How To Organise Your Kitchen & Pantry: Your Guide To Storage Solutions

Why is Kitchen Storage & Organisation Important?

A well-organised kitchen makes it easier to find and access cooking and serving essentials, while maximising available space and minimising clutter. Proper storage and organisation of equipment like storage containers, utensil holders, shelves and pantry organisation containers can also help prolong your kitchen items' life and keep the space neat and tidy. In addition, a well-planned kitchen storage and organisation system can also improve your cooking experience, making it simpler to create tasty and nutritious meals for the whole family.

At Harris Scarfe, we understand that a well-organised kitchen with fit-for-purpose storage solutions lends efficiency and aesthetic appeal to what is one of the busiest spaces in your home. So, whether you are looking for the latest kitchen storage solutions and ideas or want to upgrade your existing setup, this guide will offer expert advice and recommendations to help you create a practical, functional kitchen that reflects your style and taste.

Quick Links

• Pantry, Cupboard & Drawer Organisers
• Kitchen Benchtop Storage: Accessible Essentials
• Kitchen Cleaning & Tidying Supplies
• Choosing Kitchen Storage Supplies: Buying Checklist
• Additional Kitchen & Pantry Extras

Pantry, Cupboard & Drawer Organisers

Make the most of your available kitchen cupboards, pantry cupboards and kitchen drawers with clever organising solutions. Designed to keep all your essential utensils, cookware and ingredients easily accessible, these valuable kitchen additions all make meal prep and tidying a simpler affair.

Kitchen Cupboard & Drawer Organisers

Cupboard organisers can be used to contain your cookware, lids from pots and pans, food wraps, cleaning supplies and much more. They come in a range of shapes, styles and designs like tiered storage shelves, turntables and dividers. The addition of drawer organisers and cupboard organisers ensures that your cookware and utensils are always easily accessible, and eliminates the need to rummage through precariously stacked kitchen essentials like pots and pans.

Cutlery Trays

While most kitchens will already have a cutlery tray in use, it's important to remember that finding the best cutlery tray for your space can make all the difference to your storage and organisation. And they're not just for cutlery! They can be used to keep a range of kitchen essentials organised and tidy, like food wraps, utensils & gadgets, clips and more. These days you can find modern cutlery tray designs that include a great range of design features. Look for cutlery trays that have adjustable compartments, angled storage slots for ease of access and are easy to clean - and enjoy beautifully organised cutlery and utensils & gadgets every time you open your drawers!

Pantry Storage Containers

A well stocked pantry is essential for easy meal prepping. With a variety of ingredients, condiments and dry goods on hand it's easy to create delicious and nutritious meals. Using the right pantry storage containers makes it simple to store, stack and organise your pantry essentials, ensuring they all remain easily visible. A great plus is that you can easily evaluate your pantry inventory at a glance, helping you minimise food waste as well as quickly prepare your grocery lists for the week.

Always look for pantry storage containers that have tightly fitting lids to ensure that your food stays fresh. You can find great features in pantry storage containers from leading brands like OXO - look for containers that are dishwasher safe, stackable, BPA free and feature easy-pour lids to get the greatest benefits. If you're looking to reorganise your pantry, then investing in a storage container set is a great idea. Sets of pantry containers are great value and typically include a variety of sizes and capacities to suit the storage requirements of any ingredient.

Kitchen Canisters

Canisters are an excellent kitchen organisation hack, helping you keep your dry ingredients fresh and easily accessible. Canisters are available in vintage-retro designs to modern contemporary options. From canisters for tea, coffee and sugar to gift sets and glass jars, they're available in a wonderful variety of colours, materials and storage capacities. Kitchen and pantry canisters offer a combination of functionality and aesthetics to align with a wide range of kitchen decor styles, making them a versatile option for pantry storage and kitchen benchtop storage alike.

