ONE ROOM A MONTH CHALLENGE Declutter and optimize your kitchen: a practical guide to effective organization

First step: Declutter

The secret to a well-organized kitchen starts with good decluttering. Because it's a room that easily accumulates items, gadgets and impulse buys, and one that gets heavy use every day, take the time you need to do it right. Don't hesitate to split the work over several days so you don't feel overwhelmed.

Downloadable lists

To support you through this crucial step, we've created some handy tools:

• List of things to get rid of
• List of things to organize
• List of things to get

These same lists are also available in Octave as digital checklists. 

Tips and tricks

Store the items you only use a few times a year in a separate space. The cupboard above the fridge is often the ideal spot for these items:

• Fondue forks
• Lobster crackers
• Piping tips and pastry bags
• Popsicle sticks and moulds
• Cookie cutters
  
  

Organize the food in your pantry by category, placing it in bins whenever possible:

• Breakfast foods (cereal, oatmeal, jam, etc.)
• Pasta, rice, couscous and other grains
• Condiments (ketchup, mayonnaise, soy sauce, etc.)
• Oils and vinegars
• Desserts and snacks
  
  

Store the small appliances you only use occasionally in a space in the basement, the garage or your food storage room: the juicer, the food processor, the raclette grill, the fondue pot, etc.

Second step: Optimize

Now that your kitchen is decluttered and finally well organized, discover our tools for efficiently preparing delicious meals in it.

Planning tools

• Weekly planner from Les Belles Combines – the best way to keep the week's meals in front of you at all times.
• Downloadable printable for planning meals by the month – perfect for paper lovers 
• Octave meal planner
• Use your own recipes, or any recipe on the web
• Add it to your menu
• Select the number of servings
• Automatically generate a grocery list. The easiest, most efficient way to plan meals. 
  
  

The little independence tip

Even at a young age, your children can start helping to prepare their packed lunch. Take it step by step:

Around ages 5 to 6:

Simply ask them to fill their lunch box themselves with the food you've prepared. To make them even more independent, put the food in clearly labelled bins in the fridge! One bin for meals, one bin for snacks and one for desserts.

Around ages 7 to 8:

Ask them to prepare some parts of their lunch (making a sandwich, cutting up fruit or raw veggies, etc.).

Around ages 9 to 10:

Your children are now ready to prepare their whole lunch, using tools like our lunch box label.

Join the One Room a Month Challenge!

📧 Option 1: The monthly newsletter

Every month, receive straight in your inbox:

• The month's detailed action plan
• Targeted organizing tips
• Tricks to motivate the whole family
  
  

📄 Option 2: The printables

• Monthly guides to slip into your organizing binder
• Checklists and detailed action plans
• Perfect for paper lovers 

📱 Option 3: The Octave app

• Interactive to-do lists
• Integration with your calendar
• Sharing chores as a family

Choose the option that suits you, or combine them for optimal organization!

🚀 Find this article and much more in the Octave app (shared calendar, collaborative task list, meal planner, centralized family info and independence tracking), your number one ally for an organized family life! 📱✨