A minimalist kitchen mindset allows for optimizing space, regardless of the dimensions of your kitchen. To create a minimalist kitchen, assess your current space, identify your essentials, declutter and simplify, and buy multi-purpose items. These tips will help you create and maintain a more simplified kitchen.
To create a functional, beautiful kitchen, follow these three principles: cull your cooking equipment, cull your dishes, cull your pots and pans, cull your knives, and clean up your space. This means fewer dishes to wash, less deep cleaning, and less clutter.
Organize your small kitchen by keeping counters clear, using drawer dividers, revolving shelves, and baskets to create more space inside cabinets. With little space, it’s recommended to own less to provide more breathing space.
Let more air and sunlight in, go for a light color scheme, get organized, keep countertops clear, and focus on eatable herbs. By following these tips, you can create a minimalist kitchen that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Personalize your kitchen to fit your preferences and lifestyle, and enjoy the process of creating a minimalist kitchen.
📹 15 Things Your Kitchen Doesn’t Need
If you declutter your kitchen it will be easier to keep clean and tidy AND you’ll probably find that you enjoy cooking more and eat …
How do I make my kitchen look minimalist?
Minimalist design is a popular trend in home decor, focusing on simplifying lifestyles and making spaces more functional. This design style can be particularly beneficial for kitchens, as they tend to become cluttered and visually appealing. To create a minimalist kitchen, follow these tips:
Get rid of the clutter: Start by getting rid of old magazines and bills by focusing on small appliances, fruit bowls, and decorative pitchers. This will help create a clean and organized space.
Rethink your color scheme: Switch out faucets, knobs, and other unnecessary items. Keep all items in the right spot, hide daily appliances, and dispose of extras.
Keep all items in the right spot: Keep all items in the right spot, hide daily appliances, and dispose of extras. This will make your kitchen more visually appealing and easier to use.
In summary, minimalist design can create a beautiful and interesting kitchen by removing clutter, rethinking color schemes, replacing faucets and knobs, keeping items in the right spot, hiding daily appliances, and discarding extras.
How do I make my kitchen look less cluttered?
To keep kitchen counters clutter-free, follow these daily tasks:
- Give everything a home by placing items away after use, storing items together, and rinsing dishes immediately.
- Incorporate the “two-minute rule” by cleaning appliances, decanting food into stylish containers, and preventing storage from over-spilling.
- Keep appliances clean by putting them away, ensuring they are not left unused, and storing food in stylish containers.
- Avoid over-spilling by storing food in stylish containers and storing food in a cool, dry place.
- Use a ‘two-minute rule’ to clean appliances and decant food into stylish containers.
- Keep storage containers clean and organized by storing food in stylish containers and avoiding over-spilling.
In summary, maintaining a clean kitchen is essential for maintaining a well-organized space. By following these daily tasks, you can create a clutter-free and organized space that enhances the overall appearance of your kitchen.
What is the 20 rule minimalist?
Over the past few years, the couple has been reducing their just-in-case possessions, ensuring they don’t pack anything just in case. They believe that any items we need can be replaced for less than $20 in less than 20 minutes from their current location. This theory has been proven to be true 100 times, with no replacements needed and no longer requiring more than $20 or going more than 20 minutes. This theory is likely applicable to all items and people, including the couple.
The couple hasn’t missed the hundreds of just-in-case items they’ve gotten rid of, and most didn’t need to be replaced. Getting rid of these items clears their minds, frees up space, and takes the weight off their shoulders.
Should kitchen counters be empty?
In order to create a clean, open, and fresh kitchen, it is essential to limit the number of items on the counter to a minimum. In smaller kitchens, it is advisable to maintain a minimalist approach, with items such as coffee makers and knife/spoon containers kept to a decorative minimum. In larger kitchens, however, there is greater scope for more elaborate styling. It is essential to ensure that the space is perceived as clean and open by minimizing the number of items on display on the counter.
How do I declutter my kitchen?
The six-step process to declutter your kitchen includes relocating unnecessary items, noticing physical boundaries, removing duplicates and little-used items, giving each item a proper home, clearing the counters, and purging the pantry. A clean, uncluttered kitchen sets the tone and culture for the home, promotes calm and order, and saves time. However, it can be challenging to keep uncluttered due to various reasons, such as the need for storage, organization, and time management.
How to make a kitchen look less cluttered?
To keep kitchen counters clutter-free for a minimalist look, remove everything from them, declutter and organize, and find a place for everything. Create extra storage if needed, and ensure appliances don’t belong on countertops. Add a few decorations to create a spacious feel and minimal look.
Kitchens are hard-working rooms, and they attract various items, making countertops a clutter magnet. Countertops can become so busy that they get in the way of cooking and cleaning, making the kitchen look like a cluttered mess. Not only do unrelated items like appliances, bowls, and dishes end up on the counter, but even a small amount can take away from creating a calm and tidy space.
Cleaning your kitchen counters will not only make the space feel more spacious but also make it easier to maintain a clean and organized look. Even a small amount of clutter can take away from creating a calm and tidy space. Once you clear your kitchen counters, you won’t look back, as it’s hard not to fall in love with the spacious feel and minimal look that comes with a clutter-free kitchen.
What is the 90 90 rule for minimalism?
The 90/90 rule, as devised by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus of The Minimalists, represents a systematic approach to decluttering. It entails posing two questions about each object: first, whether it has been utilized within the past 90 days; and second, whether it is likely to be utilized within the next 90 days. This rule is particularly useful in instances where JavaScript is disabled or blocked by an extension.
How many dishes does a minimalist need?
For a minimalist who prefers hosting small groups, invest in a set of 4 to 6 matching plates and bowls with clean, sleek, and timeless designs. Choose soft, solid-toned plates and botanical prints for a fresh look. Ensure a proper cabinet or shelf for all curated ware. For appetizers and salads, consider a small plate and a few large dinner plates. Consider modern round placemats without runners. Invest in smart glasses, dishwasher-safe for water and wine, and chunky, stemless modern-style ones to reduce breakage.
