How to Arrange a Kitchen 

Thank you Dana! My kitchen function has changed as my family has changed. Watching this made me realize that I am still accomodating traffic flows that no longer exist and working around toddlers that are now adults.

Unsolicited advice, if you keep your glasses small on one side and large on the other, you won't have to reach behind to get the glass you want. Otherwise I applaud your technique. 🎉

Pretty sure Reid just volunteered to be the one to write the names of the spices on the lids.

I would have hubby change the one cupboard door to otherside so you could have glass cupboard and dish cupboard at same time without dodging door.

Love the dishwasher scenario :) I think that way, but my kitchen configuration means moving more. I empty everything onto the counter and stack like items ,throw the 'near stuff' in the cupboards, and then carry groups to the other side. After 25 years of married life, I put the salad tongs IN the salad bowl and no longer have to hear WHERE ARE THEY from the salad making husband :) We can all find little things that make it easier Just 2 of us

Your Mom’s comment about organizing without moving your feet, reminded me of a term that chefs use in kitchens. Mis En Place means that Items are placed to make the most organized, efficient use of space and time. Have enjoyed watching your videos. Thank you.

My kitchen is so small there is no room for any drawers, and certainly no space for a dishwasher,. And I LOVE IT. Talk about utilizing the container method this is the kitchen built for that. I have it setup for easy cooking and easy dishwashing. And by-the-way. I find hand washing dishes very therapeutic for me a time to reflex on God's Love and Blessings, and a great time for Praise and Thanksgiving for all He has done for me in my life! Love ❤Ruthie

I think the biggest mistake a person can make when setting up their kitchen, is to set it up like their mom or grandmom did without taking into account your own lifestyle. For example, I have all my coffee needs in one cabinet: coffee, creamer, filters, mugs, spoon, etc... My whole kitchen is set up with "stations".

Now I wonder where you moved the popcorn to?! As i have developed back/bending issues I have had to rearrange things and declutter so my most used items are all waist to shoulder height.

Store items closest to the point of use.

35 years ago, my husband and I added a bigger kitchen on to our hose. We designed it ourselves for how we moved and worked in our kitchen. We hardly ever move our feet when loading or unloading the dishwasher. Your advice was so validating! Our kids were babies when we completed our addition, so we have modified placement of things as we went along. I now have a soup area, a baking area, a drawer for leftover containers (though lids are still separate, so we do have things to work on). I love watching your channel for new ideas and strategies. I learn something every time. Thanks!

Point of performance! Yay! This is why I actually don't want my kitchen too big! My apartment currently has what is honestly the BEST kitchen when it come to both point of performance and the "triangle" rule (well for MY preferences for the triangle at least lol).

