50 Kitchen Organisation Ideas for Maximum Efficiency

Picture this: Kitchen organisation isn't your strongest suit. Naturally, you're overwhelmed with all the mess. You need more bench space to store your dishes, plus the cabinets are crammed with pots and pans that you never use. If this is where your kitchen is, it's time to change. After all, the kitchen is one of the most used rooms in the house. The side benefit of getting organised is that it can improve the quality of your life by leaps and bounds, as cooking and cleaning up is so much easier. But how can you make it work for you the way you want and not worry about it again? We've packed this guide with tips, hacks, tricks and kitchen storage ideas that makes navigating the topic of kitchen organisation a breeze - helping you create a space that you're proud to use every day. Let's dive in.

Quick Links

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Take stock of what's in your kitchen
• Create a kitchen organisation plan
• Kitchen cabinet organisation
• Kitchen benchtop storage and organisation
• How to organise kitchen drawers
• Pantry organisation
• Organising the under-kitchen sink storage area
• Fridge organisation ideas
• Small kitchen storage ideas for organisation
• Kitchen organisation schedule
• Organise your kitchen like a pro

Frequently Asked Questions

How to maximise my kitchen's efficiency?

You can do a few things to make your kitchen more efficient:

• Declutter and remove any appliances or gadgets you don't use regularly. This will free up benchtop space and make it easier to find what you need when you're cooking.
• Organise your pantry and cabinets so that everything has a designated place. This will help you save time when you're looking for specific items.
• Invest in quality kitchen tools to make your meal prep quicker and easier.

You can turn your kitchen into a well-oiled machine with a little effort!

Open vs closed storage for my kitchen. Which is better?

When it comes to kitchen organisation, there are two main approaches: open storage and closed storage. Open storage, such as shelves and racks, is a great way to keep frequently used items within easy reach. Closed storage, such as cabinets and drawers, will keep your kitchen tidy and organised.

Open storage is more functional, but closed storage can be more aesthetically pleasing. It depends on your individual needs and preferences, so you must test both styles before making a final decision.

Tips for grouping items together in the kitchen

• To help you cook more efficiently and safely, store pans, cooking utensils, a spice rack, baking trays, oven gloves, cake tins and the meat thermometer near the stovetop/oven.
• Always keep your tea and coffee-making equipment and mugs near the kettle for easy access. This will help you to stay organised and efficient.
• Knives, measuring spoons, weighing scales and chopping boards should have easy access to the kitchen benchtop.
• Crockery, cutlery, and tea towels feel comfortable to access around the sink/dishwasher.
• If you want to clear up some counter space in your kitchen, consider putting away appliances that you only use once a week. This includes items like your slow cooker.
• Wall-mounted organisers like spice racks, knives, or utensil holders are a great way to keep your kitchen tidy.
• A cookbook stand is an excellent investment if you refer to recipe books often.

Take stock of what's in your kitchen

Before organising your kitchen, you need to know what you have. Take an inventory of all the items, including appliances, cookware, utensils, and food. There could be a long-expired product lurking in your pantry or refrigerator. Once you know what you have, you can start planning how to organise it best.

Create a kitchen organisation plan

The kitchen plan is your blueprint for accomplishing a successful kitchen organisation job. Sit down and map out where everything will go - from appliances to utensils and remember to leave some space for food storage. Once you have a plan, it'll be easier to start putting things in their rightful place.

Assess your kitchen layout

When it comes to kitchen organisation, one of the most critical factors is your layout. Assessing your kitchen layout can help you determine what changes need to be made to make your space more efficient. Planning your kitchen layout will also help reduce your time searching for what you need. There are vital things to remember when assessing your configuration, such as traffic flow, work zones, and storage.

Kitchen cupboard organisation

Don't let the number of cabinets or cupboards overwhelm you. Tackle one cabinet at a time and clean as you go. Emptying your kitchen cabinets will allow you to sort through everything and eliminate anything you don't need. While it seems daunting, it can be worth it in the end! Wipe down the shelves and cabinet doors with a mild cleaner.

