Completely You: Unhurried Living: Getting Organized

It's the center of family life, so why not make a few adjustments to be sure your kitchen is as functional as it can be.

By Nate Nickerson for Completely You

A kitchen is much more than just a kitchen -- in most homes, it's the hub of family life. Leah Norcross, an interior designer for Revisions, a custom design company in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, helps families make their kitchens as functional as possible. Here, she offers tips on making your kitchen more organized and safe.

Take stock "What I suggest to clients," says Norcross, "is to think of how you live and move around in your kitchen. Take a week and really pay attention to what you typically do." If you are always getting on your tip toes to reach key items, you are constantly moving things to get what you need, or the like, it's time to reorganize.

Keep similar things together If you like to bake, keep all the baking things in one area.  Create a work station just for baking. That means baking pans with the mixing bowls and the flour. Keep the most-used dishes near the dishwasher or sink.

Get rollout shelves for pots and pans "Investing in a cabinet that either has roll-out shelves or extra-deep drawers is often a good idea," says Norcross, "especially for busy moms. Instead of bending way over, or even having to get down on hands and knees to get pots and pans, you can easily pull out a drawer or shelf. Some models include a wire pull out rack that has space for pans and lids on top and a flat wire rack for pots on bottom." If buying a new cabinet isn't an option, you can find inserts at inexpensive house-wear stores that help organize deep drawers.

Make a children's area "Kids like repetition," says Norcross, "so having them do things in one spot means that most of the time they will automatically go there first." Keep the tools and dishes that they are allowed to use in one drawer or cabinet. This helps to remind everyone in the family that knives and other dangerous items don't belong in the kid area. And make it clear where kids are to play -- the middle of the kitchen floor is not appropriate.

Even the junk drawer should be organized Clean it out one last time, and buy a drawer insert that has many compartments. Keep this drawer at the end of a run of cabinets. "That way," says Norcross, "you don't have to go through the whole kitchen to get to it, and you'll never get in the cook's way when getting out the tape or a marker."

Set a phone message procedure Calls often come in when you are busy (and distracted) in the kitchen. Get a message pad that has fields for the date, time, name, number, and message. And get in the habit of writing down messages even for yourself. That way you won't forget to call back your mother, neighbor or the car-pool coordinator. "Carbon-copy pads work best, since if the original is lost, the copy is still attached to the pad," says Norcross. The phone area should also be at the end of a run of cabinets so it's out of the way, but not too far away from the cook.

Make your message center fun "Getting creative always helps with these areas," says Norcross. "I made a cork board out of wine-bottle corks. Chalkboard paint is neat too. Write messages in chalk right on the wall to family about appointments, where you went, or even what's for dinner."

Color-code your incoming mail Incoming mail often ends up in the kitchen and can be organized easily when everyone in the family has their own folder of a different color. Bills to pay and invitations can have their own folders too. These folders can be kept together in a file rack on a counter near the phone area. Whoever gets the mail is in charge of putting the mail in the appropriate folders, and everyone maintains their own folder -- often!

Make the most of unused space Hang storage racks on the inside of pantry doors and use them to store foil, plastic wrap, and wax paper. Attach hooks to the inside of cabinet doors and use them to hang kitchen towels and potholders. Paper towel racks can attach to the inside of a sink cabinet. False drawers in sink cabinets can be made into tip-out storage to put sponges, steel wool, and brushes.

Keep trash and recycling out from under the sink "I tell people to remember that if they are at the sink and want to throw something away, they will always have to get out of the way of the cabinet to do so," says Norcross. "Some people are OK with this, but it isn't ideal." Foot button trash and recycling cans often work best for keeping a kitchen clean and tidy.

Have a fire extinguisher handy Stash it in a cabinet near the stove. Read the instructions carefully now, and make sure all family members are old enough to use it and understand how it works.

Nate Nickerson, an editor and writer who lives outside of Boston, is already teaching his two-year-old daughter how to cook.