The kitchen is a space that is cherished by so many. Often, it is the gathering place, the meeting place, a place for serious and friendly conversations alike. And of course, it’s the space where we prepare and enjoy family meals. This space is so essential to our homes that it often gets filled with clutter unintentionally.
This week, as we begin decluttering our homes, let’s focus on this essential space so that we can enjoy more family time cooking, eating, and laughing in a kitchen that brings joy and peace, rather than clutter and chaos.
If you have bins for trash, recycling, put away, keep, and donate, now is the time to get them out! There is a lot of opportunity in the kitchen not only for organizing, but also getting rid of things we haven’t used in ages, and putting things we use, but rarely, into places that make more sense.
One of the best places to begin is the dreaded tupperware drawer. This will help you feel accomplished. Toss out any containers that don’t have lids, and any lids that don’t have containers. Often containers will be labeled on the bottom to help you determine whether they can be recycled. This is also a great time to decide whether your tupperware is being stored efficiently. There are many great products out there for organizing lids and containers so they are easily accessible.
Two other simple areas that will have a big impact on your kitchen space are silverware, and drinkware. Take a look to see if there are items that you haven’t used in some time, and decide whether or not they are in good enough shape to donate, or if they simply need to be tossed out. Water bottles and coffee mugs are some of the most space consuming items in the kitchen, but most of us have our “go to” mugs and bottles and we rarely use the others. You can also take a quick look in your silverware drawer and toss or donate any items that don’t match your set. Sometimes silverware accumulates over time from guests and parties we host. If you can, return it, otherwise, toss or donate! This same concept can be applied to dishes, pans, and serving platters.
Next, take a look in your kitchen cabinets. Do you have an effective way of storing dishes, pots and pans, serving platters, and small appliances? It isn’t enjoyable to cook in a kitchen where you have to climb on a ladder to get out the crock pot, or remove heavy dishes to get to that perfect serving platter. Take a step back and think of what you use most, and give those items the best places for storage with easiest access. While you’re looking, is there anything you have duplicates of, or only use once or twice a year? Small kitchen appliances like waffle makers, toaster ovens or other novelty gadgets could be stored in a pantry or closet to save space in the kitchen.
If you have any energy left after all of that, it can be life changing to clean off your counter spaces. Not only is it easier to cook and clean with clear counters, it just feels so incredible to look at a shiny countertop with no clutter. This is easier said than done, especially if your family uses the kitchen for things like homework, office space, or a place for frequently used items such as school folders, mail, car keys, charging stations, etc. After you’ve decluttered other items in your kitchen, maybe you’ve found an extra drawer that could be used for things like mail and school items that are used on a daily basis. You could also look into a storage system for charging phones and hanging car keys. Anything you can remove from the counters in the kitchen will make your space feel more luxurious. Don’t forget about the fridge! Keep the doors clear and only hang magnets and other items neatly on the sides.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone. Decluttering is something people put off because it isn’t just a matter of cleaning up, there are important decisions to be made. Decluttering your whole kitchen in one day is a big job, but it can be done if you have the ability to take the entire day. If not, maybe just choose one project each day for a week. You’ll feel so accomplished and your home will take on a whole new energy! It’s time to take back your kitchen!