Kitchen Declutter | Steps For a Minimalist Kitchen
Declutter Your Kitchen
The kitchen can often be a focal point of your home. Most of us want that space to be a space that we love. To really get a space that you love, consider having a more minimalist kitchen. Start with a good kitchen declutter and then make sure you have all of the essentials.
When your kitchen is clean it can help you feel more at peace in your home. Clutter-free countertops help you have a clutter-free mind.
Decluttering your kitchen can be an ongoing process but starting with a good purge and a minimalist mindset can get you on the right track. After decluttering it will be easier to keep your kitchen tidy.
Small Minimalist Kitchen
Here in a minute, I’m going to give you a few tips for decluttering your kitchen, but first, let’s make sure you are in the right mindset.
I never want to push extreme minimalism. I do not consider myself a minimalist but I do live by many of the principals. For me it’s about staying organized, keeping a thumb on my husband’s tendency to hoard, and only keeping or purchasing what we really need or love.
It’s not about what color your cabinets are painted or about having Pinterest worthy organization in your pantry. It’s about clearing out the clutter and making your life more simple.
I have a bright kitchen with owls on the wall and I have one storage bin in my pantry that isn’t a cardboard box. BUT I have clutter-free countertops (most of the time) and tidying up the kitchen can happen in minutes (if I keep up with the dishes.)
So I’m here to tell you that you can have this too. It requires no money, just a little time and maybe some internal encouragement to let go of items that are clearly just adding to the clutter.
4 Steps to Minimalist Kitchen Organization
Tip 1 – Clear out the refrigerator and pantry.
Get rid of food that is old or that you know you will never end up using. This will also help you know what you have so that you don’t rebuy it at the grocery store. You can also plan meals around the food you currently have.
You can use my free meal planning printables.
Do this on a regular basis. I try to do it each week before I go to the grocery store. Plus, a big clear out at least once a year.
Tip 2 – Go through all of your cabinets and drawers.
- Throw away anything that is broken.
- Donate anything you don’t use.
- Only put back what you truly use.
- Also, a good drawer organizer helps keep things in place and look less messy.
Be ruthless and honest. Don’t hold onto things you haven’t used in a year. I’ve done this thinking, “Oh I’ll just make myself use that a Christmas time.” Christmas came and went and I still didn’t use the pretty bowl.
Just get rid of it! I promise you won’t regret it. If you are still having trouble decluttering you can read my post on Why Decluttering is Hard and How You Can Overcome the Obstacles.
Tip 3 – Clear The Counters
When people walk into your kitchen you want them to see a lot of open space on your counters. More free space, with less clutter, automatically makes a space cleaner.
The ultimate goal is to make room in your cabinets for things that are out on your countertops.
This means decluttering… not just shoving things in your cabinets.
I used to have something on every inch of my countertops. Once I got rid of some things in the cabinets I was able to put my canisters and electric can opener in the cabinets.
This made for more open space, which brings me more peace when looking around my kitchen.
Tip 4 – Find a System For Mail and Other Incoming Clutter
I have a made it a habit to sort through the mail as soon as it comes into the house. First, I throw away the junk and then deal with the rest accordingly.
Then, I have a mail command center hanging on the kitchen wall and this helps a ton.
Lastly, I have a place for papers that need to be filed, and papers that need to be dealt with right away. This keeps all the mail clutter off the counter and table, which is a win in my book.
This silver envelope is hanging on my wall. This is where I keep all of the things that need to be dealt with and recipes I need to keep for a while.
In addition to my mail system, I do have one basket on my kitchen counter where I allow things to be hidden. I use this basket to hide, pens, papers, notebooks, and my planner.
I clean this out regularly and don’t let it become a free for all basket. It is for the items in the kitchen that tend to make the countertop their home. This basket and my mail system are a huge part of how I keep my countertops clutter-free.
I love it when my kitchen is super tidy and clean and hope you can find peace in your kitchen through a kitchen declutter.
If You Need More Help Keeping A Clean Home
This blog is full of resources to help you achieve an enjoyable and comfy place to live in. I love helping others find simple systems and routines that make homemaking easier.
I will always recommend two main things to get you started. Declutter your entire home and start a cleaning routine.
If you want to know more about my cleaning routines. I suggest checking out my free printables library. I have made multiple checklist and printables that you can print out and use to help you build these daily habits. You also get a copy of my Ebook – Simplify Your Life With a Cleaning Routine. This book will help you design your own cleaning routine.
If clutter is your problem, here are two resources that can help you:
- 3-day challenge – Declutter Your Bedroom in 3 Days.
- Declutter Guide – Declutter Your Whole House In Your Own Time
Thanks for stopping by! Come back anytime. 
Read More:
101 Things to Declutter and Get Rid Of Today!
Laundry Room Organization Ideas
Simple Bedroom Organization Ideas
Debbie
May 3, 2018 at 6:55 pmDealing with mail and paper clutter is my greatest challenge. I’m going to try your tips and hopefully keep my countertops clear.
KatiesKottage
May 7, 2018 at 1:57 pmI hope this truly helps! I know you can do it. 🙂
Sarah Althouse
May 2, 2018 at 9:10 amDecluttering always gives me so much peace!
KatiesKottage
May 2, 2018 at 1:15 pmYes it definitely does. Thanks Sarah!