Lastly, invest in serving platters and bowls in different sizes that can serve multiple purposes. A wooden cutting board can be used for serving vegetables, while a pretty linen napkin can be used for serving bread. Investing in these items can help declutter your kitchen and make your dining experience more enjoyable.
What is the 30 day rule for minimalism?
The 30/30 Rule is a personal strategy that involves a 30-day period of reflection before making a purchase of more than $30. This period allows individuals to assess the value of the item in question in their personal context. This additional period of time allows for a more informed decision regarding the potential benefits of the new item in question and its ability to enhance the individual’s circumstances.
If the purchase is made, the consumer will experience a sense of satisfaction, as they will have made the decision deliberately, rather than in haste. This method enables the individual to evaluate the value of a new item.
How do I make my kitchen ADHD friendly?
To create an ADHD-friendly kitchen, focus on organizing items to make them easy to find, access, and put away quickly. Avoid stacking too many items or placing frequently used items in hard-to-reach areas to avoid overcrowding and over-nesting. Use an expandable tiered shelf for spices and canned food, and find simpler ways to store items unless they are rarely used.
Store items vertically to make them easier to access and store. Consider using a wire rack in the cabinet above your refrigerator to store items that are easier to access and take up less space. By implementing these tips, you can create a more organized and ADHD-friendly kitchen.
📹 The Secret To Keeping Your Kitchen Counter Clutterfree For Good
You don’t need to live with a cluttered kitchen countertop. The solution to your kitchen’s countertop organization is simpler than …
Thank you so much for perusal! I’d love to know what you’ve declutter and don’t miss in your kitchen! And here are the links mentioned in this article: My Plaid Shirt: amzn.to/3s4EIrY Dansko House Shoes: amzn.to/46QFGqE Drawer Knife Block: amzn.to/3QkK63v Knife Magnet: amzn.to/3S14msk Bamboo Drawer Dividers: amzn.to/3S3vXJr Dish Clothes: amzn.to/401EH4D Slide Out Cutting Board & Baking Sheet Rack: amzn.to/3rVrkGJ
I think this works for people that don’t entertain and have large parties. I could never have one spatula and one spoon. Many times i am cooking on all 5 burners of my stove at one time. We are having 34 family members for lunch on Sunday. I have many sets of dishes and glassware. They all have a place, my cabinets are not cluttered looking.
Wow. I LOVE my knife block. I’ve had it since I was in my twenties! I’m sixty now. Yes, I need duplicates of many things. I do a LOT of cooking and don’t like to re-use tools in multiple dishes. You and I are very different I think. I agree with SOME of what you say, but don’t mess with my kitchen 😛 My items are serving me. I’ve “decluttered” everything I DON’T use, but I LOVE my kitchen.
I will NEVER give up my anti-fatigue mat! Rugs, yes, they can go. But I have the greatest anti-fatigue mat ever – the brand is “wellnessmats” and it is WONDERFUL! It doesn’t roll or slip, and it feels so cushiony under your feet. It’s a true lifesaver for someone with joint issues, and worth every penny, even though they are pricey!
Since coming across your website and Cas’ 4 months ago my life has changed. Our home is now decluttered and organised and more peaceful. Still a ways to go and I try to do a little bit more each time I watch your articles, today I will be having a sweep through the kitchen. Unfortunately my husband is not quite on the same page as me and he believes there will be nothing left in the house by Christmas!! 🙂 Love from Perth, Australia
Last week I finally put all the “Tupperware” in the cabinet with the lids on and my husband was amazed. He thought it was a great idea! 🤩I’ve been purging random things throughout the house (like 12 sets of full size sheets and 2 trash bags full of towels, all of which went to a dog rescue) and he’s starting to join the party without me nagging! Thank you for sharing your tips and tricks!💌💯
I have decluttered my kitchen to the point that I only keep things I need. HOWEVER, I have chosen to keep my utensils and oil/S&P on either side of my stove. Ours is a working kitchen and my husband and I make use of these items several times a day. They are beautiful and functional decor, plus, they make me happy to see! Otherwise, we do keep a clean and decluttered kitchen.
I do have a splurge in my kitchen. Holiday towels! I don’t decorate that much anymore, but I do love a pretty dish towel for the season. Afterwards I put it in the bin for that holiday, so my towels don’t get pushed into a empty space…I live for the empty or slightly filled space!!! THANK U SO MUCH!!!
I have almost completely decluttered my kitchen, & I’m actually kind of enjoying being in there to cook & clean. I’ve even started baking my own bread, which I’ve never had any desire to do before I started to declutter. My weird, old kitchen is now much more functional & while it still needs work, I don’t hate it anymore.
“…that tacky knife block…” I love my “tacky” knife block, I cook a lot, and having to open the drawer every time I need a knife would just take more time. I love to be organised and keep clutter pared down, but I also don’t mind my kitchen looking like people live here rather than like a magazine spread. 🙄
Age and disability create their own rules for clutter. For most people the kitchen rugs, anti-fatigue mats etc may not be necessary, but they are 100% a necessity for us. They keep our elderly dogs from slipping on the floor (which would have potentially devastating consequences) and – given my husband wears a size 16 4e shoe – are much cheaper and easier to find.
