Kitchen Organizing
for Foodies
How to Create a High-Functioning Culinary Space
For food lovers and avid home chefs, the kitchen is more than just a place to cook—it’s a creative space where flavors come to life. But even the most passionate home chefs can struggle with cluttered countertops, overflowing pantries, and hard-to-find tools. A well-organized kitchen not only makes cooking more enjoyable but also maximizes efficiency and reduces stress. Personally, I’m a very adventurous cook and my husband & I love to shop the farmers market and the international market to gather all sorts of fun ingredients. If our kitchen wasn’t really well organized, it would be tough for us to enjoy cooking the way we do.
Here’s how to create a high-functioning culinary space that works for you.
Kitchen Organizing
for Foodies
1. Start with a Kitchen Declutter
Before you can up an efficient system, take stock of what you have and get rid of what you don’t need. It sounds simple and not much fun but this first step sets the stage for an organized kitchen! Decluttering is always the first step to getting organized and unfortunately, often a step that is skipped! Maybe because it’s not nearly as exciting as the pretty bins or baskets – but really the only way to really create an organized kitchen. One of the downfalls of being a foodie/home chef is that there are lots of bright and shiny new tools or spices or food items that call to us so it’s honestly pretty easy to overbuy (like what was I thinking buying TWO huge bags of dal at the Indian market….) which can cause clutter and fill up our spaces. Editing out what you aren’t using or don’t need means you’ll have space to reset and make spaces that work.
Decluttering Tips
- Check expiration dates on spices and pantry goods. Most food pantries will take items up to a year out of date if they are unopened.
- Be honest with yourself about what you'll actually make - there are a lot of aspirational items in every kitchen. You know you've got some sad sourdough starter or a small appliance that got used once floating around.
- Keep only the appliances and gadgets you actually use.
- Donate or repurpose extra dishes, mugs, and utensils. I swear if they never made another coffee mug, we'd have enough to get us through the zombie apocalypse.
- Determine how many small appliances you own that serve the same purpose - do you need all of them? Sometimes it's great to have a single purpose gadget (like a rice maker) but often one appliance can fill many needs leaving single use gadgets superfluous.
- Evaluate the quality of your items as you edit. If you've got a tool that doesn't work as you'd like - this could be a sign to let it go.
The decluttering process can often reveal gaps in your gear or upgrades you may want to make. Taking a good hard look at all of the items in your kitchen may make you realize that some of it just isn’t useful or doesn’t work as well as it should. Start a list for items you need or want to replace!
Kitchen Organizing
for Foodies
2. Zone Your Kitchen for Efficiency AND for the Way You Cook
Organizing your kitchen into zones ensures everything is stored where you need it most. Everyone has their favorite tools, their favorite burner, and their favorite spot on the counter to prep. Organizing your kitchen to work with your flow and preferences means a space that is functional and enjoyable. Consider setting up these key zones:
- Prep Zone: Knives, cutting boards, mixing bowls, and prep tools should be near your main prep area.
- Cooking Zone: Keep pots, pans, cooking utensils, oils, and spices close to the stove for easy access. Note that you don't want spices to be in a spot where they can get hot or damp.
- Baking Zones: Store measuring cups and mixing bowls near each other and ingredients together in the pantry or a specific cabinet or shelf.
- Pantry Zone: Organize dry goods, canned foods, and snacks with clear labeling. Check out our recent post on How To Organize Your Pantry!
- Cleaning Zone: Keep dish soap, sponges, and trash bags under the sink.
Kitchen Organizing
for Foodies
3. Maximize Pantry & Cabinet Storage
A well-organized pantry and cabinets make it easier to find ingredients and cooking tools without rummaging through clutter.
- Use clear containers to store bulk ingredients like flour, sugar, and rice. We wrote a whole blog post called The Pros and Cons of Decanting!
- Label everything to prevent confusion and make restocking easy.
- Arrange items by category (e.g., baking supplies, snacks, canned goods).
- Install pull-out drawers or lazy Susans to improve accessibility in deep cabinets.
- Group frequently used ingredients together for easy reach.
Kitchen Organizing
for Foodies
4. Optimize Refrigerator & Freezer Storage
A cluttered fridge can lead to wasted food and frustration. Keep it organized with these strategies:
- Use clear bins to group similar items (e.g., dairy, condiments, meal prep items).
- Store leftovers and perishable items at eye level so they don’t get forgotten.
- Label and date leftovers to track freshness.
- Designate specific areas for meats, dairy, produce, and beverages to prevent cross-contamination.
- Keep an inventory list on the fridge to reduce overbuying.
Kitchen Organizing
for Foodies
5. Smart Storage Solutions for Every Kitchen
Even in a small kitchen, there are creative ways to make the most of your space – and we’ve found large kitchens have their challenges as well because there is so much space that it makes it hard to narrow down where things should live!
- Use vertical space with wall-mounted shelves or pegboards.
- Install drawer dividers for utensils, spices, and small tools to create compartments in large drawers.
- Add a knife dock to a drawer to get your knives off of the counter.
- Use lazy susans in upper cabinets or on open shelves
- Utilize cabinet doors with hooks or adhesive organizers for lids, measuring spoons, or cutting boards.
- Stackable storage containers or drawers are great for all sorts of items.
- Additional furniture pieces can really help maximize space such as an etagere or bookshelf. I have a brass & glass etagere in my kitchen that holds my cookbooks and all of my international condiments, oils, and vinegars. These are the types of things that can often get lost or forgotten about so for me - having them front and center means I'll remember to use them!
- Store infrequently used items away from the main zones such as up high or under the island, or elsewhere. Holiday china, large entertaining or serving pieces, the easter bunny bundt pan - these don't need to be taking up valuable real estate.
Kitchen Organizing
for Foodies
6. Maintain an Organized Kitchen with Daily Habits
Once your kitchen is set up efficiently, small daily habits will help keep it that way:
- Do a quick cleanup after every meal to prevent buildup.
- Follow a one-in, one-out rule for gadgets and cookware.
- Wipe down countertops and sweep the floor daily to keep the space fresh.
- Regularly check the pantry and fridge to toss expired items and reorganize as needed.
And don’t think once it is done, it’s done! Regular review of how it’s working is key to keeping it functional. I do a reset on my spaces pretty regularly – sometimes just when I’m in the mood but at least every 6 months. I tend to pick a drawer, empty it, wipe it out, evaluate what’s in there and then re-organize it. Sometimes it means adding some organizing product, sometimes just getting rid of some stuff.
Kitchen Organizing for Foodies
If your kitchen still feels overwhelming, our experienced team of professional organizers here at a fresh space can help design custom solutions that fit your cooking style. Whether it’s creating a better flow, maximizing storage, or setting up systems tailored to your needs, an expert can transform your kitchen into a dream culinary space.
A well-organized kitchen not only enhances your cooking experience but also makes meal prep faster and more enjoyable. By decluttering, zoning, and using smart storage solutions, you can create a kitchen that supports your love for food without the chaos. Need expert help? Contact us at A Fresh Space to get your kitchen perfectly organized!
