A Fresh Kitchen Reset Without the Overwhelm

I am enjoying the quiet pause between the holidays as I write this blog, thinking about how my big 2025 goals can hold off just a bit longer…

Instead of overwhelming ourselves with the pressure to transform our entire home, let’s use these quiet days for simple resets that still move us forward - no guilt required with a cup of tea in hand:)

Ready to start small? These three kitchen tasks will help you feel organized without the overwhelm.

One-Shelf Reset

Repeat after me;) One shelf is enough.

You don’t need to tackle your entire pantry in an hour, the overwhelm in these tasks can sometimes prevent you from even starting, so take out the overwhelm by embracing smaller, more manageable bits and start there. 

Keep it small and keep it simple…

Pick one kitchen shelf or drawer

1. Empty it’s contents (yes everything!)

2. Wipe down the shelf/drawer

3. Food items? Check expiry dates (discard/recycle packaging if expired)

4. Sort like with like- categorizing helps us see what we have and need and makes it easy to maintain

5. Duplicates, items you no longer eat, use or need- consider donation

6. Put more frequently accessed items in prime real estate and upfront making them easy to retrieve

7. Add baskets/bins to contain categories and create boundaries

Starting with one shelf is progress, we are not aiming for perfection- when you transform that single space, you’re not just organizing items, you’ve proving to yourself that small, focused actions create real progress that you can see and feel.

PRO TIP: If you find yourself in a ‘waiting period’ in the kitchen (waiting for water to boil, waiting for the cookies to bake), consider it the time you need to get one small task done.

Counter Sweep

Items accumulated on surfaces create visual clutter that contributes to our mental load.

Especially when you have 20 minutes to cook a healthy meal before your son has to be on the ice for hockey practice. Who needs that extra stress?!

Removing the excess can give your kitchen the breathing room you need to feel good in the space again. Not to mention increase efficiency and decrease your time prepping and cooking.

The counter sweep starts with clearing 2 feet of your kitchen counter to create a small “landing zone” to sort items. Working from one end of the counter, pick up each item one at a time and categorize it as follows:

1. Put it in your landing zone if it stays (be ruthless here; counter items should be those items you use daily or a few times a week)

2. Toss trash/recyclables. Donate items you no longer use, need or love.

3. Put it away if it has a designed home in the kitchen

4. If it does not have a home, place it in a bin and make decisions about where it will live in the kitchen or outside of the kitchen after you have completed the entire sweep

Only return items that you use daily or almost daily.

Is the crock pot you use every other month taking up a third of your prep space to cook? Consider storing it elsewhere to give yourself some breathing room.

Without surface clutter,  you will gain physical and mental space, reducing the overwhelm from the visual noise created by clutter.

PRO TIP: Keep your everyday counter items, but make them look tidier by using organizing containers. A simple tray to hold your oil bottle and salt or a basket to corral loose items that inevitably end up on your kitchen island help to ground the items and make the overall space feel tidier.

Fridge Door Edit

I know my fridge has some out of date condiments and sauces lurking about, take 10 minutes to edit out what you don’t or won’t eat for a fresh fridge door reset.

Start with a designated sorting spot on your kitchen counter. Take everything off one door. As each item comes off check expiry dates and toss it if it’s out of date. 

Wipe down each door shelf before putting anything back.

Return items as follows:

1. Daily items at eye level

2. Keep only what you use weekly

3. Group similar items together (spreads, condiments, dressings)- adjust shelving to optimize storage

The power of a fridge door edit is in the ability to find exactly what you are looking for without the overwhelm of forgotten sauces and expired condiments.

PRO TIP: Turntables on top shelves of fridges are an excellent option for storing frequently used round bottomed condiments, giving you more door space for additional items.

The idea is less is more- more space and more calm in your daily kitchen routine.

Need more of an overhaul? My done-for-you signature package, “The Complete Kitchen Solution,” is for you!

Sit back, relax, and let me take care of every aspect of organizing your kitchen with this in-home service. Check out the details of this package below

thanks for reading

Andrea