Ten ways to improve your cooking space—and your state of mind.

Not only do I subscribe to the cliché, "you are what you eat," I believe that when your surroundings are cluttered and disorganized, your life and frame of mind are often equally disheveled. Not that I keep an immaculate house—just ask my husband. But I notice that when my house is in reasonable order, things seem to go more smoothly in other areas of my life.

With the holidays approaching, we may not get around to overhauling the entire house—let's be realistic. But the kitchen? That's doable.

I'm not alone in thinking that the heart of a family seems to reside in the kitchen. It's the one room everyone in the HAS to go to (other than the bathroom). Often, it's where our best conversations take place. It's where comforting pots of coffee or tea are brewed. For most families, it's where the television and other distractions are not.

Before the holiday ball starts rolling, take a couple of hours to un-clutter your kitchen. You and your holidays may be better and happier for it.

Ten tips for un-cluttering your kitchen