I donated 2 medium :_Declutter::_Declutter:consisting of tablecloths, placemats and dish towels! Like 27 in total. Cleared a whole shelf in the linen closet. Then organized the remaining (which can be narrowed down more) into large tablecloths, small tablecloths and placemats. So simple now to find what I want instead of digging through the big pile. Feels so good to open the closet and see space! Thank you Dawn😊
My Mom turned 90! last Sept and for her, the anti fatigue mat isn’t a ‘want’ – it’s a necessity! But I hear you! I’m going through my kitchen cabinets AGAIN. I now have one cabinet this is EMPTY! and one cabinet that is only half full (maybe a little less than half!) My small appliances are down to what we use on a regular basis! I’ve got my eye on a LARGE (this Jammerril Stewart large lol!) casserole dish that is now too large for my family. Hmmmm….. I use my Instant Pot weekly – if not more! So mine stays!
YUS! I agree with pretty much everything Dawn suggests in this article. But I do have a set of 12 plates, glasses and cutlery, as we have a large family 😃 Everything else is really pared down, no extras, no single-use gadgets, and nothing that we don’t use regularly. Almost everything is off the counter. It feels GREAT. I love not having to constantly figure out what to do with all the stuff in my kitchen.
#18. Don’t go to Pampered Chef parties. Overpriced stuff that you can get elsewhere for a fraction of the price. We remodeled our kitchen this summer and I got rid of so many duplicates. It was my goal to have way less on my countertops after the remodel, it made such a difference! I even gave up my Keurig, I’m making coffee in something I can put away when I’m done.
My husband found it amazing the beginning of this month when I purge my entire house (I do a whole house purge twice a year, I go through EVERY thing) and he found it amazing I would just take a decoration piece off the bookshelf and just toss it. When he asked me why I did that I simply said I’m tired of cleaning it! 😂 I have zero guilt getting rid of stuff, I don’t have attachments to things however I dont consider myself a minimalist. I’m more of a practicalist. I like clean lines, I like organization but do I have lots of stuff…yes, everything has a place though and when it doesn’t any longer out the door it goes
I had that pampered chef chopper for years and did not use it but every once in a while, so I decluttered it. Now I want to chop pecans and that would be the perfect thing, so I have been a bit annoyed I did not have it. Now you reminded me how hard it is to clean even with the dishwasher so I am happy I let it go.
I think that keeping things that are meaningful and useful at times but perhaps not everyday are as important as having empty cabinets, drawers and counters. In my kitchen a stack of 5 bowls takes up the same space as 3 bowls. We are all different and that is good. Miss seeing you and Tom with house projects.
As a previous Home Health Executive, we used to do a Fall Prevention class and one of the first things I would go over was removing all rugs. It’s a major fall hazard. Now that I’m a little older and have a bad back and hip, I would not want to fall over a rug and risk being in more pain Thank you for sharing!
Keeping the lids on the storage containers is the BEST! Those darn things were always a mess, even to the point of rolling out of the cupboard! 😂🤣 That and I want to thank Dawn for introducing me to two things I didn’t know existed, but now I can’t live without, the stretchy drawer dividers and the in-drawer knife block. I just ditched the rug in the sink area, and honestly, life is much easier without it!
I’ve decluttered my kitchen a couple of times and it feels so much better! It’s a little ironic that your article today was on kitchens, as we just got back from vacation with extended family who spent an additional night at my house before making the last leg of the trip to their homes. The kitchen became slightly untidy, but as I didn’t feel good, I let it go and thought I’ll get it tomorrow. Long story short, it’s been 3 days now, and my kitchen is a little out of control. I know it will take about 10 minutes to pull it all back together, but as it gets messy it makes me want to run the other direction! Haha. This was a good reminder to take the 10 minutes to reset the kitchen so that the whole house feels so much better! 🙂
Dear Dawn, I cannot tell you enough times, just how much I love your content and how happy I am, every time, you upload a new article 🙂 I started my minimalism journey with you and two years in it still feels like the very best decision I have ever made and I even start teaching others the principles I have learned from you. So thank you again and be richly blessed, you and your whole family.
Re linens: I have different placemats and towels for each season, as well as holidays (Valentine’s, Easter/Spring, Hallowe’en, Thanksgiving/Fall, and Christmas/Winter Holiday). I enjoy changing them with the seasons. Yes they take up a good size drawer – but I do follow the container rule: If I buy more I have to remove something bc all must fit and that’s all the room there is.
I recently did a purge in our kitchen. Got rid of the heavy glass baking dishes, anything we hadn’t used in over a year. We had 3 junk drawers! We’re down to one, and I no longer need to call it a junk drawer because it only contains stuff we use on a regular basis. Thank you for all the tips and encouragement.
While I mostly agree with you, completely cleared counters just don’t work in my small kitchen. I don’t have drawer space for a knife block, and the main purpose of the knife block next to my sink is to serve as a drip-dry knife holder – knives get rinsed or washed as they are used, then are returned to the block to dry. The toaster oven gets used almost every day, and there wouldn’t be a place to put it if it wasn’t on the counter. Good for you – but it is harder in a small kitchen after 55 years of managing the inventory.
i don’t know why this article came as a suggestion for me. nice lady and all but i can’t agree with everything, I’m blessed with a large immediate family and we host almost every weekend. (need serving spoons for the meals & 5 different salads-lol). I need all extra stuff i have and i love all my gadgets. Good thing i have a large kitchen. Also, kitchen rugs work wonderfully when someone spills something while preparing over the sink, the island or getting something out of the fridge. 😊and those extra food containers, in my case, are good to send leftovers with the kids/family when they leave (which are stored w/ lids). 🤷🏻♀️ I’m sure this article works for some people though. sorry, just expressing my opinion, I guess I could’ve just moved on. 😂
Wow- I guess you keep your kitchen as a demo model only, and not as the central hub of any home. Unless you don’t cook, you need more than one mixing spoon, flipper, etc. The knife block in the drawer doesn’t work if you have more than a couple of knives. The utensils in the drawers only works if you only have 2 or 3 utensils OR if you have really deep drawers (otherwise they jam the drawer) “Low inventory” of baking pans etc-again-unless you don’t cook, or only cook the same few recipes…you need a variety of these items Extra inventory of food, while an issue, can be a huge budget saver over time. Your decor is unfortunately, after all of that rhetoric about keeping it clean…a huge grease trap out in the open like that. Honestly- I don’t need permission to do or not do anything in my kitchen. De-clutter ..YES…..angst created by someone telling me I am doing it wrong…NOPE
This is right on point for me. I recently went through a whole-house decluttering process that started in the kitchen. Not only did I get rid of a lot of unused items but I also rearraigned the contents–such as moving heavy crockery to bottom cabinets and moving the lightweight storage containers to upper cabinets (duh!). I already see that I need to do a second round of kitchen decluttering which incorporates some of your points, like fewer storage containers and dish towels. I had been overwhelmed by this task for years but, now that I’ve started the process, the dam has broken and I am feeling ruthless about getting rid of things. YAY!
