Pullout shelves make pots and pans easy to locate and access. RELATED LINKS Planning a New Kitchen Kitchen Remodeling Tips

At one time or another, most of us have sensed that there must be a better way to organize our kitchens. Maybe the realization came when you were running around looking for a clean potholder while something burned in the oven, or when you had to dig through a pile of cake pans to find the lid to your stockpot. Well, thanks to the study of ergonomics, which tries to find more efficient ways for people to interact with environments, you can put and end to annoying and time-consuming kitchen clutter.

With a degree in home economics and a long career as a schoolteacher, Jane Crump brings her no nonsense expertise to kitchen ergonomics and efficiency in the household. As overseer of Viking Range Corporation’s marketing and publicity Department, she acts as liaison between advertising agencies and the media and also helps plan special events. Here she offers a few key tips for organizing the kitchen:

• Point of first use. An important factor to consider when organizing your kitchen is the "point of first use" rule. This rule states that you should keep something stored near where you will likely use it first.

• Store nearby. So, going along with this rule, you should store dinnerware and flatware near where you meals will be served, like in a cabinet near the dinner table. Saucepans, pots and cookware, on the other hand, should be stored near the range or cook top.

• Accessible and visible. Accessibility and easy visibility are key considerations. A pot rack is a good option for accessing pots and pans quickly. If you don’t like the look of a rack, pullout shelves next to the oven are also a good choice. Both options eliminate the need to get down on your knees digging in a deep cabinet for the pot or pan you want.

• Quick and easy. Organizing your kitchen isn’t a terribly complicated process, you simply think of where you are likely to use an item and store it near that spot. Once you do, everything will be within reach and you’ll find that cooking is a far more pleasant, and less time-consuming, experience.