2017 Kitchen Organization Tips
Erin Vaughan
Good organization never really goes out of style, but this year, there have been a lot of cool new trends rising to the surface that will really whip your kitchen into shape in style!
Today’s storage options look nice and work hard, which busy bakers will certainly appreciate. Designers have kicked the minimalist, open kitchen to the curb in favor of walk-in pantries and high-functioning cabinets that let you keep all your equipment safely tucked inside—and off countertops. Take a look at some of our favorite new styles, and be prepared to kiss your storage woes goodbye!
Via Decoist
Get Yourself a Docking Station
If you’re anything like most modern cooks, you probably rely on your smartphone a lot more than your cookbooks. A proliferation of recipe apps means that digital food prep is now an integral part of the home cooking experience. Keep your phone, tablet, and other devices all charged up and ready to go using a handy-dandy kitchen charging station. This makes a super fun afternoon DIY project, too. Opt for a letter-box-style charging holder, or tuck your digital equipment discretely into a drawer with this easy outlet hack.
Add Drawer Pull-Outs and Risers
Baking is a lot easier when you have the right tools for the job. If you don’t believe me, try sifting your flour by hand next time! Add all that extra equipment to your load of day-to-day cookware, though, and you’ll definitely have some major cabinet overflow on your hands. Luckily, there’s a clever way to stretch the space in your cabinets: by purchasing and installing some useful drawer accessories. Risers let you stack plates and pans high to the ceiling, while pull-out shelves help spacious cabinet do double duty. Heck, there’s even a special hide-away for your kitchen garbage, if you want to get it out of sight. How genius is that?
Install an Appliance Garage
Counter space is precious when you’re baking, so if you have a bunch of small kitchen gadgets cluttering up every surface, you’re bound to feel a little claustrophobic. An appliance “garage” fits snugly under your cabinets and has a pull-down door to keep the beaters safely stowed away until it’s time to whip up the frosting. This is a must-have if you’re tired of wiping up crumbs under the toaster.
Via HomedIt
Or Put Your Appliances on Full Display
This year’s appliances are some of the prettiest we’ve ever seen. The retro look is back, so you’ll see ovens and refrigerators in colors like blue, red, or pink, and cafe curtains hung in the kitchen—even on arched windows! Fifties-style mixers, toaster ovens, and coffee makers are also making the rounds, too, complete with soft, rounded profiles and shining chrome fixtures. They’re so pretty, you may just want to put them on full display—and moving your baking activities to an island or the kitchen table instead. Either way, we fully embrace the return of vintage into kitchens. Happy days are here again!
Create an Open Pantry
Walk-in pantries are all the rage this year with homeowners, who are stuffing theirs full of canned goods, wine, and other modern conveniences. If you’re a frequent baker, you’ll get why today’s cooks appreciate a little extra room in the pantry. But not all of us are lucky enough to own a home large enough for its own walk-in pantry. True, you could have a contractor in to build you your own approximation, but it’s not the only solution. If you need more space, an open-shelf pantry is the only way to go. You can even do it on the cheap using industrial wire shelving purchased from a restaurant supply store—or go whole hog and and create one from some pretty wall-length shelves from a furniture store. The best part? You’ll never have to wonder where you put the yeast again!
Use Your Cabinet Drawers and Kitchen Walls
Here’s another unlikely spot for some extra storage: your cabinet interiors get all the attention when you’re planning a storage intervention—but your doors have plenty to offer as well. Especially when you install a few hooks on the back of each one. Suddenly you’ve got a place for ladles, measuring spoons, pans, and any number of other baking odds and ends. You can do the same thing on an unused wall—lately, kitchen decor has been centered around cozy, nostalgic items, so a few copper-bottomed pots or mason jars stuffed with cooking utensils brings on the rustic revival like nothing else, while earning you some extra room on your surfaces. After all, if you’re serious about baking, decorating with your equipment lets you declare your love for the kitchen, front-and-center.
