If your family is anything like mine, the dishwasher runs almost every single day. In our busy household, when the dishwasher gets full and is waiting to be unloaded, our whole kitchen system begins to break down. Dirty dishes quickly start piling up in the sink, prepping and cooking meals become much more challenging, and counter space gets eaten up by clutter. That’s why one of our top priorities has been to organize the kitchen so that everyday dishes and utensils are stored as close to the dishwasher as possible. This way, putting things away is fast, which helps keep the flow of the kitchen smooth and efficient, and prevents those frustrating bottlenecks.
To help other families, here’s a walk-through of my system for keeping our kitchen clean, organized, and easy to maintain. I’ve designed our set-up so that unloading the dishwasher and putting everything in its place takes less than ten minutes—a huge timesaver. I’ve also included a quick guide, so you can see where each type of item goes. See image below for the corresponding numbered spots:
One
This cabinet houses all of our mugs. Not just for coffee and tea, but also for hot cocoa, specialty drinks, and even a collection of travel mugs. We keep our coffee grinder, an assortment of teas, cocoa mixes, and related accessories in the same general area, so everything you need for a hot drink is together and easy to grab.
Two & Three
These shelves are organized intentionally. On the lowest shelf, we keep our everyday glasses for water, juice, and milk, so everyone—including kids—can access them easily. On the higher shelves that are more out of the way, we reserve space for our fanciest plates and bowls, which we use for special occasions, guests, or holidays.
Four
Our everyday silverware drawer is placed right beside the dishwasher. This makes it so easy to unload forks, spoons, and knives right into the drawer without having to take extra steps across the kitchen.
Five
The next drawer is dedicated to storage wraps, aluminum foil, plastic baggies of all sizes, and parchment paper. Keeping these together means you always know where to look when storing leftovers or packing lunches. The goal is to keep these items near the reusable food storage in drawer number 7.
Six
Right beside the dishwasher again, we keep our most frequently used dinner plates, side plates, and bowls. This central location reduces the time it takes to put things away—and helps prevent stacks of dishes from lingering on the counter.
Seven
We have a separate space for all reusable food storage containers, water bottles, travel mugs, and lids. Everything has its own container or basket to keep it in place, making matching lids to containers much simpler. We also store reusable snack bags and other eco-friendly food storage items here.
Our current kitchen layout is the result of careful planning and remodeling we did a few years ago. We wanted a system that works for all of us, from my husband—who’s a chef and is constantly cooking and cleaning—to our 14-year-old, who sometimes pitches in with minimal instructions. Of course, like any family, our kitchen doesn’t always stay perfectly tidy, but with everything stored efficiently and close to the dishwasher, clean-up is much quicker and easier. Even when things get busy, putting the kitchen back in order is a manageable task. This organized approach has really made a huge difference in our daily lives, keeping stress down and making sure we always have what we need close at hand.
If your kitchen needs a refresh or a total overhaul, Sara Jane Organizing can help. Book a FREE phone consultation today!
