5 Techniques to Streamline and Organize Your Kitchen Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again. × Search search POPULAR SEARCHES SUGGESTED LINKS Join AARP for just $9 per year when you sign up for a 5-year term. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Leaving AARP.org Website You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply.

5 Techniques to Streamline and Organize Your Kitchen

Sorting decluttering drawers and pantry can help cooks make the most of small spaces

Getty Images Like many people spending more time , you may have found your kitchen wanting in certain ways.
Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Maybe you realized you're missing some useful gadgets, or you can never find the tool you need in that cluttered drawer, or you spend precious time hunting through the pantry for the cinnamon or the salt. “The kitchen being the heart of the home where the most time is spent, people want things to work better and make their lives easier,” says Alan Regala, owner of ShelfGenie of Seattle, which provides custom organization solutions. Making the kitchen more efficient and functional saves time, decreases stress while cooking and “helps people age in place and is easier on the body if they don’t have to bend awkwardly to get into a space,” he adds. Many people want to simply want to be able to find or reach items in their kitchen and maximize storage, especially in small spaces. “It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach,” says Jade Zygner, a professional organizer and owner of O.C. Declutter Solutions in Eagan, Minnesota. “What might work for one person may not work for another.” Follow these five steps to make your kitchen or pantry more functional and efficient:

1 Evaluate the space

First, think about how you want to use your kitchen, what you have versus what you need and where items should go. Open your drawers and cabinets to take stock of what’s there. Entertainment $3 off popcorn and soft drink combos See more Entertainment offers > She suggests first tackling low-hanging fruit, such as getting rid of extra grocery store bags, old cooking magazines or outdated cookbooks that are now available online. Consider photographing your favorite family recipes, such as the index card with instructions for Aunt May’s fudge, or making a recipe book. Get rid of extra plastic containers and organize for more drawer space. Courtesy of Jade Zygner

3 Sort and purge

Remove everything from its place, put everything on the floor or a table, and group like items together. Get rid of duplicates, such as two blenders or multiple wooden spoons, especially if you have a limited amount of space. “Start with what you’re least attached to — you might find it easier to [purge the contents of] a junk drawer than grandma’s china,” Zygner advises. Caretaking for her husband, who is disabled, and her late mother meant Cindy Abair’s tiny kitchen in her St. Paul, Minnesota, townhouse became cluttered with dirty dishes on counters and partially unpacked grocery bags on the floor. Earlier this year, she began by tossing take-out containers and then sorting everything else into what needed to be washed, put away or thrown out. “I threw out a lot of stuff, like spices I used once and expired food products,” says Abair, 64. “I found there was a lot more cabinet space than I thought.” This process may take awhile and occupy a lot of space. If you don’t have a whole weekend to devote to the project, tackle one section of the kitchen at a time. This also may be the perfect time to deep clean the insides of drawers, cabinets and refrigerator. Toss out expired pantry items and put often-used items in more accessible places. Courtesy ShelfGenie of Seattle

4 Create zones

Organize your kitchen by activity zones. If you’re standing at the oven, everything you need — from pots and pans to spices — should be within easy reach. AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe Sheryl Jean is a contributing writer who covers aging, business, technology, travel, health and human-interest stories. A former reporter for several daily metropolitan newspapers, her work also has appeared in the Chicago Tribune and The Dallas Morning News and on the American Heart Association’s website. MORE FROM AARP AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS