Is your kitchen an overcrowded mess? It’s okay. You can be honest. We’re all bombarded with advertisements for the latest kitchenware, gadgets and appliances these days. It’s easy to find yourself collecting these items and then letting them take up valuable space in your kitchen, never again to be used.

The kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s where you gather and where you prepare your meals. You want it to be feel comfortable, not cluttered. Minimalist design is all about having a clean, open space. It’s also about function.

Having to rummage through a drawerful of utensils to find the one you want or to push unused gadgets out of the way to make space for meal prep is frustrating. It’s also a waste of time.

If you’re like me, you want to take control of your kitchen and enjoy using your space again. That’s what having a minimalist space is all about. It means being free of clutter and having only the items you use regularly at hand.

I created a checklist that you can use while you declutter your kitchen. The different steps will help you create a more tidy, organized and minimalist kitchen.

How to create a minimalist kitchen?

1. Keep Only the Dishes You Need

Do you have a set of dishes for company or special occasions? How often do you use them, really? Having fancy dishes is nice, but it can also be more hassle than it’s worth. You have to pull them out of the cupboard and rinse them off before using them. Plus, think of all the space that’s wasted. Instead, consider getting a quality set of everyday dishes you love and that will last.

2. Use Kitchen Real Estate Wisely

Just as the holiday dish set takes up a lot of cupboard space, so do things like large serving platters and small appliances you rarely use. Instead of keeping them in the kitchen, free up some valuable real estate by moving those items to other places in the home like a large closet or basement.

3. Pare Down Small Appliances

In fact, you may want to consider whether you need some of those things in the first place. Maintaining a minimalist kitchen means keeping only what you need. Instead of storing rarely used small appliances throughout your home, why not get rid of them altogether?

4. Be Careful of Duplicates

If you’re a kitchen collector like I used to be, you probably have a ton of duplicate items. Check yourself on this by taking a look at your utensils. Chances are, you can probably say you don’t need all of them. Sure, having a couple spoons and spatulas is useful, but things can get out of hand really quickly. Take stock of the items you really need. Then free up some space by getting rid of the ones that aren’t your favorites.

5. Clear the Counters

A minimalist kitchen is known for its clean, uncluttered appearance. One of easiest ways to make a big impact is to clear your counter space. If you’re known for piling junk mail on the counter, create a basket system to sort and keep the mail as soon as it arrives. Consider the small appliances taking up room on your counter. Perhaps you could get rid of some and make do with one or two.

6. Hide Small Appliances

In fact, it might be helpful if you can hide most of your small appliances so that your countertops look sleek and spacious. For example, stick the toaster and electric can opener in the pantry. Stowing away these items might be easier than you think.

7. Have Empty Space

Another easy way to create the look of a minimalist kitchen is to make sure there’s plenty of empty space throughout the room. Start with the countertops, as mentioned above. Remove clutter and stow small appliances away. Then look around your room to see where else you can free up space. Perhaps you have a bookshelf full of cookbooks you never use. Pare those down to make some room. Things will look a lot more open when you make just a few adjustments.

8. Choose a Color Theme

The minimalist look is all about simplicity. Having a bunch of colors in your space confuses the eye. Instead, consider a monochromatic look or pare down to just a few colors within a theme. Neutral shades are always a good bet.

9. Consider Your Hardware

The hardware throughout your kitchen can also take away from the sleek appearance you wish to create. Consider removing knobs and pulls from your cabinetry. You might also want to switch out the faucet on your sink to something more modern. These little things make a big difference.

10. Have a Place for Everything

As they say, “A place for everything and everything in its place.” This tried and true phrase is particularly fitting for a minimalist kitchen. When you know where everything belongs, you’ll find your food prep is much easier. Not to mention how streamlined your room will look.

11. Don’t Keep Novelty Items

We’ve all fallen for the latest kitchen gadget craze. However, it’s usually not long before that thing you just had to have ends up shoved in the back of a cupboard. Go through your kitchen and get rid of those novelty items or one-off gadgets you never use.

12. Purge What You Haven’t Used in Six Months

It can be difficult to decide what to get rid of, I know. A simple rule to follow is to purge anything you haven’t used in six months. Keeping this timeframe in mind should make it easier to make the call of what to keep and what to ditch.

13. Don’t Overstock Groceries

A lot of us have a complicated relationship with groceries. Some hate to go to the store, so they’ll buy a ton all at once. Then they need to find room for all that food when they get home. Others overstock because they know what it’s like to go without. It’s great to have what you need on hand, but maintaining a balance is important when it comes to minimalism. Stock up, but don’t overstock.

14. Take a Weekly Fridge Inventory

In order to help make sure you don’t buy more than you need, you’ll want to keep a regular inventory of what’s in your fridge. Go through once a week and throw out old leftovers. Then add depleted items to your grocery list. Do the same for your pantry on a monthly basis.

15. Clean Before Bed

Finally, make sure your kitchen is clean and everything is put away at the end of the day. This habit will ensure that clutter doesn’t get out of hand and that your space is tidy. Maintaining a minimalist look is easier than trying to play catchup later.

There you have it. These easy tips will help you to create and maintain the minimalist kitchen of your dreams. Enjoy the process. Feel free to personalize things to fit your preferences and lifestyle.

Source: prettysimpledays.com

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