How to Organize Your Kitchen Like a Pro

Mastering kitchen organization is crucial for any cooking enthusiast or busy homeowner. Learning how to organize your kitchen like a pro can seem a little daunting especially if yours is small (and therefore space is at a premium). Or maybe it feels overwhelming, and you’re not sure where to start.

But there’s nothing like January’s cold to bring us further into the cocoon of our homes to reassess how we’re living. Cleaning out closets. Rearranging furniture. Painting walls. What’s happening in our kitchens likely needs the most attention, especially if the holidays have brought you new cooking tools or appliances and you need to figure out where everything new should go.

This guide is hard-won, the result of lots of kitchen organization faux pas and time spent working and living extensively in our kitchens. This guide geeks out a bit, at the end, as it comes complete with a functional flowchart that provides essential insights into arranging your tools and appliances efficiently. Discover setup, storage, and space-saving tips to transform your work space and learn how to organize your kitchen like a pro!

First, however, pour yourself a cup of coffee, put on some music, and read this through from start to finish.

What's In This Post

What is Kitchen Organization?

Kitchen organization is the arrangement and management of kitchen space, tools, appliances, and supplies in an efficient, orderly, and functional manner. It involves creating a system that optimizes the use of space, increases accessibility to kitchen items, and enhances the overall functionality of the kitchen.

Why Organize Your Kitchen Like a Pro?

You spend a lot of time in your kitchen. You want to be able to find what you need quickly and easily. A well-organized kitchen really makes the meal prep process go more smoothly. And it makes meal prep in general that much more enjoyable if you aren’t derailed, mid-recipe, by looking for an appliance or gadget you need to complete the process.

We believe that thinking about your kitchen in a whole new way—like its own system—is totally the best way to organize it.

Step 1: Turn Your Kitchen Into Zones

One of the top ways to organize your kitchen like a pro is to categorize your kitchen into functional zones. This effective strategy in how to organize a kitchen ensures that everything you need for specific tasks is easily accessible, enhancing efficiency and reducing the time spent searching for items.

Cooking Zone: This area should encompass your stove and oven. For optimal kitchen zones management, store pots, pans, cooking utensils, and spices nearby. Using hanging racks can provide easy access to these essentials.
Preparation Zone: Centered around a spacious countertop, this zone is crucial for food preparation. Ensure access to cutting boards, knives, mixing bowls, and commonly used ingredients like oils and seasonings.
Cleaning Zone: Situated around the sink, include essentials like dish soap, sponges, cleaning cloths, and waste bins in this area. Integrating recycling bins here aligns with eco-friendly practices.
Storage Zone: For non-perishable food items, bulk ingredients, and less frequently used appliances, this zone is key. Effective organization in this area can be achieved with clear containers and labels for easy identification.

Step 2: Address Your Food Storage

Another essential aspect of kitchen organization is effective food storage. If you’ve got a variety of containers that are durable and suitable for different types of food, it’s a real game-changer.

Airtight Containers: Perfect for dry goods like pasta, rice, and baking ingredients. They’re essential in keeping food fresh longer and preventing spills.
Stackable Containers: These are space savers and keep your refrigerator and pantry neat. Opt for clear containers for easy visibility of contents.
Labeling System: Implementing a labeling system aids in quickly identifying contents and tracking expiration dates. (This is especially helpful for freezer storage!)

Related: Meal Prep Containers 101

Step 3: Clean and Reorganize

Now, let’s dive into practical steps for organizing your kitchen. Enlist anyone in your household to help out, and make a whole afternoon of it.