Tips for cabinet organisation

Check out these handy tips for kitchen cupboard organisation:

• Remember to put heavier items on the lower shelves when stocking your kitchen cabinets. This will help keep your cabinets balanced and make accessing the things you need easier.
• Put things like heavy pans, mixing bowls, and large serving dishes on the bottom shelves, and use the upper shelves for lighter items like pot lids and space racks.
• Store similar items together. For example, store pots and pans together, knives and cutting boards together, and racks of dishes near the stove.
• Pay attention to how you're utilising space in your cabinets. Use shelf maximisers to store with efficiency. You can also look at adjusting a shelf's height.
• If you're looking for a way to optimise your kitchen cupboard storage, consider using a round storage organiser like a lazy Susan or turntable.
• Use food containers for aesthetic appeal. Airtight containers are a great way to preserve your food's shelf life.
• Cabinet dividers can be a great way to organise large drawers and keep them free of clutter. This is mainly in cabinets under kitchen sinks, used primarily for storing cleaning supplies, sponges and paper towels.
• Plate organisers are an innovative organising tool to help you stack differently-sized plates without lifting one to access the others.

Kitchen benchtop storage and organisation

Start by investing in some good-quality storage containers. This will help to keep things like flour and sugar airtight and away from pests. Secondly, use wall space by hanging utensils and other items on hooks. Finally, keep often-used items within easy reach by storing them on shelves or in drawers close to the benchtop.

7 Tips to organise kitchen benchtop storage

1. Store big pots and pans in deep drawers
2. Only display essentials on the kitchen bench. This isn't a place to put our random kitchen accessories.
3. Vases make for creative utensil holders. Enhance your kitchen's charm with this simple organiser to keep it functional and stylish.
4. Use a planter and herbs to add some greenery to your benchtop.
5. A three-tiered lazy Susan or cake stand is ideal for storing tea and coffee canisters, snacks and other bite-sized treats.
6. Use aesthetically pleasing and practical objects like knife sets or a French press to organise and style like a pro.
7. Decorate your kitchen benchtop with a basket of colourful fruits, or place a vase of flowers on the counter. But be careful to keep it to a minimum.

How to organise kitchen drawers?

When organising your kitchen drawers, there are a few key things to remember. Start by pulling out the drawers and placing them on the counter. This will give you an idea of how much storage you have. You can also use this method to see if any of your drawers need replacing.

Another way to organise kitchen drawers is to use drawer dividers. Create sections for large spoons, forks, and even cloths and towels. You could also use small containers for items like rubber bands, batteries and clips that tend to roll around in a drawer.

Pantry organisation

Decluttering and organising your pantry is a great way to clean up your kitchen and get more storage in the same space. Create your dream pantry with our nifty tips.

• Zoning is an essential kitchen storage solution for the pantry. A great rule of thumb is to create zones of products and items you frequently use, kept handy and easily accessible.
• Glass containers are a great way to see how much is left of items like grains, snacks, and baking goods. They're also easy to clean and can be reused many times.
• While you're at it, remember to coordinate containers for a clean and streamlined look.
• Free up space in your pantry by consolidating multiple jars and containers of the same item into one. Do away with duplicate jars as well as old or expired pantry items.
• An expert kitchen organisation hack is using neatly labelled baskets.
• Create extra shelving. Add a few brackets to the wall and baskets filled with assorted items to store canned goods, pasta, and boxed desserts.

Organising the under kitchen sink storage area

There are things under your kitchen sink that you don't even know exist. And so, if you want to declutter and organise, the first step is to take a look under there. When you're cleaning out the area, be sure to get rid of the following:

• All expired food and perishables
• Discarded packaging
• Unused or expired ingredients
• Cleaning supplies that are no longer needed

Then wipe down the cupboard to create a clean slate to start from.

How to organise under kitchen sink storage

• Labels are a great way to organise clutter-prone zones like those under the sink. Make sure everything has a place and label everything. That way, everyone at home knows what goes where, and you can quickly grab what you need without rummaging through a jumble.
• Invest in a large caddy to contain your cleaning products, with separate sections for speciality cleaners and dishwasher supplies. Smaller storage containers for sponges, product refills, and bin liners are also handy ways to organise.
• You can also buy a clever under-kitchen sink storage unit that attaches to the wall with suction cups and includes several compartments for all your cleaning supplies.
• Pull-out drawers and baskets make organising a breeze.

