Kitchen Flow

A good place to start is where your storage space is, in relation to the workspace. Try to keep your dishes in a cabinet close to the dishwasher for quick and easy unloading. Store pots and pans near the stove and baking sheets within easy reach of the oven. Also, if possible, heavy items should be stored in bottom cabinets and shelves. See if you can find a place for those plastics near the microwave.

Another concern is location of your sink in relation to the cook top. This is really an issue of personal preference. Many modern kitchens have the sink or stove in an island or on the opposite side of the room from each other. I personally like an "L" configuration, that way I can rinse, chop then go directly to the pan without moving across open floor space. I happen to have the benefit of a garbage can built into the cabinet beneath my cutting board. It's easy to dump scraps, after chopping.

Many of us have the extra burden of needing a multi-use space in the kitchen. Perhaps it's home office or homework area etc. If you have some extra cabinet space, it can easily be adapted for filing and work/storage space. If not, try to make as much use of your vertical space as possible. Hang a bulletin board or small blackboard for notes. Add a calendar for easy access to important dates and appointments. A small portable file can hold your bills and correspondence. The closer you locate it to the phone, if you have one in the kitchen, the better.

And as always, don't forget that a professional organizer can assist you in reclaiming that untapped space in your home, and help you realize the full potential that lies within.