Declutter: Start by removing everything from cabinets and drawers. Discard expired items and donate unused kitchenware, a crucial step in how to organize a kitchen.
Deep Clean: With everything cleared out, thoroughly clean all surfaces, including inside cabinets and drawers.
Group Similar Items: Keep similar items together, such as baking tools in one drawer and cooking utensils in another, to maintain an orderly kitchen.
Maximize Space: Use cabinet organizers, drawer dividers, and wall-mounted racks to make the most of your space. Adding extra shelves in cabinets can optimize vertical storage, a key tip in small appliance storage.
Accessibility: Store frequently used items at arm’s reach, reserving higher shelves for less frequently used items.
Flowchart for Organization: Create a flowchart that outlines where each category of items should go, a visual aid that can significantly aid in the organization of your kitchen.
Maintain Order: Once organized, make it a habit of returning items to their designated spot and regularly assess your kitchen’s organization for any needed adjustments.

Step 4: Organize Dishes for Efficiency and Accessibility

Organizing your dishes efficiently is vital for a smoothly running kitchen:

Take Inventory: Evaluate what you have. Keep only the dishes you regularly use and love.
Group by Type: Store similar items together – plates with plates, bowls with bowls. This step makes finding what you need more easily and quickly.
Use Vertical Space Wisely: Stacking dishes can save space, but ensure they are easily accessible. Use cabinet shelves or racks to maximize vertical storage, a valuable tip in small appliance storage.
Special Occasion vs. Everyday Use: Separate your everyday dishes from those used for special occasions. Store your everyday items within easy reach, while special-occasion pieces can be stored higher up or in a less accessible cabinet.
Child-Friendly Storage: If you have children, consider storing their dishes in a lower cabinet so they can help set the table or grab their own snacks.
Consider Open Shelving: For a more modern look and easy access, open shelving can be a great way to store and display dishes, although it does require more frequent dusting. Weigh the pros and cons based on your space considerations, and your kitchen’s aesthetic.
Maintenance: Regularly declutter your dishes, removing any that are chipped, mismatched, or rarely used to keep your kitchen organized and functional.
Drying racks: Your dish drying rack is part of dish organization, too. Find one that maximizes efficiency and doesn’t take up a lot of space.

Step 5: Organize Small Appliances

Properly organizing small appliances in your kitchen can save space, reduce clutter, and improve your overall cooking experience:

Assess and Prioritize: Evaluate which appliances you use frequently. Items like coffee makers or toasters should be easily accessible, ideally on the countertop or in lower cabinets.
Create a Storage Plan: Designate specific areas in your kitchen for small appliances. This could be a section of your countertop, a particular cabinet, or a pantry shelf. Consistency in storage locations helps in maintaining organization.
Utilize Vertical Space: In cabinets, use shelves or stacking racks to arrange appliances vertically. This maximizes storage space and keeps things orderly, a crucial aspect of small appliance storage.
Consider an Appliance Garage: An appliance garage is a cabinet space on the countertop designed to store and hide small appliances. It keeps them handy without cluttering your countertop.
Group by Function: Store appliances by their function. For example, keep all baking-related items like mixers and food processors together, separate from everyday items like kettles and toasters.
Use Cord Organizers: Manage cords with hooks, cord wraps, or clips to prevent tangles and keep your space tidy.
Regularly Declutter: Periodically review your small appliances. Donate or dispose of items that are no longer in use, broken, or have been replaced.
Label Storage Areas: If you’re storing appliances out of sight, label the cabinets or shelves. This makes it easier to find what you need without searching through every cabinet.

Related: Minimalist Kitchen Equipment List: Everything You Need (And What You Don’t)

Step 6: Organize Small Kitchen Gadget Drawers

Figuring out how to best organize your kitchen drawers, which are often full of gadgets clamoring for your attention and use, can be a game changer. Consider the following to help your routine:

