Simplified Spaces: The Kitchen Edition
A well-organized kitchen isn’t about perfection—it’s about making everyday life feel easier. When your space is set up with intention, cooking, cleaning, and even grabbing a quick snack becomes more seamless (and a lot less frustrating).
If you’ve ever opened a cabinet and felt overwhelmed, you’re not alone! The good news is that a few simple shifts can completely change how your kitchen functions, and our full Kitchen Guide walks you through exactly how to get there.
4 Tips to Get Started
Placement matters more than you think
Where you store things can make or break your kitchen flow. A few small adjustments can go a long way:
Keep glassware where you typically pour drinks
Store dishes close to the dishwasher for easy unloading
Place oils and spices within arm’s reach of the stove
Pro tip: be mindful of what you store above the trash (never cutlery)!
If you’re tight on cabinet space, adding acrylic risers can instantly double your storage and make stacks of dishes, mugs, or serveware easier to grab—no unstacking required.
For oils, spices, and everyday cooking items, turntables are a game changer. They keep everything visible and easy to access, especially in deeper cabinets.
Keep counters clear (but realistic)
Clear counters instantly make a kitchen feel calmer and more spacious—but that doesn’t mean you have to hide everything.
A good rule of thumb: if you don’t use it daily, put it away.
Keeping only your most-used items out (like a coffee maker or toaster) helps reduce visual clutter while still supporting your routine.
Be intentional with your pantry
Whether you have a walk-in pantry or a single cabinet, the same principle applies: keep like items together and prioritize accessibility.
Group similar items (snacks, baking, breakfast, grains, pasta)
Store everyday staples at eye level
Move backstock out of prime space to avoid overcrowding
Bins help maintain these categories and prevent things from getting lost in the back. Depending on the space that you’re working with, you can go for standard pantry bins, open-front options, or deeper bins where room allows.
And when it comes to decanting? It’s optional. It can look beautiful and improve visibility—but only if you’ll truly maintain it. A simple, hybrid approach often works best. We love matching jars for spices and canisters for pantry staples.
Don’t overlook under-the-sink
This space tends to become a messy catch-all, but it works best when kept simple. Stick to:
Dishwashing essentials
Everyday cleaning supplies
Kitchen trash bags
To keep everything contained and easy to see, our go-to is using deep bins (like the ones for the pantry). They prevent items from getting lost and make it simple to grab what you need. When possible, save bulk items and extras in a separate storage area to prevent overcrowding.
A simpler kitchen starts with small shifts
In the end, you don’t need a full overhaul to feel a difference. Even one or two of these changes can make your kitchen function more smoothly day to day.
Our full Kitchen Guide walks through everything in detail, from zone planning to product recommendations and step-by-step systems. And if your pantry could use a little help, our Pantry Guide is ready for you—or shop both together in our bundle!