If you've spent hours searching for the perfect tupperware lid, doubled the ingredients because you couldn't locate them in your pantry, or are battling to keep your kitchen even somewhat clean, it may be time to give your kitchen some love. Contrary to popular belief, you do not want a tremendous amount of space to have a functional kitchen - it is more about how you manage the area you do have!

Additionally, you do not need a complete makeover to eliminate clutter and improve your organization - just a few simple tips and tricks to get you started. Here are our recommendations for optimizing your space and creating a functioning kitchen space that you like being in!

Remove it and purge

To begin, it's critical to visually inspect every item in your kitchen and begin with a clean slate. Therefore, remove everything and analyze the damage!

Consider each item:

• Is it absolutely necessary? 
• Is it effective? 
• Is it anything I adore?

The third step might be really difficult, but keep in mind the objectives - to have a functioning area, to have as much counter space as possible, and to enjoy being in the kitchen. After sorting through your belongings, create a keep area, a throw section, and a donate section.

Conduct a Thorough Cleaning

Because you've removed everything from your cabinets and drawers, now is the ideal moment to wipe everything clean thoroughly. You'll be shocked at how good that feels, particularly when it's time to put everything back in its proper place.

Establish Your Zones

Before you begin reorganizing your kitchen, conduct an assessment of the overall space and divide cabinets and drawers into zones. The simplest method to accomplish this is to keep a notepad and pen nearby and jot down everything, including which items belong in which zones. This is an illustration of what that would look like:

Zone 1: Daily (easiest to access, close to dishwasher if possible)
Plates, bowls, basic glasses, cups, serveware, and cutlery are all available.

Zone 2: Cooking pots, pans, dishes, chopping boards, spatulas, wooden spoons, measuring cups/spoons, mixing bowls, and any other baking goods, etc.

Zone 3: Dry goods in the pantry, spices, and larger kitchen appliances, etc.

Zone 4: Café et bar
Coffee cups, pods, and accessories, coffee maker or keurig, barware such as wine glasses, shot glasses, and other glassware, and bar accessories, among others.

Zone 5: Cleaning supplies for beneath the sink, extra hand soap, waste bags, and recycling, etc.

The fifth zone could contain one-of-a-kind objects, such as serveware that you generally only use when entertaining or unique pottery/keepsakes. Our advice, however, is to preserve only those goods that you truly use, and if that is not frequently, then perhaps storing them in another section of the house, such as the dining room or garage, might be more beneficial.
The same concepts apply to your refrigerator - group goods together and plan the optimal configuration for your inside shelf!

Develop Your Creativity

Would you like to take it a step further? Begin to think creatively about your structure and the hacks that will perform best in each zone.

For instance:

Install a pots and pans hanging rack to maximize storage space.
Install a spice rack and organize it alphabetically.
Do you have a high pantry door? Utilize the area by hanging a clear shoe organizer.
Utilize drawer organizers and dividers to ensure that everything is easily accessible.
Utilize standing dividers to organize items such as baking sheets and chopping boards.
Wire shelving or pull-out pieces are really convenient – particularly beneath the sink.
Utilize wall space (magnetic knife holders, fresh herbs hung from the wall and hooks for virtually anything!)
Install a corkboard on the interior of your cabinet doors to display small goods or frequently used recipes.

Maintain It

After a month, pause to reflect on the organization's progress. Define any areas of concern and do a re-evaluation. Maintain control of the pantry and make decluttering a yearly objective.

Clear out all of your cabinets. After that, determine what to retain in each cabinet. The majority of the time, pots, pans, and baking sheets are stored near the stove. Appliances should be kept close to the prep area, and food storage containers should be kept in under-island cabinets or next to the dishwasher.

Measure the width, depth, and height of your space with a tape measure. Don't forget to take accurate measurements of the real cabinet door opening.

All of your cabinet shelves should be lined with a heavy-duty, water-resistant shelf liner that is readily cleaned.

Whatever you're storing in your kitchen cabinets, you'll want to maximize the vertical space available. Many lower cabinets include a half shelf precisely for this purpose. Utilize this area effectively by utilizing cupboard shelves to separate baking dishes.

Commercial-grade pull-out cabinet organizers are ideal for storing large pieces of cookware and equipment, such as your mixer and large pots and pans. Additionally, they facilitate access to objects in the back without requiring you to rearrange everything every time you require your largest stockpot. Pot lids are another item that frequently becomes disorganized in lower cabinets. Additionally, two-tier sliding cabinet organizers can help maximize vertical space.

Have an awkward, useless spot in your kitchen? Yes, I agree. If you're having difficulty seeing or reaching items in the back of your cabinets, refrigerator, or pantry, a Lazy Susan may be of assistance. Construct a roll-out pantry or a sliding spice rack in the awkward space between your refrigerator and the adjacent wall—you may even be able to use an IKEA shelf. If you're in desperate need of additional storage, it's simple (and inexpensive) to convert false drawers into practical storage or to install a hidden toekick drawer at the base of a kitchen cabinet.

The interior of your cabinet doors is a wasteland of wasted space. Rather than leaving it blank, add some hooks and start organizing. This provides a convenient location for measuring cups and spoons, pot lids, and even cutting boards; with a little extra effort, you can even create a bespoke knife block. Alternatively, you can paint the interior of the doors blackboard or whiteboard paint to create a space for grocery lists and meal ideas.