It happens so slowly you don’t notice until it’s too late. It can take over your kitchen.
It’s clutter creep. Nicole Facciuto, a New York-based designer and host of A&E’s “Fix This Kitchen,” has seen its ugly side.
“I find the utensils drawer ends up looking like a mechanic’s science project. Everything gets tangled up,” she said.
“And it’s amazing how long people live with something that’s not functional just because they’re used to it,” added Facciuto, recalling a family who had been using a butter knife to turn on their oven because the knob was missing.
This year, resolve to get your kitchen in order. Here are Facciuto’s tips:
Sort:
How many rubber scrapers/paring knives do you need? “See what you can get rid of. It’s actually time prohibitive to have many things of one item.”
De-clutter:
“One drawer at a time. Go through it one Saturday afternoon — we do it with our closets.”
Repair:
“Fix things you use. If you don’t use it, get rid of it.”
Arrange:
“If you cook a certain food all the time or you have certain items you use all the time, make sure they’re easily accessible.”
Label:
Spices, brushes (marked for “desserts” or “meats/fish”).
Organize:
“Designate areas for everything that goes into or revolves around the kitchen,” such as a kids’ wall, cookbooks, etc.).
