The kitchen is the heart of the home but somehow the clutter keeps building up and next thing you know you’re clearing away a million things before you can even start cooking.
Piles of papers, books, utensils, pots, pans and appliances all seem to quickly build up. Before you go crazy under the weight of all that clutter, I have compiled these five practical DIY tips that will help you to turn your kitchen into a clutter-free zone.
Hang outdoor wire baskets indoors
Outdoor wire baskets are extremely versatile and perfect for freeing up counter space in your kitchen. Take advantage of your ceiling space to suspend baskets. First you’ll need some hook screws and a length of rope along with your wire baskets. When putting in the hooks to hang your baskets, it’s important to find a ceiling joist to screw the hooks into so that the weight of the baskets will be adequately supported. Use an electric drill to drill a small hole, this will let you screw the hook screw into the ceiling by hand without it binding up or breaking. Gently twist the hook clockwise and voila you can now use the rope to hang your baskets. This pretty storage solution is great for storing fruit, onions or eggs and it will add a dash of rustic beauty to your kitchen.
Create a curtain rail cooking utensil hanger
This is a nifty, easy to do DIY project that will help you keep your cooking utensils right where you need them. A curtain rod with hooks to hang up utensils is a simple way to help you get rid of countertop clutter. All you need to do this yourself are a curtain rail, curtain rail holders, a drill, S-hooks and screws. There are so many tutorials you can find online that will take you through hanging a curtain rail step by step so I won’t go through it here, but it is generally very easy to do. Once you have your curtain rail up you can hang the S-hooks off of it and hang cooking utensils or even pots and pans where they are out of the way but easily accessible.
Invest in an over the sink cutting board
This tip is perfect for those who don’t have much kitchen space to begin with – putting a cutting board over your sink will open up a brand new surface for you to work on. While you can easily purchase one of these chopping boards (just make sure that you measure the space correctly and buy a big enough board), if you are more handy you can easily make one. You will need to get a piece of wood cut to size at your local supplier – you can talk to them about the best type of wood and finish to use, then all you need are 4 rubber feet and glue. Glue one rubber foot to each corner and allow to set. Now you have an extra work surface you didn’t even know you had.
Pack it up – into a basket
This is a super easy quick fix for clearing up your kitchen counters – pop it in a basket. Using baskets to organise your kitchen is not only practical but they are also generally inexpensive, meaning a good sturdy basket can help you clear clutter on the cheap. Find baskets that fit neatly into the unused nook in your kitchen and store anything from cooking utensils to potatoes.
Use a wooden pallet to clear up your counters
Wooden pallets can easily be found lying around just about everywhere and they can be incredibly useful, especially if you are drowning in kitchen clutter. I love this idea because it not only uses recycled material but is also an efficient way to give yourself some room to work in. There are a huge variety of designs and ideas for you to choose from online and you will only need basic tools to get started. Here’s a sample of a wooden pallet organiser from Easy Pallet Ideas to inspire you: Wooden Pallet Organiser Design.
Having a clutter-free kitchen is completely achievable and I hope these DIY tips motivate you to try your own creative kitchen clearing projects. I would love to hear about any extra DIY tips you might have in the comments. Happy hammering.
