The most important first step in an organized kitchen is to declutter your kitchen. It is tempting to look at a crowded cabinet or overflowing drawer and immediately search for better storage solutions, since that’s the fun part. New containers, drawer dividers, and organizers will certainly help, but they work best after you decide what truly deserves space in your kitchen. A kitchen can only hold so much. When every cabinet, drawer, and countertop is filled, even the best organization system will eventually become difficult to maintain. Decluttering your kitchen creates room for the organization systems that come next.
To be clear, the goal in decluttering is not to create a perfectly minimal kitchen where everything is hidden away. A well-decluttered kitchen is one where it’s easier to find, put away, and enjoy the things you use. A functional kitchen should support real life, whether that means preparing family meals, baking occasionally, hosting holidays, or simply making weekday routines easier.
QUICK ANSWER
HOW DO YOU DECLUTTER A KITCHEN?
The best way to declutter a kitchen is to work through one area at a time, remove items you no longer use, group similar items together, and make intentional decisions about what deserves space.
Start with obvious clutter such as expired food, broken items, unnecessary duplicates, and unused tools. Then move into more personal decisions involving appliances, serving pieces, and specialty items.
The goal is to create a kitchen that works better for your household, not to own as little as possible. Keep reading for more detailed explanations of how to do just that.
BRIEF ORGANIZATION PROCESS OVERVIEW
A practical kitchen organization process usually follows this order:
- Take everything out of the space you’re organizing.
- Sort everything into piles: donate, throw out, keep somewhere else, keep in the space.
- Throw away/donate what no longer serves your home.
- Group the items you use and will keep in the space.
- Create storage systems based on your routines.
- Maintain the system over time.
This approach makes the organizing process easier because you are building around what you actually need. For more details on the organization process, check out How to Organize Anything: An Overall Organization Guide.
This article focuses on step 2 in the guide linked above, aka the decluttering process.
START WITH THE AREAS THAT CAUSE THE MOST FRUSTRATION
When you declutter your kitchen, it can be tempting to empty every cabinet and tackle everything at once. That approach often becomes overwhelming. It’s better to tackle decluttering and organization projects in small steps. In the kitchen, that usually means one cabinet, drawer, or area at a time. When deciding where to start, the best place is often an area that causes daily frustration.
This might be a drawer where the utensils tend to get stuck, the cabinet where containers come tumbling out when you use it, or the countertop that constantly collects items that don’t belong there. Starting with a frustrating area is great because improving the area will immediately make your kitchen noticeably easier to use.
Small wins will help build momentum. Once you see how much easier a drawer or cabinet becomes after removing unnecessary items, you’ll feel excited to fix more spaces in the kitchen, and the rest of the kitchen decluttering will feel more manageable.
FOUR QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN DECLUTTERING YOUR KITCHEN
The hardest part of decluttering, but also the main point of it, is deciding what should stay and what should go. Most kitchen items fall into these categories: used constantly, used occasionally, used to be useful but not anymore, not useful but was expensive, not useful but thought it would be when bought. Asking yourself the following questions can help you decide which category the item belongs in and whether it deserves to stay in your kitchen or should be donated.
1. DO I USE THIS?
Do I use this? This question is the simplest place to start. Items you use regularly have already proven their value. Your everyday dishes, favorite cooking tools, and frequently used appliances usually do not require much thought. Those are easy keeps.
The harder decisions are the items used occasionally. A holiday serving dish, specialty baking tool, or large appliance may not be used every week, but that does not automatically mean it should leave your kitchen. The question is whether the item has a clear purpose in your current life. If it still has a purpose in your life, then it’s a keep.
2. WOULD I BUY THIS AGAIN TODAY?
This question is helpful because it helps you acknowledge that our needs change over time. An item may have made sense when you purchased it, but your routines may look different now. Maybe you used to bake frequently, but rarely do anymore. Maybe your family size has changed, or your cooking style has evolved. Instead of focusing on how you used to use the item, consider whether it still fits the way you live today. If you were shopping now, would this item still earn a place in your kitchen? If the answer is no, then it’s a donate.
3. DOES THIS MAKE MY LIFE EASIER?
The best kitchen items usually do one of two things: save time or make a repeat task more enjoyable. For example, a quality pan you use often, a coffee maker that simplifies your mornings, or a tool that genuinely helps with meal preparation absolutely deserves space. The opposite can also be true, and some items create more work than they save. They require storage, maintenance, and cleaning but rarely get used. A useful kitchen is not necessarily one with the most tools. It is one with the right tools for the way you live.
