So, fellow former procrastinators, reading the title do you see an adjective describing where clutter hangs out? Or do you see a verb urging action? Either answer wins! We have to recognize clutter for what it is and remove it.
Are you discouraged when you walk in the kitchen? Have jars, water bottles, and cookie containers hidden your decorative items? Do you have to shove the coffee pot over or stack up papers in order to start a meal? These are calls to action. Procrastinate no more!
Sometimes I think of the kitchen as my laboratory. Only a “mad scientist” would tolerate a messy lab. I want to walk in and be able to get right to work. When counter space is limited, space to operate seems even more important. It’s an everyday need.
Surveying our kitchen (papers have one location), I realized two things.
First, seldom-used appliances occupied valuable real estate we needed daily. The electric can opener is long gone. More recently I moved the bread machine to the pantry in the basement. It now resides on top of a four-drawer file cabinet where it works just fine. A little odd, totally functional.
Idea: Find another place to use items or to store those you do not use often. Maybe the basement, laundry room, or garage. Designate an accessible area for kitchen items. If necessary, keep them in a box or covered to keep out dust. Use your imagination so you’re not limited to “kitchen type” areas unless you have them. Taking extra steps occasionally is a small price to pay for clear counter space you need daily.
Second realization: There’s too much on the counters partly because there’s too much in the cabinets. When drawers and cabinets are over stuffed, what could go in there hangs out on the counters. When you reach for a plastic container, does a plastic avalanche pour out on you? Do you have five skillets but consistently use only two? Would you store the bread out of sight – if you could?
Idea: Remove excess from cabinets and drawers – excess being things you seldom if ever use. Understand what you actually use (eight containers) and admit what’s in the way (eight others). A “useful” or “good” item actually – not potentially – serves YOU well.
Try something new. We grow accustomed to stuff being around and we don’t really see it for the obstacle it is to simpler functioning. I’ve been thrilled with the paring down I did in the kitchen. Even if you have lots of space, it’s quicker and easier to operate without the burden of too much. Move seldom -used items out of your everyday path.
Now, just the items I use repeatedly get the privilege of residing in the kitchen. Most not-very-oftens go in the basement. Even they must be used often enough to merit keeping at all.
This week, what seldom-used items will you remove from your kitchen to clear your everyday path – including counters?
My kitchen downgraded a few sizes with this last move. It is NOT my favorite, as space is certainly a commodity. Clear counters make me happy! (BUT, they seldom are clear!) This post encourages me to pare down the kitchen altogether and get those counters clear of the things that take up space day today yet seldom get USED. Thanks, Beth!