There is simply no denying the fact that there are lots of benefits to keeping things organised. Many people believe that a cluttered physical space can lead to a cluttered mind and we really believe that to be true.

When your home has a good level of organisation day-to-day life runs a lot more smoothly. You will get out of the house quicker in the mornings, dinner prep will be much easier and there is less risk of things going missing if everything has a place.

The family kitchen is an arena of activity. It is often the place where homework is done as well as food prep and dining. In most homes, the kitchen houses a vast amount of gadgets, gizmos and appliances that seem to grow and grow over the years.

We’ve come across these genius kitchen storage hacks that will save time and space which will allow you to enjoy that space and time a lot more.

1. Use labels for everything. It will make life infinitely easier. You won’t have to constantly smell (or taste) things when it comes to cooking and baking. You can pick up labels at your local pound shop for as cheap as chips.

2. Do a big clear out and dump anything that hasn’t been used in over a year. I was surprised by how many half bags of porridge oats and flour that were taking up huge amounts of space and were well beyond the point of being suitable for use. They made way for the things we really do use.

3. Pick up a spice rack, carousel or magnetic board to display the everyday spices and herbs that you use frequently. No more stressful fumbling for that one ingredient and spilling several others in the process.

4. Have a “use it up” week once a month where that week’s meals are purely made from things that need to be used up from the fridge, freezer and cupboard. Tins of tuna, frozen veg and the ends of a bag of pasta could make a big pasta bake that covers two days of dinners for example.

5. Hanging pots and pans from the ceiling saves a huge amount of space and it might just be easier than you think.

6. Sprinkle the bottom of your kitchen bin with baking soda to prevent foul odours from developing. A kitchen that smells nice is a lot more pleasant to work in. 

7. As a DIY project, convert one of your smaller drawers into a pull out cutting board. Leave a small hole in the cutting board to scoop the skin and peelings into which will make it easier for recycling. This maximises counter space and looks really cool!

8. Use a three-tiered hanging basket (typically used for plants in the garden) to store fruit and vegetables in an unused corner of the kitchen.

9. Hang a rack onto the side of your fridge. It could be the perfect solution for paper towels, tin foil and small utensils that don’t have a practical place to live.

10. Consider a rolling cart for fruit, vegetables and snacks. They can be wheeled to your side while you cook or pushed aside when you want them out of sight. These can be picked up cheap and cheerful from IKEA.

Tracey is a happy mammy to four-year-old Billy. She is a breastfeeder, gentle parent and has recently lost five stone so healthy family eating is her passion! You can find her at www.loveofliving.ie.