For many of us, the kitchen is more than just a place to prepare meals. It is where family and friends congregate. It is where we catch up after a long day away from home. It’s where memories are created and, not least of all, where our family is nourished. Because the kitchen is such an important space, having a cluttered or disorganized kitchen can create a sense of tension whenever you are in there. It can also lead to eating out more often, which is a real budget-killer. Follow these simple tips for organizing your kitchen and learn to enjoy this important room again.

Gather all of the supplies you’ll need for a recipe. This saves you running around, misplacing ingredients, and whacking your head on the open cupboard door more than is necessary.

Get control of those containers. Most kitchens have a space where storage containers are kept - usually there are some of the nice Tupperware-style containers, but there are also the old yogurt pots, the empty margarine tubs, and the plastic takeout containers thrown in there as well. The space gets unruly very quickly. Organize it and stop dreading opening that door.

Get things off of the counters. The counter top is premium real estate. Don’t let unnecessary things hang out there, taking up space and making the room look cluttered. Buy a wall-mounted paper towel holder, knife rack, and notepad. Get some over-the-door organizers to hang things up in the closet, pantry, or cabinets.

Sometimes the simplest tips are the most effective: clean up and put things away as soon as you are done with them. Yes, it is a pain to wipe off the counters or rinse off the cutting board before you go sit down for dinner. If you leave these jobs undone, though, the mess will just sit there. It will accumulate and make you feel overwhelmed. By doing a little bit at a time, just when it’s needed, you will cut down on the likelihood that a big backlog of mess will accumulate.

Store the appliances that you don’t use often. Again, having the counter clear will encourage you to use the kitchen instead of calling out for Chinese. If you have appliances on your counter that haven’t been used in a few months, store them in a closet or in the garage. You can always haul them out if you find yourself needing them again, but if an entire year goes by without using a specific appliance or gadget it’s probably time to get rid of it.

Don’t use the kitchen counter as a clutter collection place. It’s tempting to throw down the mail, keys, lunch boxes, and whatever else on the counter when you walk in. Instead, take a moment to put those things in their own places. Clutter attracts more clutter, so take care of the mess before it gets started.

What are your favorite tips for organizing the kitchen and making it a more enticing place to be? Let us know in the comments below!