So, we do serve people here often and cannot let go of too much stuff, as we do not want to serve them from pots. Also, we enjoy matching cutlery and bowls etc. But what I mostly agree with: if you have things that are heavy, like the Auflaufform you showed, you will not use it. We do use very good knifes and have them on display on a magnetic knife block.
I’d love to see this sort of thing for people like me in tiny apartment kitchens. I have literally ONE drawer in my kitchen. One. So how do WE keep our 3′ of counter space clear or at least tidy? I have stacked boxes, which is better than loose crap, but it’s still clutter, and I have no counterspace to chop things. I use the top of the stove.
My pyrex pie dishes just went to a local pie shop that will need them for the holiday rush. Several saucepans with lids, extra dishes and small kitchen gadgets/appliances went to a local thrift shop that provides for a very busy food bank in back. A couple estate sale Le Creuset casserole dishes now replace several other items. My cast iron skillets aren’t going anywhere though! Thanks for the encouragement through these articles.
Thank you for this article! Within the last two weeks, I decluttered our kitchen cabinets, 3 bathroom cabinets and closets, linen closet plus our walk-in bedroom closet, dresser and chest of drawers. I let these go way too long. What a great feeling to donate or toss out the items no longer needed, used, or wanted! Plus practicality trumped sentimentality.
Dawn I love how much pushback you’ve gotten on this article. It’s proof you’re getting to people’s triggers and heart strings and really making them survey how they want their kitchens. Yall. One size doesn’t not fit all!!! It’s okay if you choose to do something she recommended against! Her literal job on YouTube is to introduce you to MINIMAL ideas and help you decide what that looks like for you! Keep up the incredibly impresses, fresh, and inspiring content Dawn. You rock!
Do you ever find though that not having extras or spares causes a different kind of stress? You and I both have 6 people living under one roof. If it was up to me, I’m sure everything would be accounted for, but with the 5 others I’m POSITIVE things would get misplaced. I feel like I have way to much stuff, until I get behind on laundry, or we have back to back parties/ hosting gigs, or I’m sick and everything falls down without me there to prop things up. We are in a busier season with young children, but I’ve tried the time will tell bin and it gets dug into regularly. My question is what do you do when you desperately want this serene, clutter free, lifestyle, but what seems so appealing isn’t practical?
The jacket from your previous article looks lovely on you and it was so easy to take off, no zip! Easy wearing. I have no fridge clutter, I don’t have enough drawer space to put utensils and knives in the drawers, but If I ever move and need a kitchen built, I will be having more drawers so I can have everything off the counter tops. I only have one of everything and a very simplified inventory. I keep containers on with the lids and have just got rid of 14 tupperware boxes (came in sets). This is my second cull on this, put the ones I hadn’t used on a top shelf in a cabinet, one I would need a ladder for as a time will tell, not used any of them, no guilt they are going. I totally agree, they came as a set from Woolworths and I have only got the big one left, ideal for transporting cupcakes to a family do! ONCE YOU DE-CLUTTER you can re-assess your actual cooking stuff – I have just got rid of 10 baking sheets and tins (all metal non-stick) which are not good for your health when the non-stick goes, (they were very scratched etc also found them hard to clean) – my husband loves marinated meat and they are so hard to clean, so I have bought 4 pyrex ones – two small and two large, we usually use two for our dinners, but three, maybe four when we have company. Pyrex lasts years, always comes clean with a little soak, I don’t dish wash them, I didn’t know they did baking sheets until recently. So happy to have six less to store and found a better alternative. When I change something out after a declutter if the items are worn out – I practise intentional shopping and try to look for a better quality, item more suited to our current needs etc.
I like having things on my fridge my daughter draws but even more importantly I have a magnet calendar and grocery list and I display appointment cards on the fridge so i have some sense of time and will actually remember to purchase important things. I do take time to declutter the artwork and reorganize the empty magnets from time to time though. Clutter does stress me out but i also like to see some character as well, its a fine line im still defining
Some people are hung up on the specific items she mentions – that’s not the point. They are just examples. If it’s super helpful to you and you literally use it all the time, keep it. Multiple scissors, tongs and cutting boards are MUSTS in my kitchen, but I don’t have a spaghetti scoop/spoon (with teeth) thingy or a garlic press or salad spinner. Three things I would really like to have but don’t have to have. For me. Declutter what you can. Dawn is trying to be a strong voice for those of us that needs it (tough love) but I bet you she would be the first to tell you to do what is best for you and to just try.
