It's surprising how much stuff can accumulate in our kitchens. Especially in the drawers - out of sight and away from prying eyes!
Even though the cutlery drawer is one area of the home where most people are at least a little bit organised - chances are that you have a cutlery tray or dividers to separate your knives, forks, spoons etc.?. It can quickly become messy.
These days there is a kitchen gadget for every conceivable task,. But just because that pineapple corer or pastry wheel seemed indispensable when we bought, or were given it, doesn't mean that it deserves to take up space in our kitchen years later. How many utensils do you have just because it might be useful one day?
Are they really worth the space that they take up in your kitchen?
If your cutlery drawer is overflowing or your kitchen utensils are a tangled mess of whisks, tongs, spatulas and spoons, It's time to do a mini kitchen edit to simplify, organise and make them easy to find.
ORGANISE
To begin organising, remove EVERYTHING from the drawer, don't be tempted to leave anything.
Then clean out the drawer. If it's been a while since it had a clean, now is the ideal time. Hoover out the crumbs and give it a good wipe out.
If you also have a utensils jar or container on your worktop, don't forget to include these as well. Also, check other drawers for utensils that have been stashed elsewhere and bring them all together.
Spread the drawer's contents out on a clear surface, so you can clearly see what you have, and then start sorting into 'like for like' category groups - for example cutlery (knives, fork, spoons), serving utensils, cutting utensils, measuring cups and spoons, whisks, spatulas etc.
At this point, you'll probably realise that you have lots of wooden spoons and you don't need all of them.
DECLUTTER + SIMPLIFY
Now that you can see all the utensils that you have. Pick out your favourites and most frequently used ones and put them to one side.
You are now left with the not so important things. Free up some space by letting go of any unnecessary items. Some decisions will be easy - like letting go of the rusty can opener or the icky cooking spoons. Other things might be a little harder to decide.
It's Ok to let go of...
Items that you rarely use. Melon slicers or ballers, or different types of cheese grater. These are all great if you use them regularly and have plenty of space, but you'll add more benefit to your kitchen by freeing up space and letting them go.
Things that you have too many of. How many different types of spoon do you need?
What is the largest group that you would entertain at home?
Duplicates. While two rolls of tin foil will quickly be used up, you don't need more than one ice cream scoop, corkscrew or can opener - keep the best, let go of the rest.
Things that are broken or don't work very well anymore.
If you have children, you can also let go of the multiple Calpol syringes. You only need one or two!
What to do with unwanted items.
You can take any items in good, clean condition to your local charity shop. Homeless shelter are often looking for kitchen items too.
If it's no longer in good condition, recycle whatever you can
STORE + CONTAIN
Now that you only have left the things you need and use and have organised categories, you want to keep it that way.
If you haven't already got a drawer organiser or dividers, or what you do have isn't effective, it's worth investing or upgrading to keep your drawers tidy and organised.
Drawer organisers are the perfect way to create order out of chaos. They will keep your utensils neatly separated by type so that you never have to rummage around for what you need.
It isn't always necessary to add storage. But, I believe that for large kitchen drawers where things can float around and quickly get messy, or drawers that hold a lot of things - drawer organisers are worth every penny.
That said, drawer dividers are not all created equal, so part of really maximising the storage is finding the 'right' ones for YOUR drawers and lifestyle.
How to choose and fit your storage
Before buying any new storage, always measure the height, width and depth and plan out what you need.
When working with clients, I also like to line the drawer with greaseproof/baking paper and make a template of the drawer using a marker pen to play around with different options.
It's worth shopping around to find the best fit for you. Even with exact measuring, planning and shopping, it's pretty rare to find off the shelf organisers that fit your drawer perfectly. So, do what you can to maximise any space leftover by adding extra individual trays or boxes. You don't want to waste any space.
There are pro's and con's for all storage products, so it's always best to read the customer reviews so you can choose what's best for you and your space.
KITCHEN DRAWER ORGANISERS AND STORAGE
These are some of our favourites;
Adjustable Drawer Dividers
These suit various sized drawers, so work they well if you struggle to find other organisers to fit your drawers. As they fit the entire length of the drawer, they are great for separating bigger utensils, leaving no wasted space. Make sure that you check the height and width before buying.
IDesign Linus Drawer Dividers and Expandable Bamboo Dividers - both available from Amazon.
Individual Trays
I prefer to buy individual organisers or adjustable dividers to give some flexibility. Using clear acrylic drawer dividers allows you to see the drawer space and prevents the drawer from feeling overcrowded.
If the drawer inserts don't fit the space of your drawer perfectly, secure them in place with some museum putty/gel or some White-Tak to prevent them from sliding around.
Bamboo Drawer Inserts and IDesign Acrylic Drawer Inserts (lots of different sizes) - both available from Amazon.
All-in-One Organiser Trays
For me, I've found it very difficult to find all in one/pre-made drawer organisers that fit drawers or the contents perfectly. The slots are never big enough, the spaces are never in the right places, and there is nearly always wasted space.
Joseph and Joseph do some great all-in-one or mix and match sections in different colours and materials - like these bamboo ones. If you have deep drawers that can double the height capacity.
Or Ikea do some similar, cheaper alternatives...
Knife Blocks
Always worth adding to a drawer if you are storing sharp knives - to protect the blades and your fingers!
If you have children, always think about safety. Keep sharp knives and utensils out of reach in a knife block or wall-mounted magnetic strip.
DIY Drawer Dividers
If you have the time or the skills for a bit of DIY, you can make your own bespoke wooden dividers!
Where to Buy
You can buy dividers in stores like Ikea, TK Maxx, Homesense, B&M Bargains, or online at Amazon, Store | A Place for Everything, Lakeland, and The Holding Company.
Once you have put your storage and keep items in place, everything now has a home and is easy to find. Make sure you keep it that way by questioning any new items "Do I really need this?" and "Is there an item that this is replacing that I can let go of?".
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