It’s probably the room that you spend the most time in; after all, the kitchen is the heart of every home. But with all the cooking and socialising, it’s easy to let it descend into a cluttered mess, littered with cooking utensils, magazines and that masterpiece by your five-year-old that’s slipped down the side of the fridge.

A de-cluttered kitchen is about more than kitchen storage but it’s a good start. This can mean anything from the simple, such as recycling your old jars for a simple and homely look, to the more complex, like investing in a new compartmentalised storage system.

One of the biggest causes of chaotic kitchens is cluttered kitchen tables given how easy it is to throw down any old rubbish on them each time we walk through the door. Take a look at your kitchen table now and have a think about what exactly you need and what can be stored elsewhere or simply thrown away.

Put mail in a draw or wall rack, buy a cheap folder to file away all those takeaway menus and find yourself a nice magazine rack to get rid of that mountain of newspapers.

One thing you must be is ruthless, think about all your kitchen gadgets and ask yourself whether you actually use them and if you don’t, whether you need them. A lot of cooking appliances can now fill more than one role, so why have numerous pieces of equipment when you can invest in one? Grills, mini ovens and microwaves are all excellent space-saving options, helping you to get rid of all that unnecessary technology.

One great way of managing a large kitchen is to arrange it by activity. So, if you do a lot of baking, then store your mixing bowls, cake tins, measuring spoons and ingredients all next to your food processor.

The same goes for cooking, try and organise your kitchen so your pots and pans, knives, chopping boards and herbs are all in the same section. Your serving utensils, cutlery and other kitchen essentials like foil and sandwich bags can be stored using a similar system too.

Shelving is a cheap and easy way to brighten up your kitchen while adding an extra storage option for all your utensils. You can hang up your pots and pans, freeing up cupboard space and giving your kitchen a rustic farmhouse feel.

You could even buy a vintage cookbook stand to keep sticky fingers away from your favourite recipes, or invest in a magnetic wall plate for a minimalist approach to knife storage.

There are also some great gadgets such as magnetic bottle openers for your fridge door, a carrier bag dispenser to clear that cluttered cupboard and wipe clean white boards for all those ‘buy milk’ reminders.

It may seem like a daunting task, but de-cluttering your kitchen is the ideal way to get the most out of the most used room in your house. Just remember to be ruthless in your decisions; there is no room for sentiment when tackling kitchen confusion.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money, but invest in some storage solutions before attempting your kitchen crackdown and you will find the whole process quicker and easier.

It will breathe new life into your kitchen and not only will you be de-cluttered but de-stressed too, so snap on those rubber gloves, grab a roll of bin bags and get started – you won’t regret it!