Thank you so much. I have just listened to you read 2 books to me twice as I had long……. Drives for work. Decluttering At The Speed Of Life recommended by Amanda Paige - This Crazy Life, and due to my own curiosity How To Manage Your Home Without Losing Your Mind! My story is a bit different. I started making my own bed at 3. By 6 I was doing the family washing and cooking by 11, I had to manage my parents home as my mum was bed ridden for at least 2 months. So from 8 - 18 I was the family housekeeper to the total amazement of family friends and fellow classmates at school. Needless to say when at 11 in cookery class they said let’s boil an egg and no one knew how - I wondered on what it planet did they live and why couldn’t we boil several eggs at once? The teacher was not amused and thought I was a smart Alec. So when I went to University I was the girl who took a first aid kit a sewing machine and soon had a set of saucepans and an iron!!! Not normal for a party animal environment. I was married before I finished only 20. Had first child at 25 second at 28, very clean tidy home at that stage - obsessed with keeping it clean for my babies, though continually collected more things and unfortunately divorced at 34. I had to work to support my family and did long hours even got a second degree- pulled all nighters to get the assignments in on time. I guess like you I’m creative and deadline or goal driven. First major goal set age 5, second age 8 - both achieved twice. Yep over achiever of the unimportant things in life really. Not so much of an achiever where it really counts. Teacher all levels. All subject areas - one is never enough. Cake decorating - including wedding cakes. All different types of cooking Italian, French, Chinese- variety is the key to life. Receptionist/Typist, crafting any type except painting and drawing. But dying fabric requires inks and poppy wreaths need to be painted red. Patchwork including cushions, several quilts, many sizes. Sewing all styles. Dressmaking yep. Knitting dolls, Lacey baby things or whatever. Crochet love it. Big blankets or dainty handkerchiefs. Check. Really need to keep hands and mind challenged. Reading- well books are our friends!! I learnt to read in 3 weeks at age 6 to catch up with the class- I’ve been devouring books ever since. My library is extensive diverse and all over the house- literally. I’m a born collector. Everyone says so. My family and friends are literally all over the world and my Christmas letters to everyone are treasured and were started way before everyone got on the bandwagon- the family called them my round Robin. So loads of grief, PTSD, anxiety, depression etc. Etc. Life has not been easy. We moved continents twice in my early childhood and by nature I’m a homebody who needs to nest, so it was unsettling. I’m ok with all that. I know mentally how and why I got to this stage. Imagine a giant paper volcano exploded in the middle of your house - that’s where the office/craft room is - and the lava that spewed through every room was paper of some kind, photos, receipts etc. Added to that because never do anything by halves- a trail of crafting and books etc. Through this downhill journey which started in 2002 and has gotten worse with each diabolical event since. There are only 2 things I kept up. The dishes are washed and the washing is up to date. There is however a huge stack of clean air drying containers by the sink- I heard too air drying is best. Though the clothes are clean a humongous pile in my room unable to get into the wardrobe! This all just adds to the eyesore that unfortunately is the home I was once so proud of- oh how the mighty have fallen. WELL Even though I drove from 7am - 1pm continuously for work today. Listening to you all the way, I came home energised and decided that the eyesore that is my bedroom had to change. When my 35 year old messy daughter (actually diagnosed with domestic blindness) poked her head around my door- I informed her that my drawer was a container and whatever underwear wouldn’t fit in it couldn’t stay. Armed with my donate box and garbage bag I went through the drawer AND piles of clothes AND not only did I complete that drawer I did the other 3 in the dresser and culled part of the pile in front of it. That’s why I have to say THANK YOU. I put a few of the clothes on hangers and tomorrow I really want to do the cupboard behind the door. One area at a time. This place is going to get better. Visual clutter- I have cleaned and Christmas decorated my front porch. It is making me smile as I come home. It took so little effort and the reward is enormous- I’m able to look past the grass my daughter was unable to mow due to being ill. I’ve decided I’m sorting my home now for me because I want it to bring me joy. I’ve earned it. My room is first after the porch for me because I need it after giving all my energy to family friends and charities. I’m older now than when my dad retired and after all my efforts I’m feeling I have nothing to show for it. As you identified it’s overwhelming me with its clutter I need to be able to breathe. I need to add that finances are at rock bottom and I was lucky enough that my daughter allowed me to share her audible and have your 2 books to get me out of my head. It’s way too noisy there on road trips. So at 63 I’m FINALLY learning how to tidy a home without making a bigger mess and what I did right and wrong for so many years. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. All the way from Australia Jackyxxoo Ps. I was always in the school productions and aced campfire leading as a Scouter for 30 years. 🤪

The kitchen is fun to organize once the inventory is lower. We put baking goods in in baskets in cupboard by the stove. It really helps us. Canned stuff goes in pantry because it works for this kitchen.

I took pictures of the kitchen & the cabinet locations. Before we ever moved in… I mapped out the most logical places for everything to go. Dishes near dishwasher, Spices near stove, Dinner foods near stove area, things we don’t use very often (blender, crockpot, juicer) in less accessible cabinets. I packed box by map, clearly labeled & had post-it notes for outside cabinet doors as to where things are for our first couple weeks. Otherwise, I would have had overload of decisions.

My spice drawer used to look like yours, and I knew where things were without labels. But whenever anyone else needed something, they'd ruin my "system". I finally took a couple simple steps that made it easier for everyone: a couple drawer dividers so I could corral things into rows, and labels on the tops of jars. Minimal investment of time/money, and it has stayed neat.

Where should I put this vs where would I look for this first is such a game changer. Thank you!

The only problem with adjusting things is you have to remember to tell the other people in your house where you put stuff! I drive my hubby crazy sometimes. 😂

Just love this video. Thank you so much for it 😊❤. You make kitchen organizing fun. Three ideas i found especially helpful: 1. This is your kitchen so it needs to work for you/your family, not a magazine photo shoot. 2. Don't get hung up on finding the perfect place/solution, just make a decision that works for you now. 3. It is OK to change things over time if something else works better or circumstances change.

