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In part 1 of our series on organizing your kitchen for the holidays, we talked about overarching ways you can get your kitchen in order. You want to clear out expired foods and things you don’t need, organize your kitchen cabinets, pantries, and drawers, hunt down your recipes and put them somewhere convenient, and schedule your cooking well in advance of any holiday parties. But what about the specifics? How do you actually maximize your use of the space inside your kitchen?

Pantries and Cabinets

After you take everything out of your pantries and cabinets and give them a wipe-down, think for a moment about how the space is being used. Could you benefit from some extra shelving? Dividing space actually allows you to use more of it. Think about adding a couple extra shelves if you need them. Even though it may sound like a pain, this is the best time to do it.

Purchase some plastic bins for kitchen cabinets. A plastic container set for kitchen storage is perfect for dry goods and spices. You can label each bin so you know exactly what is inside, and then line them up nicely next to each other. That way you will never find yourself running to the store to pick up an ingredient you get home to discover you already have. You will be able to find everything in a flash.

Also consider purchasing organizational products designed specifically for kitchen use. There are racks you can purchase to hold the lids for pots and pans, for example. A spice rack can also be a helpful purchase. Another idea is a door or wall rack which can fit onto a pantry door. This is a great choice for holding spices, if you can fit it onto the inside of your drawer (spices always need to be kept in a cool, dry place). It keeps your spices in easy reach, and prevents messes on your shelves. If anything leaks or spills, you only need to wipe down the floor.

Drawers

Small plastic bins make an excellent choice for organizing your drawers. You don’t need (or want) the lids; keep them open-faced, and use them to store silverware, spatulas, knives, and so on. Plastic is great because it protects the bottom of your drawers from moisture when you put away cutlery you just cleaned after dinner.

When you get your drawers, cabinets, and pantries in order, you will be well on your way to an organized kitchen for the holidays. You may also need to organize your countertops, but if you have freed up space in your kitchen storage areas, you have also made a start at doing that. You may be surprised how many items you currently store on your countertops you can put away inside your newly cleaned cabinets. This will give you more space to work with when you are preparing your fancy holiday dinners. Enjoy the Christmas season, and have fun cooking in your newly organized kitchen!