These 10 Kitchen Items Are Taking Up Way Too Much Space
"With excess clutter in the pantry and fridge, it’s impossible to find what you need," points out one professional organizer.
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It's all too easy for clutter to build up in the kitchen. Before you know it, every cabinet is filled to the brim with mugs and excess cookware, while counters are home to bulky appliances and redundant storage containers. While you might not notice this clutter on a daily basis, it can affect how you use the kitchen.
“After a busy work day, it’s stressful to come home to a messy kitchen and still have the motivation to cook,” says Jennifer Moore, professional organizer and founder of Organized Boutique. “In these moments, it’s likely that poor dietary choices will be made, like grabbing quick snacks in the pantry or going out for fast food. With excess clutter in the pantry and fridge, it’s impossible to find what you need.”
Luckily, decluttering the kitchen doesn't need to be time-consuming. “Every month or so, pick one kitchen cabinet to go through to see if anything can be donated or recycled,” Moore advises. To get the ball rolling, try one of our go-to decluttering strategies, like the 10-10 method or the 90/90 rule.
Keep reading to see which items professional organizers say you should declutter from your kitchen ASAP.
Excess Pots and Pans
We all collect pots and pans over time, which may result in duplicates or ones that we don’t use that much. Instead, go through your cookware and “keep only those used regularly,” as James Lott Jr. of The Super Organizer suggests.
Rarely-Used Cookbooks
Moore says that little-used cookbooks are simply taking up space for items that will probably be used more regularly.
“Plus, a lot of families have gone to online recipes or use the same paper recipes over and over,” she points out. “I recommend donating the cookbooks that aren’t used and using a digital app that I love, Paprika, where you can organize your favorite recipes and meal plan.”
Expired Food, Condiments, and Spices
All of these expired items “take up space because they probably won’t get used or may not be safe to use,” Moore says. “I recommend going through items in the pantry and freezer quarterly and the fridge at least monthly. Also, purchase smaller package sizes to ensure they will get used.”
Utensil Containers
If you believe the utensil crock on your counter is serving a purpose (i.e. you can keep your utensils within reach while cooking), then by all means, leave it there. But if you think you can cook just as effectively by pulling out the tools you need from a drawer and using a spoon rest, you’ll be able to free up some counter space, as Lott recommends.
Useless Storage Containers
Moore says you can do away with food storage containers that have mismatched or missing tops. “Over time, the lids or pieces can go missing, get warped, or damaged,” she says. “I recommend matching them up on a yearly basis and recycling any extra pieces.”
RELATED: We Tested 80+ Food Storage Containers—These Are the Best
Paper Towel Holders
Although they can be handy, upright paper towel holders on countertops take up space, especially when Lott notes that they can easily be mounted under cabinets instead.
Random Mugs
“Promotional mugs and vacation mugs are fun to collect, but they can easily get out of control,” Moore says. “To save space, instead of collecting tangible mugs to remember a trip, I recommend taking sentimental digital photos to record the memories. When decluttering, I recommend keeping a few of your favorites that you use most often and donate the rest.”
Oversized Cutting Boards
While oversized wooden cutting boards can act as decor in many kitchens, and be practical at the same time, they do take up space when you prop them up against a backsplash or rest them on top of a range. Instead of the oversized variety, Lott suggests turning to smaller cutting boards or even a food chopper that can be neatly tucked away.
Outgrown Children's Cups
Be on the lookout for bottles or toddler cups that your kids have outgrown and continue to reside in your cabinets. Moore explains that these cups take up space because no one is using them. Instead, she says they can be donated or recycled, and age-appropriate cups can be purchased to replace them.
Bulky Counter Appliances
“Bulky appliances really make a kitchen look cluttered,” Moore observes. “If there are several of them, it limits the amount of counter space you have to cook and prepare food. I recommend storing them in the cabinets and pulling them out when you need them. Or if space allows, hide them away in a second pantry or on a metal rack in the laundry room.”
Shelby Deering is a freelance lifestyle writer who frequently covers home design and decor for national publications. She has worked as a full-time freelance writer for over a decade, and has worked in the industry for nearly 20 years, writing home tours, interviewing top designers, and beautifying her own home. She holds a master's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and when she's not writing, you can find her at thrift stores and flea markets, running, or exploring local trails in Madison, Wisconsin, with her husband and corgi, Dolly.
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