I have a tiny kitchen and with the dishwasher open there is only one place to stand. I had to put things away from that one spot. It took me a few trys but we finally got it all sorted and now it's so quick. Thanks Dana for confirming this.

I aim for 10,000 steps a day so I don’t want everything to save foot movement. I can get 4,000 just keeping house and cooking, going up and down stairs. It’s all exercise. We are movement starved in this modern world. The days of time and motion in kitchens is no longer appropriate. I purposely keep my bins on the other side of the kitchen soI have to walk to them when doing food prep.

I've recently started storing containers with the lids on. Great idea

Ever since I binged on your podcasts and started getting rid of sooooo much, I am able to put things places I would look for them first And Find them 😅

This wouldn't work for my kitchen (it's spread out) but I totally get what you're saying!

I’m currently rearranging my kitchen since some family members have married and/or gone to college. This video is a great template and reminder of how to make things work. Thank you

I like to label things with a Sharpie on Scotch tape. I won't spend money on a fancy labeling system because then I would feel bad about changing things. If I decide to move something, I can just rip off the tape and relabel, no harm no foul.

I unload dw by first placing dishes on that clean counter right by you, then putting them in cabinet. I like being able to close the dw as soon as possible. Thank you for this video 😊

We have a slightly different layout, but we prioritize having the plates, bowls and silverware close to the table. (This helps so someone else can help set the table without getting in the way of the cook.) The cabinet that holds the glasses is close to the dishwasher, but i find it easier to store the glasses in the cabinet diagonally located (so I can open the dishwasher all the way, and stand between the sink and stove to unload the glasses). I hand wash the pots and pans, but those are in the lower cabinet directly across from the dishwasher. I recently switched some things, because I had all the baking ingredients in the upper cabinet on the left of the stove. I decided these items would be better on the other side of the kitchen (away from the steam and heat). So far, I love the new arrangement.

I dont have a dishwasher in our very old very small farmhouse galley kitchen, and probably never will, but the concept of efficiency of movement still applies. Thank you for the ideas!!!!! Due to my physically dysfunctional knees and back, my ability to stand for prolonged periods at one time is restricted (15 to 30 minutes is my max), and walking is very painful. I can not immediately put out of place items away one by one, for me that is not efficient and it greatly reduces my overall ability to get any task completed. I use a container (bin or bag) to collect wayward items and then do one grand tour to put wandering and out of place things from one room or area back where they belong all at one time. It works for me.

If I had to unload my dishes without moving my feet, I would have to throw my dishes out of the window LOL. But, it is a good idea. My dishwasher and sink are under 4 big windows, which look out to a beautiful woods. So, it’s worth the “footwork “ I have to do.

Just today I was organizing my file cabinet that has four drawers and found two small pictures on plaques shoved in one. I thought, “I would have never thought to look here if I wanted to find them. Where would I look?”And then I immediately took them there. So, thanks because I know darn well that because they fit in that file space I probably would have kept them there in that random spot and then would have not been able to find them later.

My bedroom is arranged very much like this, too. I can get dressed from just-a-robe to out-the-door in three steps, including hanging up my robe and checking the full length mirror.

Ive had enough of world events. This is a breath of fresh air. Thank you!

I was just thinking.. if your glasses cupboard opened the other way... That would be AWESOME!! Hehe 😁 Thanks Dana! That's a wonderful way to have your kitchen set up 👍🥰

Yup this makes perfect sense. I've been in my place for 2 years and I'm still trying to figure out where to put stuff lol. You're videos have been a Godsend. Thank you :-)

Don’t leave us hanging - I wanted to know where was the first place you looked for the popcorn?!!! 😅

Hi Dana, Oh, thank you so much for this video. I'm am a super chronic overthinker, and I needed this video since I just re organized parts of my kitchen, and it's not working, so thank you so much. Happy Thanksgiving 🦃🦃, and I will see you next time❤

I’m guilty of keeping things where they are just because that’s where they are already, even if they’re in an inconvenient place that makes me want to never use them. 😅 Those were some of the easiest things to declutter when I did my kitchen sweep, though.

