The kitchen is a space that is used often and consistently. If it isn’t organized, it could be hard to make meals efficiently and you could be wasting your time. Luckily, there are many things you can do to improve the organization and efficiency of your kitchen.

First of all, keeping open, packaged foods in glass jars not only puts them on an aesthetically pleasing display, but also keeps them fresh for longer. Just use stickers to write important things like cook times and expiration dates on the inside of the lids.

Second, use a shelf and pegs to hang aprons and oven mitts on the wall. It’s decorative and it can clear up any essential drawer space.

Organize cabinets and drawers to make sense to you. For example, cups can be near the faucet, mugs near the coffee pot, plates and silverware are in the same general area. The kitchen shouldn’t be a maze; it should be a place where tasks can be completed easily.

Another thing you can do to make the kitchen more efficient is to place spices and ingredients in which you use them. Bring what you use the most to the bottom shelf in front and use high storage for things you don’t use quite so often.

You shouldn’t have to run around the kitchen to complete one task. If you are a coffee drinker, a cart can come in handy to keep the pot, filters, grounds and condiments all in one place. Putting some things on display is a good idea, but don’t overdo it. Too many things out in the open can create unwanted clutter.

It seems that kitchens can always use more storage. Use a hutch to store less frequently used dishes, liquor or cookbooks. Cookbooks are great to put on display as cooking inspiration.

If you are low on counter space, you can use a mobile cart and cutting board as a makeshift island that you can use for meal preparation. It can also double as extra storage for pots and pans.

Lastly, cleaning supplies like countertop cleaner, dish soap and extra trash bags should be stored under the sink. This is the best place for anything nonfood related. Keeping them out of the way will keep harsh chemicals all in one place, away from your food.