Empty and Clean the Drawer: Begin by removing all items from the drawer. This is a great opportunity to clean the drawer and wipe away crumbs and dust.
Sort and Declutter Gadgets: Lay out all gadgets and sort them. Decide which items you use regularly and which can be donated or recycled. This step is crucial for avoiding clutter.
Use Drawer Dividers: Invest in adjustable drawer dividers or organizers. These help to compartmentalize the drawer, making it easier to group similar gadgets and keep them in place.
Group by Frequency of Use: Place the gadgets you use most often in the most accessible part of the drawer. Less frequently used items can go towards the back or in another storage area.
Label Sections (Optional): For extra organization, consider labeling each section of the drawer. This can be particularly helpful in households where multiple people use the kitchen (i.e, multiple cooks or you have children who unload the dishwasher and sometimes forget where everything goes!).
Implement a Logical Layout: Arrange gadgets in a way that makes sense for your cooking habits. For instance, keep measuring spoons near measuring cups, or peeling and cutting tools together.
Use Small Containers for Tiny Items: For very small gadgets and tools, like corn holders or chip clips, use small containers or bins within the drawer to prevent them from getting lost. No one wants to jam their hands into a drawer that’s stuffed with tools to search out tiny things.

Step 7: Use This Flowchart to Learn How to Organize Your Kitchen Like a Pro

Start at the Kitchen Entrance
- Assess the overall kitchen layout.
Declutter Phase
- Remove all items from cabinets and drawers.
- Discard or donate unnecessary items.
Cleaning Phase
- Deep clean all surfaces, including inside cabinets and drawers.
Categorization Phase
- Group kitchen items by type and usage.
  - Cooking tools
  - Preparation tools
  - Cleaning supplies
  - Storage items
Zoning Phase
- Assign zones in the kitchen.
  - Cooking Zone near the stove (Pots, pans, cooking utensils)
  - Preparation Zone at the countertop (Cutting boards, knives)
  - Cleaning Zone near the sink (Dish soap, sponges)
  - Storage Zone for pantry and less-used items
Storage Solutions Implementation
- Introduce organizational tools.
  - Cabinet organizers
  - Drawer dividers
  - Wall-mounted racks
  - Extra shelves
Placement Phase
- Arrange items in their designated zones.
  - Frequently used items within easy reach.
  - Seldom-used items in higher or more remote areas.
Labeling and Containerizing
- Implement a labeling system.
- Use airtight and stackable containers for food storage.
Maintenance and Adjustments
- Regularly review and adjust the organization as needed.
End at the Kitchen Entrance
Final assessment of the kitchen’s flow and functionality.

How to Understand the Kitchen Org Flowchart

You might be a more visual person as opposed to this list we’ve created. Imagine that this flowchart guides you through the process of organizing your kitchen step by step, from the initial decluttering to the final adjustments for maintaining a functional and orderly space. If you want to write it out on paper and feel that would better help you (or those who use the kitchen with you) understand the approach, try that. It can be visually represented with arrows and icons for each step. Make learning how to organize your kitchen like a pro as much fun as you can. Because why not?

More Benefits of Kitchen Organization

Professional kitchens are organized so that any cook or chef can walk into it and find what’s needed quickly and easily. Space is maximized. There are certain rules of engagement and organizing principles that make sense. We don’t need to go so far as that; you just want to know where things are and you want to, ideally, share this organization with your family. This way, other people know where to find things, and where to put things when someone else other than you is unloading the dishwasher or putting clean pots away! (I can’t tell you how many times one of my kids puts things in the wrong place and it takes me totally off my prep game! I have to gently remind him… but I digress!)

With this flow chart and approach, you’re creating your own rules of engagement for your space. In this way, organizing your kitchen is not just about tidiness; it’s about creating a functional system that enhances your cooking experience and saves you time. By following these guidelines, you’ll find your kitchen becomes a more efficient space that you’ll want to cook in every day. (Well, most days. Those other days are for prepped meals from the freezer or take-out).

Remember, though, that it’s totally ok if you end up getting disorganized again when things get busy. That is life, and it means you are living and cooking! The important thing is this: once you have a structure in place it’s a matter of just straightening up, rather than asking, where are my tongs? What happened to my InstantPot?

You get the idea!

Tell us, please! How do you organize your kitchen? What works for you? What might you change?

Happy prepping!

How To Organize Your Kitchen Like A Pro: A Guide With A Functional Flowchart

What is Kitchen Organization?