Love watching/hearing you. You crack me up and I also learn so much! 😂

Sweet lady you are so out of breath. That’s concerning about your health. Take care

The “don’t move your feet” rule kills me as my last 2 houses the dishwasher has been comically far from any upper cabinets. Like a good 5-10 feet away 😭 we are house hunting and hopefully the next one will be better! We run the dishwasher every day.

When I first arranged my kitchen, I realized there weren't nearly enough cabinets near my dishwasher to follow this standard guidance. I have plenty of cabinets as well as a walk-in pantry, but they are all on the other side of the kitchen. Most of the cabinets fall between the refrigerator and the range, so the next best location became "point of use" rather than proximity to the dishwasher.

Our kitchen was nicely remodeled by the previous owners and is quite functional and streamlined for my use…I guess I have similar habits to the previous owners! 😂

Now you know reid, spices are in the drawer by the stove👍🏻☺️

Great tips.. we definitely have a coffee prep, lunch packing area, and dishwasher unload zone with almost no steps. Never really thought about it... but I do love my kitchen more when that happens!

This is invaluable during times of sickness and pain.

I used this method when I helped my mum move house and it was really useful as now she doesn't phone me up when she can't find something.

Excellent advice (as usual). I can't empty my dishwasher without walking, except for glassware. OTOH, the baking stuff is near the counter next to the oven; the cooking utensils are next to the stove. In other words I traded ease of reaching when using for ease of putting away. I just had a test of my logic when someone new to the household emptied the dishwasher and made up places to put things using her logic ... only two things were "off" and they were logical, just not my logic (specifically, the colander was put with the measuring cups instead of with the other strainer thingies and there was something else odd that I've now forgotten). I did have spices standing in a drawer and did write on the caps, but I'm in love with the fancy spice drawer I added when I redid my kitchen--except at least one of my kids who cooks here can't alphabetize. LOL.

Hey Dana! At 3:19 If you can put all of your shorter glasses to one side (right or left) of your designated glass shelf and all of your taller glasses on the opposite side, you wouldn’t have to manuver your tall glasses horizontally into the cupboard and clang them together to get them behind the shorter ones. So talls would be in front of talls and shorts in front of shorts... hope that makes sense! Great video, thank you!! Edit: Cutlery sounds too "uptight" to me. We say silverware even though they are made of stainless steel... they're still silver colored, lol! 😅

I like that you call everything whose name doesn't come to mind a "dololly."

I just discovered your channel. I have a seasonal job so my winter is when I deep clean. Your ideas are wonderful Thank you, I'm sure you are going to bang your head on that open door

I was very scared you were going to stand back up and hit your head on the open cabinets! I’m originally from Ohio and now live in Maryland…I say silverware 😉

Reid, I’m sure your mom won’t mind if you label the spice tops. 😂

Storage containers with the lids on IS a game changer. The dishes are right above the dishwasher. Unfortunately it's broken right now, waiting for the money for repairs. Kathy B

Sue Wolfe- I place my plates and bowls near the area where I use them. The glasses near the refrigerator, etc. I realize that's not always going to work in every kitchen. You have to work with the cabinets that you have. I do keep my spices next to the stove as well as my oven mitts. As you said, Dana, you can change things down the road if they don't work for you initially. 👏💪❤️❤️

I watched your video on the layers of a clean house.....like a few minutes ago lol and it makes so much sense. It was much easier to have a super clean house before I had my 3 children. So when I go to clean, which for me was doing all 3 steps in one session I would be exhausted. It could make you tired just looking at the task ahead lol but now I can have a process. So thank you.

My dilemma is that the dishes are wet when they come out of the dishwasher, even if I let them air dry all day! Drying them off doesn’t feel as straightforward as it should!

don't mind moving around to put things away, just adds to my steps for the day.

This is great advice but as I was watching you I wanted to reach through the screen and get the dish soap and Barkeepers friend and put it under the sink! Haha! It would drive me nuts, moving that stuff around to wipe down the sink. :) I completely agree that everyone needs to figure out what works for them in their own kitchen.

Oh my gosh I was waiting for you to hit your head on the cabinet doors. Great video thanks for the info

I don't have cupboards by my dishwasher. I lay a clean towel down and empty the dishes on that. I carry the silverware rack to where I can empty it quickly. Then I put away the other things. If I ever change my kitchen layout, I will definitely do it your way. Meanwhile the dishes are easy to set the table.

