You can declutter your kitchen without feeling like you’re betraying your waffle maker.
Let’s be honest: the kitchen is one of the hardest spaces to declutter. It’s the heart of the home, a memory maker, a snack station, and—if you’re anything like me—home to a few impulse purchases from the kitchen aisle at Aldi. (Looking at you, never-used zoodle maker.)
But here’s the good news: you don’t have to get rid of everything you own to enjoy a calm, organised kitchen. You can declutter your kitchen without tossing every single gadget, appliance, or quirky mug that sparks joy.
This isn’t about minimalism for minimalism’s sake—it’s about making space for ease, clarity, and actual cooking.
Start With Your Dream Kitchen (Not Pinterest’s)
(Mindset comes first, always.)
Before you so much as open a drawer, I want you to close your eyes and imagine your ideal kitchen.
Not the Better Homes & Gardens version—your dream kitchen. Maybe it’s still got a coffee pod collection, maybe the slow cooker is pride of place. Maybe it’s about being able to pack school lunches without swearing.
When we declutter your kitchen, we start with that dream in mind. That’s the “D” in my D.C.L.T.R. framework—Dream.
This step helps anchor your decisions. Because when you know what you want (ease, flow, a place to make toast without moving five things?), it’s a lot easier to see what’s in the way.
Create a Use Zones Map
(Curate, don’t purge.)
Instead of the guilt-fest of “What should I get rid of?” try this:
What do I actually use, and where do I use it?
Think in zones—tea & coffee, baking, kids’ lunch prep, weeknight dinners, breakfast smoothie chaos. Then check: are the things you use for each zone actually living nearby?
This is the Curate step. You’re not judging what you own—you’re simply putting things in their rightful place. And when something doesn’t fit into any of your current zones? That’s a clue it might not belong anymore.
Gadgets: Keep the Favourites, Lose the Duplicates
I’m not here to make you feel bad for owning an air fryer, a rice cooker, a slow cooker, and a pressure cooker. (No judgment—I’ve seen it all. I’ve owned most of it.)
But unless you’re hosting a kitchen appliance convention, let’s talk duplicates.
Ask:
- Do I use this regularly?
- Does another gadget I own already do this job?
- If I’m honest, is this collecting more dust than dinner wins?
It’s okay to keep the ice cream maker if it makes your summer feel like magic. But if you’ve got three versions of the same blender, it’s time to choose a favourite.
Micro-Moments Matter
(Try, try, and try again.)
Don’t wait for a full weekend to overhaul your whole kitchen. That day might never come. Instead, embrace the 5–10 minute pockets.
- Declutter one junk drawer during your morning cuppa.
- Wipe down the fridge shelves while you’re waiting for the kettle to boil.
- Sort the spice rack while dinner simmers.
This is the Try step. No perfection, just progress. Tiny actions add up—and they’re a whole lot easier to follow through on than big, overwhelming plans.
The Reset Ritual: Make It Easy to Maintain
It’s one thing to declutter your kitchen—keeping it that way is the real trick.
The Reset is where the magic happens. It’s the bit most people skip, and that’s why they end up right back where they started.
Think:
- Clear the benches before bed.
- Empty the dish rack while the toast cooks.
- Do a “5 things back where they belong” sweep after dinner.
These resets help your space reflect the dream you started with. It becomes less about cleaning and more about returning to calm.
Decluttering Doesn’t Mean Denying Joy
Your kitchen should feel lived in—not like a display home. You’re allowed to have a messy utensil drawer if that’s what works for you. You’re allowed to keep the hot pink cocktail shaker you use once a year because it makes you happy.
This is your kitchen. And when we declutter your kitchen, we’re not stripping it bare—we’re making it work for you.
You Don’t Have to Do It Alone
If the thought of tackling your kitchen solo still feels like too much, I’ve got your back.
You can:
👉 Book a free call to chat through where to start
👉 Try a Side-by-Side Session—we’ll body double via Zoom and do it together
👉 Or grab the Simplicity Toolkit for printable prompts and checklists that walk you through the whole process at your pace
Decluttering can feel like a mountain. But with the right support—and a few clear kitchen benches—you’ll be amazed at how light things can feel.