When my daughter moved out of the house for the first time, my husband acquired some second hand items to help her stock her first kitchen. You know, the usual bowls and dishes and silverware and what not that one needs to settle into their first place.

So I get this email from her asking where the silverware is supposed to go. Next to the dishwasher or next to the fridge? And what about the dishes? Next to the sink or in the cabinet near the oven?

Are these questions just personal preference, or is there some greater rules we should all be living by?

Let's start with the silverware. For sheer ease of putting things away, putting the silver in an upper drawer near the dishwasher and sink seems to make the most sense. If you choose to store it in a nearby kitchen island, you'll have to twist around to put it away. Maybe that matters to you, maybe it doesn't.

Next set to tackle are the dishes. If you have the space, one cabinet for glassware and one for dishware and bowls. Keep them in an upper cabinet near the dishwasher and sink. Think about how many steps you'll need to take as you put them away and multiply that. If you have every day dishes and special dishes, store the special dishes in a cabinet where they are more out of the way from everyday life and less likely to be broken when regular dishes are accessed.

One new option is to store your dishes in drawers. Specialized drawers with inserts that help to hold your dishes and keep them from banging around when the drawer is opened and closed is highly recommended. What a great way to get the kids to help put the dishes away and set the table though! Put the dishes within their reach and utilize their helpful little hands.

What about that odd little cabinet that's over the fridge? It's sort of hard to reach, but you don't want to waste the space either. It's the perfect spot for oversized items that get in the way stored in other places. The ice cream maker may find it's home there, or some oversized bowls. Any bulky item that isn't used much is a good fit for this space.

Pull out spice cabinet for custom kitchen cabinets

Spice storage is another fun one. There are many options now including little racks and pull out shelving that's make just for spices. Keeping them cool and out of light will help them to last longer.

Pots and pans should be stored near the oven, where they will be used. Utilize roll out shelves if possible, for easy access to the back of your kitchen cupboards. Consider storing pot lids in a separate drawer for easier access. Some kitchens have room to hang pot and pans from a ceiling rack, and that's always an option, especially if you have high end cookware that looks great hanging up. Maybe not so much for that 15 year old non-stick pan that's on it's last legs. Or am I the only one hanging on to one of those?

Things like casserole dishes and small appliances go in lower cabinets. Again, if you have pull out shelves, it really makes accessing them so much easier, especially for heavier items in the back. Instead of having to clear out everything in front, you can simply extend the shelf and have direct access.

Food that doesn't need refrigeration goes in the pantry. Everything in one cupboard makes it easier to find the food you're looking for. Separate items in your pantry by like type. If you like to bake, you may find it handy to keep all your baking supplies on one shelf.

If you find a home for everything in your kitchen, it makes putting things away so much faster and easier and you won't need to hunt things down when you're ready to use them. A little bit of kitchen organization makes things better.