I started doing some random decluttering this morning, and ended up very happy with big results.
I began by moving some glass goblets that I had purchased at the Dollar Tree a while back because I “didn’t have any nice glasses to use with my formal china.” I learned this three Thanksgivings ago when we used our formal china for the first and only time in our 10 year marriage. I was planning to move the Dollar Tree glasses to the china cabinet (seen above) in the dining room.
I took them off of a shelf in the kitchen and put them in the dishwasher. Since this freed up that shelf, I looked in the cabinet below to see if there was something hiding in that mass of “stuff” that could be displayed in their place. I found . . . . crystal glasses that we received for our wedding. Beautiful, expensive and very sparkly. Just a teensy bit nicer than the ones from the Dollar Tree. And hidden in boxes for 10 years. So I decided to put THOSE in the china cabinet instead. I then found another box of them, as well as several EMPTY boxes. Grrr. The empty boxes were for crystal candlesticks, which I received TONS of at our wedding. But I’ve had the candlesticks out and displayed for several years now. As a group of varying sizes, I really like them.
So why exactly was I keeping/storing/ignoring those boxes?
Removing them left all of this space:
Ahhhh, space.
Well now I was motivated.
I’ve been meaning to/planning to purge the lower cabinets in the kitchen. Forget getting up early to start breakfast for the family if I plan to use ANY pots or pans. Nobody could sleep through the racket that it makes when I have to dig around and pull something out.
I knew that there were quite a few things in there that I needed to get rid of, but I really had no idea how much.
I pulled EVERYTHING out and made enough piles to fill up the entire kitchen floor.
A garage sale pile
A trash pile, including coupons that expired in 2007, assembly instructions for a toy we sold in a garage sale in 2008, and a disposable pan that should have been “disposed” a long time ago.
And then this pile above. My favorite pile. I call it the “Why the blankety-blank do I even have this stuff?” pile. Don’t worry, the words in my mind were actually “blankety-blank.”
And here are the after pictures:
Yes, I did put the tea kettle and the duck-tray back. When I saw how much room I had, I decided to keep them. Just a few days ago I was wishingI had a tea kettle . . . .
Looks awesome way to go !!!!!!!!!!!!!
I sooo need to do this too! That looks great!
Is that Beethoven on your piano? My dad has the exact same bust on his piano! I totally forgot about it until I saw this picture!
Actually, it's Shakespeare. More my style!
can I have some of your energy. I sure need to do that at my house. I did really good on Tuesday and haven't touch anything else since. So today plan is rescue the house and start decluttering Kitchen, my room and living/dining room is on list today. Finish laundry
Woot! Looks great and I'm so glad you felt energized to do it! Way to go!!!
I have a pots and pans cupboard just like your before pic. It drives me crazy, I'm sure if I went through it, I would find a dozen things that I never use but just clutter it up.
Me too, and I despair when ever I have to find the little lid for the second biggest pot that is always at the back and everything bangs and crashes to the floor …. It’s loud and messy and makes me want to eat take out food. Every night.
Awesome job!
My pot/pan cabinet looks like your before shot. This week I'm going to tackle it. I clean it out about every 6 months, but this is one spot that just gets undone so easily.
I love your pics.
Way to go! I like the way you've decorated.
It makes me feel SO good to know that I’m not the only one who loses things for years, buys things I already have, and has empty boxes sitting around (or half full ones!) so long they’ve become family members. Your blog gives me such hope!
I definitely need to tackle ALL of my cupboards. I have stuff in the small cupboards above the stove/microwave and fridge that I haven’t seen in almost six years. Totally not looking forward to doing that…but I am looking forward to seeing how much space I can free up because your cupboards look so much neater than mine. 🙂
Not having boxed dishes, empty storage boxes for displayed dishes, or even nice dishes not for everyday use in the kitchen is something I learned before moving out of my parents’ house. For some people, keeping the cookbooks someplace other than the kitchen is something that never occurred to them.
My kitchen still isn’t great. I need to get the storage room to the point of being able to keep the “extra” pots accessible and neat… for that monthly occurrence when I really do want all four saucepans or three of the spaghetti pots going.
I love watching organizing shows. One thing I heard on one years go that stuck with me – “You are good enough for your good dishes.”
That was a great job that you did in your kitchen. It has inspired me to move some things around in mine. It is already looking nicer.
Makes me glad I only have one cabinet that has a glass front, it is in the living area. Need to do the upper kitchen cabinets soon.
Thanks for the great tips! It seems like this all trickles down to clean everything in the kitchen. It declutters the counter because everything has a spot, and it optimizes doing dishes and unloading the dishwasher cause everything has a specific location! Thanks again!
Looks great!
One suggestions; USE the China, USE the goblets! Once in ten years makes them mere decorations. Enjoy them! If something gets broken, so what, it’s been used and enjoyed!
For me, the last step would be taking a picture and printing it. Tape it inside the door in hopes that other people might put things where they belong.
It is so nice to use things that have been stored… too many treasures can get hidden… and not be enjoyed. 🙂
It’s so good to see I’m not the only one who is like this! You have no idea. Thank you
“I have plenty of space, just way too much in it.” Thank you for this!
Been stuck at home for California’s Shelter in Place since March 12th, I’ve making a pretty large collection of things to donate— 3 boxes and 2 Hefty bags so far! But there’s no donation “curbside pickup” at this time with the groups I was using before (Hope, Disabled Veyerans of America’s), and the places that accept drive-up donations have been closed for weeks. Any suggestions for groups that will still come get these things? I want it gone, that’s for sure!
That’s a great idea! There might be hope for my family!
Murphy Rowan
Join your local buy nothing group on Facebook- most people do porch pickup. I have most often had local neighboring people pick up within a day. It’s been helping me to get rid of stuff! Some things have not been taken so I have taken them to a donation place now that they are open but knowing I am helping others take stuff I don’t need has been motivating for me in getting rid of a lot of stuff!
How on earth can your kitchen cupboards look so much like mine? I haven’t cleaned mine out yet, but your photos are certainly a good incentive. Thanks.
Wowzah! Thanks for posting this. Just goes to show how decluttering doesn’t get old. Even though this is a post from a few years ago, it is still extremely relevant today.
I’m getting on my kitchen cabinets this morning!!