Fridge organisation ideas

Another way to declutter is to look at your fridge and freezer. When it comes to organised kitchens, it's all about getting rid of junk food, expired food and random leftovers. If everything is in its place, you'll be more likely to remember what's in the fridge or freezer.

Before you look at fridge organisation, it's essential to clean it well. Use warm soapy water to wash or wipe down shelves, drawers and doors to eliminate dirt, dust, smells or food particles. This will make the organisation process much easier and help keep your kitchen clean and tidy.

12 things to remember when organising your fridge

• Label all food items with the corresponding dish. You'll know what goes with which dish, and it will be much easier to grab what you need.
• It's important to keep raw and cooked foods separate. Cooked and ready-to-eat items should be placed on the top shelf to avoid contamination from raw food.
• Keep fresh food like salads and herbs away from the back of the fridge. The temperature at the back is a lot lower and could freeze your leafy greens.
• Store food like butter, spreads, yoghurt, and cooked meats on the top and middle shelves.
• Group similar foods together. Store salads, fruits and vegetables in their original packaging in the salad drawers.
• Store leftovers on the same shelf, so they're all in one place, in small containers.
• Consider storing perishable items like raw meat on the lowest shelf or in the freezer to help them last longer.
• The door shelves of a fridge are typically the warmest areas. This is because they are more prone to temperature fluctuations. As a result, the door shelves are the perfect spot for storing condiments, jams and juice.
• To organise your freezer, always file things vertically. This will make it easy to see what's in the front and back of the freezer. A quick trick to organising your freezer is to group similar items, such as seafood, chicken and beef.
• Freeze in portion sizes you're likely to use. For instance, a 2kg package of chicken thighs can be portioned into two containers of 1kg each, ensuring you're only defrosting what you need.
• Remove the boxes of your chicken nuggets, ice pops and calamari rings. Boxes will add to the freezer's bulk, reducing storage space. Storing just the bags will save space.

What not to put in your fridge

Avoid putting food items like raw onions, strong cheeses and smoked fish. When you do, put them in a sealed container. Also, avoid placing them next to dairy products like milk, eggs or pudding, where the smell can quickly transfer. Keep eggs in their box or in a separate covered fridge compartment. You can comfortably keep root vegetables outside the fridge. Banana peels blacken inside a refrigerator, which can be off-putting, so you should avoid popping them inside. Alternatively, freeze bananas to turn them into smoothies.

Small kitchen storage ideas for organisation

It's impossible to imagine a small and organised kitchen. After all, organising does feel easier when there's heaps of space to keep all your things. Here are some kitchen organisation ideas to maximise space in a small kitchen.

• Add an over-the-sink cutting board to add more bench space. This is handy when cutting and prepping vegetables for cooking. Keep all your kitchen tools close by.
• Hang where possible. Vertical storage saves shelf real estate. For instance, you could hang pots, pans, utensils, spice racks, and even introduce floating shelves for cups and plates. An empty wall offers an excellent opportunity for additional storage.
• Stick to a light colour palette with bold accents. This can help open up small spaces, making them feel airier and more expansive.Use small appliances when possible to save counter space.

Kitchen organisation ideas schedule

Now that you have a clean and organised kitchen, it's time to celebrate! Cook a meal, invite friends and family and enjoy your new space. Just be sure to keep up with a cleaning and organisation schedule to maintain your kitchen's cleanliness.

Here's what we suggest

Once a week

Rummage through your fridge, pantry, drawers and cabinets once a week to just lightly sort everything. Rearrange items that look out of place and ensure the benchtop is free of unused items.

Once a month

Be sure to clean your microwave regularly and wipe down the tops and outside of all appliances. This will help keep your kitchen looking its best.

Once every quarter

Now is the time to empty, purge and reorganise. At the start of every quarter, assess your kitchen to see if you need to eliminate anything you haven't used enough.

Organise your kitchen like a pro

A well-organised kitchen is the key to culinary success. You can save time and effort when cooking by keeping your work area tidy and your ingredients adequately organised. While suitable types of kitchen containers and organisers can help optimise time in the kitchen, having an efficient and hassle-free experience comes down to using the right mix of kitchen essentials and tools. Looking for specific types of kitchen utensils, cookware or accessories to invest in - find everything you need with our elaborate kitchen and dining range. Put your skills to the test by picking from a massive choice of mouthwatering recipes available on the Food Hub.