DIY Kitchen Redos to Save You Time, Money, & Energy

Your kitchen is the one room in your house that sees the most action: busy mornings cooking breakfast, getting the kids together for lunch, and prepping and cooking a special dinner all day for your sweetheart. So it’s only natural that your kitchen be kept up to date on appliances, storage and other culinary equipment necessary for a functional eatery. Check out these small tips from organization expert Melanie Graham at The Container Store for kitchen fixes that will not only save you energy and time, but money as well. [pagebreak]

In the Details

Switch out boring knobs for fun colors and patterns by visiting your local craft or hardware store. Changing drawer and shelf liners is also a super simple and quick way to make kitchen clean up a breeze.

“Line all of your pantry shelves with a heavy-duty liner that will make clean-up of any spills much easier,” said Graham. “Drawer and shelf liners can also be cut to make attractive and practical placemats, coasters, and tray liners.”

Not only will these liners protect your plates and glasses, they prevent slipping and sliding of the items placed on them. [pagebreak]

Organizing Food

This is where the organized chef can shine: the pantry. It’s as easy as putting chips, cereal and other items into multipurpose containers to save space and money, so get your pantry ready for a makeover.

“The first step is to remove all of the items inside. Discard out-of-date items and donate non-perishable items that you won’t use,” said Graham. “Transfer pantry staples such as sugar, flour, and rice into see-through canisters, many of which are stackable. Doing so will not only help preserve the freshness of these items, it will be easier to see when you’re running low on an item.”

Graham also recommended utilizing the floor as a good place to store larger items such as bulk food storage containers or baskets of often-used items such as onions and potatoes. [pagebreak]

Going Green

Having an eco-friendly kitchen has been all the rage for quite some time. Bamboo cutting boards, changing light bulbs and recycling are just some of the many ways to save energy.

“Set up a recycling center in your home by designating a place. It’s easier to develop consistent recycling habits if you make your system as convenient as possible and part of your daily routine,” said Graham, suggesting choosing a spot in or near the kitchen, where most waste is generated. “Next, select your recycling containers. Common recycling categories include newspapers, glass, metal and plastic.” [pagebreak]

Junk Drawer

Every kitchen has one of these. It’s where the rubber bands, scissors, matches, gum and glue sticks live harmoniously. But what is really considered junk?

“We are all guilty of drawer clutter. Determine what is considered junk for the junk drawer and organize it neatly,” said Graham. “Use expandable or modular organizers and utilize every inch. Separate items by occasion or organize by shape, function and/or frequency.”

Graham suggested choosing a variety of sizes to accommodate everything from paper clips to measuring spoons. She also recommends outfitting drawers with custom organizers to prevent items from getting lost in the back of the drawer.