How to reorganise your kitchen

On page 125 of our September issue, which is currently on shelf, we have compiled a comprehensive guide to reorganising your kitchen. Here are a few practical tips from our experts, who show you how to make your kitchen a fully functional space.

Ashleigh Blackman from Sterlings says:

• Chose drawers instead of cupboards – they slide out and make it easier to find what you’re looking for.
• When reorganising your kitchen, you should try avoid storing heavy or bulky items overhead. By storing items that are big above a counter makes it very difficult to access other things, and can be quite dangerous.
• Keep a step stool in your kitchen that can be stored away neatly under a cabinet. When you need it, you can simply pull the stool out when you need it.
• Once your kitchen has been organised, don’t let the clutter accumulate.

Peter Lekganyane from German Design Haus (SieMatic) says:

• Lighting is an important aspect of a kitchen and it is sadly overlooked. When reorganising, you should see if the previous lighting positions are practical for the new kitchen. If not, then repositioning the lighting will make your kitchen work for you.
• Natural ventilation should be taken into consideration when designing your kitchen. The placement of tall cabinets, wall cabinets, and accessories etc should not block the ventilation system (windows).
• Ensure you have an ample supply of electricity sockets.
• When redesigning your kitchen, ensure that there is enough worktop space for the preparation process, cooking process and cleaning process.
• For easy cleaning, when designing your kitchen make sure there are less gaps between the cabinetry and walls, as well as between the cabinetries.

Tonya Lehtinen from The Space Whisperer says:

• Although it’s old fashioned, enamel, wooden or stainless jars beside the stove is great to store all your wooden utensils.
• Magnetic knife holders are fabulous ­– the knives are always kept sharp and accessible, and it eliminates the knife block from the countertop
• Often all the planning goes around the cooking and social aspects of a kitchen and the scullery gets little attention. Wire racks and hooks for ironing boards and other useful items can make this space neat and tidy.
• If you have a small kitchen, you can make a feature of storing your plates, interesting jugs, wineglasses and other than everyday crockery.
• If you have formal crockery that is seldom used, store it elsewhere so you don’t waste valuable space.

Do you have any helpful tips for reorganising a kitchen? Share them in the comments section below.