8 Ways to Declutter Your Kitchen

An organized kitchen doesn’t just look nice. It makes you feel good and helps you function better in the kitchen. However, to declutter your kitchen can be hard to do if you don’t have the right plan in place. That’s why we put together this guide on how to declutter your kitchen, with tips and strategies for everything from organizing your pantry to tackling your countertop clutter.

Start with your pots and pans

Remove all of your pots and pans from your kitchen. You can do so methodically, placing each item in a box or plastic bag as you go. Once you’ve removed all of them, it’s time to organize. We suggest decluttering by keeping only your favorites; ones that are multipurpose, easy to clean, and don’t take up too much space on your countertop. If there are pieces that don’t make sense for you. For example, if you have one pan that you use more than all others—it might be best to give it away (or sell it) rather than trying to store it without regular use.

Get rid of stuff you don’t use!

I’m talking dirty, old pots, pans, and dishes that you don’t even remember buying. Start by pulling everything out of your cabinets and drawers. If it looks like it hasn’t been used in months or years, get rid of it! Donate items that are in decent condition but may not be used much anymore e.g., Tupperware from college or half-used condiments. Or pass them along to family and friends. And if you still have a drawer full of mismatched utensils? Toss ‘em! You can always purchase new ones as needed—and rest assured knowing that each one is exactly what you need. 

Create clear surfaces

Having a spacious kitchen is often a luxury, but even if you have less space than you’d like, there are things you can do to make your kitchen feel more open. The first thing you should tackle is clutter. It’s tempting to create additional storage space in cabinets and on countertops, but odds are that if an item isn’t being used regularly, it should be removed from your home. If something needs to be stored for later use, put it away in a designated area or box rather than just piling it on another countertop. Creating clear surfaces not only gives your kitchen a larger appearance; it also helps keep counters clutter-free.

Consolidate like items

One of my favorite tips for decluttering is finding ways to consolidate items. For example, instead of having individual spoons in each drawer and cabinet around your kitchen, why not buy a multitool set with a spatula, serving spoon, slotted spoon, and more? You’ll save money by only having one set of utensils but also opening up drawer space and making it easier on yourself during meal prep time. Use these time-saving strategies in other areas throughout your home. If you have a lot of lotions or makeup bottles cluttering your bathroom counters, find a way to store them that doesn’t involve buying another container or decorative box—put them in something you already own!

Tackle your utensils

One of the easiest ways to declutter your kitchen is simply by getting rid of unused or duplicate utensils. It’s crazy how many gadgets and assorted pieces we keep around simply because they’re on sale or they came with a set. If you haven’t used a kitchen gadget in over a year, it might be time to get rid of it. The same thing goes for duplicate utensils; if you have two sets of measuring spoons, consider donating one. Or even better: find a more organized place to store all your cooking gear!

Set Up Smart Storage Areas

Storing your food in clear containers and keeping things like baking supplies, pots and pans, tools, and other gadgets. Neatly organized gadgets will not only declutter your kitchen but also make cooking more efficient. When you spend a lot of time hunting down measuring cups or ingredients on cluttered shelves (or breaking out Google), it can kill any sense of fun you might have had about trying a new recipe or spending time in your kitchen. Don’t let that happen! Set up smart storage areas for everything in your kitchen—including dry goods and perishables—and enjoy having all of your ingredients readily available without looking like a complete disaster area.

Remove unnecessary items from countertops

The obvious and easiest way to declutter your kitchen is by removing unnecessary items. Remove any papers that don’t have a place on your countertops. If you don’t have a designated location for them, consider tossing them in a folder or box instead. The same goes for decorative items—like vases, candles, or pictures of family members—and other knickknacks: If you haven’t used them in months (or years), there’s a good chance you won’t use them anytime soon, so let go of it. And finally, take some time to think about what foods belong in each area of your kitchen.

Clean up your pantry!

The pantry is one of those areas that are hard to declutter your kitchen. It’s usually so jam-packed with stuff that you can’t even tell what’s in there. A lot of times, pantries become a repository for anything and everything that doesn’t have another home. They get packed with boxes, snack foods, odds, and ends. If that sounds like yours, follow these steps: Take everything out of your pantry (and cabinets). Throw away anything you haven’t used in at least six months. Give everything else a new home. Clean up any spilled ingredients or dirt. Put back only things you use on a regular basis; make sure everything has its place. Wash out drawers or containers if they’re especially dirty or worn. Organize bags and boxes of staples like cereal, flour, sugar, salt, etc., in tubs on shelves to clear space and make things easier to find next time you need them.  Hang pots and pans from hooks mounted on cupboard doors to free up valuable counter space while still keeping all your kitchen tools handy.