Hey friends! I mentioned I would share my journey to becoming a minimalist every Tuesday for seven weeks, and today I’m starting with the kitchen — the heart of my home. I spend a lot of time in this rectangular-shaped room, but over time it became a catchall for things I rarely used. I couldn’t wait to declutter. Now the kitchen feels lighter and much less overwhelming. Here’s how I tackled it.
I put two large boxes in the center of the kitchen and gathered anything I hadn’t used in the past three months. My rule: if it hasn’t been used in three months, I don’t need it. Out it went.
Here is box number 1.
Inside were:
- Trays — far too many. I kept only a couple that I actually use and donated the rest.
- Portion-control plates for the kids — I tried them once but never used them again, so they went.
- Baskets — I love pretty baskets, but these were just taking up space and not serving a purpose.
- Seasonal containers, extra drinking cups, a weight-loss calorie-counting book, and other items I’d never really used.
Here is box number 2:
Most of this box contained fragile items wrapped in paper bags. I found about ten drinking glasses I never use — I kept thinking I might need them, but I hadn’t in three years. They were donated.
My tea mug cabinet was overflowing; I was doubling up cups to make them fit. The truth is I only use one mug at a time, so I pared down to a sensible number and donated the rest. It’s liberating not to store duplicates I won’t use.
I also decluttered my plates cabinet. It was a fight to make everything fit, so I removed excess plates and left one matching dinner set plus a few bowls I use for food photos. Here’s the result:
Some appliances that took up counter and cabinet space went into storage because they don’t serve us — for example, the coffee maker. Mr. N once made coffee with it and it sat unused for days. We’re not big coffee drinkers; I reach for instant coffee when I want a cup, so the machine isn’t necessary.
Both boxes and many of the larger items will go to a thrift store, so others can reuse them. While decluttering I also filled a couple of trash bags with broken items and true garbage — they filled up quickly.
Here are some lessons I learned during the process:
- Decluttering takes time. It took me about three days to go through all the kitchen cupboards, and I still have one drawer left to sort. This isn’t a 20-minute task unless your kitchen is already close to minimalist.
- Decluttering goes hand in hand with cleaning and organizing. You’ll likely need to wipe shelves, wash items, and reconfigure storage as you remove things.
- Decluttering feels great. After the hard work, the kitchen felt like a breath of fresh air.
- Decluttering isn’t a one-time fix. You have to resist buying unnecessary things in the future; otherwise you’ll end up cluttered again.
Now my kitchen contains only what I truly need, but I’ll revisit it in three months and purge anything I still don’t use. The result is a lighter home and the prospect of an easier future move — fewer things to pack is a win.
Beyond removing excess items, I’ve also made healthier food choices that complement a simpler kitchen:
- I stopped buying refined sugar. I now buy unrefined sugar and sometimes use honey instead. It’s pricier but a healthier option for baking and sweetening.
- I stopped buying non-organic products without checking labels. When I first arrived in the U.S., I bought things blindly; now I check for “organic” labels before purchasing and choose higher-quality food when possible.
- I keep plenty of fruits and vegetables on hand. I feel better if I eat vegetables or fruit every day, so I stock the kitchen with easy-to-grab produce and make salads often.
That’s it — my kitchen is decluttered, and I feel lighter and more organized. I hope this inspires you. Up next is my wardrobe, where I’ll remove clothes I don’t wear. Check back next Tuesday to see that update. Meanwhile, do you have any kitchen maintenance tips or thoughts about this post? I’d love to hear from you in the comments.