4 Best Kitchen Storage Organization Ideas For Your 2022 Summer Cleaning Checklist

The one thing that's more intimidating than Spring Cleaning? Summer Cleaning. We’ve all gathered a little extra clutter over the winter months. So, now the question stands: what do you do with it all? 

First thing’s first: choose which room you’re going to start with. Sure, it can be overwhelming to think about what you need to get rid of in the bathroom and the bedroom and the kitchen and so on. But, if you focus on only one room at a time, your project instantly becomes manageable and  you will be set up for success. Today, we’re focusing on the kitchen:

Create a Game Plan

• Work on one zone at a time. We recommend organizing your kitchen into the following zones: Pantry, Cabinets, Refrigerator/Freezer, Countertops/Drawers
• Have a clear vision of what you want your kitchen to look like at the end of the project. Whether you’re doing a complete reorg of the cabinets and pantry with new storage containers and a new organization system, or you’re simply trying to refresh the system you already have, it’s helpful to have a clear vision of what your goals look like so you can follow through with them.

Purge Your Pantry

When life gets hectic, one of the first areas of the house to suffer from lack of organization is the pantry. We get it, it’s behind closed doors and it’s oh so easy to just throw your groceries in there wherever you can find room before rushing to the next place you need to be. So, because of this, the pantry is probably going to be the biggest purge you have in your kitchen while summer cleaning this year. 

(Spoiler: those cans and jars that are well past their expiration dates and crammed into the back of the pantry have no business taking up valuable storage space.)

The easiest way to tackle the beast that is your pantry purge is to first pull out the contents of the drawers and shelves within the pantry itself. Right away, you know you can throw away anything that’s expired and no longer good to eat. Once you’ve done that, you can put everything back into the pantry. But, this time, be mindful of how everything is stored. We recommend creating zones within your pantry zone to organize the food that’s kept in there. For example, all canned goods can live on the same shelf just like all chips and crunchy snacks can live together. Consider even using storage bins and shelf dividers to keep your snacks and other food organized within the pantry itself!

Don’t Shy Away From the Refrigerator

We know the fridge can seem like a beast to conquer — especially if you’re like most people and have more refrigerated items than you know what to do with. But, this is an essential step in organizing your kitchen considering the fridge really does act as the hub of the kitchen. So, start similarly to how you attacked your pantry and purge any spoiled foods or condiments that may be hiding at the back of the drawers and shelves.

From there, consider the zones that you’re utilizing in the space. Our recommendation is to create the following zones:

• Door shelves — Condiments and sauces
• The door is one of the warmer sections of your fridge, so you don’t want to store anything there that could spoil quickly (like milk or eggs). Instead, use this place for items that last longer like dressings, sauces, and condiments.
• Middle and bottom shelves — Milk, eggs, and anything else that will spoil quickly
• The middle and bottom shelves are the coolest sections of the fridge, so this is the best place to store those dairy items so that you can avoid food waste.
• Drawers — Meats, veggies, and fruits
• If your fridge has drawers that are indicated specifically for vegetables, meats, and fruits, take advantage of them!
• Top shelf — Snacks and leftovers
• The top shelf allows easy access to leftovers and grab & go snacks so that you can be sure to finish eating them before they go bad.

Utilize Clear Storage Containers

Remember that infamous phrase “out of sight, out of mind”? Well, it never seems to ring true in an area of the home more so than in the refrigerator and pantry. Most of us are creatures of habit and convenience, and will grab the first snack we see upon opening the refrigerator or pantry. So, if we’re not seeing all of the food we have stored in there, we probably aren’t going to eat it and it’s going to spoil before we remember we have it.

This is where clear storage containers come in handy! Sure, we love the Folden Lane vegan leather storage bins for countertop and cabinet storage, especially when looking to add a bit of functional design into a space, but clear storage containers are perfect for storing food items in your kitchen, whether you’re looking to add only a couple of containers in your pantry, or if you’re planning on purchasing a clear container for every single one of your groceries. 

Take Advantage of Wall Space

There’s no such thing as “dead space” in our book. Whether you’re adding storage bins at the bottom of a closet or utilizing extra shelves at the top, there’s always some way to utilize the space in your home for either storage, decor, or organization. The same is true in the kitchen, and one space that often goes unnoticed is the wall space. Sure, it may not seem like you can store anything on the walls of your kitchen but … you definitely can. 

From floating shelves to extra cabinets to hanging baskets, adding a simple piece of hardware to your wall can dramatically change how much storage space you have. Plus, it’s also a way to add your personal design touch to your kitchen! Check out this creative way to store cooking utensils and more on the wall of your kitchen from A Beautiful Mess.