Most of us probably wish we had more space in our kitchen – it’s probably a little harder to use than we’d like, but we aren’t quite sure how to go about making more room. Here are a few ideas on how to rearrange and organize your kitchen so it doesn’t feel as cramped, and maybe even make it a little easier to use.
First consider the furniture in the kitchen. Do you think you need more drawer or cabinet space? Are you sure? Forgetting about the clutter for a moment, imagine if you had one less cabinet for a moment. Would it make the kitchen feel a little more open and easy to use? This may be a way to make you feel more comfortable. Do you have a table in the kitchen? What if you had a drop leaf table instead, one that you could break down when not in use. Think about winning back some of the space.
Now what about inside the cabinets. Are they filled to the brim? If so, are they filled with pots and pans that you use on a regular basis? Unless you are feeding a lot of people, or are a professional chef that has a different pan for your chicken then you do for your steak, you probably have some pots and pans that are mostly gathering dust. Get rid of them! Empty the cabinet a bit, so everything doesn’t fall out when you open the doors.
Finally, keep the counter clear as much as you can too. Try keeping the dish soap under the sink when not in use, put the hand towel away when you’re done, and so on. Clear the space so it doesn’t weigh on your mind when not in use.
Think about your kitchen from this perspective, and you’ll see that your method of storage in the kitchen can be as bad as the things you’re actually storing. You may find that something as small as a round drop leaf table can go a long way in making your kitchen easier to use.
P.S. Another good tip for increasing usable space in your kitchen is to use an under counter spice rack. These will keep all of your spices handy without taking up any of your work space!