The kitchen is one of the most-used rooms in the home. It’s not called the heart of the home for nothing… problem is even the cleanest of kitchens can quickly become disorganized.

1. Keep your counters minimal. Counters are a magnet for just about anything: car keys, sunglasses, cell phone chargers, junk mail—it’s a wonder we even have room to cook. Instead of treating your kitchen counters like a storage area, designate a drawer for stashing random personal items. Here’s the key: Follow through by putting items there. When everything has a place, there’s less clutter.

2. Store items by frequency of use. Each shelf in your cabinet should mimic a stoplight: green, yellow, red. The bottom (green) is for the everyday things you reach for constantly, like cereal bowls and plates; the middle shelves (yellow) are for items you use less often, like mixing bowls; the top shelf (red) is reserved for the specialty pieces you only need once in a while (here’s looking at you, ceramic cake stand). Follow this stoplight method for each of your cabinets and you’ll be not only organized but extremely efficient.

3. Take advantage of vertical space. When examining your kitchen from a spatial perspective, a lot is happening. You’ve got your countertops, cabinets, appliances and sink. But what about the areas above and below those central items? Hello unused space. Vertical storage is key to getting more room to keep the essentials conveniently within reach. Place a slim bookshelf at the end one counter and fill it with things you use often, such as spices, pasta or dry snacks. Making use of floating shelves is also excellent,

4. Put pretty ingredients on display. Food is beautiful. From the perfect spirals of rotini pasta to rich brown coffee beans, these staples don’t need to be shoved into the back of your pantry. Put them on display in clear, space-efficient containers to show off their beauty. Of course, don’t go overboard and clutter your shelves and counters (remember what I said earlier?) with containers of food, but pick a few things you love & look pretty and keep them within reach.

5. Don’t collect mismatched storage containers. You know that plastic wave that comes crashing down on you every time you open the cabinet? Don’t enable it. Instead, clear out your pantry, recycle as needed and commit to a food storage system that’s smart and organized. Do an edit once a month.