Whether your kitchen is large or small, if it’s well organised then it will be a joy to cook in every day. So what are the key elements that make a kitchen highly functional and how do you get to that well organised point? Here are our ten easy steps to get you on the road to a fabulous, functional and chef friendly kitchen.

1. Perfect Positioning

One of the most important aspects to a well organised kitchen is the placement of key fixtures such as the fridge, stove and sink. These three items should form an imaginary triangle if you drew a line from each of them connecting them together. Consider the dishwasher too, it should be placed below the sink or under an adjacent island or bench.

2. Custom Cabinetry

If you can have your kitchen cabinets custom made then do so. With a custom build you can create the perfect set-up for your specific needs and available space. One way to make efficient use of space is to build your cabinets to the ceiling. Having storage up high for those lesser used items makes way for the often used equipment to be kept within arms reach and in a clutter free space.

3. Clever Storage Solutions

With your cabinetry ensure you build in clever storage solutions such as two-tiered carousels, slim line pull out towel rails and even custom waste disposal for separating recyclables and such. Drawer organisers are virtually mandatory in any well organised kitchen of today!

4. Handy Hooks

Don’t forget to allow room on walls and sides of cabinets for hooks. These can be super useful for keeping bench space clear as the hooks are always handy for placing pots, utensils and even towels on.

5. Appliances Galore

Nowadays there is an appliance for just about every job in the kitchen but rather than take up valuable bench space, why not work into your kitchen design a place to store all of your gadgets together. A large cupboard equipped with a power outlet and several shelves can make appliance storage and use a breeze.

6. Cookbook Corner

Open shelving in a corner is a great way to store all your cookbooks and keep them super organised. When all your recipes are in one place life is made a lot easier when it comes time to quickly pull out a recipe and whip up an afternoon tea delight for unexpected guests etc.

7. Open Shelves

Don’t restrict open shelving just for cookbooks, install these in several places within the kitchen to give a feeling of spaciousness and also keeping frequently used items within arms reach. You are sure to keep your open shelves tidy and organised too as they are always on display for you and your guests to see.

8. Use Every Inch

Some kitchens have pokey little corners or other awkward spaces that don’t allow enough room for a traditional width cabinet but are a shame to waste. There is a way to use every last inch simply by installing custom made shelving or cabinets that can utilise the space well.

9. Ease of Use

With so many beautiful kitchen faucets and door and drawer handles on offer it can be easy to get lost in all the sparkling designs and to forget about the fact that functionality should come first. If your kitchen taps are hard to operate and likewise, your cabinet doors and drawers difficult to pull open you could face years of frustration within your own workspace. Avoid taps and handles that don’t allow for one hand use. The nature of the workload in a kitchen often sees us opening and closing things with one hand so make it easy on yourself, after all, it’s your kitchen and there are plenty of beautiful designs to choose from that are also highly functional.

10. Bench Space

Finally, consider the workspace in your kitchen carefully. Without sufficient space to actually work with your kitchen could prove very frustrating even though everything is organised! Avoid island benches in small kitchens and keep the bench space you do have free of everything you possibly can to allow room for preparing and serving food.

There are many ways to create the perfectly organised kitchen but the best way is the one that suits your style of cooking, the size of your family and how often you entertain and cook up large meals. Think about all those key points before you revamp your kitchen and you’re sure to arrive at a wonderful space that you’ll happily create fabulous dishes in every day.

 

 

Posted by Keren Fathi-Poor at 31 July, 2012

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