Your kitchen should be a space that works with you, not against you. Whether you're a seasoned home chef or just trying to keep weekday meals efficient, how you organise your kitchen can make a huge difference, especially when it comes to your appliances.
From air fryers and blenders to microwaves and stand mixers, here’s how to thoughtfully arrange your kitchen around the tools you use most.
Take Inventory of Your Appliances
Start by making a list of all the kitchen appliances you own, large and small. Then divide them into three categories:
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Daily use (e.g. coffee maker, toaster)
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Occasional use (e.g. blender, slow cooker)
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Rare use (e.g. waffle maker, ice cream machine)
Knowing what you actually use (and how often) will help you prioritise placement.
Designate “Appliance Zones”
Instead of scattering appliances across your counters and cupboards, create dedicated zones based on function:
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Coffee Station: Keep your coffee maker, grinder, mugs, and pods or beans all in one place.
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Prep Zone: House your blender, food processor, or mixer near your chopping boards and measuring cups.
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Cooking Zone: Store your air fryer, instant pot, or toaster oven near your stove for easy access to power outlets and prep areas.
This reduces clutter and makes your workflow more intuitive.
Use Vertical Space Wisely
Don’t overlook walls, shelves, or even the sides of cabinets:
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Install floating shelves to hold rarely used appliances.
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Add wall hooks or magnetic strips for accessories and attachments.
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Use over-the-fridge storage for bulky appliances you don’t reach for often.
This keeps countertops free without banishing appliances to unreachable storage.
Corral Small Appliances in Cabinets
For smaller appliances used weekly (like a hand mixer or rice cooker), assign them a specific cabinet or deep drawer. Use labelled bins or pull-out trays to make retrieval easy and avoid digging through clutter.
If possible, keep appliances grouped by frequency of use or function.
Mind Your Power Sources
Before finalising your setup, check your outlets. Clustering all your appliances on one side of the kitchen can create a traffic jam of cords and inconvenience. If outlets are limited, use cord organisers and multi-outlet strips safely to make the most of the power you have.
Hide the Eyesores (When You Can)
For appliances you love but don’t want on display, like a microwave or bread maker, consider installing:
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A built-in appliance garage (a cabinet with a roll-up door)
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A pull-out shelf or drawer
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A pantry plug-in corner
These options keep functionality intact without compromising aesthetics.
Regularly Reassess
As your cooking habits change (new diets, new tools, or even just a change in routine), revisit your kitchen layout. That air fryer you used once a month might now be your go-to, and your old smoothie maker may be collecting dust.
Stay flexible, and reorganise to match your lifestyle.