If you think of chores when you think of your kitchen, this article is for you. The kitchen is the heart of the home, and it should be a place that inspires you and is a happy place, both for you and your family, as it’s usually a room you spend a lot of time in. And don’t worry, the tips we share don’t require a full kitchen renovation either.
- Declutter and clean.
Most of our kitchens (and our houses in general) have lots of things we’re not using anymore just lying around. Before you get too deep into the issues of your kitchen, do a thorough declutter and clean to make the next steps that much easer. - Take stock of the issues.
Take a look around your kitchen. What’s stressing you out? Is it the clutter on your countertops? How far away the fridge is from the stove? Is it your pots and pans cabinet or worse–the messy tupperware drawer? Until you really take note of what is causing you the most issues, you won’t know what to fix. If you’re looking around at your kitchen and aren’t sure why it causes you stress, try to pay attention the next time you’re cooking a meal or tidying up. - Get creative.
Each kitchen has its own unique problems, but with a little creativity, you can likely solve the at least some of your problems. If your cabinets are unorganized, try bringing in an organizer for pots and pans or tupperware. Bring in some labels for your dry goods and pantry, even your cabinets if family members always seem to be putting things in the wrong place. If you wish you had nice, stainless steel appliances, but can’t afford the splurge on new ones just yet, try peel and stick stainless steel film for now. Even a fresh coat of paint, stick on backsplash, or more lighting can do wonders to make things feel brighter and cozier. - Simplify the processes.
If your kitchen just serves as a reminder of all the work you have to do cooking and cleaning in it, you may be overloaded with too much to do. Try to simplify things by giving your children more responsibility, meal planning and/or prepping, cooking simpler meals, or even trying out meal delivery kits or hiring someone to come and clean your house. Even just having a set routine of everyone pitching in to clean up the kitchen after dinner or setting yourself a reminder to get meat out and prep for dinner a little in the morning can make a world of difference. We all have a lot on your plate, but that doesn’t mean you have to be stressed in your kitchen. - Make it your own.
Your kitchen should reflect who you are and your own personal style. While function is very important, you want your kitchen to feel nice and homey too. Add in some personal touches like a rug, window treatments, and other pretty things to help your kitchen feel like yours.