The kitchen is much more than just another room in the house – it's the centre, the collective gathering place that gives your home its soul. 

Whether you're in the market for a new home or want to renovate your existing kitchen, it's important to find a design you really like. One of the smartest trends in kitchens today is the open, airy design that feels welcoming and spacious. But in order to make the best use of this space, its inner workings need to be extremely functional.

You can add useful design elements which will certainly help, but the true key to a functional kitchen is to keep it clutter-free! Here are our suggestions for how to make this happen. 

Bigger Sinks

One of the hottest trends in kitchen remodelling is the deep double sink with lots of room to wash even your biggest pots and pans. Be sure to pair it with a flexible hose/sprayer attachment (sometimes called a "pre-rinser") to clean with ease. 

Professional Range

Beyond just a clean-looking hood/ventilation system, another great idea is to install a wall-mounted faucet attachment so you can easily fill deep pots with water while cooking. 

As for the stove top, look for one with a sleek, modern finish such as brushed stainless steel rather than the more old-fashioned enamel styles. And make sure your hood actually ventilates to the outside instead of just blowing air through a filter. 

Cabinet Abundance

Cabinets, pantries, and hutches with doors are a great way to keep bulky items and unsightly gadgets tucked away when not in use. Be sure to include enough shelves that are wide and deep enough to store your biggest appliances and pots so you don't have to cram them in somewhere underneath the sink. 

Drawer Organizers

After investing in attractive drawers and carefully choosing the right handle, nothing will spoil your peace of mind faster than a messy drawer. Instead of hunting through piles of objects that slide around, invest in some drawer dividers that will keep everything organized and easy to find. 

Overhead Lights

A fluorescent "bar" style light or a single overhead bulb can make even the most beautifully designed kitchen look washed out or grimy. Invest in a series of overhead lights, including angled/recessed spotlights, to make your kitchen look clean and attractive. 

Make Space on the Countertops

Whenever possible, try and find another place to store or mount items that previously took up space on the counter. Consider mounting a microwave above your stove or mounting your spice rack on the wall. Not only will this help keep your kitchen tidy, but it'll ensure these items are always easily accessible. 

Tips For Keeping Your Kitchen Clutter Free

In some homes, that sparkling, clutter-free kitchen will look like a tornado has passed through within a few days or weeks. In order to continue to get peace and contentment from your kitchen, follow these handy tips:

• Keep counter tops clear. Your counter tops are going to be the busiest areas of the kitchen which is exactly why it's so important to clear them at the end of each day. If you've been using your counter tops as a place to store mail, keys, catalogues, or other non-kitchen items, it's time to find a more appropriate place. Be sure to tidy up all your dishes at the end of the day as well.
• Cabinets are your friend. If your kitchen has a lot of open shelving, it's definitely worth it to upgrade to cabinets and hutches that have doors. Whatever is behind closed doors presents a neat, clear appearance.
• Set a limit on items. Many kitchens start off looking orderly and trim but soon grow overstuffed and cluttered with all the new home kitchen essentials. Make a vow to never add anything new to your kitchen without first removing something else so the clutter doesn't start taking over.
• Keep things in their place. It can be tempting to leave an appliance like a juice machine or toaster out when you're done using it, but try to resist! Whenever you're done with something, immediately put it back where it belongs.
• Practice refrigerator etiquette. Many otherwise clutter-free kitchens have a refrigerator absolutely covered with notes, artwork, souvenir magnets,
• and other stuff. Find a more appropriate place for these items, such as on a corkboard mounted in your walk-in pantry. Your kitchen will look a lot sleeker and cleaner.
• No piles allowed. Whether it's bowls, cups, and saucers or bigger items like appliances and accessories, piles of stuff look very unattractive. Sort through what you need and find a way to store it without piling different things on top of one another. 
• Keep up with daily upkeep. If it helps to pretend your kitchen is in a working restaurant and it needs tidying up every day, do so. Create your own ultimate cleaning list and post it somewhere visible. This will prompt you to leave your kitchen clean and organized before bedtime – you'll be glad you did come morning.
• Invest in the right equipment. Whether it's magnetic boards to store and organize your knives or wall hooks to hang your pots and pans, invest in the right equipment. Grandma had the right idea – a place for everything and everything in its place. 
• Allow for one messy drawer. Every kitchen has assorted odds and ends that never seem to find a dedicated space. Give yourself permission to have one messy drawer where you can store batteries, zip ties, gloves, and other miscellaneous items, but only one.

Pinterest has many good ideas to get you started. Take your time and make your design decisions based on what's right for the kitchen space you have. With a little dedication, you'll soon feel great whenever you walk into your clean, neat, and clutter-free kitchen.

Have you caught the declutter bug? Great! Keep it up and say goodbye to clutter in the bedroom next. Stay tuned for more helpful guides to a clutter-free home. 

Photo credits: drawer, utensils, storage