Having an organized kitchen makes cooking and entertaining much easier. Your kitchen is probably the most used room in the house and even if you don’t like to cook it collects clutter as easily as your trinkets collect dust. The key is to have a plan in place for things so that they’re always easily found when you need them. Here are some organization hacks that you can implement to make your kitchen more organized:

1. Place a basket or container in your kitchen for items that don’t belong there. When you’re cooking, you have somewhere specific to put things that are in your way. Make a point to empty this basket every day and put things away. This way, the clutter doesn’t take over.
2. Use magnets. A magnetic knife strip keeps knives at hand and above the height of little fingers. Place a magnetic strip on your pantry wall for food processor blades. Use a strip on the top side of your cabinet to keep spice jars organized.
3. Store pots and pans above your head with a ceiling rack. You can even use this rack to store kitchen utensils. It’s a stylish kitchen decoration that adds space to your cabinets.
4. Label everything. It does take some time to remember to add a note about when you opened something or put it in the freezer, but it will save time when you’re cleaning, and you’ll know how old something is.
5. Drawer inserts make the space more efficient, so that way you don’t just throw in your utensils in there messily. Each tool is more accessible, and it prevents them from getting banged around in the drawer, maintaining shape and durability.
6. Use an over-the-sink cutting board to free up counter space when you’re working. Having more than one cutting board may seem unnecessary, but it will save time when you need to cut meat and vegetables for the same meal. It’s also safer and prevents cross-contamination.
7. Keep only what you use in your kitchen. Many people buy lots of tools and baking pans which get used once or twice, then stashed away in a cupboard. Every six months or so, go through your stuff and donate what you aren’t using. Control the clutter instead of letting it control you.
8. Look for free space in your kitchen where you can hang a rack to store items that you use frequently.

Finding organization hacks that fit your kitchen helps keep you clutter-free, which means it’ll be easier for you to cook in your kitchen. It saves time and money when you invest in a structured space where everything has a place.