So many comments getting mad about suggesting to reduce the number of utensils. oh my lord. take what is useful to YOU and YOUR lifestyle (or what you want to ACHIEVE) and leave the rest. good grief. Certain utensils I have more of, because I am likely to be using multiple simultaneously. For others (even most), one is sufficient. I got rid of most of my small ‘one trick pony’ appliances that I never, or rarely used. I kept the ones I DO use. I have one small cabinet for my cups and water bottles. If I get a new one… one has to go. It can only accommodate so many, so that’s my system there. It keeps it to a number that I am willing to ‘babysit’. I do have certain appliances that live on my counter because i use them every day and that’s where I want them to live. My coffee pot. Air fryer (mostly used by my 18 year old son), and microwave (which isnt used often but I’m sure not hauling it out from under the cabinet when we do want to use it). My husband is putting in a new kitchen this spring, and with the new range will install an over range microwave, which will solve that issue. But with any of the decluttering/ organizing vloggers…. take what is useful to you, that you think will help you in attaining your goals, and leave the rest. its not a one size fits all system for anyone. If it WERE, no one would HAVE issues with clutter or organization and articles like this wouldn’t exist.
Great list! Years ago I pared down my pots and pans, and now have two good cast iron pans and one large stock pot with a strainer/pasta insert and a small double boiler. We kept two spatulas/flippers because there are often two of us cooking at the same time–we often have three burners going at once. I stopped stocking extra food except for a case of canned chunky soup in our earthquake kit. I put a reminder in the calendar to donate it to the food bank a month before its best before date, and buy a new case.
Yay! You kept the shacket 🙂 So cute. “Permission to break up sets” gave me SO much freedom! I had a huge wooden salad bowl that we got for a wedding gift (sixteen years ago) and it had these awful tongs that went with it. They were useless and hard to clean. You made me realize I could KEEP the bowl and donate the tongs. Duh…. but so good!!! I never thought of it myself, ha! Same with pots and pans… my husband recently suggested we upgrade because again, we’ve been using them for 16 years. He said, “let’s look at a new set” and I said, “NO! Let’s look at one spaghetti pot and one large skillet, because that’s is ALL I use!” 😂😂
It’s so hard to let go of “things”! One thing that took a long time for me to realize, was that I don’t need larger sizes of cookware. I live alone now (and your mileage may vary if you’re cooking in large quantities for a family, or entertaining a lot). But I downsized (literally) quite a few pans and pots to smaller, and even “mini” sizes, and everything is perfect for the quantities that I’m cooking now. These things take up so much less space in cabinets as well. So maybe think about giving away the XL size cookware if you’re not using it due to the size.
My husband has been wanting to buy nicer pans (we’ve had the set he bought back in his college days!) but the pieces have added up over the years…. With that in mind, I agreed that we could shop for better pans if we make extra space for them first. We started with donating two and storing away the rest, but it was only a few days before we knew what we could get by with. Now we have not only parted with 5 pans and a stock pot, but also several mugs and glasses as well! I feel so happy every time I walk into the kitchen now because those unused/ancient items are no longer shouting at me from behind the cupboard doors 😂 but also because we really have been enjoying better meals instead of eating out and clean-up is a breeze. I know it can be tough deciding to let go of priceier items (this has been about two years in the works), but if you can hide away what you know or suspect you don’t use for a while, it really is a great test that I highly recommend ☺️
In past homes I had dedicated a ton of kitchen real estate to herbs and spices, when I really only use a few on a regular basis. When I recently moved to a 400 sf studio apartment with extremely limited storage space, I downsized to 10 jars – and that includes salt and pepper! We’ve been sold the idea that our home kitchens have to be stocked to make thousands of different dishes, and it’s just not true. I really like to cook, but creating a versatile capsule menu (like a capsule wardrobe!) and eating slightly different versions of the same meals more frequently has freed up not just space, but also time, money, and energy.
I totally agree. My journey to simplify had started with organizing (i. e. : buying dividers and extra shelves to put even more stuff into my cabinets!). Then I relized I had way too much inventory, as you call it, and that I had to take out stuff instead of organize it better!!! Yestarday, perusal one of your articles, I even threw away some forks, now I’m left with 6 of anything (it’s two of us, hoping to have some guests, every now and then!) and it’s such a relief, now, openig that drower! I don’t have the energy to wash dishes after every meal, so I do the dish washer every night. I’m very happy and satisfied with my decluttering! Thank you very much for the joy you bring. Bye from Rome, Italy!
Love you & your articles! They are always so inspiring! That said, I’m still not getting rid of my duplicate utensils, pots/pans, or casserole dishes, lol 😉 . With a family of 8 (some with food allergies that require separate foods at meals) we really do use multiples of those things each meal we cook at home. And my pressure matt in front of the stove has been a game changer for me. That said, I love how it is about what is truly being used and what inventory can be managed 🙂 I have downsized a lot of gadget type thing over the last year and it is great! I am slowly finding extra room in my cabinets and things I don’t need as much. It definitely helps one determine what is important and what just isn’t! Thanks for all you do and have a marvelous day!
Thanks Dawn for pointing out breaking up sets of bowls. I don’t order sets of brilliance ware for those reasons. I got only the medium and large that fit together and and use the same lids perfectly and all the little pieces weren’t necessary. Definitely having all the same brand helps things fit together so well
Excellent article! 🥳 Very helpful and interesting tips 🙂 Thank you for your time and creativity:) Obviously you are just sharing what works for you, and trying to offer helpful tips…. And obviously every single person is not going to use every single tip, so I don’t know why people have to make snide comments. Such a waste. I was grateful to watch your article, just for your cheeriness and your smile, a refreshing and helpful article. God bless you and your family, Rachel in Nashville:) 😺💕🐹🍊🍪🍪🍪🛐☦️
Thanks so much for your articles Dawn! They’ve been incredibly helpful and motivating to me. Not everything in your suggestions works for me. For example I still keep my utensils on the counter because my little kitchen has one silverware drawer one weirdly narrow long drawer I keep my knives in (much fewer now), and two tiny short and shallow drawers that wouldn’t work for utensils. But I always come away with one little tidbit or motivation, and I love how you end each article. ❤️ Thanks!
