How To Make Your Kitchen Cupboards More Efficient

Is your kitchen organised efficiently? Whether your kitchen is large or small, the way you arrange your kitchen cupboards can have a big impact on the flow of activity.

Here are some ideas to help you make the most of your space:

• Birds of a feather flock together
• How often do you use it?
• Help! My kitchen design is hopeless!

Birds of a Feather Flock Together

“Birds of a feather flock together” is a centuries-old proverb used to describe the idea that people with similar ideas, interests, and qualities will tend to congregate together. Conveniently, it’s also a great concept to apply to the organisation of your kitchen cupboards!

For ease and convenience, it’s a good idea to store similar kitchen items together. Some category suggestions could include:

• Everyday use | the items that are constantly in use – cups, glasses, plates, bowls
• Essential items | that you just can’t live without, including the toaster, blender, coffee machine, and hot water jug
• Cooking | pots, pans, oven trays, and large baking dishes
• Baking | equipment and utensils such as measuring cups and spoons, scales, food processor
• Special occasions | for when you break out Grandma’s silverware or the crystal glassware you’ve had since your wedding

The key is to arrange your kitchen cupboards in a way that makes sense within your household. This is sure to be different from home to home, as every family has different habits and norms of behaviour.

Why not turn this into a fun family brainstorming exercise? If you’re not sure how to get the family on board, you could order a couple of pizzas, and stock up on treats to give as prizes for ideas and contribution!  

How Often Do You Use It?

Now that you have the right organisational groups for your kitchen items, it’s time to decide which kitchen cupboards to use for each category. Aim to place frequently used items in the most accessible and convenient places, to make using your kitchen easy.

For example: 

• Plates, bowls, and cutlery | in a central part of the kitchen
• Pots, pans, and oven trays | kept close to the stove
• Glassware | can be stored near the sink or dishwasher
• Cups and mugs | beside your tea and coffee area
• Food preparation items | should be located under or next to the bench space where you most commonly prepare meals
• Special occasion items | anything used infrequently can be stored in hard-to-reach kitchen cupboards that may require a chair or stepladder to access

Some additional points to think about include:

• Young children in the house | with curious young children afoot, it’s important to ensure that any dangerous items are kept out of reach, or in childproofed cupboards
• Accessibility for older children | if you have older children using the kitchen, try and store commonly used items in cupboards that they can safely and easily be reached
• Injuries & disability | if you or a family member has back problems, an injury, or mobility limitations, it’s necessary to plan the kitchen arrangement around these needs

Help! My Kitchen Design is Hopeless!

Now what? Having done your best to organise your kitchen like a pro, you finally admit defeat. Your kitchen design is hopeless – what on earth were the designers thinking?

What’s the solution? You could carry on as you have been, putting up with a frustrating and painfully awkward kitchen design. On the other hand, why not consider a renovation project to install your dream kitchen? New kitchen cupboards, an island, gas hobs instead of ceramics – just imagine all of those design tweaks that your heart has longed for!

Express Kitchens offer professionally designed and manufactured kitchens, with a speedy 1 day installation that makes home renovations a piece of cake! Our services include:

• Free Home Consultation
• 3D Custom Kitchen Design
• 1 Day Installations 

Ready to Transform Your Kitchen?

FREECALL 1800 675 605  OR CONTACT US ONLINE

How to Design a Kitchen You Will Love!

When creating the perfect design for your brand new kitchen, there’s a great deal to be said for proper planning! As the saying goes, “if something is worth doing, it’s worth doing right.”

This blog offers several tips to help you begin brainstorming your dream kitchen, including:

• #1 | Start with problem-solving
• #2 | Add in your dream luxuries & perks
• #3 | Maximise your space

#1 | Start With Problem-Solving

Do you know exactly what you want in your kitchen? Are you absolutely certain? The first step towards a kitchen design you will love, is to think of everything you dislike about your current kitchen. What inspired your desire to renovate?

Make a list of the problems you face in your current kitchen, for example:

• What drives you crazy? 
• What’s not working?
• Does the decor make you cringe?

Once you have a clear picture of everything that is bugging you in your kitchen, you can sit down and brainstorm the solutions to these problems. Ask yourself what the most satisfying outcome would look and feel like.

When it comes to creating a kitchen design that you will love for a long time, it’s vitally important to solve these problems first and foremost. Not to mention a fantastic starting point for design! 

# 2 | Add in Your Dream Luxuries & Perks

Now that you know what you DON’T want, it’s time to think about what you DO want. What are the extra features, perks, and luxuries that will make your kitchen design perfect for you?

Are you: 

• Fantasising about a dishwasher?
• Dreaming of entertaining guests at your kitchen island and bar duo?
• Wishing for kitchen cabinets that are easy to clean?
• Longing for more storage space?

Take the time to think carefully about which design features will contribute to the ultimate enjoyment of your kitchen.

TIP | Do it Once, Do it Right

People will often choose to forego these special extras that truly make their dream kitchen – particularly when trying to save money. It’s a common scenario that most of us have found ourselves in before – we think “Oh, I can add that feature to the kitchen somewhere down the track when I have more money to spend.”

Unfortunately, that day never comes! So, instead of feeling the delight of a fabulous new kitchen design, you’re left feeling frustrated and dissatisfied as you “put up” with the in-between kitchen that you got stuck with.

There’s a term in behavioural economics called “status quo bias”, which is “evident when people prefer things to stay the same by doing nothing” – particularly when there is a big or important decision to make. But, you ask, “what does this have to do with kitchen renovation?”

Since a kitchen renovation can feel like a big project to take on, it requires a significant amount of energy and attention – probably not something you want to do too often! While it is extremely important to be responsible with your finances, when it comes to an investment like a kitchen renovation, you want to get it right the first time.

# 3 | Maximise Your Space

We’ve all seen poorly-designed kitchens that feel poky and cramped – an uninviting prospect to be sure! On the other hand, a skilful design will make use of every bit of available space to create a kitchen that feels open and spacious. This can be achieved through elements such as colour, light, and the style of your shelving, cabinets, and benchtops.

If you’ve only got a relatively small space available, don’t worry! There are plenty of clever design hacks to help you make the most of a small kitchen.

The best way to make the most of your space is to get a customised kitchen design, made to fit the unique and exacting requirements of your available home space. Express Kitchens will come to you for a free 1-hour home consultation. Using fantastic 3D design technology, after our designer has discussed your needs, they’ll create the kitchen of your dreams.

Book Your Free Consultation Today

FREECALL 1800 675 605  OR CONTACT US ONLINE