Maximize Your Kitchen Space By Placing Appliances In The Right Spot

There's a lot to be said for feng shui in the kitchen. Too often, we think a pretty design, top-end appliances, and high-tech gadgets are all we need to optimize our efficiency and enjoyment when it's time to cook. Sure, air fryers and Instant Pots are neat tools to save us time and improve our results, but they don't necessarily help to improve the experience of using the kitchen. On the contrary, these supposed solutions can create new problems as they pile up on cramped, clutter-filled counters. Placement is essential to get the most out of your equipment. With smarter organization, you can have your most important tools handy in the optimal spot while keeping your workspace clear and ready for use.

There are plenty of guidelines and tricks to organize a kitchen and maximize space with proper appliance placement. At the same time, no two layouts will look alike, as everyone's kitchen designs and routines are unique. You have to decide what organizational strategy will make life easier. To get started, pull out your small appliances and organize them by function. Consider their use frequency so you know how to store them. Items you work with every day can stay on the counter. Meanwhile, weekly and occasional use appliances can sit on a shelf in your kitchen cabinets. With your items laid out, you can also find redundancies between them and note old or unused pieces you can sell, donate, or trash, helping you consolidate without losing essential items.

Organize your countertop items based on how you use them, putting them where they demand the least effort. For instance, you need to empty and fill the coffee pot at the sink and grab creamer from the fridge, so it makes sense to keep it convenient to both. A blender between the fridge and sink may be ideal as well if you make fresh drinks with refrigerated foods. Meanwhile, placing the toaster by the stove can ease breakfast prep, letting you plate toast alongside any cooked up eggs or bacon. Generally, most cooking and baking supplies, like stand mixers and slow cookers, should stay near prep areas around the range. Ranges typically have the most counter space on either side, and having all your food preparation pieces in one spot will minimize movement and time.

As you arrange your most-needed items, you may find that you're still fighting for space. Rather than compromise on what you keep on the counter, consider where you can make adjustments. Can you swap the four-slice toaster for a two-slicer? Do you need all the features and capacity in your current mixer, or can you exchange it for a slimmed down, streamlined alternative? If your can opener won't fit with everything else, can you install an under-cabinet model to free up counter space? As long as you keep the functionality to get through your family's usual needs, you can change up several appliances to open up more kitchen space and reduce clutter.

After setting up your countertop small appliances, you can focus on lesser-used pieces going into cabinet storage. Organize pieces by function and frequency of use. Equipment you might need a few days a week should be up front and accessible. Rarely used materials can sit near the back of the cabinet. Store multi-piece tools with small pieces, like blenders, in bins for tidiness. While rarely used items can go on high shelves out of the way, heavy and fragile appliances should go in a low cabinet. To ease access, you can also try changing your storage system. Keep your equipment on a lazy Susan in a corner cabinet to make everything easy to grab. Or, upgrade base cabinets with sliding shelves to avoid having to dig around for that odd item you seldom use.

While working through lesser-used items, think about utility. If you used that griddle once two years ago and haven't given it a second glance since, is it worth keeping? Hold on to it if you're sure you'll need it eventually, but if it's just taking up space, you can research alternatives to open some of your kitchen. Multipurpose units are a great option. You could consider a microwave oven combo, a toaster with a built-in air fryer, or even a multipurpose blender/food processor unit. With more function in one piece, you'll limit clutter without sacrificing utility. Try a few tweaks, and you'll craft the perfect kitchen space with the function you demand in a welcoming atmosphere that makes meal prep a true pleasure.