1. Be ruthless - get rid of things you don't need
There is no point in hoarding unused kitchen appliances just for the sake of it – it will only clutter up your surfaces and prevent you from getting organised. Once you've done this, only keep the items you use on a regular basis out – less used appliances can be put into base cabinets with pull-out drawers for easy access.
If you're unsure whether or not to get rid of some smaller items, invest in wire pull-out baskets that fit into cabinets to put them in: these are a great way of storing items which you may not necessarily use often or want out on display, but which are still easily accessible.
2. Organise your drawers – a great starting point
Organising your drawers is incredibly easy – simply invest in different types of organisers which fit comfortably into the drawers.
Store your cutlery in cutlery trays – choose one with as many dividers as possible to make maximum use of storage space – and take all your most frequently used cooking utensils out of the drawers and place them in a utensil holder like a large jar or pot near the hob.
Another way of organising your drawers is to take out all the clingfilm, kitchen foil and greaseproof paper and to place them on roll holders. These can be attached to the inside door of cabinets or on walls for easy access.
3. Make the most of your cabinets
Organising your cabinets is a huge step on the way to making your kitchen as organised and functional as possible. Most wall-mounted cabinets come with interior shelves already built in (if yours don't, be sure to install some to maximise storage potential) – take advantage of this by placing plate racks and spice racks on them, which help you see and reach your crockery and herbs and spices easily.
Install pull-out wire baskets and sliding drawers into base cabinets for extra storage, and don't forget about corner cabinets – when fitted with carousels with swivelling shelves, they are a great storage space. Most importantly, make sure your most frequently used items in the kitchen are placed at the front of cabinets or shelves for quick and easy access.
Find out about fitting kitchen cabinets here
4. Don't underestimate hanging space
Hanging things is a great way of freeing up space on your work surfaces. Items like iron holders, tin openers and towel rails all come in wall-mountable models, which would make a difference to your drawer space. Invest in a stylish hanging bar to mount on the wall and place butchers hooks on it, from which you can hang saucepans. This not only looks great, but is also a practical way of organising your pots and pans.
Learn more about wall and workspace organisers
5. Stock up on jars and tins
Food packaging takes up a lot of unnecessary space in cupboards and drawers and is not always the most practical thing to store your food in. A good way of getting organised, saving space and helping products like coffee, tea, sugar, flour and pasta last longer is by storing them in airtight jars and tins. Invest in some which match the design of your kitchen for a stylish effect – for example, silver chrome tins for a modern, minimalist room or porcelain painted jars for a more traditional, classic look.
6. Think logically – store vertically
It makes much more sense to stack items like baking trays, chopping boards and saucepan lids vertically, where they can be easily seen and reached, rather than to lie them down flat, which is impractical and takes up unnecessary space. Buy a rack which is big enough for the items to be stacked on it vertically, but small enough that it still fits inside your kitchen cabinet.
7. Make a style statement with boxes and trays
If the idea of storing everything away appeals to you, invest in some chic boxes to line up along your kitchen work surface. Not only are storage boxes inexpensive and practical, they are also a good way of adding a touch of character to your kitchen, particularly if chosen to fit in with the overall design of the room.
Buy different sizes and stack them side-by-side in height order for an added impact. Placing a small tray on a counter is also a good way of keeping little things like door and cupboard keys all together in one place without getting lost.
8. Store like with like
To avoid confusion or added stress when preparing meals, it's important that certain things are stored together.
For example, store your all pots and pans near the oven; mugs, tea and coffee near the kettle; cleaning products underneath the sink; and microwave-safe containers in a cupboard by the microwave. This may seem trivial, but it will make things much simpler for you and your family when it comes to day-to-day kitchen tasks.
9. Be eco-friendly
Recycle old household products to help organise your kitchen, such as using old shoeboxes for storing biscuit cutters, candles and other small miscellaneous items you are not sure where to put. Also, invest in another bin for your recycling; this is eco-friendly and ensures your household waste will not build up quickly in one bin alone.
For more on recycling, see our Top 10 Green Tips
10. Last but not least, all the little extras
Don't forget about things like mug trees, baking sheet holders that fit inside cabinets frames and kitchen roll holders – little extras which could make all the difference in helping you to have a more organised kitchen.
Get more great storage ideas
See our range of kitchen organisers
More on organising your kitchen effectively: Layouts - getting yours right
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