Good kitchen organization means making the kitchen into the functional room it's supposed to be. You cook in the kitchen. So your first goal when organizing the kitchen is to streamline cooking processes. You want efficiency and ease when cooking so it's a smooth, enjoyable experience for you.
The second major thing you do in the kitchen is store food. So your second kitchen organization goal is to be able to see at a glance what's in your kitchen food cabinets or pantry and what needs to be replenished. Plus you want to store food so it stays sealed properly and fresh.
Kids Cubby Storage
Third, you clean up after cooking and eating in the kitchen. And this is a tiring task as it is so make it as quick and easy as possible to do.
Finally, you might eat in the kitchen. But you won't find too many kitchen organization rules that apply to this task since this is mostly just about enjoying the end product from cooking.
So how do you meet the first three kitchen organization goals?
First, permanently remove anything from the kitchen that doesn't belong there. This might include book bags, purses, coats, books or any other item you or family members regularly set on kitchen counters or on the table. Do not ever bring these items back into the kitchen. Make permanent homes for these type items in your foyer or entryway halls and closets using cubbies, baskets, containers or over-the-door plastic pocket organizers.
Now start streamlining your cooking area. Put items you most use when cooking near the work counter and stove and oven. This will be items that you use every day. If you don't use the blender every day, why is it in your prime counter work spot? Because it looks pretty isn't a good organizational reason. If you do use that measuring cup most days, why do you have to walk across the room to a far cabinet to retrieve it? Put it in the cabinet above your cooking preparation area.
Take a good look at what's in your prime cooking and work area now. Decide what needs to move into that area and what needs to move out of the area, while still remaining somewhere in the kitchen. You also may find a few kitchen items that are one too many, such as 10 frying pans and eight spatulas. Get rid of the excess items by donating them.
For your second goal of storing food so you can view it a glance and replenish items as needed you can do things like turn all the food items in your kitchen food closet so that labels are facing you. Also cluster these dry goods into similar groups of items such as vegetables in one section and can soup in another. Empty multiple boxes of the same pastas and rice into translucent plastic storage containers.
Also, you might want to place a magnetic basket on your fridge with a pad and pencil in it. Use it to jot down items you use the last of in the kitchen. When it's time to make a trip to the supermarket, you'll know just what you need.
Your third goal in the kitchen is clean-up. Keep your kitchen clean-up items such as dishwasher detergent, scrubber pads, gloves and more under the sink in a single pull out utility caddy. Use two if necessary. And don't "steal" items such as the cleanser back and forth between rooms. Get a separate cleaning caddy for the bathroom cleaning supplies.
Remember, kitchen organization is all about putting "function" back into this work space and streamlining the organization to suit your functional tasks. Making using your kitchen convenient, efficient, and even relaxing.