Strategies to Fight Apartment Kitchen Clutter
October 31, 2015
Clutter is an insidious thing. They say that clutter breeds more clutter, but wouldn’t it be nice if clean bred more clean? Instead,
it only takes a moment of neglect or procrastination for the clutter cycle to begin. Nowhere is it more important to stay ahead of the cycle than in the kitchen, one of the most visited areas in any home.
Here are a few excellent suggestions to help keep your kitchen space pleasant and useful.
Whether you are getting set to move into your first apartment or you are preparing to tame a kitchen saddled with more than just a single junk drawer, the best approach is to think small. It’s those small yet persistent efforts that pay off the most. A tolerable five to ten minutes of extra attention per day over the course of a week or two will have a significant impact on the everyday quality of life in your kitchen. Keep that in mind as you consider these tips, starting with your kitchen counter space.
Keep countertops as empty as possible.
Not only will empty countertops contribute to a tidier vibe overall, it will make cooking more enjoyable. You won’t have to fight for space against decorative containers or small appliances as you prepare your meals. To that end, reconsider displaying your flour and sugar in fancy containers on the countertop – unless they were a gift from your in-laws who are coming over for dinner tonight.
Along those lines, those knife blocks can also go. If the knives are special enough to display, get them off the countertop by installing a magnetic strip to hold them onto the wall. Otherwise, make room for them in a drawer, protecting the sharp edges and your fingers with blade covers. Additionally, mount your microwave under a cabinet or put it on a shelf on the wall, if at all possible. Only allow the small appliances that rank high enough for daily use to reside on your precious counter space. For many of us, that probably means a coffee maker. But what if your cabinets are hard-pressed to absorb your decorative containers and idle appliances?
Cabinet and pantry minimalism is a worthy and attainable goal.
Go ahead, be merciless. If it’s rusted, broken, duplicated, or just the lingering consequence of an ill-advised impulse purchase, it’s probably time to let it go. Also, take a hard look at those commemorative champagne flutes and promotional coffee cups that you never use and plan for their departure. If they have sentimental value, go ahead and box them up for long-term storage someplace besides the kitchen.
Otherwise, toss them out or donate them to a thrift store. The same goes for redundant utensils and that plastic spatula that’s seen better days. The extra cabinet and pantry space you gain will be your reward.