4. AM I KEEPING THIS BECAUSE I USE IT OR BECAUSE I FEEL GUILTY?
This is where decluttering can become more personal. Kitchens contain many items connected to memories, gifts, money spent, and future plans. For example, a gadget may represent a hobby you hoped to start, or a set of dishes may remind you of a special event. A gift may be difficult to remove because you appreciate the person who gave it to you. Decluttering does not mean those memories disappear. It simply means you are making thoughtful decisions about what belongs in your home today. Keeping something because it serves a purpose is different from keeping something because you feel obligated to store it.
EASY ITEMS TO DECLUTTER IN YOUR KITCHEN
If you are beginning to declutter your kitchen, it often helps to start with items where the decision is straightforward.
This includes categories such as:
- Expired food
- Broken kitchen tools
- Containers without matching lids
- Items you forgot you owned
- Appliances you never use
- Tools you dislike using
Removing obvious clutter creates space and makes the next decisions easier. It also helps you see the difference decluttering can make before tackling more difficult categories. This helps get you in the decluttering mindset and allows you to be more successful when it comes to more difficult categories.
DECLUTTERING KITCHEN APPLIANCES
Appliances can be one of the hardest kitchen categories to evaluate because they often represent possibilities. You can make bread with the breadmaker or squeeze your own fresh juice with the juicer. The challenge is separating the idea of what an appliance can do for you from what it’s actually doing for you. A good question to ask yourself is, “Does this appliance support the way I cook today?”
Some things to consider:
- How often do I use it?
- Is it easy to access?
- Does it save time?
- Does another tool accomplish the same thing?
- Is storing it worth the space it takes?
Some appliances are worth keeping even if they are not used frequently. An appliance you only use at the holidays may have a legitimate purpose and be worth keeping. But if you’ve made one loaf of bread the entire time you’ve owned the breadmaker, it’s time for it to go.
DEALING WITH DUPLICATE KITCHEN ITEMS
Duplicate kitchen items can be a tricky category to declutter. That’s because in a kitchen, some duplicate items are worth having, but others are not. And for the items where duplicates are helpful, how many duplicates are really needed? For example, having two spatulas might be helpful to you, but three or four spatulas might be creating clutter in your kitchen. When reviewing duplicates, consider whether you actually need multiples, and if so, how many.
Some duplicates make sense:
- Several everyday dishes for a family
- Multiple cooking utensils if you use them often
- Extra glasses for entertaining
Other duplicates may simply be taking up space:
- Several versions of the same gadget
- More food containers than you realistically use
- Multiple tools that perform the same function
As you declutter your kitchen, you’re not trying to have the fewest items possible. You just want to have enough to help you cook and function in the kitchen, without creating unnecessary clutter and maintenance.
DECLUTTERING KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS
Countertops deserve special attention because they have an immediate impact on how your kitchen looks and feels. Even a well-organized kitchen can appear cluttered when every available counter surface is covered with appliances, paperwork, groceries, and miscellaneous items.
The reason countertops become cluttered quickly is that they are convenient. They naturally become the place where things land “just for now”, but before long, temporary items become permanent fixtures.
When decluttering your kitchen countertops, the goal isn’t to remove everything. Instead, focus on creating intentional, functional space.
For each item on the counter, ask yourself:
- Does this item being on the counter genuinely make my daily routine easier?
- How often do I use it?
- Is the countertop the best place for it?
- Could it be stored somewhere nearby without making it difficult to access?
- Would I choose this location if I were organizing my kitchen today?
Some items absolutely deserve a permanent place on the countertop. A coffee maker you use every morning, a frequently used cooking appliance, or a knife block may earn its space because it supports the way you actually use your kitchen.
The key is to distinguish between useful convenience and accumulated clutter. An item that saves you time every day is serving a purpose. An item that sits untouched for weeks simply because there is nowhere else to put it may be taking up valuable space.
Remember, you’re not trying to create a completely empty kitchen. A bare countertop may look beautiful in a photo, but it isn’t necessarily practical for everyday life. The goal is a countertop that supports how you live and work in your kitchen, while leaving enough open space for cooking, preparing meals, and simply making the room feel calmer and more spacious.
