Minimalist Kitchen

Hey, Beautiful! Let’s talk about what is in your kitchen! The kitchen is my favorite place in any home.  Somehow it always feels like the main hub for a home. My kitchen is very small but every time we have guests, we all congregate in my tiny, aspiring minimalist kitchen.  We have a perfectly lovely living room, but we still end up in the kitchen. This has been the hardest place for me to feel minimal. I have probably gotten rid of about half of the things I did have, but somehow it still feels like I have too much.  The thing is, I use all of what I have.

I love to cook.  I am not currently in a season of life that allows me to do much cooking for fun, but I do enjoy it.  We are transitioning our eating style and it feels like learning to cook all over again. Isn’t that a funny thing.  I think I have it all figured out, then BAM! Nope, time to relearn. Good thing I love learning.

Since I started our minimalist journey, I have learned a few things.  The first is that there will always be people who are minimal than me.  That is truly wonderful and I aspire to downsize more. I have also learned that I don’t get it right the first time around.  I have to purge areas repeatedly before I will feel “done” with it. My kitchen is on its 4th purge, and I am completely okay with that.  But honestly, how many cookie sheets do you really need? I have three. They all have their own purpose and reason for staying.

Let’s talk about kitchen appliances for just a minute.  I love kitchen gadgets just as much as the next Mama, but do you need a Kitchenaid mixer, a hand mixer, a blender, an emulsion blender, and a spare hand mixer?  I bet not. Turns out I only need the Kitchenaid and the blender. Think about how much room these items can take up in your kitchen. How often do you use them? Do you have something else that can do the same job?  If so, let it go, Mama. It is just cluttering your life.

I love dishes and I love coffee cups.  I have trimmed my dishes down so much. Still working on the coffee cups.  I have 8 large plates, 4 small ones, and 8 bowls. That is all. I have some serving pieces for parties that I have kept, but as far as everyday dishes, that’s it.  I have never wished that I had more. The truth is, when we have a large get-together, we like paper or plastic plates. We aren’t fancy people. But maybe you are. That is so cool.  Can we come over 🙂 Seriously consider what works for you and your family and life. Are you about to get married? Do you really need everyday dishes AND china? For me, the answer was no.  Don’t feel pressure to get things just because that is what everyone else does. You are your own unicorn. Be magical and do what works for you! None of us are the exact same for a reason.

How many things do you have sitting on your countertops?  Clearing the vertical spaces will have the fastest and most profound impact on how your space looks.  My countertops used to have my coffee maker, a container of utensils, wax warmer, a big piece of granite, fruit bowl, mail organizer, and KitchenAid mixer.  The kitchen felt cluttered, small, and *gasp* had no counter space left! The only items that are allowed out now are my coffee maker and granite piece. The fruit basket appears in summer when everything is in season but disappears after that.  The mixer is stored in a cabinet and only takes me two extra seconds to pull out to use. Now the space is more functional and welcoming.

When you clean out your kitchen, here are a few things I want you to ask yourself:

• When is the last time I used this? Unless it is a holiday item, more than 6 months ago is a stretch.  Let it go. If it’s something that you use only during certain holidays, did you use it last year? Maybe there is something else that can do the same thing.
• Does something else do the same thing?  Just like my mixers, think about the purpose of each item.  If you have multiples, let them go.
• Do you use it often?  This is so important. If you aren’t sure about something, put a date on it.  I labeled items I wasn’t sure about with painters tape that had a future date written in marker.  If I hadn’t used those items by that date, they had to go.
• Are you keeping it because someone gave it to you?  Listen carefully, friend. Just because it was given to you, you have ZERO obligation to keep it.  Gifts do not come with contracts. Once they are yours, you decide if and how to use them. If they don’t serve you, bless someone else with them.

One last thing…there will never be a perfect time to start.  Just start! Don’t say you will start on Monday, or after the kids are done with soccer or some other excuse.  Start now. It doesn’t have to be big, just start somewhere. I am here to answer any questions along the way. Get your minimalist kitchen started. You can find me on Facebook or via email at hello@faithfulfeather.com.  Don’t forget to subscribe below!