Kristin's Peppermints and Cherries
May 2, 2018 at 8:22 amI have a very small kitchen with not much counter space, so I have to be as organized as possible and use my space wisely! Long counters would be a dream come true, but I work with what I have! 😉
KatiesKottage
May 2, 2018 at 1:14 pmYes! I find decluttering helps me be happy in the space that I have. Even if it’s small. 🙂
Cynthia
May 1, 2018 at 7:21 pmWe live in a small house, and our 10′ x 10′ kitchen collects clutter like crazy! Decluttering is on my list of things to do while my husband is traveling for work–thank you for the tips on how to make it happen!
KatiesKottage
May 2, 2018 at 1:14 pmsmall kitchen here too! I hope you are able to get the decluttering done!
Annette Dattilo
May 1, 2018 at 6:27 pmGreat post. I am the same way. If my kitchen is dirty I feel like the whole house is dirty. Love your mail tips. That is definitely a challenge for me. Thanks for sharing.
KatiesKottage
May 2, 2018 at 1:13 pmYou are welcome! Thanks for reading! 🙂
Sandy
May 1, 2018 at 5:41 pmThis post was perfect timing. We have a serious problem of clutter in our kitchen and other rooms in our home too! These tips have inspired me to get started on something I always leave to the last minute. However it feels sooo good afterwards. Starting with my kitchen with your declutter ideas this weekend!
Sandy
http://chicstylingsblog.com
KatiesKottage
May 2, 2018 at 1:13 pmThanks Sandy! I hope you are able to really get things cleared out. Good luck!
Sharon
May 1, 2018 at 1:54 pmI am an automatic declutterer. If i haven’t used it seen it in a year, it’s gone! When we moved this past year after 25 years in the same house this made it so much more easier. This is a discipline we all need!
KatiesKottage
May 2, 2018 at 1:12 pmDefinitely! It’s so awesome that you naturally have this habit.
Amy @ Orison Orchards
May 1, 2018 at 12:23 pmGetting rid of clutter truly does bring peace! Great tips!
KatiesKottage
May 2, 2018 at 1:12 pmIt really does. Thanks! 🙂
Corey
May 1, 2018 at 10:19 amGreat tips I definitely have too much stuff on my counters. Going to try these.
KatiesKottage
May 2, 2018 at 1:11 pmThanks! I hope it really helps! I love a cleared off counter top.
Beth Eaton
May 1, 2018 at 9:18 amOur kitchen it so close to the front of our home and it seems to be a catch all. I feel like I am constantly trying to declutter! It is the hub of young boys hanging out at our house though – so I embrace the chaos now. Someday it won’t be there and I’ll miss it
KatiesKottage
May 2, 2018 at 1:11 pmYes, sometimes you can just embrace it. 🙂 If it doesn’t drive you nuts, then don’t worry about it. 🙂
Vanessa / FashionAveMom
May 1, 2018 at 8:42 amPerfect read! Planning our big move and this was perfect tips thank you!
KatiesKottage
May 2, 2018 at 1:10 pmThank you! So glad it came at the right time!
Andrea
May 1, 2018 at 8:26 amI am in serious need of a kitchen declutter. Thanks for the easy steps!
KatiesKottage
May 2, 2018 at 1:10 pmof course! Hope it really helps!
Katie | Hospitable Homemaker
April 14, 2018 at 8:33 pmGood thoughts!! I need to do every one of these!
KatiesKottage
April 15, 2018 at 2:41 pmThey definitely help!
Karla Cruzado | The Wise Lark
April 12, 2018 at 10:17 pmYour tips are simple yet practical. Thank you for this! <3 I'd love to have peace in my kitchen!
KatiesKottage
April 13, 2018 at 5:10 pmThanks Karla! I like to keep things simple so I appreciate that kind statement.
Kiss Like a Girl
April 12, 2018 at 11:58 amThanks for these tips. I was just thinking I need to do something about my kitchen clutter, it’s small so that seems to make it so much more challenging.
KatiesKottage
April 13, 2018 at 5:09 pmI know exactly what you mean. I have a small kitchen too so it’s a must that I keep the clutter to a minimum. I also probably have less gadgets than others.
Sara
April 12, 2018 at 10:12 amI would love clutter free worktops but I have not enough cupboards and only a small area of worktop It is my dream to have a bigger kitchen with more cupboards so everything can be hidden
Deborah Hunter Kells
April 12, 2018 at 9:55 amI’ve got an inbox for the paper clutter – before sorting.. Clutter free is the aim with the kitchen benchtops. Ah ! bliss
KatiesKottage
April 12, 2018 at 10:00 amYes! I loved clutter free counter tops!
Stephanie
April 12, 2018 at 9:07 amMail! Why on earth does it always end up in the kitchen??? I bought a paper sorter for my office but I think I am going to keep it in the kitchen to hide the clutter that ends up accumulating in there.
Jen
April 12, 2018 at 8:04 amI just did a clean-out of my refrigerator and freezer and it is so oddly liberating! lol. Now I need to figure out a system for those piles of papers that stack up on the island.
KatiesKottage
April 12, 2018 at 9:59 amIt’s it! I have the same problem with the papers on the counter. I’ve gotten so much better at it but it still happens from time to time.
Sarah Althouse
April 12, 2018 at 7:38 amI love when my kitchen is tidy and clean too and always try to keep the countertops as clutter free as possible.
KatiesKottage
April 12, 2018 at 10:01 amThe kitchen is so much more enjoyable this way. Thanks Sarah!