1. CLUTTER CONTINUES TO BUILD UP
One of the main aims of a kitchen organizing system is decluttering countertops, so if items are still building up, the chances are your kitchen organizing system isn't working, Jackie Pittman, professional home organizer and founder of Chez Nous Organizing, points out.
2. YOU ARE STILL LOSING THINGS REGULARLY
You have probably guessed it, but if you are still scrambling to find something in an organizing system, then it certainly is not working for you, and ‘it is time to re-evaluate your organizational system,’ Jackie Pittman continues.
3. TIDYING UP STILL FEELS LIKE A CHORE
Don’t get us wrong, tidying up isn't going to be made into the most entertaining of tasks with a kitchen organizing system if you absolutely hate it, but it should help to make it quicker and easier. If this is not the case and organizing a kitchen still feels like a laborious, thought-intensive process then your kitchen organizing system isn’t working for you.
4. YOUR REFRIGERATOR STORAGE ISN'T FLEXIBLE ENOUGH FOR YOUR LIFESTYLE
Although there are some kitchen organizers professionals always buy, they are only guides to help inspire clients and readers to try out new systems or help find what might work for them.
5. CABINETS AND DRAWERS ARE OVERFLOWING
Organizing kitchen cabinets and organizing kitchen drawers is arguably the most difficult part of putting a kitchen organizing system together due to its varying and awkward shapes and sizes. As a result, these areas are the most likely to fail first.
6. YOU ARE STILL FEELING STRESSED IN YOUR KITCHEN
Above all, a kitchen organizing system should be put in place to help reduce stress and mental load. Adding in systems should also mitigate decluttering when overwhelmed too. If neither of these needs is being met, then it is an obvious sign that you need to reassess, says Christin Cieslarski, professional organizer and founder of My Homier Home.
7. YOU BUY IN BULK AND DECANT
Decanting food goods has become an internet trend we can’t get away from. There is certainly no denying that it looks fantastic and works for a lot of people but trying to force yourself into the buying-in-bulk trend will lead to an overwhelming kitchen. ‘It is not one size fits all,’ warns Laura Kinsella, organizer and founder of urban OrgaNYze, even if it can be more economical. ‘Stagnant items cost us more than we could have ever saved for the item, as they take time, energy, and space to store and maintain.’
8. YOU HAVEN’T GOT THE FAMILY INVOLVED
There are always going to be family house rules that are difficult to implement, but not getting your household on board with your kitchen system from the get-go will set it up for failure. After all, if no one other than yourself uses the new system it might as well not be there at all, says Lauren Saltman, professional organizer and owner of Living. Simplified.
9. YOU ARE AIMING FOR AESTHETICS, NOT PRACTICALITY
Of course, we all want beautiful kitchens, but setting up a system with only this goal in mind will defeat the point of organizing to reduce stress. Oftentimes the most aesthetically pleasing organizing systems are the most difficult to keep on top of.
10. YOU HAVE MORE BINS THAN ITEMS
Overdoing it on organizational ‘helpers’ is one of the many organizing trends we’ve fallen out of love with over the last year, and professional organizers agree.
WHY DIFFERENT KITCHEN ORGANIZING SYSTEMS WORK FOR DIFFERENT PEOPLE
No matter how much you want a kitchen organizing system to work, there will be some aspects of your daily routine or even deeply ingrained habits that will make some systems more difficult for you than others, professional organizers are keen for you to understand.