How to have an organised heart

12 Oct

We all know the familiar saying ‘’the kitchen is the heart of the home’’, never has that been truer than it is today with people opting to spend more time cooking fresh, healthy, nutritious meals, coupled by the fact that many modern homes provide us with a cooking, dining and living space all in one, we are spending more time than ever in our kitchens. With all this in mind it makes sense that the kitchen should be somewhere you feel comfortable and at ease and that is where good organisation comes in. Not only is it important to create a clutter free environment from a safety perspective but to ensure this is somewhere that you can relax, somewhere you’ll enjoy spending time with family and friends.

Organising a kitchen can often seem like an overwhelming task when cupboards are crammed full of bottles, tins, jars and junk of all kinds. When we tackle this room our first stage is to decant the contents of all the cupboards. However, if decanting all the contents in one go proves too great a mental hurdle for you to overcome, or if your time is limited, start small and tackle one cupboard at a time. As you empty the contents of each make sure you group similar items together on the floor or table or wherever is easiest to place them. Once everything is laid out you can quickly identify items that are no longer useful - the Tupperware containers and water bottles that are missing lids, the excessive amounts of Baked Beans you stockpiled for lockdown, or the items that have long since gone out of date and need to be thrown out. Be assured you’re not the only one with herbs in your kitchen cupboard from 2015! To date one hundred per cent of the kitchens we’ve organised have housed out of date herbs and spices.

When it comes to storing your herbs, we recommend using clear herb jars and labelling them appropriately, remembering also to make a note of the use by date - we tend to write this on the underside of the jar in white chalk pen but marking it on washi tape would work just as well. The jars can be organised by alphabet, category, or colour according to your preference. We find that using the same jars throughout will help keep your kitchen cupboards looking uniform and neat. As Professional Organisers we love clear jars for food storage, there is nothing more aesthetically pleasing than opening a kitchen cupboard and finding perfectly coordinated jars beautifully labelled. It also adds to the ease of finding what you need. If you must consider food allergies or intolerances in your household this look is still achievable, simply cut out the ingredients from the food label in question and attach it to the back of the jar.

Another suggestion is to invest in tiered shelves, these will enable you to see all that is in the cupboard. For condiments and oils and any items that are stored on the higher shelves, clear turntables and lazy susans work particularly well for easy access. Always remember to keep frequently used and heavier items on the lower shelves.

It's a good idea to plan out your kitchen in a way that will work for your household before refilling the cupboards. Try as much as possible to keep your food/ingredients in one area, preferably close to where you do the cooking. The same should be true of your tea/coffee supplies - they should be placed close to the kettle and any coffee machines and it’s ideal to position mugs in the same general area for quick access. Now is the time to get rid of those unsightly mugs you’ve accumulated with the Easter eggs over the years. To reference Marie Kondo, if those mugs don’t spark joy get rid of them! Only keep what you like and the amount that you realistically need for yourself and any guests you envisage entertaining in the long-term. Apply the same rule to all cutlery, crockery and cookware before returning it to the cupboards. Do you like it? Do you use it? Are you just holding on to that bread maker because it was a wedding present? If it’s not in use on a weekly basis it doesn’t need to be taking up precious real estate in your kitchen cupboards.

While most kitchens have been designed with a single drawer containing sections for cutlery and the like, for our modern living we require a number of sectioned drawers. If you have kitchen utensils lying across large drawers, to the point where you can’t see what you have, we suggest buying some drawer dividers or deep trays to create the structure you need.

Dare we mention the cupboard under the sink?! All of us bear the same shame. Try to contain all your cleaning products in this area, preferably in marked clear boxes/drawers and always behind locked doors where children are resident or frequent guests in your home. While the current trend is to display cleaning products in the pretty glass jars we’ve talked about, these jars don’t tend to be child-proof and the contents may not be easily identifiable, especially to children. We suggest you err on the side of caution, keeping them in the containers they came in and stored safely in cupboards with child-proof locks. Safety is paramount. As with every cupboard hide any overstock of product at the back. If you’re stuck for space you may want to use tension rods to hang your daily cleaning sprays on.

Last but not least, don’t forget to tackle the fridge! Nowadays small clear stackable storage containers, suitable for the fridge, are readily available from most high street brands. We favour the Smart Store range from Equipashop, these clear containers will allow you to see all you have in the fridge and to readily identify food that needs to be consumed in the near future. Try categorising foods e.g. dairy, cooked meat, raw meat, fruit, vegetables. This is also important where allergies are concerned.

We can promise you that when your kitchen is clutter free and well organised it leads to a much more positive experience of food preparation, dining and living. Meals can be created, life can be lived, and bodies, minds and souls can be fuelled in the true heart of your home.

This article was first published in the October 2021 issue of ‘Ireland’s Homes Interiors & Living’ magazine.