Kitchen Clutter

The kitchen is the heart of the home and do you want your kitchen to be on the verge of cardiac arrest?! NO! I have a lot to say about organizing your kitchen so let’s get started! Side note: I’m going to leave food organization for another day- too much to cover at once!

Gadgets

As most of you know, I’m a professional designer of custom closets so I speak from experience with these tips as I’ve seen a wide variety of homes and situations and I understand what the average home is working with. When it comes to kitchens, pantries are never big enough, cabinets are always full, and we could always use another drawer. Why? Because we fill what we have. What takes up the most space in kitchens? Small appliances that to be frank, aren’t used often. We all have a favorite: InstaPot or slow cooker are the most common choices. There’s nothing you can do with a small appliance that you can’t do with a stove, microwave, oven, or toaster. Fine, keep the blender.

•Remove large and minimally-used small appliances from your precious storage space.

•Get rid of gadgets that are rarely used.

•Don’t invest in tools that won’t be used weekly.

•If Grandma got by without it, consider letting it go.

Food Storage

Storage containers are my worst enemy. I HATE that none of them match and there’s never an equal number of lids-to-containers; but, if you’re trying to save the environment, they’re a necessity. I almost-never use plastic zippered-bags anymore so I’ve found some containers that I can tolerate. The bottom clear and blue ones are from IKEA and I love that they come in a larger rectangle size or smaller square size and different depths and material (plastic or glass). The BPA-free plastic is great for freezing leftovers and the glass washes so well. The smaller teal containers are great for snacks for Tooties and fit well in his lunchbox. At the end of the day, I think we can get by with a few size options and these have fit all of our needs!

•Invest in containers that stack well together.

•Consider glass containers if you like to heat your food up in them.

•Toss anything that’s mis-matching.

Drawers

Kitchen drawers fill up quickly with silverware, kids food gear, Ziplocks and Clingwrap, junk, and tools. When it comes to kitchen tools (think spatulas, whisks, pizza cutter, ladle), my motto is, “If my great-grandma didn’t have it, then I don’t need it.” She was able to make a Thanksgiving feast with bowls and forks and spoons and a spatula so I need to chill-out when I’m at Home Goods. A butcherblocks-worth of knives, silverware (my son uses adult silverware because that’s practical and economical), and a small variety of basic tools should get the job done and maybe even free-up an entire drawer! Keep reusable straws to a minimum too.

•Remove anything that doesn’t belong or match.

•Downsize on straw quantities.

•Store fancy silverware elsewhere.

Cabinets

Again with the minimalism- scale back to what you use regularly. A complete set of glassware, maybe some wine glasses, dishes, baking necessities, etc. One set of dishes is all you need. Notice how I said the N word. If you choose to have a fancy set for holidays, maybe that gets stored elsewhere. I chose to use Corelle dishes because they’re “unbreakable”, dishwasher safe, and can be used in an oven. My son did manage to shatter 3 dishes on a tile floor over the course of a year but I would much rather that than investing in plastic plates that I don’t want to heat up for fear of giving him cancer!

•Try to narrow your dishes down to one style.

•If investing in new dishes, consider plate and bowl size, durability with use in oven and dishwasher, and ability to replace pieces if needed.

•Store seasonal dishes and cookware in attic, basement, etc. so they don’t clutter your daily space.

Kids Gear

Kids do not need a TON of special gear for eating. Of course babies need bottles, a bottle brush, and a sterilizer. Toddlers need sippy-cups. Most other kid-focused feeding ear is unnecessary. Remember: at a restaurant and as they grow older, they’re going to have to use adult things so why not transition them earlier and save the investment and clutter of everything that comes in between?!

•Purge things that the kids have outgrown or that’s mismatching.

Countertops

Less is more. If you use a small appliance daily (coffee maker, toaster oven...) then consider leaving that on your counter. Keeping countertops clean is a huge battle because they become a dumping ground for mail, lunchboxes, purchases, etc. It takes a daily effort to keep that from happening. Let your countertop be a place of transition, not a place of rest, for the odds and ends. I have drying mats that I use for my hand-washed dishes to dry on and as soon as the dishes are dry, I put them away and put my mats away. It takes discipline but it truly minimizes anxieties!

•Clear countertops of mail and projects daily.

•Put purchases away as soon as you get home. If you loved it enough to need it, love it enough to put it away and use it.

Sink

Here’s a challenge for you: go to bed with clean dishes. Throw dishes in the dishwasher, wash the pots and pans, wash the Tupperware from lunch, and wake up to a clean kitchen. I can’t start cooking something if I have dirty dishes sitting by my sink because I know I’m going to add to that and won’t have enough room for everything to dry or sit! Find a routine that works for you!

•Keep dirty dish pile to a minimum by consistently loading dishwasher and keeping up with hand-washed dishes.

Aside from being the heart of your home, your kitchen is the place where the most work is done and time is spent. You need it to be organized, have the things you use regularly, and have space to work. Take a step back and really evaluate what gets used 90% of the time and then get rid of or find a place to store everything else. Don’t feel like you have to do the entire space at once. Start with one drawer or cabinet!

Please share what works for you or any before and after photos! I love seeing progress!