In a room like your kitchen, where chaos could be one set of dirty dishes away, organization is key. Having designated spaces for cooking tools, seasonings and dishware might seem secondary to having go-to ingredients. However, feeling more organized will allow you to enjoy your cooking experiences that much more. Getting the most out of your kitchen space also has the power to inspire calm during your culinary adventure. If you’re looking for ways to clear your kitchen of the clutter and tackle those recipes you’ve been saving, look no further. Here are five kitchen hacks to help you feel more organized.

Counter Space Clearance

Clearing your counter space is one of the best ways to help you feel more organized. While it may not be the easiest first step, as it’s where your seasonings or containers might live, it’s the first way to determine what you need to keep and what needs to be thrown away. Maybe you have wonky tongs in a container or can get rid of a second container by organizing the first one. Once you apply this first of five kitchen hacks for organization,  you’ll have a blank canvas on which you can decorate with your frequently used tools and ingredients.

Similar Items Get Together

Grouping similar items together goes beyond your counter spaces to the inside of your pantry, fridge and freezer. If all of your grains are in glass jars on one side of the counter or all of your legumes are in their respective bags in a corner of the pantry, keeping them organized will be that much easier. Having a fruit drawer in your fridge or a frozen veggie shelf in your freezer will help you to know what you have and when you need more of it.

Placement Position

Determining the placements of where your most frequently used pans and pots will go can minimize clutter while simplifying your cooking process. Deciding whether your glass jars will go in a corner near the microwave or along the backsplash near the oven can make your cooking experience easier and more enjoyable. Location is everything!

Seasonal Drawer or Shelf

By designating a specific drawer or shelf to the seasonal tools or ingredients, you’re able to experience a more-streamlined cooking session. If it’s fall and all of your spices like cinnamon and nutmeg are on one shelf closest to your cooking station, you won’t need to waste time looking for them. Cooking is already time-consuming enough without having to worry about where things are. Tap into the fun of it by making things easier for yourself.

Label-Making

Using labels will allow you to know exactly what you have without going into deficit or excess. Piggyback on this one with clear jars.

By applying these kitchen hacks to your kitchen, you’ll feel more organized in no time. You may even find yourself cooking meals faster without it being a scavenger hunt.