Tips for Having Fun While Organizing Your Kitchen (and Other Spaces)

As Mary Poppins has taught us, “In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun.” Tidying your home is no different. The task may seem daunting and feel unmanageable since you’re not a self-proclaimed expert organizer or tidier. But if you approach the project with the rewards in mind, you’ll find that you can turn a cluttered space into a magazine-worthy photo.

The kitchen is the best place to start because it’s a space that seems to collect and devour a wide range of things, from appliances to food. You swear you went out and bought a bag of flour already, but can’t find it, so you go out and buy another one. Inevitably, after some time, that first bag of flour will turn up. It’s a vicious cycle. You also may find that you have enough coffee mugs to serve an entire army.

Start with the Big 

If your kitchen is overrun with goods and you find yourself overwhelmed when opening a drawer or cupboard, it’s time to take out a trash bag and donation bin and get to work. Start with the easier challenge of setting aside how many dishes you actually need and use, and then put the rest in a donation pile. There’s no use keeping your “good dishes” out of sight and never used. Holding away items for those “special occasions” leads to clutter.

Once you’ve cleared your cupboards and shelves from excess dishes, it’s time to sort through appliances and tools. No one needs three can openers and a two bent whisks. Give away what you don’t use, donate anything that is broken or so out of date it could catch fire, and keep what is necessary.

Work Your Way Down to the Small

Finally, it’s time to hit those junk drawers and food cabinets. Have your trash bag nearby and throw away any out-of-date, broken, and half-used items. Compile excess (meaning you won’t use it in the next month or two) canned or nonperishable goods to donate, then organize the rest by type (use, height, etc.). As you tackle those junk and utensil drawers, use small containers to divide out those items that get jumbled together in order to make things easier to find.

Look Behind Closed Doors

There’s something about a door on a closet that subconsciously tells us that we can hide our mess and no one will know. But you know, and every time you open the door to a cluttered space, you’re creating stress for yourself. As you’re tidying up, make the closets and dresser drawers a priority. Just like with the kitchen, throw away what is worn out and has holes, donate items you don’t like or haven’t worn in a year, and store seasonal items .

Then comes the fun part of making closets and drawers functional . Organize by adding shoe racks that allow you to optimize vertical space, add another rod to create another layer of space to hang clothes, install shelving for storage, and put dividers in drawers to separate rows of clothes.

Reward Yourself

As you work in the kitchen and find your favorite treat, it’s okay to stop and reward yourself for a job well done. As you continue to clean, allow yourself to dream a little about designs and what would make your home look a little better. If a few new bamboo or clear containers would add some pizzazz to your drawers, or if open shelves would nicely display your dishes, then splurge a little on your home as an investment. Decluttering your space is the perfect opportunity to make your home functional and refreshed.

Don’t stop at the kitchen, closets, and drawers. Spend time for several nights or weekends tackling a new space. Really evaluate what you have in order to prevent waste and double-buying, and evaluate your needs. Tackle room by room, remembering to donate when you can, and trash what is broken or out-of-date. Don’t forget to reward yourself as you go, because “a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.”

Blog Author: homeownerbliss.info

Photo Credit: Pexels