4 Quick and Low Cost Tips: Kitchen Storage Solutions

The kitchen is the family center and the hub of most houses, but also one of the hardest to find appropriate but family friendly storage solutions. The results must be easy, simple to maintain, practical, cost-effective, but also be useful.

1. Creating centers or grouping like items together.
This can be very straightforward and economical. This can mean different things for each family who will need to adapt the solutions to suit their family and lifestyle. For example, a baking center in one cupboard would include mixing bowls, sheet pans, muffin cups and tins, sugar, baking powder, sprinkles, etc. While the lunch station would include sandwich containers, lunch boxes, individual snacks, baggies, etc. You could even employ this system in your fridge by grouping the salad dressings together, the leftovers in another section of the fridge, etc. This method will save you time and energy because you will no longer have to search for items.

2. Use wall and hanging space effectively.
By using walls or other hanging space you can minimize the clutter on the counter or in the drawers and cabinets. For example a magnetic strip or metal board can be hung and be used to hang up metal utensils such as spatulas, serving spoons, tongs, mashers, whisks, etc. Hooks could be hung to hold dish drying towels.A family calendar is the center point of a household kitchen, a large dry erase or wipe able calendar that is easy to excess is an easy way to keep track of everyone’s everyday activities. A two baskets system consisting of an in and out box is often a useful tool in order to ensure that bills are paid, schedules are seen, and papers needing a parent’s signature is viewed.

3. Expand your cupboard space.
There are some useful items that can expand your cabinet space without building a new kitchen. One useful example is shelf or can stackers, the metal shelves allow you to stack items, therefore doubling your storage space.Awkward items such as lids for pots or cookie sheets could be stored using a dish dryer; which would take up considerably less space in a cupboard.An inventory of pantry items would also allow you to know what you have in your pantry at a glance, therefore allowing you to only buy what you need or what’s on special.

4. Reuse inexpensive items found around the home into storage for kitchen items.
Recycle old containers (ex. Margarine tubs, yogurt tubs, coffee cans, etc.) into new solutions. A margarine tub can be useful as a left-over food storage container or can aide in organizing the ‘infamous’ kitchen junk drawer. They could also be used for extra food being frozen for another meal.Coffee tins would make a good container for holding large utensils or extra baking supplies such as excess sugar. Yogurt tubs could be used for small or less used items such as corn on the cob holders or for small measuring spoons. A used paper towel roll can be used as a holder for plastic grocery bags.