😄 the ending credits! I was waiting to hear where you looked for the popcorn first. Lol

??Question, please: Dana, thank you for this! I have a HUGE question I hope you might answer: Do you have some way to vent your stove top? I just lived in a house in Texas for a while with an island with a gas stove top in it, but it has a big downdraft vent in the center. The stove top doesn't work the greatest, and I hate the countertops, so I'd love to replace both eventually. I know I don't cook as much as you do, so are you managing with no vent fan? Or is it not showing in the video? It takes up so much undercounter cabinet space, and I'd love to know what your situation is and how well it works. Thanks!

I love your thinking process for the kitchen. The past 6 + years that I've been married and we've been in the house he's lived in since long before I moved in, I'm finally making this kitchen my own. Even though he has always said it's now my kitchen and I need to make it my own, I really struggled in my mind to take over and arrange things in a way that works for me. I've never been in a situation in my entire life where I felt like the kitchen was my domain and I'm the one who gets to decide how I want things arranged and done in my working space. Also, I'm a short lefty in a medium to tall righty kind of world, and struggled all my life with clumsiness, confusion, and awkwardness in doing alot of things because just about everything and every space is designed for average height rightness. For some reason, I didn't make the connection that being left handed, I needed to arrange my work space (any work space) for a lefty, and I arranged things in my work areas in the same spot a righty would, while still using my left hand. Well, it finally dawned on me recently, at least in my kitchen, to think like a lefty while re- organising my kitchen, and to stop thinking about where most other people put things. I ended up with my counters and cabinets divided into stations...my beverage station, my prep stain, my cooking station and my serving station. And everything is set up, as much as the kitchen structure would allow, for me to work from right to left instead of working from left to right. Game changer! My thoughts when I work in my kitchen now are, "so this is what normal feels like when people work in their kitchen?" I am not confused, stressed, super clumsy or super messy when I'm there. I'm still a Messy cook, but not nearly as messy 😂. I just feel way more relaxed, and doing anything in that kitchen is now a no-brainer. I now find everything where I naturally look or reach for it, for the most part. I even...gasp...relocated the dog dish to the shelf in the station where I keep our bowls! It just makes logical sense to me to look for her bowl in the same place where the rest of the bowls are. Some may find it gross, but it gets washed really clean just like our plates and bowls. No biggy. So I guess I do t he opposite of uou, where I arrange things where I naturally look fir it or reach for it when I need it, instead of where I would put it away.

I love you. You are the only organizer that has ever made sense to me. You really give such sound, doable advice. Thank you!

HELP!! Ive moved and have a tiny kitchen. One 12" base cabinet left of stove with 12" upper above it. A two door, split 24" top cabinet roght of stove. Then a top corner cabinet which using west/south walls is like a triangle sort of, then over sink is a 30" higher only 2 shelf cabinet. THATS IT!! Now mind you i keep a kilosher home which means I have everything in duplicate (one set dairy, one set meat). Ive realized i cant possible do that here, so will give up eating meat at home. Still thats so little space for rverything. I have only 1, YES ONE, drawer thats 12" wide. The dishwasher is right of the stove and blocks the sink when open. Actually blocks all cabinets except the one left of the stove. ANY HELP APPRECIATED. No, I can't move 😢

Awe man. I love this idea. But. (Isn't there nearly always a "but"??) There is one SMALL upper cupboard near where the house flippers installed the dishwasher and the sink. In a family of 6, even if we do the 1-plate per person rule...it's still not big enough to fit the dishes. I can't even get to 80%, maybe 10%. Ugh. Again, I love this idea because it's a great strategy! I wish I could use it too...back to the drawing board for my kitchen arrangement. Thanks for the helpful videos Dana!

You would not like my kitchen. It is literally impossible to unload the dishwasher and not move my feet. It's literally 3 feet from the nearest cupboard and six from the nearest drawer. I don't know who designed my place but it was not someone thinking about the usability. I understand why people put lids on their storage tubs. I can't. I have about 10 inches x 10 inches by 8 inches space for those things. We have six people in the house. I have a set of stackable that have lids that stack too. That's what I do for my space. Until I move, that's my solution.

