How to Map your Kitchen
Make it stand out
So you get your kitchen organized. But then, you go to find your steak knives for a nice steak dinner you made, and you can’t find them. For those items that aren’t used as often, they are typically put away. However, when the time comes that you need them, you can’t find them.
This is a common problem when you get organized. You can find all the items you use everyday, but sometimes you forget where less used items end up.
Not anymore. We at Wildely Organized have come up with a plan to help you keep track of your items. We have started mapping areas that we work on with less used items. Typically, this works best for the kitchen where you have less used items stored away but not in bins.
I wrote down my process when I map out my clients’ kitchens that you can follow in your own kitchen.
-
Organize your kitchen
-
Draw out your cabinets/ storage spaces (by hand or on the computer)
-
Go through each area and write down what they hold
-
Store in a place that is easily accessible
Organize your Kitchen
To get started with mapping out your kitchen, you have to get it organized. It is way harder to map it out if you have baking items in three different places rather than all together. This will make it easier to map out when you have items grouped together. That way, when you go to write down what is in each cabinet or drawer, you can have broad categories. No need to get super specific unless your kitchen isn’t organized.
Draw out your storage spaces
After you have organized your space, draw out your kitchen. When I do this, I go by wall. Most kitchens I’ve worked in have two to three wall with storage on it. And you have a choice, either draw it by hand or draw it on the computer. Make sure to draw out each cabinet, drawer or open shelf. I also use other markers so everyone knows which wall it is, like the fridge, over or stove. When I map out spaces for my clients, I use google slides so I can edit them if (and when) we change how things are in the kitchen. This is helpful if you have young kids and you know you won’t have a bottle drawer forever.
Go through each area and label your map
After you have organized and drawn your kitchen, look in each cabinet and drawer to see what is in each space. Do not rely on your memory. When you go through and look, you can also give a once over to make sure everything is in a good spot. The last thing you want is your colander in the back when you use it every day. Write down in each space on your map what you have in your storage space. I usually do each cabinet together and each drawer. Cabinets may have a broader label and that’s okay. Find the way of labeling everything that works for you.
Store your Map
Last, you want to make sure you have your map stored in an easily accessible place. I am trying to have less paper in our house, so I store mine digitally. I took a picture on my phone as well and have a copy there. When I’m looking for something, I always have my phone with me and can easily reference my picture.
Now, you can get organized and remember where everything goes!
Would you like more ways to stay organized? Sign up for our newsletter down below to have tips come straight to your inbox.