Kitchen Benchtop Storage: Accessible Essentials

Part of creating an efficient and organised kitchen is to ensure that your most frequently used items are within easy reach. This is where the right kitchen benchtop storage will come in handy! Here are Harris Scarfe's top recommendations for benchtop storage solutions for your kitchen:

Spice Racks

Spice racks are the ultimate way to organise your favourite seasonings while keeping them easily to hand while cooking. They're also a great way to add colour and decoration to your kitchen counters! If you're short on bench space then look for a spice rack that will fit into your pantry - it'll still be a valuable kitchen organisation tool even if it's not on display.

Utensil Holders

Keep your kitchen bench tidy and organised with handy utensil holders to contain your frequently used kitchen tools like tongs, spatulas, turners and whisks. With the right utensil holder, you'll minimise looking through drawers while your food is on the stove by keeping all your essential utensils immediately within reach. If bench space is at a minimum you can also place utensil holders on a kitchen shelf while adding a touch of style to your kitchen decor. Styles include vintage canister styles as well as modern designs similar to a rotating hanging rack. If you're in need of new utensils as well, look for a utensil set that also includes a holder for a great all-in-one solution!

Knife Blocks

Kitchen knives are one of the most essential food preparation tools, used in just about every chopping and meal-prepping task. Ensure your knives are easily accessible by keeping them in a handy kitchen knife block. If you're in need of a kitchen knife upgrade you can find knife blocks that also come with a set of knives included. Plus, a well-designed knife block has the advantage of keeping your knives in pristine condition - storing them side by side in drawers or amongst other utensils can cause them to become blunt quicker than you would like. Find out more about choosing the best kitchen knives with our informative kitchen knives & knife blocks buying guide.

Chopping Board Sets

Kitchen knives and a selection of quality chopping boards go hand in hand when it comes to creating the ultimate kitchen set up. But how do you find the best storage solutions for the range of chopping boards you require? Chopping board sets are one of the best options for creating an organised kitchen. Many chopping board sets - particularly those by beloved brand Joseph Joseph - come complete with a handy folio-style storage container to keep your chopping boards neatly stacked. Whether you're keeping your chopping boards on your benchtop for easy access, or placing them in a drawer or cupboard, a chopping board set with a storage container is one of the best organisation solutions for your kitchen.

Kitchen Cleaning & Tidying

An important part of maintaining an organised kitchen is keeping it clean and tidy. With the right storage and cleaning accessories you can efficiently ensure everything remains neat and tidy. Find the perfect companions for your kitchen cleaning supplies like dishcloths and brushes. Here are some of the key kitchen storage items that we at Harris Scarfe consider must-haves for your home:

Dish Racks

Whether you have a dishwasher or do your washing up by hand, a quality dish rack is essential for drying your dishes effectively. The designs of dish drying racks have come a long way in recent times, with a huge variety of styles to accommodate different kitchen layouts and your individual needs. Look for durable styles that provide adequate drying space for pots, pans and items like glassware that should only be washed by hand only. Added bonuses are collapsible or expandable dish racks, or over the sink dish racks that help you save on bench space.

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Kitchen Bins

A sturdy kitchen bin can make all the difference to your clearing and tidying efforts. Explore a great range of bin design options from under-the-sink bins, compost bins and pedal bins to find the perfect match for your home. Make sure you consider the type of waste your household produces and the volume as well - that way you'll get the right sized bin and minimise the frequency with which you need to empty it. Consider bins with dual compartments to separate landfill, compostables and recyclables for the ultimate in efficient waste organisation.

