Making Space For Kitchen Essentials
What are your kitchen essentials?
If you struggle for space on your kitchen countertops, take a moment to look at what’s in your way.
Your kitchen counter is “prime real estate”. Don’t waste it on unnecessary, seldom-used appliances.
It’s time to do some editing.
Here’s how to do it. Clear off your dining room table or set up a folding table near your kitchen. Move everything on your counters to this extra space. If you need an appliance, grab it and place it in the most useful spot in your kitchen. You needed this appliance, so it earned a space in your kitchen. In addition, do this for one week, two weeks, or maybe a month. When you feel as though your kitchen is adequately supplied you are done.
You now have your kitchen essentials.
Of course, find homes (off-site) for the seldom-used appliances. Maybe in a cabinet or in your basement storage or laundry room or in time just get rid of them.
Your kitchen counter is prime real estate. Don't waste it on unnecessary, seldom-used appliances. Share on XIn conclusion, let me ask you, what’s on your countertops?
If you are looking for information on where to store your large appliances in a small kitchen, check out this article from CombiOven.org.
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Janet Schiesl
Janet has been organizing since 2005. She is a Certified Professional Organizer and the owner of Basic Organization.
She loves using her background as a space planner to challenge her clients to look at their space differently. She leads the team in large projects and works one-on-one with clients to help the process move quickly and comfortably. Call her crazy, but she loves to work with paper, to purge what is not needed and to create filing systems that work for each individual client.
Janet is a Past Board Member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals and a Past President of the Washington DC Chapter of NAPO were she has been named Organizer of the Year and Volunteer of the Year.
Janet Schiesl
Janet has been organizing since 2005. She is a Certified Professional Organizer and the owner of Basic Organization.
She loves using her background as a space planner to challenge her clients to look at their space differently. She leads the team in large projects and works one-on-one with clients to help the process move quickly and comfortably. Call her crazy, but she loves to work with paper, to purge what is not needed and to create filing systems that work for each individual client.
Janet is a Past Board Member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals and a Past President of the Washington DC Chapter of NAPO were she has been named Organizer of the Year and Volunteer of the Year.
My kitchen is small and my countertop is small too, so I put there only my coffee maker and the toaster. I hope that I will find a little bigger apartment with a bigger kitchen because here I don’t even have a place for cooking. Regards!
A super small kitchen is a challenge. Try searching on Pinterest for ideas.
I don’t have a ton of countertop space so I definitely try and keep them clutter free by just having the essentials out. It makes cleaning easier too! 🙂
I like open counter space too, so I put as much as possible away. There only means that you can’t have anything in your cabinets that you don’t need, so you can store the things you need.
What a clever and quick way of truly discovering which countertop items are essential. We have a good amount of counter space, but I love doing a ‘reality check’ every so often to see if something has landed there and no longer deserves a spot. We changed our eating habits several months ago, and that encouraged me to takeaway the three glass “snack” jars that were in view. I always loved how they looked and how easy it made it for myself and others to grab snacks. But then I realized that “easy” now took on a new meaning, so they went away out of view. I was so happy to regain the space as space.
I know what you mean. I like to have something pretty out on my counter, but it ends up getting in the way. I have a small pantry, but I make the best use of it that I can, storing things in nice containers.
This post is an important reminder, especially for those who have just become empty nesters. I used to use my mixer and food processor at least once a week when the kids were home. Now, with the kids away, I very rarely use them. So, they had to go! They are stored in a cabinet away from the main prep area.
You are right Sabrina. I have noticed that our needs have changed too. Empty nesting has changed how we grocery shop and cook too.
Clever way to figure out what you are really using!
To answer your question: some plants in the bay window behind my sink, 2 coffee pots (both used each day), soap dispenser, 1 hand towel, paper towel roll, box of tissues, knife block, and at the moment, a lotion warmer. I keep as much as possible stored out of sight.
I’ll answer that question too. Coffee maker, toaster oven, crock with coffee and tea pods, composting container, dishrag, and dish soap dispenser.
This is a nifty approach. I think everything on your counter (which I consider as “food prep” space) needs to EARN its position. I grew up in a house where my mother put the toaster in the cupboard every day after breakfast was over; she saw no reason for it to sit on the counter all day, unused. I’m a little more relaxed about that, but I definitely buy into your way of really determining what gets the prime real estate vs. what is second string. Only my microwave and toaster get permanent space on the counter. (But I’ve been lazy enough to make popcorn three nights in a row so I don’t have to put away the hot air popper!)
I don’t have a big kitchen, so prescribe to this exercise and suggest it to clients often. It can be eye-opening to those who leave everything out.
What a great way to filter out unnecessary kitchen items! It “proves” to yourself what deserves a spot on prime kitchen real estate.
Yes! It’s a good exercise for many areas of the home. Try it in your bathroom with hair supplies or in your office with desk items.