I see some people in the comments getting defensive. Which I get. But I don’t think she’s talking in absolutes, just in generalities. “Tacky knife block” is a blunt way of saying most are and if you feel on the fence, get it out. But clearly if you’re in love w something keep it. Kitchen is mainly about functionality and sometimes we need permission to let got of things. We often need motivation and here she is giving both motivation and permission (we don’t NEED IT, but sometimes it helps for someone to say “its ok to let it go” to be that catalyst to finally declutter. She’s coming fron a minimalist point of view, you don’t have to be one. But it helps when we live in a society that is obsessed with consumerism and making our life easier, only to find our “conveniences” could be whats holding us back. So instead of getting mad she said something about your “_______” just fill in that blank with something you can apply it to and take the article for what it’s intended for- a general audience. Some of us can find exceptions (constant parties, disabilities so we need certain convenient tools to aid in chopping etc) but when talking in generalities, it’s not about trying to offend but trying to spread helpful info. Sure she didn’t have to say “tacky” but she probably used that word to help her with other things in her kitchen to learn to let it go. I think most can think of that word and think of something in our kitchen and it clicks… knife block or not. She may ise a lot of these trigger words to help herself determine what stays, what goes, what to buy and whats not worth it.
BS. I am sick of these announcements that just because you can’t stand to see anything anywhere that having said stuff around reads to my brain as clutter. When I sit at my kitchen table and look at my refrigerator I see pictures of my beloved grandchildren, my little Rosie’s class photo, for the 2023-2024 doggie daycare year. I chuckle every time I look at those little doggie faces and their names. I see my granddaughter report card, proudly displaying all A’s for her first quarter of high school. I see magnets fro. The states that we traveled, as a family, for vacations, weddings, funerals, etc. I am busy,just as busy as you are and when I sit down for a meal or a break and look over at my refrigerator it makes me smile. He reminds me of the bonds and memories I have. My kitchen is a workroom. Three of us use it to prepare our food and snacks. We are all busy. Taking out things from under counters, is a waste of time. Having a toaster out on your counter is practical. In our house the toaster oven gets used for more than one meal. When the teenager in our house has time between sports practice and homework and wants to whip up a batch of cookies the mixer is out. She makes her cookies, cleans up her mess and is on with her life. I am tired of this push to make people feel badly if they want a colorful throw rug in front of their sink while they do dishes. Scooping it up, once a week and giving it a good shake or throwing it in the wash is not going to take me more than 10 minutes tops.
I want my multiple flippers, tongs and spatulas in a utensil caddy right by my stove. I like multiple duplicates of these things. I don’t want to look for them in a drawer. Ever. I need them when I need them. I am not getting rid of my seldom used roasting pans, serving dishes, casseroles, and baking dishes and pans or platters. I want them. IN MY KITCHEN. No one who actually enjoys cooking is gonna like this article. And… I don’t need your permission.
Oh Dawn this last thing about storage containers reminded me of my dear departed mother. My friends laughed when they saw her clean out her fridge which I found totally normal. If she used some of the leftover but not all, she would downsize it to a ” more appropriate size” so as to free of space in the fridge. Now mind you we had plenty of room, we could easily close all the drawers, shut the doors & see what was on the shelves. But since mom had so many containers, well why not use them. So funny now that I think of it @ 67 yo. I love & miss my dear mom & her. Cabinet of containers. LOL 💕💕
GREAT article! The family time and fun is such an important point. My gas water heater is about to burst, at 25 years old, and I’m lucky to have found a tiny leak. The cavalry is coming in 48 hours with the new one, but I’ve been racing around to get the basement in top shape. It was bad! I’ve taking out a couple carloads of donations, bags of trash, rehired some items, and it’s much nicer. Expensive lesson, but we’re saying the house gets a new water heater for Christmas. Lemonade made from lemons!
Disabilities give you a different priority list. I like that we can evaluate each area and keep daily use items handy. Thank you for emphasizing that cost is NOT a measure of function. I tell myself it’s not donating, it’s gifting to someone who will get use out of it and keeping it out of landfills. ( ever notice how those cute kitchen gadgets become obsolete?)
The thing about putting stuff in a drawer only works if you have drawers. I have three and they are narrow but two are also very deep. I put my dish towels, backstock seasonal stuff I use for half the year, in the two deeper ones, and my actual silverware in the shallow one. And that was a tight fit. I have four cabinets I can actually use (the rest are too high) so I added in shelves. I use my coffee mugs as decor and stuck a British Carry On poster on the wall (because I can’t reach that space for stuff anyway and I hate blank white walls).
It is hard to admit that you’ve wasted money on things. Especially in the kitchen for some reason. So many little kitchen gadgets, and things that you thought you just needed and that you would use that you don’t use. I am starting to get over it. But it is tough. Then I’m mad at myself for wasting the money.
Haha kitchen is my oneprobably forever fail…small kitchen (German size 😂), have a bunch of large appliances I love and use far too often to put away, we have guests frequently so lots of extra plates, cutlery, serving stuff (throw away stuff is frowned upon here in Germany!), our basement is not easy access, I cook a huge variety of home cooked meals with almost no processed ready made sauces…I do actually “need” a lot of stuff to cook the way I do. I love love love how streamlined Dawns kitchen looks but I truly believe our “clutter” is a huge blessing in our case because my familyand guests are treated to lots of yum cooking and baking…If I ever get to build a bigger kitchen, I will definitely have cabinets that hide appliances, readily plugged in…that would be lovely!
Since when is a wooden knife block “tacky”? If you have little kids, putting it into a drawer means one more baby latch to deal with, plus loss of drawer space for what actually ought to be in a drawer. Plus one more gadget you have to buy, a special DRAWER knife block. I’ve been hearing the clean counter tops rule from minimalists for years. I hear you, but I think you guys take things from simple to sterile-museum very quickly. It’s a home afterall. Not a concrete block on a pillar with a glass case over it (modern “art” I’ve had the tragedy of looking at). It’s a good idea to keep things simple. But too simple becomes ugly, cold and sterile. When it’s only about being functional, it ceases to be a home. It’s extremely Marxist.