WHAT TO DO WITH KITCHEN ITEMS YOU NO LONGER NEED
Once you decide something no longer belongs in your kitchen, the next step is figuring out where it should go. Not every unwanted item needs to be thrown away. If it’s still clean and usable, consider donating kitchen tools or small appliances to a local organization, passing them along to friends or family, or selling higher-value items that are in good working condition. For broken or heavily worn items, check whether the materials can be recycled through your local program or a specialty recycling service rather than automatically sending them to the landfill.
Making a clear plan for anything leaving your kitchen is just as important as decluttering. A donation bag that sits by the door for weeks is still clutter; it has simply been moved from one location to another. Set a deadline to drop off donations, arrange a pickup, list items for sale, or take recyclables where they need to go. Decluttering isn’t truly finished until those items have actually left your space.
THE EMOTIONAL SIDE OF KITCHEN DECLUTTERING
Kitchen items often carry far more emotional weight than we realize. A particular dish might bring back memories of family gatherings, a specialized recipe tool might remind you of a hobby you once hoped to pursue, and a serving piece may be difficult to let go of simply because it was expensive, meaningful, or given to you by someone you care about. These connections are real, which is why decluttering a kitchen can feel much more complicated than simply deciding where things should be stored.
One helpful way to approach these decisions is to separate appreciation from ownership. You can value the memory, the person, or the experience associated with an item without being required to keep the physical object forever. Your home should support the life you are living now, not serve as a permanent storage place for every version of who you have been or hoped to become. The purpose of decluttering is not to erase memories or dismiss what mattered to you. It is to create space for the people, activities, and everyday routines that matter most in your life today.
WHAT DESERVES TO STAY IN YOUR KITCHEN
Decluttering is often described as getting rid of things you no longer need, but an equally important part of the process is recognizing what deserves to stay. It’s easy to assume that an organized kitchen is simply one with fewer possessions, but that isn’t necessarily true. A functional kitchen is personal, and the right amount of stuff will look different for everyone. It depends on how you cook, how often you entertain, the size of your household, and the routines and activities that are important to your everyday life.
As you declutter your kitchen, before removing something, pause and consider whether it contributes to the way you actually live. If it does, keeping it may be the right choice. You want to create a space where the things you own earn their place by serving a useful purpose, supporting a routine, or bringing genuine enjoyment.
ITEMS YOU USE REGULARLY
It may seem obvious, but the items you reach for again and again are often the foundation of a functional kitchen. Your favorite cooking tools, everyday dishes, coffee supplies, and appliances you rely on regularly should not be removed simply because they take up space. If something consistently helps you prepare meals, serve your family, make your morning routine easier, or enjoy your kitchen, its usefulness matters more than the amount of room it occupies.
Good organization isn’t about hiding everything away or creating empty countertops and cabinets. It’s about making the things you use most easy to find and access when you need them. In fact, frequently used items should often be among the easiest things to reach.
ITEMS USED FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS
Not everything in your kitchen needs to be used every week to deserve a place in your home. Some items serve an important seasonal or occasional purpose:
- Holiday serving dishes
- Large roasting pans
- Special bakeware
- Entertaining pieces
- Family recipes and related tools
You may only reach for these things a few times a year, but that doesn’t make them unnecessary.
Instead of asking, “Do I use this every day?” consider asking, “Does this have a meaningful purpose in my home?” If an item serves a purpose you genuinely value, there may be no reason to get rid of it simply because it isn’t used frequently. The better solution may be to give it a designated storage spot that keeps it protected and out of the way while still making it accessible when the occasion arises. Decluttering your kitchen should make room for what matters, not eliminate everything that isn’t used on a daily basis.
ITEMS THAT BRING YOU JOY
Some kitchen items may not be strictly necessary, yet they can still deserve a place because they add enjoyment to your everyday life. It might be a favorite coffee mug that makes your morning feel a little more special, a tool that makes baking more enjoyable, a piece of cookware you genuinely love using, or a serving dish that makes hosting friends and family feel easier and more inviting.
A functional kitchen isn’t only about efficiency. It should also be a space that feels pleasant and reflects the way you like to live. If an item is useful, meaningful, or simply makes spending time in your kitchen more enjoyable, that value counts.
HOW KITCHEN DECLUTTERING CONNECTS TO ORGANIZATION
Decluttering is an important first step, but it isn’t the final goal. Once you’ve decided what truly belongs in your kitchen, the next step is creating systems that make those items easy to find, use, and put away. Because you have decluttered, this is where organization becomes much easier. Instead of trying to squeeze everything into whatever space is available, you can organize your kitchen around the items you actually use and the routines that matter most to you.
