizing dry goods and cleaning supplies is simple and intuitive with over-the-door racks for the pantry or kitchen door, and magnetic tool holders can be attached to a metal backsplash or refrigerator.

Navigating kitchen drawers with dividers

Nothing is more frustrating than trying to extract the pan or utensil you need from a crowded drawer where everything is stored in bulk. Fortunately, there are a variety of handy additions designed to provide durable, clutter-free kitchen storage. Insert drawer organizers to organize food and kitchen utensils. The idea is to separate storage into convenient compartments and categories that are equally easy to access and maintain.

Create a smooth flow with mobile storage

When you're short on cabinet space, flexible kitchen storage is your best bet. For example, setting your table at mealtime is a breeze when you store your dishes and utensils in cabinets with pull-out shelves. Large appliances also benefit from this storage technique. A swivel tray is a handy addition that helps keep your kitchen organized by rotating to provide quick access to everything you need. To keep your baking supplies at the front of the line, consider a kitchen cart. Most kitchen carts have built-in shelves to help eliminate clutter in compact areas and small kitchens, and some even have wheels so you can move them where they'll be most useful.

Free up storage space with containers

Storage is just as much a part of your kitchen as your cookware and appliances, but if you have a small kitchen, it's a good idea to reuse jugs and jars for any extra storage space you might need. Jugs keep your pantry and countertop from becoming overcrowded and provide easy access to your most used cooking and baking tools. Consider storing items in clear containers that not only organize your fridge, but keep food visible, fresh and free from accidental cross-contamination.