Keep Your Kitchen Organized all Year Long

It's almost the new year, which means right about now you're probably contemplating the ways you can change your life for the better in 2017 ... in other words, you're making your New Year's resolutions. Besides health and fitness goals, one of the most common ways many people want to improve their lives is to get organized. In fact, according to Nielsen, it was among the top-10 most popular resolutions in 2015 and 2016. Like all resolutions, though, getting organized is easier said than done...especially in a space that is virtually dedicated to storage like the kitchen. It takes not only a one-time overhaul, but a commitment to sticking to a new plan and set of behaviors. Our advice? Make it easier on yourself by creating a foolproof organization system.

Here are a few ideas for keeping your kitchen organized all year long.

kitchen drawer organizer

Keep drawers organized.

Many kitchen cabinet manufacturers (like Leicht, for example), offer built-in storage systems that easily keep drawers organized. You can maximize your drawer space by designing it for specific purposed like housing spices, stemware, dishes, and small kitchen tools.

Kitchen organization ideas

Create a kitchen command center.

Dedicate a cabinet to a new role as a kitchen command center. Include baskets and organizers for mail, school papers, and "junk drawer" items like matches, pens and pencils, and paper clips. Other ideas: add small hooks to the inside cabinet walls to hang keys on, and add a power strip to create a phone charging station.

pantry organization

Install a pull-out pantry.

If you aren't lucky enough to have a walk-in pantry, make the most of the space you do have by installing pull-out shelving. A pull-out pantry, or closet with pull out shelves allows you to see what's way in the back of the closet, making it easier to take inventory of what you have, and faster to prepare meals since you won't spend time searching for buried ingredients.

Happy New Year!