Ahh...the kitchen, a great place to cook, dine, relax, and spend time with loved ones. The kitchen sees a lot of activity, and consequently requires more ongoing maintenance than most any room in the home. But armed with the right kitchen organization strategy, you can spend less time cleaning and enjoy more quality time with loved ones. Following are some time saving tips that will help you create an accessible, logical organization system for the items in your kitchen:

â-ªTo reduce clutter, remove items from countertops that you do not use regularly. If you drink coffee every day, a coffee maker is a logical item to store on the counter. However, blenders, toasters, and other rarely used appliances are better to store out of sight in a cabinet or closet. The key to a streamlined, resourceful kitchen is to have your most commonly used items readily reached and available.

â-ªPots and skillets should be stored in a cabinet located next to the stove, providing easy access in the location where they will be used. Likewise, baking sheets, muffin cups, casserole dishes and other oven pans are best to keep in a cabinet next to the oven or in the drawer underneath, if you have one. You may want to take the extra step of purchasing a divider rack for easy access to pans, which also makes putting away clean dishes quicker.

â-ªIf you have limited cabinet space, you may consider utilizing a hanging pot rack, which attaches to a wall or ceiling and allows you to suspend pots and utensils. Again, a location in close proximity to the stove is most suitable for ease of access.

â-ªDedicate cabinets near the stove and oven to spices, measuring cups and other cooking essentials, while reserving space near the dishwasher for glasses, plates and silverware. You should not only aim for easily accessing items for use, but also convenience in putting them away.

â-ªPurge the pantry. If you hoard chaos in the pantry, as many people do, you may be surprised at how simple it can be to organize it and keep it that way. Empty the pantry and categorize every item, separating snacks, canned items, non-perishable boxed items, packets, etc. Based on the quantity of items you have in each category, purchase appropriately sized containers, such as short-sided bins, canvas boxes or baskets, taking into consideration the limitations of your pantry. For ultimate space efficiency, you may also consider a shelf type organizer that hangs on the inside of your pantry door. Designating a place for everything in your pantry makes locating items easy and encourages upkeep of the organization while unloading new groceries.

Bearing in mind the concept of keeping your most commonly used items accessible and near the places they are used, you can tailor an organization plan that fits the individual needs of your kitchen.

About the Author: Stephen Nickse is the founder of Closet Solutions, a leading provider of quality Boston custom closets, strategically headquartered in the nation's design capitol, Boston, Ma. For more information, please visit www.closet-solutions.com.