Your Kitchen: Decluttering and Organizing for Efficiency

The kitchen can be a challenging space to organize and keep clutter-free. It’s often a hub of activity, contains hundreds of small items, and its abundant flat surfaces tend to collect debris. A decluttered kitchen will save you time, reduce your stress load, and make cooking a joy (or at least less of a chore). As professional organizers, we’ve transformed countless kitchens into functional spaces. Here, we’ll share some tips to help you declutter yours for maximum functionality.

Step 1: Empty and Assess

Clear some floor space (using a nearby room, if necessary) and lay down sheets to create a staging area. Begin emptying cabinets, drawers, and pantries. Yes, all of them—it’s the only way to see what you have. Group items by category: utensils, appliances, pantry goods, and dishes. Check expiration dates on food and spices as they exit the cabinets, tossing anything past its prime or that lacks a date. Don’t worry too much about getting rid of items at this stage, unless there are really obvious decisions, like broken dishes or worn-out cookware.

Step 2: Purge the Excess

Go through one category at a time and donate, trash, or recycle items you don’t use. Be honest about what you need and use—do you need three spatulas or that bread maker you used only once, 15 years ago? That extra set of measuring cups? Donate them. Keep only what aligns with your actual cooking habits, not the cook you once were or aspire to be. If you’re hesitant about sentimental items, such as Grandma’s chipped teapot, take a photo before letting go, or commit to actually using and enjoying the items. Before the next step, give all those shelves a wipe down and vacuum crumbs and debris from the drawers and pantry floor.

A note about donating: Don’t attempt to donate items that can’t or shouldn’t be used. Scratched and stained cookware, broken items, and dirty items should not be donated. Sending items like these to donation centers won’t stop them from ultimately going to the landfill and only causes extra burden on the charity.

Step 3: Organize with Purpose

Make a plan before putting items away. Consider how you use items and do your best to put things away as close to where you use them as possible. Store frequently used items—like your favorite skillet—in prime locations and within easy reach, and place rarely used ones (like holiday platters) higher up. If at all possible, avoid storing items in other rooms or areas of the house. If you must do so, those spaces should be reserved for items that are used less frequently than every 6 months. Use dividers and drawer organizers in drawers to keep things tidy, shelf risers to take advantage of vertical space, and clear containers for pantry goods like pasta or snacks. Many cabinet shelves are adjustable, so don’t be afraid to move things around to increase functionality. Finally, label containers and/or the edges of shelves and drawers for clarity, especially in shared households.

Step 4: Maintain the Order

Prevent clutter from creeping back by scheduling a quick 10-minute tidy each week to check for misplaced items or expired food. Wipe down shelves and counters during these sessions to keep your kitchen clean without much effort. If you live with others, make this a group event. You can be creative by setting a timer, having a race, and giving out prizes. If you have an extra busy household, you may need to do a quick tidy every couple of days instead of once a week, but it should still not take up a lot of time to maintain.

Imagine walking through your kitchen and not having your blood pressure soar, or inviting guests over without a dose of shame about the condition of the kitchen. Having a well-organized and clutter-free kitchen will save you time on meal prep, reduce food waste, and create a space where you can enjoy family meals or entertain guests. If your kitchen feels chaotic, use the steps above to tackle the project or call in our professional organizers to do it for, or with, you.