1. Change your dumping ground mentality
Whether you have a family or not, the kitchen can quickly become a dumping ground for lunchboxes, car keys, paperwork and many other miscellaneous items. So, apart from the usual paraphernalia in the kitchen, there’s lots more additional clutter that’s added daily. And if, like me, there isn’t a clear place to keep certain items, they get left on the side for several weeks. The top of my bread box is my favorite place to stash bits and pieces, although for others, it might be the refrigerator or a dining table.
2. Tackle your work surfaces
It would be naive to think a kitchen can always look immaculate. Unless you rely on take-outs and rarely cook, the kitchen is a working room that often doubles as a social space. Be realistic about how much clutter you can clear from your countertops, without turning your kitchen into an impractical space that resembles a show home.
3. Don’t waste the floor space
We don’t often think about the floor space when it comes to clutter in a kitchen, but this is one area that can interrupt a clear sight line, just like the surfaces. One of the most common items on the floor in a kitchen is a waste bin. While you can buy some stylish designs that provide a degree of eye candy, if you’re going for a minimalist approach, you’re best off attaching a waste bin to a cupboard below your sink and drainer. Whether this is an option when you buy a new kitchen or attach one after the event, it will help keep your floor clutter free.
4. Cut down on your equipment
How many spatulas and food tongs do you own? Have you got more pots and pans than you know what to do with? Have a serious cull of your cooking equipment and keep the best of the best. No one has ever needed two cheese graters. And while you’re sorting through your equipment, also check your baking tins. I’ve recently ploughed through my piles of bakeware that were clattering down on me every time I opened the cupboard. And although I love a good individual Yorkshire pudding, I didn’t need three tins for the job.
5. Check your crockery for cracks
Just as with cooking equipment, there’s no need to keep extra place settings when all you need is enough to see you through a day. So, swipe out those extra plates and dishes that you keep hold of ‘just in case’. And chuck out anything cracked — chipped dishes are unhygienic and shouldn’t be used. Don’t forget to check through your mug and glass cupboard. In here, you’ll probably find a multitude of sins, from mismatched mugs to those given away as freebies. Ditch what you don’t need and clear that clutter.
6. Clutter-free cutlery
The cutlery drawer is one place that can become cluttered as knives, forks and spoons of different shapes and sizes are cast away into one big muddle, so you can never find what you need or know how much of anything you have. Start by holding on to what you need and clearing out the rest. I keep one small and large knife and fork set for each person, plus a dessert and teaspoon. It’s also helpful to keep a couple of extra sets for guests. A drawer organizer is a must to help sort out your cutlery. Try this Simple Houseware expandable drawer organizer ($19 from Amazon) as a way of taming your cutlery.
7. Organise your pantry
One sure way of achieving a minimalist kitchen is to clear out your pantry and only buy what you need. It will also save you from overbuying and storing food unnecessarily, which may go out of date. Also, if you are within easy reach of a grocery store, there’s no need to hoard ten tins of your favourite tinned tomatoes. They’ll still be there when you go back next week.