We use our kitchen from morning until night and never more so than during the holidays. The heart of the home really comes alive at this time of the year and storage is the key to easy entertaining. Follow these 6 tips for holiday storage and your kitchen design will be ready for anything, leaving you to relax and enjoy the holidays.

1. De-clutter in Advance

Give yourself plenty of time to de-clutter. It might take a day, but the result will be worth it. Empty out each kitchen cabinet and go through the contents. Be ruthless and toss what has expired. Often seasonal food items don’t last until next year so don’t overbuy. Also get rid of anything broken and take items you never use to the charity store. Next, remove everything from kitchen surfaces, including the tops of cabinets, and thoroughly clean every corner. Put back what you need, keeping seasonal items toward the front of cabinets. Keep surfaces clear to bake, prep and serve all the festive food.

2. Design for Life

If you’re planning a kitchen remodel, the right storage solutions change the way your kitchen functions and looks. Sliding shelving, appliance lifts, lazy susans and corner cabinet swing out shelves are just some ideas that work for any kitchen design style, hiding and organizing everything, which is exactly what’s needed during the holidays. If you’re modifying an existing kitchen add a removable shelf or tiered organizer to your kitchen cabinets so you can see spices, cans and jars more easily, freeing up valuable cooking time. Hooks under shelves are ideal for mugs, as are racks to hang up pots and pans. Simple reorganization during the festive season so the items you most need are easily accessible can be enough, or if you are planning a kitchen remodel factor seasonal items into your kitchen design storage solutions.

3. Set Up a Beverage Bar

A beverage bar, no matter how big or small, is a great addition to a kitchen design, especially for the holidays. It’s a designated area to store and serve drinks, from soft drinks to wine to coffee. You can include a mini fridge, wine cooler, coffee machine, sink or small dishwasher to have everything in one place and free up space elsewhere. Set aside nearby counter space for glassware and drinks during an event. People can help themselves to beverages with everything at their fingertips.

4. Sort Out Your Pantry

De-clutter and clean your pantry in the same way as the rest of your kitchen. If you don’t have a pantry, set one up in a designated area of your kitchen cabinets, an underutilized hall closet, or in a basement. A kitchen remodel should always include a pantry as they are invaluable. Move anything used in the summer to the back or onto higher shelves and bring out seasonal linens, containers, tins, platters and other holiday essentials. Make sure you have clear surfaces to keep extra food and dishes during a party. You can also bake on a clean countertop in a large, walk-in pantry here as you are near ingredients and baking utensils.

5. Make Your Refrigerator Holiday Ready

Your refrigerator is a real workhorse during the holidays. It’s also a place that can potentially embarrass you if guests open it to find it groaning with old food and grime. Empty it out, get rid of anything that has expired, and give perfect but unopened jars to a charity food drive. Clean your fridge and its components with lemon and baking soda. Now it’s ready to store all the ingredients, leftovers, drinks and desserts that inevitably fill it up over Christmas.

6. The Final Touches

The phrase ‘Fail to Prepare, Prepare to Fail’ is especially applicable for holiday entertaining. Check you have enough clean linens, utensils and dinnerware and store them where they won’t be used or damaged. Have containers ready so people can take leftovers home. Also, find a drawer to put essentials like Tylenol, matches, batteries, band aid and garbage bags. This prevents you from searching high and low during a party. Storing everything you might need in a special place in the kitchen means you can stay put and stay calm.

Once you’ve de-cluttered and re-organized your storage, you’ll sail through the festive season. Check out our kitchen design gallery for further inspiration and contact us today to start planning a kitchen remodel that’s perfect for entertaining.

Top 6 Holiday Storage Essentials for Your Kitchen Design