- There are some items and trends that can make your kitchen look unstylish and cluttered.
- Save countertop and shelf space by throwing away extra knives, unused spices, and cleaning supplies.
Your kitchen should be filled with useful and meaningful items, but many end up looking cluttered and poorly designed.
So we spoke to interior designers to figure out which items and design elements should be removed.
Dispose of small trinkets and trinkets
Jill Jarvis, interior designer and owner of Ehrlich Interiors, told Business Insider that the main thing she recommends getting rid of from the kitchen is countertop clutter.
“Nothing makes a kitchen look cluttered more than a cluttered countertop,” said the designer. “It also makes it difficult to wipe down the counters and keep them clean.”
Get rid of unnecessary documents, mail, small home appliances, etc. that you don't use regularly. Jarvis also suggested moving or tossing out decorative accessories that take up too much space.
Open shelving does not fit in most kitchens
Rebecca Langman, interior designer and owner of Revision Custom Home Design, told BI that open shelving is rarely the best option for kitchen storage.
“Open shelving creates visual clutter and requires regular cleaning and organization to keep it looking good,” says Langman.
Glass front cabinet improves visibility and also reduces dust and grease buildup.
No need to have a huge collection of different wine glasses
Interior designer Joe Cangelosi told BI that it's not necessary to own every type of wine glass.
“Unless you have a giant butler's pantry that can hold everything, most people only need a set of all-purpose wine glasses and champagne flutes,” he says.
The designer recommended buying expensive glasses for formal occasions and cheaper glasses for everyday wear.
Donate or sell your surplus knives
Unless you're a professional chef, you probably don't need 24 different knives.
“Kitchen stores try to sell you all kinds of knives, but 99 percent of the time, you only need three: a heavy chef's knife, a serrated bread knife, and a small paring knife,” Cangelosi says.
Sell or donate your little-used knives and invest in high-quality versions of your three main knives.
Consolidate and remove bulky cookbooks
Cookbooks can be inspirational, but they can also be visually and physically cluttering.
“To free up space in your kitchen, move or donate cookbooks you don't use every day,” says Jarvis.
If you only use one or two recipes in your cookbook, consider copying the recipes onto paper and storing them in a box or binder. You can also take a photo for easy reference.
Remove decorations from upper cabinets
Decorative items in the upper cabinets can collect dust and look cluttered.
“Unless you have high vaulted ceilings, placing things on top of upper cabinets will only raise dust and do little to improve the appearance of the space,” says Langman.
If you really want to put something on top of the cabinet, choose plants that don't get dusty when watered and are low-maintenance.
Word signs containing common phrases can seem overly trendy
Langman told BI that one of the frustrating things about kitchen decor is signs with common phrases.
“Guests will know they're in the kitchen even if there aren't oversized forks and spoons on the wall or signs telling them to 'meet' or 'eat,'” says Langman.
Instead, the designer recommended choosing cute handmade art that complements the kitchen.
Old dish towels should be thrown away
Dirty or frayed towels can make your kitchen look unsightly.
“Look through your dish towels and throw away any that are past their use and no longer complement your kitchen,” says Jarvis.
You can use old towels as rags or donate clean towels that no longer fit your style.
Free up space in your cabinets and pantry by throwing away excess spices
“You might have some spices in your cupboard that you never use,” Jarvis says. “Throw away spices and other spices that have lost their flavor.”
You can combine half-filled bottles of the same spice to make large quantities of tea or infusions using bottles that are past their prime.
Throw away cleaning supplies that are rarely available
Keep your kitchen tidy by tossing out cleaning supplies you don't use often.
“Keep your under-sink tidy by tossing rarely-used cleaning supplies or combining multiples of the same product in the same bottle,” says Jarvis.
Additionally, place near-empty products toward the front of the cabinet so they're easier to reach for first.
This story was first published on June 14, 2022 and most recently updated on March 29, 2024.
