A Professional Organizer’s Dream Kitchen

I’ve organized so many kitchens that I’ve lost count. From the perspective of a Certified Professional Organizer®, it doesn’t much matter whether a kitchen is old or new, super high-end or very basic. What matters is how functional it is.

I’ve seen remarkably well-planned kitchens in small condos and apartments. And some surprisingly inefficient kitchens in recently-renovated high-end homes.

I organized two different converted-mill apartment kitchens which each had only a single, 7”-wide drawer. In the entire kitchen. One drawer. Try finding a 7”-wide drawer organizer. Where are we going to put the silverware?!

Then there was the beautiful, modern kitchen with a barista-worthy built-in coffee station occupying an entire end wall. But no pantry. No plan for storing food in the kitchen. And the homeowner doesn’t even drink coffee!

More than once, a client has lamented that they should have consulted with me before doing the renovations. Yes! Definitely consult with a professional organizer prior to undertaking major renovations. An organizer can help you pare down what you have, understand and communicate your habits and preferences to your architect, designer, and contractor, and go over plans with an eye toward functionality and ease of use.

But in case you don’t bring me in as a consultant for your kitchen renovation, just use this handy list.

A PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER’S DREAM KITCHEN WISH LIST

MUST-HAVES
The best-organized kitchens share these awesome fixtures.

• Adjustable shelves with standard metal shelf pins, not the plastic locking brackets that are next to impossible to remove.
• Standard, 12”-deep upper cabinets. Shallower cabinets make it tough to fit dinner plates, lazy Susans, and organizer bins.
• Cabinets that go all the way up to the ceiling so you don’t have to dust above them!
• No corner cabinets because they’re always annoying. If corners are unavoidable, make sure they have STURDY lazy Susans or swing-out drawers. The cabinet doors must fully extend beyond 90 degrees.
• Pullout trash and recycling bins, preferably to the right of the sink because most people pile the dirty dishes on that side.
• A full-height pantry — upper and lower cabinets with no counter. Locate the pantry next to the refrigerator and equip it with sturdy pullout drawers up to eye level.
• A wide, shallow spice drawer so you see all your spices at once.
• Plenty of shallow drawers for flatware, utensils, prep tools, and gadgets.
• Deep drawers for pots, pans, bakeware, and food storage containers.
• Space for foil, wrap, and baggies, either in a shallow drawer or inside a cabinet door.
• Narrow cabinet for baking sheets and cutting boards.
• Cabinet for small appliances, with outlets so you can use them in place. Bonus if the cabinet has pullout shelves to bring the appliances forward for use.
• Dedicated command center with drawers and charging station. Laurie Palau, who knows that the kitchen is the hub of every house, reminded me of this kitchen essential.

NIGHTMARE LIST
Don't be swayed by expensive bells and whistles that actually make your kitchen less functional.

• Non-standard fixtures — cabinets, drawers, counters, islands, appliances — are always a pain in the neck because it’s hard to find internal dividers, bins, organizers, or replacements. Whenever possible, opt for the standard size.
• Skinny pullout shelf cabinets, usually on either side of the stove. Who wants to crouch down to look at the spices, oil, and vinegar that people usually store in these? It’s a pain! Instead, outfit these pullouts to store baking sheets and cutting boards.
• Too many decorative, glass-front cabinets. Kitchens have to work hard so less is more when it comes to decorative cabinets.
• Wall ovens, warming ovens, and any other rarely-used built-in appliances. These extras are expensive and take up prime kitchen real estate, but (unless you regularly host dinner parties) are only used a few times a year.
• Library ladders seem like a great idea for reaching tall upper cabinets, but in practice they are heavy, hard to move, and get in the way.

WORTH-IT SPLURGES
If you're renovating or upgrading your kitchen, these are my top 3 extras that will truly optimize your kitchen.

• Mixer Lift — My friend and fellow organizer Martha Carol Stewart of CHAOS Organizing took her kitchen to the next level with this ingenious solution.
• Drawers inside lower cabinets and pantry — pricier than shelves, but so much more useful!
• Built-in pullout step stools at strategic intervals below your upper cabinets. (As someone who's just a little over 5 feet tall, this would be AMAZING!)