Now living alone i moved a coffee cup,coffee vitamins bowl for cereal, kettle all in the one place so i do not move to start the day. All the other cups bowls etc in another cupboard looks odd when others in the house but it works for me

Great ideas for those, like me, who have ADHD. I try to zone the kitchen so I know where everything is. I’m English so I make LOTS of tea. So my tea making things, tea bags, spoons, a jar of coffee, are all on a tray near my kettle. And the mugs are in a cupboard just above that zone.

silverware in Texas

PLEASE EVERYBODY -- add any pointers here...😅❤

I use the same strategy to organize my cupboards, but my current house has the dishwasher located where there are no upper cabinets. It’s one of the downsides of a big kitchen.

I just went through "moving in" to our kitchen remodel in December and luckily my husband helped me come up with pretty much this system (he cooks too). I moved where we stored dishes so I could reach the cabinets without having to close the dishwasher each time. We started with what we wanted within reach at major appliances: spices, cooking utensils, pans near the stove; glasses as near to the refrigerator as possible while still reachable from the dishwasher, plus leftover storage supplies.; silverware near the dishes and glasses so we could grab everything together when setting the table, etc. Then we worked our way outward to less frequently needed items. The biggest help from my husband for me, the over-thinker, was your point that I didn't have only one chance to decide the BEST place. There are no kitchen police to say I can't change my mind as we use our new kitchen. It took so much of the stress out of the process.

Love you so much, Dana. Seems like when I finally read my dishwasher guide, it suggested emptying the bottom first. Not sure why. Doesn’t really matter, because Hubby is “the man” for that job. 😂 I placed things in our new house where I thought I’d use them. I get lots of steps (exercise) going to get measuring devices. Definitely need to move them! I am 75 and a Weight Watcher, though, so every step helps. ❤️❤️❤️

I live alone, and have a tiny kitchen. I only have 2 low level cupboards that go into the corners, and 2 full length and 2 half height eye level cupboards. I have a dishwasher next to the washing machine in there too. I need to take everything out of my kitchen, and put it on a collapsible table, then I can actually see what I have, and if the items I want to keep are where I would look for them. Thank you for this informative video. Blessings from a very wet and windy West Devon, England, and Jilly & Madge the rescue greyhound. xxx

I have working on trying to do major declutter & organization of my home. However, I’ve been getting so frustrated and running into roadblocks because I don’t know where to put some of things I’m keeping (reforming shopaholic here 🤣😳) but I love you’re statement of asking myself “where’s the first place I would look for this?”. It’s so simple but I’ve never thought about it in that way before! Here’s hoping I can move through my stuff a little faster now!!!!!

I set up my kitchen so that i could make biscuits, a cake, etc without moving my feet. And i store my appliances under the section of counter i use them on. I want to be able to grab/put away anything (not heavy) with ONE HAND, otherwise i know i will procrastinate putting it away

My dishwasher is portable, counters are at 11 and 1 oclock, fridge and stove 9 and 3, bakers rack with pots and pans is at 4. I could put everything in the oven. 😂 I'm tempted to not use it.

Reid, take a Sharpie and label the spices for yourself (I wouldn’t be able to find anything in that drawer either-it’s your mom‘s superpower).

Items are stored at point of use Not where the dw is So silverware is in a basket on table, along with napkins, s&p and vinegar (for us!) Dishes are stored close to table as are glasses (we only drink water as we eat yogurt or cheese for dairy) If ur serving littles, store plates near stove Utensils n knives are at prep counter and stove Tv remote goes next to couch Reading glasses go by chair where u read which is next to ur books POINT OF USE

You just helped me reassign the drawers in my kitchen...pot holders by the stove...seems obvious now. Can openers go there too...I look there first.

I have a full cupboard and a half cupboard on same side of top row and 3 full cupboards on the bottom row. Each has one unmoveable shelf across the middle. Oh, I do also have one undersink cabinet for cleaning supplies. I have baking and other oven supplies stuffed into the 2 lower cupboards on the same side. The other full cupboard on bottom row of other side is rarely used because a box or two of kitchen stuff is always in front of it. It is supposed to be the cereal boxes cupboard because it has no divider across the middle. It is really a struggle to find space for everything I use in the kitchen. I have 2 hutches in the dining area that I use as pantries for foods in cans, jars, and boxes (pasta, spaghetti, sauces, rice, instant potatoes,etc.). Btw, I can't walk around the dishwasher because, when it is open, the dw door edge is only 3 or 4 inches away from the oven. #apartmentliving

Point of function-this reminds me a lot of how the ADHD coach’s suggest how to set up their kitchens/spaces for max efficiency. I have my kitchen set up this way and it makes cooking and cleaning so much easier.