I have always given each of your articles a firm “thumbs-up”. Not today, I gave this article a very firm “thumbs-down”. I was completely turned off by your opening comments about what is needed and not needed in a kitchen. You might need no rugs in your kitchen but that is not the case for all of your followers. I felt that I was being negatively judged for my needs because they are different than your needs. Yes, this is my kitchen and I’ll make it to be convenient for MY needs but I resent the judgmental way this material was presented. This is not the way your articles usually present. I always have felt free to take your advice or leave it. I felt I was being negatively judged in this article.
The notion that “it’s more trouble to clean than it saves you time to use” really struck a chord with me. Goodbye onion chopper, herb grinder, fruit slicers etc. goodbye to that ovenproof dish that is too big to turn in the microwave, goodbye to those extra ‘bits’ that come with pan sets & the utensils that came with gadgets that are never used. Goodbye to those tea towels that are too many to fit in their container. Thank you!
I really like your articles but I don’t think it’s helpful to tell people exact things you think THEY don’t need. Everyone’s life is different and for people with disabilities it could be difficult to live the way you do. It makes more sense when you help people use reasoning methods to that work with THEIR own needs to determine what they don’t need.
The amount of people feeling personally attacked in these comments 😂 nobody is coming to take your extra utensils or your knife block. Relaaaaxxx… As a single woman with a small kitchen, these tips are super helpful. I already got rid of my knife block and got the Ikea magnet bar. Looks way better!
I love to entertain, so I keep more in my kitchen and love it. My families best memories are hosting our guests. I don’t like plastic so I have invested in pieces. I will never buy Pioneer Woman : go see Killers of the Flower Moon. I’ve missed what Dawns husband does. She and the kids seem to do a ton of housework, Is he in construction?
I love that you have mugs simplified so much. I try to have ours narrowed down to 2 or 3 per person that we each love, but what do I do about family that gifts mugs to us? Its such a common gift. My MIL (chronic over-spender and will not listen if we tell her no thanks) gifted us 8 (YES EIGHT) mugs and 3 teacups last year. It’s frustrating trying to keep clutter at bay 😩
I also have benefited and appreciate your articles. It’s been a real help. I did want to mention though, that you have a very large kitchen with lots of cabinets. My kitchen is very small so I have to have staples, for example, on my counters. There is simply not enough space in the cabinets. So every one out there with tiny kitchens like me take heart. Just do what you can!!! 🙂
Linens: we hardly ever use them on our table, just for holidays. But knowing that the hand crocheted table cloths and runners took someone a LOT of time and energy to create, I am finding new uses – one doily table cloth is now serving as a curtain. It’s being used, and it’s beautiful, and makes me smile every time I pass it – several times a day!
I’m going to disagree with you on the spatulas and mixing utensils. I cook a lot and I have a dishwasher. I may not always want to be washing my 1 or 2 spatulas and mixing utensils every time I use them. That is what my dishwasher is for. I store all of my kitchen utensils in drawers in plastic containers that I’ve moved from house to house. I enjoy having multiples of items in my kitchen, put away, and not on the counter. However, that is what brings ME joy and works for ME. For someone else, their system may look different.
I’m not a fan of any appliance other than a stove fridge an microwave in my kitchen but do have a toaster since my husband likes toast. I re entry had the dishwasher removed an put a cabinet in there which is a god send. My kitchen is small but just with that one extra cabinet everything flows since things aren’t stacked on top of each other.
This comes at a great time. I had a new sink put in Wednesday. The plumbing was checked and updated with turn-off valves. To prepare I cleaned out the cabinets under the sink. My baking sheet/cake pan cabinet (oh my word) so much stuff in there. And my huge corner double lazy Susan. That was heartbreaking how much expired food was in there. I threw away 5 half kitchen trash bags of food. They were so heavy I couldn’t fill them up. My counters are clear. So I want to have a good think about things before I put them back. Since I’m diabetic, I don’t eat things like corn bread and cereals anymore. Pasta either. So that will clear out cabinets full of carb laden things. Then I can use them for the few cans and jars of food that I still have that are not expired. We have a pizza place that has a food drop table to help folks out. Anything I won’t use that’s still good, I will take there. Lots of pasta and baking mixes. It does no good to have them teasing me with what I can’t eat anyway. I have a crock picture that is my container for spatulas and other utensils. There are so few drawers and these are such large things, I think the crock works for me. But this was perfect timing. I keep waking up early trying to figure out what to do next. I will be glad when it’s done.
I have the same chopper and never use it. I actually don’t remember that I have it! Have to admit minimalism is hard for me. I keep making pass throughs in my house and I’m getting there. Every time I go through and get rid of things, I feel so much better. I have to go a little slowly because it’s so overwhelming. A little (actually it’s been a lot! ) is easier for me! Thanks for showing and teaching me!
I am decluttering my kitchen right now and REALLY want to reduce the inventory in my house by about half. But i struggle to get rid of things because i get anxious thinking we might need something in an emergency. The fact that you have emergency food storage gives me a great sense of peace that i can do this too, while keeping some stuff/food in the basement for emergencies. Thank you for all you teach us!
Rugs, or a single rug, that is washable keep the floor clean from small spills and drips while cooking. I have a thick felt mat under my washable rug that acts as an antifatigue mat and allows me to not have to wear house shoes. Soooo with you on stuff on the fridge and knife block. I hate that clutter!
Thanks for this article, it was very helpful. A few things that work for me are to use only stainless mixing bowls…they’re lighter weight, easier to mix in, fit well in the cupboard, etc… Also, Dawn, I’m 64 and for 40 years I’ve only chopped my garlic, onions, nuts, etc… in an electric mini chopper (Black & Decker). Easy peasy and the parts are dishwasher safe. Thanks again for all of your tips!
