You may have seen the worldwide obsession that came about in Lockdown 2.0 about home organisation. Given many of us had plenty of time on our hands, it’s not surprising! The Netflix Series ‘Tidying Up with Marie Kondo’ had already proved popular and the following release of the hit series ‘The Home Edit’ cemented the trend. Here we share our favourite tips on kitchen organisation, so you can make the most of your storage space.
FAIL TO PLAN, PLAN TO FAIL
When designing your food storage, think about how much space you have now, how often you use the items you currently have and how much space you’re going to need in the future.
If you are struggling to fit everything in your current cupboards, either there isn’t enough space or there are too many things! An easy way to work out what to keep and what to ditch is to turn all of your items around. After 3-6 months, anything, still facing the wrong way around can go in the bin, creating more room for the things you actually use.
Our Showroom Manager Chris says, “it’s better to plan more (space) than you need currently…over time, items accumulate”. As families grow, so can the amount of food, crockery and appliances needed, so it’s a great idea to factor this in when designing your kitchen storage cupboards. It’s easier to buy things to fill a larder than find more space once a larder is full!
LET'S TAKE THIS ONE SHELF AT A TIME
When planning what goes where in your larder, it is easy to decide which food goes onto each shelf, and if you have kids, this is 100 times easier.
With food storage, keep the items you are happy for kids to grab at their level. For example, one of our customers keeps her son’s snacks on the bottom two shelves as this is easier for him to reach without over-stretching or having to move anything out of the way (read the full story here). This is also a great way to encourage kids to eat healthier food; only put what you want them to eat where they can reach it!
If there aren’t any children in the house to worry about, then your kitchen organisation may be slightly different. We suggest putting items on the lower shelves that aren’t food and that you don’t use a lot of the time. This could be baking bowls, mixers, pans, trays, etc. The heaviest items should go on the bottom shelf.
On waist/chest-height shelves, put the things you use every day. For many people, this is things like cereal, pasta, rice, and sauces, whilst those who are the Gordon Ramsey of their home have all their spices on this shelf.
Higher shelves should be used for less commonly used products or items you like to buy in bulk, to save time and money.
The top shelf is a world of its own because there are so many options! As it can be a little harder to reach, storage baskets are a great addition to this shelf. Alternatively, you could use a folding stool, which would sit neatly inside the larder doors when closed. The top shelf could also be a display shelf, for items with sentimental value, ornaments, vases or cookbooks.
Our designers are full of kitchen storage cupboard ideas, so use their expertise as much as possible. You cannot ask too many questions.
SUSTAINABLE STORAGE
Once you’ve decided what goes on what shelf, you need ways to ensure they stay neat and tidy. We are sure you have seen kitchen organisation ideas like these jars all over the internet, and they are an excellent way to keep your food items separate, sorted, and sealed. You can also take the jar and refill it at your nearest zero waste, refill shop (Zero on Fore Street in Exeter is excellent).
It’s worth making sure you buy good quality jars to ensure the seal is trustworthy. Also, take care when labelling each jar, making sure the wording is clear and labels/ink are long-lasting. We repurposed old Kilner jars and created labels using a free online template.
If your spices are causing stress, speak to one of our designers about spices racks that fit snugly inside larder doors. Perfectly measured, the jars will not jump around and the racks are made from natural wood and give the feel of an authentic, countryside kitchen. Purchase one set of glass spice jars and you need never buy another set. Simply clean and refill!
For even more kitchen organisation inspiration, visit our Instagram and Pinterest pages!
THINK DRAWERS, NOT JUST DOORS
If you’re an avid cupboard organiser, you’ll love this oak drawer partitioning system. Here we show a film & foil dispenser, knife block, cutlery and utensil compartments. However, the former can be swapped out for more utensil space or a spice holder. We recommend the knife block from a safety point of view but it also makes it much easier to select the correct knife for the job at hand. The film & foil dispenser is a game changer, giving these items a specific home rather than being thrown into a random drawer.
Looking for something more modern? These adjustable cutlery trays are included with every System Six kitchen, as standard, in Graphite or White. Place the horizontal dividers where you see fit, keeping the compartments as tight as possible, to minimise noise when opening the drawer.
For deeper drawers, we recommend these adjustable dividers. The divider that runs the entire width of the drawer can be placed as far forward or back as you wish, and the shorter dividers can be moved side to side as necessary. This system stops pans from rattling around and helps keep lids and pans united.
Brimming with kitchen organisation ideas? Find out which kitchen storage cupboard type will fulfill your needs. Go to Kitchen Storage.