An unorganized living space can wreak much havoc into your day-to-day life. Dealing with a messy kitchen and dining area is a nightmare for every busy person since it can make mealtime very stressful. However, you deserve to unwind and enjoy yourself while you eat, be it on your own, with your family, or with guests. If you’d like to cut down on time spent trying to find the utensils in your kitchen and you’d like to impress your guests with the design of your dining room, read on.
Declutter your pantry and other storage areas
If your passion for organizing has been idle for some time, you probably have many things you don’t use, and will never need, lying around your pantry and kitchen shelves. To alleviate the stress when cooking, you need to roll up your sleeves, prepare some boxes and bags and be strict and start decluttering. The spices you got on vacation four years ago – into the trash they go. Check if you have some unopened food that you know you won’t be using and put it in a donation box. Take it to your local charity. They will surely appreciate your kindness!
Use glass containers
Now that you’ve thrown out things you forgot you even had in your kitchen, it’s time to really start organizing. Keeping your food in glass containers will give a more organized, as well as more elegant, look to your kitchen. Whether you're storing leftovers, bulk goods, or spices, glass containers such as jars and canisters will be a great addition to your kitchen. You can also easily tell when you're running out of oats, rice, and other pantry essentials when you use glass, unlike steel and non-transparent plastic containers. Another plus to glass is that it is healthier for you than the plastic option. Glass is easier to clean and it’s less porous. Therefore, it doesn’t absorb bacteria and other germs so your food will last longer.
Store related objects together
Your baking pans and mixer should be stored next to one another in the kitchen. Make a separate section for each category! Your baking essentials should all be kept in the same cupboard, where a shelf dedicated to baking goods such as sugar, flour, vanilla, and baking soda should also be. This is a great way to simplify the kitchen chaos and turn it into a functional cooking haven. Baking gingerbread cookies this Christmas could be an experience you thoroughly enjoy now that you know the location of everything you’ll need.
Display your dinnerware
If you don’t regularly use your fancy dinnerware, there’s no need to keep it in your kitchen with the utensils which get everyday use. A great idea is to move them to your dining room and store them in a cabinet. If you don’t own a hutch, this is a sign to get one. The hutches in which you’ll display your special dinnerware should look timeless, and be sturdy and durable. For example, you can find beautiful and eco-friendly Amish dining furniture that will add a cozy touch to your dining area with their beautifully hand-crafted hutches. Having trendy storage options in your dining room will liven up your eating experience and make your living space more functional.
Clean your kitchen and dining area regularly
It’s easy to lose control of your living area and have it turn into a land of disarray and clutter. This is especially likely to happen if you live with children. The little monsters storm the house, scattering around their belongings every time they enter the room. Your dining room is a place where you gather your whole family for dinner, not a playroom. An effective way to keep your dining area clean is to incorporate tidying up into your nighttime routine. It’s easier to put a couple of misplaced things back to their place before you go to bed than to have a huge clean-up once a month.
Decoration is key
Staying organized is simple when you like the design of your living space. This is why you should put more thought into the décor of your kitchen and dining area. Adding the much-needed warmth to your rooms can be easily achieved by placing soft cushions on your chairs or picking out a seasonal centerpiece for your dining table. Make sure you follow a certain color combination. As a result, your dining room will look gorgeous which will make you more likely to maintain the area’s cleanliness and organization.
Wrapping up
To sum up, if you care about making your kitchen and dining area immaculate, you should get rid of all the clutter prior to organizing. For your kitchen, choose glass containers. Pay attention to the order and way you use your appliances when placing them in their new designated spots. Finally, don’t forget about some gorgeous décor and furniture which will make it easier to maintain spotlessness while making your rooms feel homier.
About the author: Mike Johnston is an experienced blogger and editor with a background in creative writing and digital media. He’s a regular contributor to the ‘Smooth Decorator’ blog and numerous other online publications where he writes primarily about home improvement, interior design, and sustainable living.