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A well-organised kitchen is more than just visually pleasing, it can transform the way you cook, reduce food waste, and make daily life easier. Professional home organiser Emma Axcell-Roocroft, trained by decluttering expert Dilly Carter from Sort Your Life Out, has helped countless households create more efficient and clutter-free kitchens. Recently, she shared her top tips with HelloFresh on how to maximise cupboard space while keeping everything accessible and functional.
According to Emma, the key to achieving a perfectly organised kitchen lies in one simple item: labelled containers. Decanting dry goods such as flour, pasta, and rice into clear, labelled containers not only keeps cupboards neat but also ensures ingredients stay fresher for longer. With everything easily identifiable, meal preparation becomes more efficient, eliminating the frustration of rummaging through messy shelves. She said that with a little strategic planning, anyone can turn their kitchen into a space of order and efficiency.
The expert also went over one of the most common mistakes people make when storing kitchen items. Emma advises homeowners to think beyond simply finding space for everything and instead focus on usability and considering how often each tool is being used in the kitchen. Frequently used items should be kept within easy reach, while those that are only needed occasionally, such as speciality bakeware or seasonal gadgets, should be stored in less accessible areas.
Many people, she notes, place all their baking gear next to the cooker, which only makes sense if baking is a regular activity. If a rolling pin only comes out once a year, it doesn’t need to take up valuable everyday space. Creating dedicated kitchen zones, such as a coffee or breakfast station, can also help streamline the morning routine and keep countertops clutter-free.
For those preparing to move house, Emma strongly advises decluttering before packing. Transporting unused kitchen gadgets, mismatched Tupperware, and expired ingredients only creates unnecessary work when unpacking. Clearing out unnecessary items before the move ensures a smoother setup in a new space, saving time and effort.
Keeping a kitchen organised is not about constant tidying but rather about implementing smart systems and seasonal resets. Emma recommends setting aside an hour at the start of each season for a quick kitchen declutter.
This involves checking cupboards for unused items, ensuring everything is still in good condition, and deciding whether duplicate or excess items, such as multiple water bottles or forgotten spice jars, are still necessary.
Clear labelling plays a crucial role in maintaining order, as a well-labelled kitchen allows everyone in the household to easily return items to their designated places, preventing mess from creeping back in.
For busy households, small habits can have a big impact on maintaining organisation. Emma suggests following the golden rule of “don’t put it down, put it away.” Taking a few extra seconds to return an item to its proper place can save hours of tidying later.
She also recommends quick resets in the morning and evening, where just fifteen minutes of tidying can prevent clutter from accumulating throughout the day.
To prevent kitchen cupboards from overflowing, Emma encourages the “one in, one out” rule. Whenever a new pan, gadget, or appliance is brought into the kitchen, an old or unused item should be removed. This simple habit helps maintain balance and ensures that space does not become overcrowded with unnecessary items.
