There is a saying that the kitchen is the heart of the home. It is the center of the house, where most family-related things happen. For example, preparation of meals and getting together as a whole family. Because of this, the kitchen should be the very first room in your new home to be unpacked. Organizing a small kitchen after relocation needs to be done as soon as possible. Ideally, this will make your new living space as comfortable and homely as possible. Doing this can appear daunting and difficult. Especially if your new kitchen is on the smaller side or if you don’t have much storage and counter space. However, do not fret and do not put it off. If you follow a few simple steps for organizing by the book, it will be an easier process than you have imagined.

Organizing a small kitchen after relocation – where to begin

You should be able to easily find everything if you’ve properly labeled your boxes. However, if that isn’t the case, unpack large objects first. Afterwards, sort through the rest of the items so that you get an idea of what is where. This is essential because you will feel in control of your situation and organized.

Firstly, the biggest elements include a stove, sink, fridge, and the main area for the preparation of food. After you make sure that these are all in order, you can move on to other essentials. This includes things you work with most of the time. Specifically, pay attention to cutlery and silverware, pots and pans, cutting boards, plates and other dishes. Additionally, when organizing the kitchen after relocation, look for your dish and paper towels, as well as your spices.

Begin the unpacking process

Decide which area you will use the most, like the sink or the stove, and start from there. Check on the cupboards and drawers around these areas. You should pay attention to the amount of storage you have in those places. Additionally, check which areas you can easily reach and which are a little harder to access. This will come in handy when you start to unpack.

After organizing the kitchen after relocation, you can finally start unpacking. Begin with the most essential things which you use on an everyday basis. Put them in the places most accessible to you. For example, since you use utensils and cutlery daily, place them in the nearest drawer to the sink. Afterwards, put your dishtowels in the drawer below the previous one. This will help you tremendously after washing the dishes. Furthermore, in the drawer below dishtowels, you can place your cookbooks or other things you might not use regularly.

Organize the cupboards

The previously described method of arranging items applies to the cupboards as well. Think about the things you use the most. These may include plates, bowls, cups, and glasses. Since these are used several times each day, they should be placed at the lower levels. Particularly, cups and glasses are used more often than dishes. Because of this, place them on the lowest shelf which is the nearest to the sink. Further, place the dishes behind the cups, or on the shelf higher up. Above these, you should place items which you use less frequently, but still have a need for them regularly.

Moving on to pots and pans, these should be placed separately. Having in mind that you use them for cooking, find a place for them near the stove. Also, do not forget about their lids. Store them together. Moreover, in other drawers or cupboards near the stove, store things you use once in a while. These may include baking sheets and baking dishes, as well as roasting pans. Additionally, place things you rarely use in storage units above the fridge. Also, place heavier things in cupboards and shelves which are near the floor. In this way, you won’t have to worry about them falling and you will always easily reach them.

Besides this, you need to pay attention to where you will keep you cleaning supplies. Since they are often toxic, place them in areas which are harder to reach. Especially if you have younger children, keep these substances out of their reach. Preferably, put them on the highest shelves. If you don’t have young children, you can keep cleaning supplies underneath the sink.

Things for special occasions

When organizing a small kitchen after relocation, pay special attention to your more valuable possessions. Specifically, take extra care of your:

• nicer dishes,
• silverware,
• and china sets.

Place them in cabinets designated exclusively for them. Moreover, make sure that they are not in a place which you will access daily. You can still keep them in a visible spot if you wish to see them. However, keep them in a completely separated area so that you ensure their safety.

Organize the pantry

A pantry is a place in which you should store dry and canned foods. Along with them, here you can keep beverages and additional kitchen supplies (cloths, linens, dishes).  When it comes to the storage of spices, you can also store them in the pantry. Preferably, you will probably want to place them in a specific drawer and label the lids. This will make looking for desired spices simple and very efficient. Another option for spices is to hang them on a shelf above the stove.  The only thing you need to keep in mind is that spices must be kept dry and cool in order to preserve the freshness.

Keeping organized

The best way to stay on track of everything after organizing the kitchen after relocation is to keep an inventory list. Make a list of items in cupboards and shelves which contain multiple different objects. This will save you a great deal of time in the beginning of your relocation. You won’t have to stress about remembering all details of your new kitchen, you’ll only have to consult the list. Once you get more used to your new surroundings, you will easily take the list down.

Finally, making your new space feel homely is just as important as organizing the kitchen after relocation. Because of this, think about the  best ways to decorate and make it a room everyone will enjoy spending time in.