Whether you are a “throw it together” cook or a developer of culinary masterpieces, having a well-organized workspace can make all the difference in the kitchen. If you live in fear of something falling on your head from your upper cabinets, find yourself emptying cabinets to locate what you need, or frequently become frustrated from digging through drawers to find that special utensil, it is time to get rid of the kitchen chaos. Follow these steps to organize your kitchen cabinets and drawers.

Empty and reduce

Begin your kitchen revamp by emptying every cabinet and drawer in your kitchen and preparing yourself to purge. Chances are, you have far more gadgets than you could ever use, so it is time to let go of items you rarely use. Create three zones in your kitchen: keep, trash (recycle), and donate. Sort all items into the appropriate category and remove your discarded items from your workspace. While the cabinets are empty, be sure and give them a thorough cleaning with a good multipurpose cleaner. Interior cabinets that are a little shabby can be spruced up with quality liners.

Group your items by use and zone

No one knows better than you what items you use daily, weekly, or rarely, or what tools you require for your various kitchen tasks. Create a logical list of categories and sort your items according to how you use them. Once this is done, evaluate your kitchen zones and determine if you should place your items in the refrigerator zone, sink center, or range zone, as items should be stored in a close proximity to where they are used. For example, dishes and silverware house well next to the dishwasher to ease unloading.

Put it back together

Once you have gotten this far, you may want to consider adding storage accessories, such as cabinet pullouts, baskets, shelf inserts, cabinet racks, and drawer dividers, prior to refilling your storage spaces. Begin refilling your cabinets by placing less frequently used items towards the back and regular use items towards the front. Use top shelves for seasonal items and trade them out as needed. Make the most of the vertical space in the cabinets by utilizing cabinet risers, as these prevent you from having to remove stacks of items to get to just one. With regard to drawers, be sure to place items where they will be used, taking care not to overstuff the space with duplicate wares.

Now that you have your properly organized kitchen, you are ready to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Be sure and maintain your organization system and consider this rule of professional organization: for every new item you bring in to your kitchen, something old has to go.