Decluttering and Organizing Your Dining Room and Kitchen

When taking on the task of organizing your home, you'll soon see that the dining room and kitchen are two rooms that present a different set of challenges as opposed to the rest of the home. Most rooms in the house usually only need cleaning one time a week, but rooms that are used as often as these two are may actually need attention on a daily basis. However, with a bit of organizing and some planning, you'll not only be able keep these rooms cleaner, but also save some valuable time in the process.

To begin, take an honest assessment of the items in your kitchen, storing away the things that are only used on occasion, and then grouping like items together. For example, baking sheets and dishes should be kept near the oven where they are used, while bowls and other things used for preparing the meals should be near your workspace, whether it's the counter, or a portable island, or sideboard.

A portable island, or workspace is a convenient item to have in any type of kitchen. Most feature extra storage space, and with wheels, they're easy to store in a corner or a closet when they aren't being used.

Installing a hanging pot rack is another perfect way to save on kitchen space. Some racks may come with their own hardware kits, while other will need to be purchased separately at a local home improvement store. Be sure the nuts, bolts, and brackets you're using are able to support the weight of a filled rack before installing.

Refrigerators and pantries are other areas that may pose problems if they're on the smaller side. Be sure not to buy too many bulky items all at once if you're having trouble finding the storage space in the fridge or freezer. As for the pantry, if you have another cupboard, or enclosed area in another room, use that for extra cans and things you don't have the space for in the kitchen. Make the best use of the space you have, regardless of the room it's in.

Dining rooms have their own set of issues to work with, including being one of the most frequented spots in the house, and naturally, a magnet for clutter. We tend to leave our mail here, do homework here, and of course, eat the majority of our meals here, so it's important to have a system in place before clutter claims the entire room. Designate certain areas, bins, or baskets for mail, important papers, or whatever it is that seems to take over your dining room table.

Sideboards and extra counter spaces also tend to be magnets for clutter, but if you keep decorative items displayed, it will take up that extra space as well as adding a bright touch to the room. Vases with or without flowers in varying heights, along with serving bowls or dishes are all perfect for keeping it looking neat and inviting.

Mealtime is supposed to be a time for families to get together and share the details of their day. With clutter and chaos all over the room, that cozy feeling is instead transformed into one of stress and disorder rather than a time to enjoy each other's company.

Also: Declutter Master Bedroom