Kitchen

Decorative boxes are wonderful for nonromantic things you don’t need to see but want close at hand, such as coupons, receipts, or personal, private items. There are always “dainties” things you don’t want anyone to see, that can be contained in an attractive tin or box. You can leave a multitude of objects out in plain sight as long as they are grouped in a still life and are attractive to the eye.

Use see-through containers to store items you are attached to and enjoy looking at. Why hide butter cookies in a tint or pottery canister when their so pretty and fresh looking? Keep them in a glass cookie jar instead, where they will excite taste buds and warm hearts. Everybody has a obvious kitchen gear – plates, bowls, glasses, mugs, pots and pans, flatware, small appliances, and staple foods that need to be easily accessible on a daily basis. Rather putting the most frequently used dishes and glasses in one place, have everything separated into groups. All glasses go in a cupboard so you see the whole range at a glance. All dishes should be visible as you reach to make a selection.

By grouping your necessities into specific categories, they will look organized inside your kitchen shelves. You can now easily locate a stemmed glass for your orange juice, and a pretty porcelain dessert dish for scrambled eggs.

Think of upgrading what you use, not downgrading. If you have kitchen space restrictions, eliminate the items you don’t like, not your favorite “good” dishes. Inevitably you’ll come across some odds and ends, gifts you don’t like but you like the giver, presents from children you can’t part with, and some overly ornate objects you now know were a mistake to buy because you’ve only used them once. Spend some time assessing your categories and strike a healthy balance.