As my fellow small-space dwellers know, it's important to be thoughtful about your purchases when your storage space is limited. After about five years in a New York City apartment, I've learned how to make my small kitchen work for me. A major part of that process was discovering which items were worth making room for, and which ones aren't worth the space. Below, I share the kitchen items I stopped buying and what I'm using instead.
The kitchen has a way of attracting clutter, from those novelty drinking glasses you probably use once or twice a year to piles of mismatched cooking utensils. By replacing these things with more versatile items I'll actually use regularly, I've cut down significantly on clutter. And in a small apartment, every inch of clutter I can get rid of is a win.
If you're figuring out how to make a small apartment, tiny home, or even a dorm room with a kitchenette work for you, keep reading to find out the kitchen items you can get rid of. And if you're looking for more small-space tips, read our collection of tiny home storage hacks designers swear by and design tricks to make any room feel bigger.
An oversized toaster
While I’ll usually have some type of toast for breakfast a few days a week, I’m not making anything elaborate enough to justify keeping a fancy, sizable toaster on my kitchen countertop. Plus, I live alone, so I don’t need a four-slice model, the way I might if I was prepping a meal for several people. Instead, a simple, slim toaster that takes up as little space as possible has become my new go-to. I barely even notice it!
What I use instead: Bella 2-Slice Slim Toaster
Novelty drinking glasses
I used to be all for purchasing cutesy drinking glasses with seasonal motifs, but I found that I quickly tire of these novelty designs after a while. On the other hand, elevated yet neutral glasses will never go out of style. I grabbed a simple set years ago and it has held up wonderfully. I use these glasses for everything from water to smoothies and always set them out when entertaining, too.
What I use instead: Bandesun Vintage Hobnail Drinking Glasses Set of 12
Generic dish soap
Unfortunately, I don’t have a dishwasher in my apartment, which means I’m cycling through bottles of dish soap quite often. For the most part, I’ve stopped buying generic brands and have started treating myself to Mrs. Meyer's products instead. I love shopping their seasonal products, including the peony dish soap, which reminds me that spring is indeed on its way. When it comes to making chores more fun, it’s truly the little things!
What I use instead: Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Liquid Dish Soap
Mismatched silverware
I eat most of my at-home meals solo and don’t require a ton of silverware, but recently, I realized that my utensils are all relatively mismatched. As someone who takes pride in maintaining an orderly home, I had to change this ASAP. I snagged a simple, affordable set of 20 forks, knives, and spoons from T.J. Maxx that I won’t be embarrassed to bust out during my next dinner party. They're no longer available from T.J. Maxx, but you can still find them on Amazon. This nice set will ensure that my silverware drawer looks a thousand times less chaotic, too.
What I use instead: Hampton Forge 20pc Carnival Flatware Set
Mismatched cooking utensils
Unfortunately, it wasn’t just my silverware that was mismatched, though—my cooking utensils were all over the place style- and size-wise and were starting to overwhelm me as a result. Again, in came T.J. Maxx with a quick fix. I love that the 10 utensils in this set fit perfectly inside a stylish wooden jar that I love showing off on my countertop. While the exact set is no longer available from T.J. Maxx, I found a similar set on Amazon.
What I use instead: Oannao Silicone Cooking Utensils Set
Ceramic canisters for tea
I’ve struggled with tea storage solutions over the years. First, I placed bags in a small ceramic canister, then I moved them into a larger one as my collection expanded, but I would always forget about what I had because the canisters weren’t see-through.
I finally kicked this storage habit and landed on a tea caddy. Its clear lid allows me to quickly take note of all of the various flavors I have on hand at any given time, and its eight compartments can hold an impressive amount of tea bags.
What I use instead: Oceanstar Bamboo Tea Box
So-so straws
I love sipping iced coffee out of a straw in the mornings, but plastic ones are bad for the environment and paper ones tend to disintegrate quickly. I’ve tried reusable rubber straws but found them difficult to clean since they’re not clear. I finally came across an inexpensive pack of 14 different glass straws that are easy to wash and use time and time again. I wish I had gone this route earlier!
What I use instead: Glass Straws, 18-Pack
