Happiness is Homemade
Who likes doing house chores when the weather’s nice and there’s a festival this weekend? If we’re honest with ourselves, we have all struggled to get everything done within the time constraints we put on ourselves. Not to mention the after-school appointments, sports, and activities. Personally, I don’t want to sit down after dinner until the kitchen is clean…but sometimes it happens. Some days a kiddo didn’t empty the dishwasher during the day and there’s nowhere to put dinner dishes. Pots get scrubbed, put away, and dishes are sometimes left in the sink. This scenario used to irritate me bigtime, now I’m in my “Let them and Let Me” season. That’s a nod to author Mel Robbins, guys. I “let them” get away with a snide comment about not doing chores once in a while and I “let me” have peace about it and relax after dinner with my family at home. The quality time together is more important to me right now.
How to Organize a Southern Kitchen Like a Pampered Princess
Whether you’re newly married, preparing for college life, or leaving a roommate situation to live alone, getting settled-in means getting organized. Studies show that you may not a good night’s sleep until you do. The space that tends to need the most organization is the kitchen. After all, we must eat. If you are blessed enough to afford eating out several times a week, you are still doing some meal prep and making beverages in that space.
A bit of thoughtful organization in the kitchen is helpful and appreciated. You’ll thank yourself later for putting together a well-thought-out space.
How To Organize Kitchen Space:
Simple hacks to save time and help home cooks
- Make a beverage station:
- Store glasses in the cabinet or on the shelf nearest the fridge for convenience
- Use cup hooks to hang mugs under the cabinet or shelf if desired
- Line shelves with contact paper
- Store filters for tap water or water pitcher here
- Store an electric kettle orcoffee maker under the cabinet.
- Light it up with a fluorescent light strip under the cabinet
- Top off the space with a sleek look by using black or seasonal microfiber towel at your beverage station
2. Add shelving:
- Installing one or two shelves in an easy-to reach space can help prevent clutter on the counter add organization to an area
- Use baskets to store seasonings on your new shelf or keep tea box, sugar, coffee beans and more for your beverage station
- Add personal trinkets that make you happy on the shelf. These can be a small picture of family member(s) in a frame or memorabilia from a trip
- Add a strip light under the shelf if needed
How Hooks Can Help Home Cooks
3. Maximize with hooks:
- Pantry hooks and fasteners on the wall help keep the broom, sweeper, and mop off the floor space
- Cup hooks used under cabinets and shelves hold drink mugs
- Magnetic hooks on the refrigerator door hold well used or larger utensils, oven mitts, digital thermometer, whatever
- Here are two main styles of hooks for saving space in your kitchen. Individual J hooks can be added under various cabinets for holding measuring spoons, cups, mugs, and hand towels. Hang strands of dried garlic bulbs, herbs, or hot peppers around the kitchen to spice things up a bit.
Big Mug Hooks look great and feature a modern streamline of black J-hooks for your mugs. These recommended hook products get those extra cups and mugs out of your cabinet space and available.
4. Special kitchen organizers:
- Magnetic strips for knives and utensils. These can be mounted to a wall or side of a cabinet for displaying your kitchen tools
- Glass Canisters hold different types of flour, sugar, sweetener packets, dry pasta noodles, rice, corn starch, dry grits, etc.
- Book ends help safely hold and display cookbook collections on top of the refrigerator
