Ingenious appliances, fancy utensils, the latest recipe ideas and the must-have gadgets. If you’re into cooking, the chances are, you also get excited about all things kitchen related too. Which means that sooner or later you’ll be asking, “Where can I put it all?”
Of course, we all love to have the latest gear, but nobody wants to cook in a cluttered work space. Here, then, are some tips to help you stay in control of the space in your kitchen.
Create a clear surface
Devices such as slow cookers, electric blenders and ice cream makers are becoming as commonplace in the modern kitchen as the humble kettle, toaster and microwave. If your work surfaces are vanishing as quickly as these appliances are appearing, you need to increase your storage space. Is there room in your kitchen for a freestanding unit or a peninsula that affixes to the existing installation? If not, create additional shelving on the work surfaces by adding tall units against the wall. Place the heavier items where you won’t have to lift them very far and try to store electric items close to power outlets for the same reason.
Protect your utensils – and yourself
Drawers, especially kitchen drawers, have a tendency to get severely overstuffed. Be ruthless here and allocate drawer space based on the size of your items. This will solve the problem of the (small) garlic press becoming buried under an avalanche of (large) potato mashers, ladles and spatulas. Another way to free up drawer space is to acquire a tasteful rack for day-to-day cutlery that can sit discreetly in a small corner and invest in an overhead bar from which to hang large utensils designed with hooked handles for that very purpose.
Plastic drawer organisers with separate compartments are a must for drawers containing sharp knives. Similarly, keep a first aid kit where you can get at it quickly and easily.
Put paperwork in its place
Like any other room, the kitchen can, if you’re not careful, get overrun with paperwork. It’s often home to cookery books, recipes and shopping lists, not to mention countless instruction manuals and warranties for your white goods and other appliances. If possible, set aside a specific storage space for these, or erect some shelves on the wall. Using your computer or smartphone for storing recipes or using cookery apps will help you minimise paper-based clutter even more.
Tips provided by Big Yellow Self Storage to help cooks control clutter in the kitchen.