Marie Kondo, the Japanese author of the bestselling book on organizing “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing,” has caught the world’s attention and seemingly has everyone on board with her tidying techniques and organizing superpowers. Something all moms have spent centuries trying to achieve!
As she states in her KonMari method, a clean kitchen eats clean. When our environments are cluttered and filled with unhealthy distractions, we are more likely to overeat or make poor meal choices.
Here are five methods (there are way more) that Marie Kondo recommends when it comes to tackling your kitchen and creating a space that is organized, functional, and a place that “sparks joy” amongst your home.
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Divide and Conquer
In the first step, Kondo recommends you divide all of your kitchen items into three categories, tools for eating, cooking, and appliances – seems simple. In this phase, determine when was the last time you used an item and what its direct function is. If you haven’t used it in over a year or it doesn’t fit into any of the categories, it likely needs to go.
Focus on the Tidying up Process, Not the Functionality
When things are tidy, they are automatically functional – they go hand in hand. Just because the spatulas are easily accessible on the counter, doesn’t mean that they are necessarily in the spot that enhances both organization and function. Ensure you’re stacking everything vertically and everything has a home, especially in your cabinets. You want to make it easy to do a quick inventory of your items without having to search and dig to the very back.
Clear Your Counters
There is nothing that makes your kitchen feel more unorganized than cluttered counters. When your items are put away, your space will appear less stressful and overwhelming. Clear counters also help to create a relaxing space that you wish to spend time in. Use organizers in your drawers and stack vertically in your cabinets and fridge. This will also help with any unnecessary snacking at 2 am – out of sight out of mind!
Keep Your Fridge on the Empty Side
Kondo recommends 30% full to be exact. This is to help prevent the build-up of waste and having items expire before you get the chance to consume them. Having a well-organized fridge will allow you to see all of the contents while leaving room for leftovers. You can imagine, she’s not huge on major Costco binges – actually highly recommends not buying things in bulk, for this reason. Leave your Costco trips for your non-perishables and items you don’t want to be getting every time you’re at the store, like toilet paper and dish soap.
Cut Down on Your Dishes
Do an inventory of when you used each and every dish last and what its function is - which ones “spark joy.” Keep the ones you love to use every day. It will make eating more enjoyable and encourage you to savour every bite.
Do you have any organization tips for your kitchen? Share them in the comments below!
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