Setting Up Workstations to Organize Your Kitchen
Setting Up Workstations to Organize Your Kitchen
Workstations in the kitchen can sometimes be the answer to your organization dreams. If you are a person that loves being organized, you probably already use workstations to a degree. Most people have an area that they prep food in or make a sandwich. Still, there are loads of things you can do related to workstations that can streamline your kitchen and your time in it.
Here are some great tips to help you organize your kitchen through workstations:
Identify all the things you do in the kitchen
One the surface this seems self-explanatory, but it is not. Some people use their kitchen for much more than the obvious. Here are some sample ideas of things you may not regularly consider that happen in the kitchen:
- Do prep work
- Prepare meats
- Do the bills
- Homework
- Fix a snack
- Put away leftovers
- Prepare school lunches
- Microwave
- Answer the phone/take messages
Each of these things requires certain other things. If you make a nice list you will know all the things to consider in your kitchen.
What makes the cut?
The next thing you do is go through the list and decide what can continue and what should be eliminated. For example, the kids doing homework at the bar or taking phone messages at the kitchen counter might not make the cut. Eliminate those things that are out of place and the flow of your kitchen life will improve. To organize your kitchen you have to control the natural flow of traffic. This means eliminating the unnecessary. Take all the areas that are left and figure out the best spot in the kitchen for each of them to happen.
Visualize the stations
Now that you have the list narrowed to activities that should be done in the kitchen, it is time to set up the workstations for each of them. Look at the kitchen with an eye towards where these things would best fit. Perhaps your leftover storage should be done close to the fridge because they ultimately go inside. Microwaving things might make sense across the room and out of the way of the cook so that kids/husbands can come in and make a quick snack without getting in the way. Consider the way you live your life through the kitchen and plan the workstations for each task.
Gather the necessities
Now it is simply about gathering up the things you need to do each task. Use carts, cabinets, plastic containers or bins to gather this stuff in one spot and keep it stored close by. By having everything you need in one place nearby, you can be quick and efficient about completing your kitchen tasks. This also helps you to store things in such a way that they are not all on top of one another. A cluttered drawer or cabinet is not going to be productive. Why not have everything right there?
Demand compliance
No good organizational plan is complete without a house wide commitment to keeping it that way. Nobody can slip on this or they need to feel your wrath! Be strong and make sure everyone pitches in towards building this important habit. It will pay off big dividends in space and time management in the kitchen!
If you are in need of better organization skills in general, then we have some things here that will be sure yo help you out! Check out our guide to Getting Organized! If you find that you are still having organization problems, then you might want to try this book on organizing inside and out!