For example:
- Store frequently used cooking tools near food preparation areas.
- Place everyday dishes where they are easiest to reach.
- Group baking supplies together.
- Food storage containers can have a dedicated home.
For more ideas on how to organize your items, check out: Kitchen Zones: The Simple Way to Organize Your Kitchen for Better Everyday Flow.
You want to make your kitchen work with your habits rather than forcing your habits to work around your storage. This is why decluttering and organization work best as two parts of the same process. Decluttering removes the excess. Organization creates the system. Together, they help create a kitchen that is not only less crowded, but also easier to use and maintain.
The next step in your kitchen organization journey is deciding where everything should live. For help with that process, continue with: Kitchen Cabinet Organization: A Practical Guide to Organizing Every Cabinet.
KITCHEN DECLUTTERING CHECKLIST
Use this checklist to help you declutter as you work through your kitchen.
Food and Pantry Items
☐ Remove expired food
☐ Check items you rarely use
☐ Combine duplicates when possible
☐ Donate unopened items you will not use
☐ Group similar categories together
Cabinets and Shelves
☐ Remove items you no longer use
☐ Remove broken or damaged items
☐ Review duplicate dishes and cookware
☐ Donate items you no longer want to keep
☐ Move frequently used items to easier locations
☐ Create space between categories
Drawers
☐ Remove broken utensils
☐ Remove duplicates
☐ Donate items you no longer want to keep
☐ Group similar tools together
☐ Keep only items that are comfortable and useful
Appliances
☐ Evaluate rarely used appliances
☐ Consider whether they save time
☐ Remove and/or donate items that no longer fit your routines
☐ Store occasional appliances intentionally
Countertops
☐ Remove items without a clear purpose from the counter
☐ Create homes for frequently misplaced items/items that collect on the counter
☐ Keep frequently used items accessible (but possibly not on the counter)
☐ Keep only intentional countertop items visible
Final Review
Does my kitchen support how I live today?
Can I easily find what I need?
Are the systems simple enough to maintain?
Did I create space for the things that matter most?
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT KITCHEN DECLUTTERING
Focus on one category or area at a time. Start with obvious clutter such as expired food, broken items, unnecessary duplicates, and things you no longer use. Completing smaller sections creates momentum and makes larger decisions easier.
Focus on keeping items you use regularly and reducing duplicates. Organize around your actual routines rather than trying to store everything you might use someday.
A good starting point is to ask whether you use the item, whether it makes your life easier, and whether you would choose to buy it again today. Broken, duplicated, unused, or items that no longer fit your lifestyle are often good candidates to leave your kitchen.
Yes. Decluttering before organizing usually makes the process easier and more effective. Organizers can help create better systems, but they cannot solve the problem of having too many items competing for limited space.
Most kitchens do not need a complete decluttering project often. A seasonal or yearly review is usually enough for many households, with smaller adjustments happening throughout the year as routines change.
Sentimental items can be some of the hardest things to evaluate. Instead of asking whether an item has meaning, consider whether keeping the physical item supports your current home. It is possible to appreciate a memory while choosing not to store every item connected to it. If you still want to keep it, consider storing it somewhere other than the kitchen.
FINAL THOUGHTS: A DECLUTTERED KITCHEN CREATES MORE ROOM FOR LIFE
A kitchen is one of the hardest-working spaces in a home. It supports everyday meals, family routines, celebrations, and countless small moments throughout the week. Because it is used so often, clutter can build up quickly, but even small changes can make a noticeable difference. The purpose of kitchen decluttering is not to create a picture-perfect space or strip the room down to the bare essentials. It is to create a kitchen where the things you own support the way you actually live.
When you remove what no longer serves your household, organize what remains, and create systems that are simple to maintain, your kitchen becomes easier to use and more enjoyable to spend time in. You don’t have to tackle everything at once. Start with one drawer, then one cabinet, then one category. Those small decisions add up over time, creating a kitchen that feels lighter, more functional, and much easier to manage.
CONTINUE READING: Looking for more kitchen organization ideas?
How to Organize Almost Anything: An Overall Organization Guide
How to Organize Under the Kitchen Sink
Small Pantry Organization Ideas
Kitchen Cabinet Organization: A Practical Guide to Organizing Every Cabinet
Kitchen Zones: Organize Your Kitchen for Better Everyday Flow
How to Keep Your Kitchen Organized (Without Constant Cleaning)
