In most homes, all roads lead to the kitchen and it is way too easy for countertops, which should be used for preparing food, under get buried school papers and projects, mail, purses, keys and jackets. If your kitchen is already small, mounding the activities of the day on the counter will not really help. With just a few, simple changes, you can create a kitchen that is efficient and feels spacious.
De-Clutter Countertops
Clutter kills any sense of order in your kitchen. Clutter starts innocently enough as small appliances begin to appear on the counters. If they are appliances that you use daily, then you may be able to make an argument for keeping them topside; but if they are rarely used, get them off of your countertops. You can use wall mounted racks to hold pots and spices, and you may want to mount the racks inside your pantry. You can also mount racks to hold plastic wrap, tin foil or even lids for your storage containers. Add another rack under the sink to hold cleaning items.
Go through your cupboards on a regular basis and remove anything that has expired. If you want to store pasta, sugar, coffee or tea on the countertop, find some attractive canisters in which to house them. If you have a small house, try not to buy warehouse sized packages of kitchen supplies. If you do shop in bulk, make sure to store the bulk of your items in the garage or basement, so that they are not cluttering up your kitchen
If you have mail clutter all over your countertop, simply apply a bit of organizational technique. Get a folder or a box, and put all of your mail there. Then when you have time to open it, have a trash can nearby so that junk mail can be thrown away immediately. An even better idea is to go through the mail before entering your house and throw the junk mail away before it ever enters your home.
As soon as you can see your countertops again, you can add decorative storage bins or some accessories that help tie your decorating theme together.
Place an attractive decanter by your sink and fill it with liquid soap, and find accessories that are actually functional for your countertop. Look for a cutting board that is also pretty, add a tiered stand or hanging basket and fill it with colorful fruit.
Clean Out Cabinets
Now that the countertops are clear, turn your attention to your cabinets. Go through their contents one shelf at a time, and get rid of outdated items. If you have dishes or platters that you no longer use, donate them to charity. Store frequently used items that in the kitchen and send the rest to a closet, garage or basement. For example, you do not want to have to push holiday platters out of way every time you need a coffee mug.
Light Colors Enlarge
Bold patterns and dark colors will only make a space feel smaller. So apply a coat of light paint to freshen and brighten the look of your kitchen. Make sure that walls and cabinets are clean, and if your cabinets are dingy, then you can give them a layer of paint as well. Clean them well and then paint with a good primer and a couple of thin layers of satin latex paint. You can even add new drawer pulls and cabinet knobs to update the look of your kitchen.
Bring in the Light
Also make sure that you let enough light into your kitchen. If you have windows in your kitchen, keep curtains to a minimum so that you do not block any light coming into your room. You can dress your window up by adding a valance over the top of your window and use a window shade for privacy when you need it.
You also want to make sure that you have adequate artificial lighting in you kitchen as well. You can install under cabinet light fixtures for task lighting. Recessed lights or fluorescent lighting are good choices for overhead kitchen lighting.
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