Helpful Hints for Kitchen Storage

Consider Location

• When looking for a spot to store items in your kitchen, consider where you are most likely to use them. Try to identify storage options that allow you to keep tools and other items in close proximity to these areas. Storing items near the area where they are used eliminates the likelihood that your kitchen will become cluttered and makes preparing meals easier. For example, if you use your wooden spoons to stir soups and sauces on the stovetop, find a container to hold them that you can place on a nearby counter. Mount or place your spice rack beside your stove as well, so you can easily add seasoning to your foods.

Use Drawer Dividers

• Your utensils and tools can easily become jumbled if you simply throw them together in your kitchen drawers. Add draw dividers or organizers to separate these items so you can easily locate the utensil or tool that you require. Two main types of kitchen dividers are used: subdivided trays or plastic inserts that divide the drawer space. The inserts are usually easier to customize so they may be a better option if you have many odd-shaped tools to store. Separate all like items, such as forks, spoons and knives, and place them in individual sections so you can always find exactly what you need.

Install Hooks

• In a kitchen that is short on drawer space, installing hooks inside cabinets, on the back of the pantry door or on the wall can provide convenient storage space for many tools. You can premount the hooks on wooden strips to provide easier installation and ensure that there is sufficient space for items to fit if you are placing the hooks on the back of a cabinet or pantry door. The hooks provide ideal storage space for storing measuring spoons or cups and any other tools that may be too bulky for storing in a drawer.

Hang Pots

• Utilizing all available space provides the maximum amount of storage possible in your kitchen and is particularly important if the room is on the small side. You may not initially think of utilizing the ceiling for storage, but if you have open space above an island or another spot in your kitchen, a rack can provide hanging storage for pots and pans that would otherwise take up a great deal of space in your cabinets. See that the rack is placed high enough so that the cookware does not hang in your face. However, the rack should be low enough that you can easily reach for pots and pans when you need them.