I am constantly working on decluttering my home. I live with my husband and adult son and I swear they are borderline hoarders!! I have decluttered a LOT of my stuff and have been working in the kitchen for the past few months. The husband cooks some and feels like he has to have a zillion things to make dinner…very frustrating for me!! I love your articles though…they give me hope that it can be done…it’s just going to take me a bit longer I guess!!
I love to cook and my fav store is “House of Knives”, damn straight I display my 5 go to knives on a magnetic strip on a wall in my kitchen. My father & brother are professional chefs and my grandmother and Mum are amazing home cook, so I agree with removing unnecessary gadgets. If you have great knife skills, you shouldnt need gadgets.
I knew people would be getting upset about the knife block part, something I like to do since I’m chopping alllll the time every day, is to set up my big cutting board in decorative way and then have a section in an easily accessible drawer that is only for my knives that I use all the time for chopping. Then I’m not having to fan-dangle a big cutting board out of a cabinet since it stays out as a wall decoration, and the knives just always live in the same spot that is close to the cutting board. ❤️ Love your articles Dawn you’re such an inspiration! Even if we don’t do kitchen minimalism exactly the same 😉
This is all such common sense information that I should have thought of on my own, but somehow didn’t. Having you detail the cold, hard facts is helpful, especially when you are countering precisely the same justifications that were on my mind. Like, what if I feel like cooking a casserole? (I haven’t in years.) But I spent so much money on that appliance! (I’ll save emore money with your tactics.) Etc., etc. We recently moved and I’m finally ready to make some hard choices in order to make my piles of stuff fit into my new, smaller kitchen. I hadn’t yet gotten around to putting up all of my refrigerator magnets & pictures on the fridge, and I’ve felt guilty — like I’m being disloyal to my loved ones — for really loving how nice my bare fridge looks. Thank you for the friendly encouragement! I’m feeling inspired.
I’m getting better at not putting EVERYthing on the counter. There’s still lots, but now I ask myself “does that neeeeeed to be out?” Most of the time the answer is no and it gets put away. I like looking at the serving dishes I inherited from my Mom and Gram. Not using them anymore except to look at and smile and that’s enough. Gonna be a FAB estate sale ))))
I have to disagree with you on the ‘nothing on the fridge’ item. We keep all our appointment card (in date order) at eye level on the fridge. It’s right there and there’s no question about when is my next appointment. Otherwise it’s chaotic. BTW-I love how you say ‘I love you’ at the end of your articles. Warm fuzzies are nice.
The only reason im keeping bath mats by the sink is cause i got 5 kids who love to leave drops of water on the tiles when washing their hands or other misc items. Its a slipping hazard if i dont use them. I am choosy and make sure it matches to my surrounding areas tho so theres that. Thank you for sharing your tips ❤😊
I cook almost every day, my tacky knife block is a must. Also I have such good memories of my mom hanging my school stuff on the fridge made me feel special. So I did the same with my kids! Now I am more minimal so I hang my grandchildren’s stuff on the side of the fridge instead of the front…so I considerate it a win win…😁
I have purged a lot over the past 3+ years, especially since we moved to a smaller home. I absolutely love having my counters cleared. It truly does make you feel good. Less is best…for me. I’ve gotten over thinking of the money I’ve wasted with all my must haves. It’s in the past. This way of living isn’t for everybody but it sure has made a difference for us. Thank you:)
I wonder if u know how much u has impact our lives for good..my kitchen is great..i like to have four things on surface so people know i live here..and is not an empty house..my cooffee maker my blender that i use every day my fryer and a pot of flowers..nothing else..but how come i have so little inventory and still every month i find something to let go..
Thank you so much Dawn!! You have truly changed the way I look at things in my home and now my home is warm, cozy, and my kids are always in the playroom that I’ve completely overhauled!! Everything you say is point in about kids needing to be in simplified spaces. Please do a hair tutorial!! Loving the curls!!
I have decluttered so much stuff thanks to your website – and have become much more mindful of what I store in my absolutely tiny kitchen. One thing I do that my children seem to struggle with is I keep my containers with their lids. Amazing how tidy my cupboards are when the kids remember to put the lids on the container
I love food storage containers as I use just about all of them over the Christmas holidays. I had to buy 2 more bigger containers to accommodate holiday leftovers. I have cabinet space under the oven to place them all. I have decluttered my kitchen several times (onion method) based on Dawn’s take your house back article where she goes room by room. And I have a dedicated space for dish towels and I pared down utensils. And my husband told me he appreciates cooking in a clean and decluttered kitchen! 😮
I think the key to kitchen counters is to get it down to the 2 or 3 most helpful, most useful things can be out, plus something that is just pretty. I just realized that we only ever reach for the steak knives and 2 others from the knife block, and then 3 or 4 from the knife drawer. Time to move the steak knives to the drawer that also has the forks, consolidate all the knives we use into the knife drawer and ditch the block.
I think the amount of utensils depends upon your cooking style. I have a suggestion for your onion chopping, provided you have either a mandolin or a food processor. I spend about an hour slicing up pounds of onions then freeze them in 1 cup batches. If I need chopped onions, the already sliced onions chop on easily with no tears. You can also chop them in the food processor and then freeze them.
I love the very minimal guidelines here! I have full buy in to everything Dawn! Yet I tweak to keep things easy and practical for our layout and needs. So I keep the fruit bowl on the counter by the coffee pot. I keep my spice rack and cooking utensils in a crock by the stove. I don’t have drawers by my stove. And I got inspo to hang 3 beloved matching mugs on pretty adhesive hooks beside my coffee maker. And hid the coffee accessories in a nearby upper cabinet. Thanks for helping me go a little further and have a more simplified kitchen! BTW, our 1960 kitchen is almost an identical layout to Dawn’s minus her renovations… someday! 😂