Did you know that only 36% of Americans cook at home on a daily basis? And as few as 13.7% of them do it because they actually have a passion for cooking.
Yet, despite the fact that many of us now depend on take-out, food delivery services, and pre-made meals purchased at the grocery store, our kitchens are still cluttered.
Whether you cook or not, a clean kitchen makes life better, easier, and more sanitary. And I want to help you do that. Keep reading to learn a few simple tips to forever keep clutter out of your kitchen.
Step One: Define Your Goals
You're already aware your kitchen isn't set up in a way that works for you. The next step is to create goals to help you organize your kitchen so it functions well and looks good.
Goal 1: How do you want to use this space?
Goal 2: How do you want your kitchen to look?
Goal 3: How do you want to feel when you're in your kitchen?
Don't overcomplicate these steps. Just a simple, I want to be able to cook simple meals for myself or my family is a good start. I want to walk into my kitchen and know where to find everything works as a great second goal. Your third goal can be as easy as stating you want to feel calm and in control in your kitchen.
These goals will help you make smarter decisions during the next steps.
Step Two: Clear Out the Clutter
Eliminating clutter is the biggest issue. Without clutter, it's a lot easier to set up a kitchen where you can find and use everything.
It's also easier to keep it clean. Here's how to figure out what to toss versus what to keep:
Do you like it and use it, or need it? Keep it.
Not sure? Put all things idk (I don't know) in a shoebox. Put an expiration date on that shoebox of about 3 months or less. When you need something in there, grab it, use it, and then put it where it belongs in a drawer or cabinet. After the expiration date, donate, toss, or sell all remaining items.
Decluttering Tip: Be realistic about the size of your kitchen and your current lifestyle. If you don't cook often, you don't really need a ton of cooking utensils. And if your kitchen and home are tiny, having enough dinnerware for 20 guests when you can realistically host 2 just takes up precious space you can't afford to lose.
Step Three: Assign a Spot Where Everything Belongs
The easiest way to clear clutter permanently is to give everything you own a home. Designating a spot where it belongs helps you find items quickly when you want to use them. Knowing exactly where it belongs means you're more likely to put things away after use.
Tips for Where to Place Items
Aim to keep items as close to where you use them the most such as:
Storing spices near the stove
Storing heavier items within easy reach to avoid dropping them
Storing pots and pans near or below the oven
Keeping only the items you use daily on your countertop
Storing similar items together - especially foods because who wants to waste precious time looking for snacks because you can't remember where you put them?
You can store items used less frequently further away from where you typically use them if there's no available space nearby.
Step Four: Set Up Boundaries
Creating boundaries helps you keep your kitchen looking great. I'll admit I'm not always perfect about doing this. But I also know that when I adhere to my own rules, I love how my kitchen looks and how I feel being there.
Your goals can help you create rules on how long you'll let a mess stay before you clean it up. It will also help you keep clutter from creeping up again.
Boundary suggestions:
Return items immediately after use
Clean while you cook
Assign every family member a task to help keep the kitchen clean and organized
Communicate rules and expectations with members of the household
A boundary only works if you choose to respect the boundary and yourself. And if they're broken, an agreed-upon consequence can help ensure those boundaries stay intact.
Get Started Today
Organizing a kitchen doesn't have to be complicated. But you may need some additional support to keep yourself motivated.
Change isn't always easy. That's where I can help. Contact me today to learn how I can help support your goals.