Have you recently found dishes that you forgot you had tucked away in your kitchen cabinets? Do you often need to search through multiple items to find what you’re looking for? It’s time to declutter your cabinets!
I spent a few hours one day simplifying my upper cabinets where I store all my dishes, glasses and food storage containers. I am so happy with the results! If you’d like to watch my video about this, just click below.
Here are some steps that I suggest, and some questions you can ask yourself as you declutter your kitchen cabinets.
1. Identify the main dishes you use most every day. How many do you have, and how many people live in your home? I have 8 plates, 8 bowls, etc. and there are only 2 of us. I chose to keep 4 of each on the bottom shelves for easy accessibility and then stored the rest on the top shelf.
Consider adjusting your shelving to different heights if that is an option for you. That worked really well for me. I now have two lower shelves closer together for our everyday plates and bowls.
Here’s an added benefit for keeping fewer dishes on the bottom shelves: It forces you to keep on top of washing your dishes – rather than letting more dirty dishes pile up in the sink.
2. Decrease the amount of food storage containers in your cabinets. Most of us have way more that we need – they seem to multiply, don’t they? Get “real” about what you “really need” and say goodbye to all the extras.
Storage Container Tip: Store your containers with the lids on them so they are easy to grab when you need one. Chances are, if you have to stack the bowls together and the lids together, it’s could be because your cabinets are too full of other things you don’t regularly use.
3. Are you holding on to dishes for sentimental reasons? Deciding to keep or let go of a sentimental item can be a very difficult decision. As I was decluttering my cabinet I held a flower vase in my hand that my grandmother gave to me. I love this vase and the answer was easy – I will always keep it!
I also picked up a Christmas plate that was given to me by a special friend. This was a harder decision. I have more Christmas dishes than I need, and I have MANY other meaningful reminders of my friend. I was able to part with this particular dish, without parting with my memories and love for her. I know it will find its way from my local donation center into another home – to another family who will enjoy it.
4. Are you storing stacks and stacks of dishes “just in case” you might need them someday? Try packing some of your extra dishes away in a tote or a box and see how it feels to have more room in your cabinets. Then revisit that box in 6 months or a year and notice if you missed those dishes at all. Then you can decide if you need to make space for them, or if you can let them go for good.
Just remember that doing a little at a time is OK. The more times you declutter, the easier it gets to decide about letting some of your possessions go.
We spend so much time in our kitchens. It only makes sense that we should make the kitchen a more simplified and efficient space. I’m certain that you will find having extra space (where once it was crowded) is a great feeling!
I still have a lot of base cabinets to declutter – but I’m saving that for another day….and another blog post!
Keep it Simple, Friends!
❤️ Angie
P.S. To help you continue on your decluttering journey, I have a free 7 Simple Steps a Week guide for you. Just sign up below! Plus you can find more videos about decluttering here.
