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Organizing the Kitchen - Tips and SuggestionsThe “heart of the home” it is called, and for good reason!! My first thing,clean, uncluttered counter space!! That is my pet peeve in the kitchen. You do NOT need to keep out the mixer, blender, etc..unless you really use them all the time. I know most people have a coffee maker (I don't drink it) and that is cool-but make sure it is clean and nice looking. The toaster is pretty common-have it match the room. IE don't put out a stainless one if your appliances are white. Easy fix. I got a very adorable red from Target. Again, uncluttered counters and window sills, a desk if you have one, etc.. All I have is a large fruit bowl-these look wonderful with a bunch of really good looking apples, with a few lemons thrown in. I have a separate bowl for tomatoes I am not a big fan of knives but then again I am NOT a gourmet cook If you have them out, have really good ones and have them in a nice container, or put them away in a drawer near by (that is what I did, and what a difference) I like a breadbox for things like cupcakes, cookies,rolls (but mostly I keep the bread in the refrigerator to keep it from spoiling) If you are going to put up kid's artwork-and I am a big fan-put up only a few. I have a new refrigerator, so I was not going to cover the whole thing. So I put my daughter's art on the side where it is very visible-and I change it out often
Even though we all love to look at photos on the refrigerator-I don't do it. It is just too much for me. I have a magnet with the Wicked Witch of the West on my front and it is just right for me-with another black magnet that says Celebrate-just enough for fun but not too much for the eyes. Extras…a really pretty painted cake stand, and a painted tray on a display stand The little desk area has a great tray for mail, things that I just don't where to put at the moment but that is it. There is NO clutter in the kitchen on the counters! It really is a thing for me. Planning Kitchen Lighting / Desk Area / CupboardsAlways have a note pad and pen by the phone-this always comes in handy. Have good lightning. If a light goes out, replace it. The kitchen should have terrific bright lights. I also have a dimmer in there. I love dimmers. When the night is getting late and guests are still there, it is very nice to dim the lights.. Kitchen sink. Another pet peeve for me. Do NOT leave dishes in there-there is no way to look at that except as a mess! There is always 5 extra minutes to put them in the dishwasher. If you don't have one, then wash them and put them away. The kitchen is the heart of the home. Now I like the old style, where the kitchen was a separate room and not seen from the whole house. But those days seem to be gone or going…so the kitchen is more of a centerpiece-so we are pretty much forced to keep it attractive. Keep the kitchen sink scrubbed-if it is white, keep it white. I love a white clean sink Don't forget your rubber gloves! They are a must. Your hands will thank you Change out sponges every couple of weeks. What is inside your cupboards....keep what you like and what you use. You probably don't need 20 serving trays, unless you really entertain. Keep matching or if unmatched, it is still your style, just keep what you need for plates, bowls, glasses, etc.. and don't keep odd or mismatched ones. If you never ever used the popcorn maker or Crock Pot give it away. Have nice glasses-for yourself and guests. Keep the cupboards organized-ie glassware, plates,bowls, cutlery, Tupperware, pots and pans, cooking utensils, serving trays and bowls, other. Do NOT have a junk drawer. Establish a neat small junk bin, and put things in there, and keep it in your laundry room cupboard if you have one, or pantry if you have one, if not, then a place out of the way in the kitchen. Opening a drawer full of a bunch of junk looking for silverware to help the hostess and finding screw drivers and masking tape, well I don't suggest it.. The counter by the sink. I don't like anything there. I have a large vase with terrific silk poppies. I don't like dish soap containers, scrub brushes, vitamin bottles, small plants which often are floundering ,etc..I keep a small white ceramic soap dispenser in the sink-it has dish soap in it, but gentle as a hand wash. That is all I keep in the sink or near the sink (when not in use) Under the kitchen sink-garbage if you can fit in-and keep the bin clean-nothing worse than ketchup or bar b q sauce splattered on the side! If you have to have the garbage out, get the can with the LID Under the sink, keep a counter cleaner, dish soap, dishwasher soap, sponge, rubber gloves! Maybe a few other cleaners, but the kitchen sink it not the area to put it all! Also, keep the area clean under there-have you noticed many homes have bits of garbage on the bottom of the cabinet, I have seen it, yuck! Remember, just because something is out of sight, does not mean it should not be taken care of!! Cabinets-keep them free of marks and food. I clean mine all the time, and touch up paint when necessary-if they are painted like mine, chipped paint really looks bad! If you have an island, keep it virtually clear-maybe a vase with flowers, maybe a glass dome with cookies underneath, bowl of fruit, but keep it simple. Candles-scents are okay if you are not eating-something light and clean, like fruit But remember, when the food comes out, go with simple white unscented candles. Let you kitchen show, don't cover it in clutter
The Kitchen Eating AreaHave good lighting! Attractive lights are easy to come by. You are going to look at this light all the time-install a dimmer J My light is the black chandelier type, Ikea style, but I replaced the regular candle type bulbs with little white round bulbs-like a make up mirror-what a cute look! If you have the room, then have the table seat at least 4. Keep the table clean and the chairs clean. Nothing worse than a chair full of crumbs On the table-minimal-maybe placemats and a basket of napkins. Have your table inviting and ready to use. Do not clutter it up with junk. Windows? I have a French door slider in mine. Put a nice drape up to frame the window, but don't close it unless you really have to..if you must have some sort of window covering that closes, and it is a slider, please do NOT put up vertical blinds Those have to be the WORSE. There are so many great window coverings, anything is better than vinyl verticals! Flooring? My kitchen and eating area is hard wood -which I LOVE, so is my entry and hallway. I wish the whole house was.. Whatever floor you have, keep it clean, I mean the cleanest floor in the house. No one wants to see dog hair, crumbs, dirt, etc..rolling across the kitchen. It is so easy to quickly vacuum it every day. If you have wood, I still prefer Murphy's Oil Soap and a mop-remember the commercial when the ladies would clean the church with it-loved that! And you will get that feeling when you mop your floor, well maybe J The kitchen and the eating area should have fun artwork. Make sure it fits the space and goes with the color theme you have chosen. Nothing says more done up than things that go well together, and they don't have to be expensive. Think of your home like putting your outfits together. If you do room by room, or even section by section of a room, you can pull a look together. Always, when it doubt, keep it simple and less is more.
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