Do you ever feel like your kitchen is full of stuff but somehow nothing seems easy to find when you need it?
We’ve heard this from so many of our customers. Kitchens are the heart of the home, but they’re also one of the quickest rooms to become messy. From overflowing drawers to pantries full of half-used packets, it’s easy for things to get out of hand. The good news is that a few small changes can make your kitchen far more organised and enjoyable to use. Here are the five mistakes we see most often, and how to fix them.
Holding on to too much
One of the biggest mistakes we see is simply keeping too many things. Many people buy full knife sets, several chopping boards, or multiple pots they rarely touch. What we’ve found is that most households only use a handful of items regularly. The rest just take up space and make it harder to keep cupboards neat.
Simplifying your collection to what you actually use makes a huge difference. Here’s another article that reflects the same idea of avoiding unnecessary cookware that clutters the kitchen.
Overstuffing the pantry
We often see pantries packed so tightly that people can’t see what they have. This leads to food being wasted because it gets lost at the back. Clear storage containers and simple shelving can fix this problem quickly.
Many of our customers use an elfa pantry system to create custom shelves that keep items visible and accessible. It turns a chaotic pantry into a space where you actually know what you have on hand. If you’d like to see how overstocking food leads to waste, here’s another article that covers the same issue.
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Neglecting fridge organisation
Another common mistake is treating the fridge like a dumping ground. Without structure, food gets pushed to the back and forgotten. We always suggest clear containers and labels here as well. It keeps fruit, vegetables, and leftovers visible so you actually eat what you buy.
Keeping a fridge organised saves money and reduces waste, while also making it easier to prepare meals during the week. If you’re curious about the most common fridge mistakes people make, here’s another article that breaks them down clearly.
Ignoring small spaces
Drawers, cupboard doors, and the area under the sink often get overlooked. These spots can hold far more than people realise. Adding organisers can turn forgotten corners into practical storage.
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Use cutlery trays to stop utensils from becoming a jumbled mess
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Add sink accessories to keep sponges, brushes, and soap tidy
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Consider under-shelf racks to make use of empty air space in cupboards
Customers tell us that once they started using these areas properly, their kitchens felt less cluttered and much easier to use. Here’s another article that highlights how ignoring these small areas is one of the most common kitchen mistakes.
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Letting spices take over
We’ve noticed that spices are often one of the messiest parts of the kitchen. Small jars shoved in cupboards quickly become unmanageable, and you end up buying duplicates because you can’t find what you already own.
Adding a spice rack keeps everything in order and saves time when cooking. We’ve even seen families create a dedicated spice drawer with tiered racks so everything is visible at a glance. For more inspiration, here’s another article that points out why spice chaos is one of the biggest kitchen headaches.
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How we can help
We’ve been helping Australians organise their homes for over 20 years, and kitchens are always at the top of the list. From full kitchen storage solutions to simple organisers, we’ve seen how the right products can completely change how a kitchen feels.
If you’d like help choosing the right setup for your space, you can always get in touch with us. We’d love to help you make your kitchen a place that’s organised, easy to use, and enjoyable every day.
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