My cups are near the fridge, my plates and serving bowls are near the stove. If I could arrange my kitchen cabinets/drawers i would put my silverware, utensils and potholders and pans near my stove. Unfortunately my stove and wall oven are on a L shaped brick wall and you lose much needed cabinet space.

Dana! I was struck by déjà vu with the open kitchen cabinet and you moving around it to film the video! 😂

not moving your feet to put the dishes away (from the sink or the dishwasher) only works in a very small space. I would only be able to put away 1/2 of my items (probably less) due to the layout and space of my kitchen.

In the UK it’s cutlery, silverware would be the Sunday best stuff for Christmas etc. I put stuff where I would use it, so cups next to the kettle etc.

Organizing products change, our seasons change, our needs change. We need to reexamine this yearly

This helps so much. Your books have helped me more than I can say. By the way, your hair looks so pretty, and your earrings are very cute and trendy.

I’m going to need to move a few things , I just recently moved my grandchildren’s cups bowls and plates so they could reach rather than them needing me to help them , I ended up cluttering my counter with cooking utensils cause my husband retired and he decided to start cooking but he can’t find things in a drawer so I was always having to find things for him . I also moved my spices by the stove , I need to declutter some of them some of mine are labeled you are really helping me even though I have done some things before . I bought organizing for the rest of us not sure if I should have bought your others first .

Dana, do you have one about how to arrange an entrace/foyer? I have a drafting table, a printer and a floor chair (that attracks clutter) on mine, is a long and narrow space 11x 5 that leads to the dinning room and living room...

When my children were young my sister decided to help me and rearrange my cupboards. She moved the coffee cups to the lowest most accessible shelf I had ever but I don’t drink coffee and at the time we rarely drank hot beverages at home. What I did have was too short. People who needed to be able to get to glasses easily. Fast-forward to now where my adults son lives with me and the coffee cups are back on the first shelf where he can easily make his first cuppa cuppa coffee in the morning. Second point being that your needs change overtime don’t be afraid to rearrange where your life is currently.

Your kitchen is nicely arranged. I also don’t like to take a lot of steps in the kitchen. Everything where it’s first used, if possible.

I've always set up my new kitchens by function. Pots and pans in lowers near the stove, plates at the closest upper cabinet near the stove. Glasses in an upper next to the fridge. Mugs near the coffee pot. Its the same concept as yours for reducing the amount of travel, but instead of it being travel when unloading the dishwasher, which isn't every day, I reduced the travel on the daily occurrences of cooking and serving food. Some kitchens are better suited than others. My current kitchen doesn't have enough space for spices to be near the stove like yours and I am envious, but I wouldn't give up my plate storage for the spices. It worked out for the best though because I use more spices than would fit in a drawer anyway, so now they are on shallow door racks on the inside of my 2 pantry doors, close enough to the stove that its not an issue, and yet they aren't wasting space on the pantry shelves. Mentioning it for anyone who is looking for a solution to their spice addiction storage! And Dana & Reid: I enjoy the credits at the end as much or more than I do the videos themselves!!! Love this so much!

I just recently moved my spices into a drawer. I bought jars and labeled them on the top and side. I like mine in alphabetical order. Thank you for all the other tips ❤

I like the idea not moving when emptying the dishwasher, but my kitchen is U shaped and the dishwasher blocks one of the main cabinets when open. I almost can but not quite

I generally use that rule of keeping most used items close to the dishwasher. I also consider putting items close to where I would use the item. I also like to group like items together. For example: I keep knives and cutting boards together. I keep cups close to the water dispenser. I consider it all and adjust as needed.

Hi Dana I watched how you arranged your dishes above the dishwasher and that is how I had things in my old kitchen. I’m my new kitchen I arranged dishes close to stove and away from dishwasher. The reason is that it really strains your back to have to reach over and around the dishwasher door and drawers. You might strain your back which I’m try to avoid being a nurse and my daughter being a physiotherapist assistant.

Emptying the dishwasher without moving your feet is a great theory IF your kitchen is designed like this. In MY kitchen, the majority of the cabinets are on the opposite side of the room from the dishwasher. It takes a step or two for me to put things away.