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What To Consider When Choosing Kitchen Storage Supplies

When shopping for storage solutions, keep in mind your needs, dimensions and aesthetic preferences. Read more below on the top tips to consider when purchasing kitchen storage:

• Determine your needs: Before shopping for food and kitchen storage solutions, you must take stock of what you already have. List what's working well for you and what is not.
• Consider ingredient types: Review the type of food in your pantry and fridge, and ensure the containers you choose are appropriate. For example, if you store a lot of liquids, you'll want containers with tight-fitting lids to prevent spills. Consider pantry organisation containers for storing your dry kitchen staples. Think about how much food you typically store in your kitchen, and choose container sizes accordingly.
• Kitchen space and layout: This includes the height and width of the shelves and cabinets where you plan to store your food containers and canisters. It will help you determine what size containers you can accommodate.
• Placement: Consider the placement of your kitchen storage solutions. Think about the best location for your food storage solutions. For example, you can store containers in a pantry, kitchen counters, shelves or benchtop.
• Materials and Durability: Take into account the materials used in food storage containers. Look for containers made from high-quality materials that are safe for food storage. Popular materials include glass, stainless steel, and BPA-free plastic. Choose tight-fitting lids that prevent spills and keep food fresh.
• Budget: Decide on a budget for your food storage solutions. Consider the cost of the containers and any additional items you may need, such as lids or labels. Consider the long-term cost storage solutions. Investing in high-quality, durable containers can save you money in the long run by reducing the need for frequent replacements.
• Aesthetics: Choose food storage solutions that match your kitchen's overall style: modern and minimalist, traditional, or something in between. If you are going for a simple functional style, try monochrome and clear containers that will complement any space.
• Features and convenience: Consider what features you need, such as measurement markings, stackable designs, or containers that can go from the freezer to the microwave. Look for containers that are easy to use, with lids that can be easily opened and closed, and containers that are easy to clean.

Additional Kitchen & Pantry Extras

Once you've sourced all your essential kitchen storage items, it's time to think about the added extras that will turn your pantry, fridge and cupboards into the ultimate organised kitchen set-up. Here are some of the additional extras that will take your kitchen organisation to the next level:

• Hooks and hangers: Hooks and hangers are a simple and space-saving solution for organising items in the kitchen. Use them to store pots, pans, kitchen towels, and more. Or mount on walls or add to cabinets or drawers. Hooks and hangers come in various materials, including metal and plastic, and can be adjusted to accommodate items of different sizes and shapes.
• Sink storage: Ensuring your kitchen sink is organised and hygienic is key to a healthy functional kitchen. Try easy to use sink caddies and sponge holders to ensure proper drainage for your sponge, dish brush and dishcloth. You may also consider a dish drying rack or drying mat if you do lots of hand washing to ensure your dishes are properly dried and neatly organised.
• Storage baskets, boxes & trolleys: Baskets and containers are versatile solutions for pantry and kitchen cupboard organisation. They can store produce, dry goods, other food items, kitchen tools, and accessories. Containers come in wire, wicker, and plastic materials and are easy to stack or store on shelves or in drawers.
• Storage accessories: Great storage accessories for your kitchen include grip mats to line your kitchen drawers and cupboards to ensure your utensils or pantry essentials don't slide around. It's also a great idea to stock up on packs of clips, so you can conveniently seal up open food packets when you're running short on pantry storage containers.
• Food containers: Food containers are the companion pieces to your pantry storage containers, and are ideal for storing leftovers in your fridge or for taking packed lunches to work. Think of your fridge as an extension of your pantry when organising your kitchen, and invest in a stash of reusable food covers as well. This will help minimise the need for disposable cling wraps and foil, while also reducing food waste by keeping produce fresher for longer. Check out our handy article on food storage ideas for more tips & tricks!

Optimise Your Kitchen & Pantry Storage With Harris Scarfe

As kitchens continue to be a central part of our homes, there will be an increasing demand for storage solutions that are both functional and attractive. At Harris Scarfe, we have everything you need to create an organised and efficient kitchen. Choose practical, functional, and aesthetically pleasing kitchen storage and food organisers from our extensive range. Harris Scarfe makes it easy for you to shop for all your kitchen and dining essentials. Explore the range online and choose home delivery or click & collect for your order, or head into your nearest Harris Scarfe store to shop the range in person. For more inspiration around kitchen organisation ideas and meal prep, don't forget to browse our Food Hub articles and our informative kitchen & dining buying guides!