Keeping your kitchen tidy involves more than just cleaning regularly. It also requires a solid organization strategy to ensure that dishes, pans, and food items are stored properly and are easily accessible. In many kitchens, cabinet and shelf space may be limited, but by utilizing a few clever organizing hacks, you can make the most of the storage space available in your rental home’s kitchen.
The first thing to know about organizing a kitchen is maintaining a clear separation between the items you store in your upper, lower, and open shelves. For example, it’s a good idea to keep dishes, glasses, cookbooks, and other frequently used items in the upper cabinets. If you have a pantry, take time to organize all your food items, rather than tossing them in without order. A great way to do this is by grouping items according to food or container type, or how often you use them.
If you own pretty dishes or glassware, consider displaying them on open shelves for an aesthetically pleasing touch. The lower cabinets are perfect for storing heavy pots and pans, small kitchen appliances, mixing bowls, and cleaning products. And to enhance safety, don’t forget to install cabinet locks for safety.
Maximizing Space with Organizers
Once you’ve determined where to place your items, the next step is to develop an organizational strategy. The simplest solutions are often the most effective. One of the easiest ways to organize kitchen shelves, cabinets, and drawers is to use organizers that are designed for specific purposes. For instance, silverware trays keep your utensils neatly arranged, while knife blocks and spice racks do the same for knives and seasonings. A cluttered spice cabinet can turn cooking into a chaotic experience, but with the right organization, you can keep your favorite spices within easy reach while storing lesser-used items further back.
Repurpose Everyday Items for Storage
If standard kitchen organizers are too limiting or expensive, consider repurposing other types of organizers for use in the kitchen. For example, a simple magazine holder can be used to store random items or even to organize cleaning supplies, with the most-used products placed at the front for easy access. Another clever office-to-kitchen crossover is the use of a file folder. If you can find a large, affordable metal file organizer, it can be placed in a cabinet to keep baking sheets, pan lids, and other loose items neat and tidy. You can secure the file rack using a rubber-backed shelf liner or hook-and-loop tape to ensure it stays in place.
Creative Canned Food Storage
When it comes to canned goods, keeping everything neat and visible can be a challenge. One smart way to organize canned goods is by using wire shelving designed for closets. The underside of this type of shelving often has a lip, which makes for a perfect cabinet rack when tilted at a 45-degree angle. As you use cans, the remaining ones will slide forward, making it easy to check your stock briefly and preventing the disarray of a messy cabinet. With this simple hack, you’ll never have to dig through piles of cans again.
Use Tension Rods and Repurposed Items for Cleaner Cabinets
A simple tension rod can do wonders for keeping cleaning products organized and off the cabinet floor. Installing a tension rod inside a lower cabinet allows you to hang spray bottles, rags, and gloves, keeping everything organized and easily accessible. This technique keeps your items off the cabinet floor and puts your go-to products within arm’s reach.
Organizing kitchen shelves and cabinets not only saves time and effort but also helps you keep track of what you have on hand, preventing you from buying unnecessary items. With a little creativity, a few simple strategies, and a couple of repurposed items, you can achieve the organized kitchen shelves and cabinets you’ve always envisioned.
For all your rental needs, consider contacting Real Property Management New York Gold. We offer a wide range of rental properties in the Flushing area. Contact us today or browse our available rental listings to find your ideal home!
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
