Quick Start Guide to the Minimalist Kitchen

Minimalism is one of the hottest trends in home decor right now, and a life philosophy as well. For some people, the challenge is trying to tame the mess on their kitchen counters.

Others want to create a simple kitchen so they can maximize their workspace and minimize their stress. But building a beautiful and functional minimalist kitchen can be difficult if you don’t know where to start.

Here’s a quick start guide to building the minimalist kitchen of your dreams.

Clear Out the Clutter

There’s no point organizing what you really shouldn’t keep. The first step to getting a minimalist kitchen is clearing out the clutter.

It may start with throwing out old magazines and receipts, but it should continue with the decorative items you don’t care about anymore.

In fact, you can set all of the small appliances and utensils aside for a while. Slowly add back what you really do use. After a month or so, you’ll know what you can live without.

Go ahead and let go of a dozen knives or so. If you find that you’re struggling to find a knife that works well when you’re handling various tasks, upgrade to a quality chef’s knife and get rid of the clunky knife set.

Get rid of the dishware you aren’t really using. Consolidate your cookware to what you really use. The biggest step you can take is dumping appliances. Don’t hold onto a panini press or espresso machine on the hope you’ll eventually use it.

And try cooking with only the stove and oven before you assume you have to keep your microwave.

Change Your Color Scheme

Minimalism is more than having as few physical items as possible in the room. It also relies on a clean, simple visual palette.

The goal is a solid color palette, and neutral colors are considered better. However, this doesn’t mean everything has to be the exact same shade. But you should use colors in the same color family. For example, use a mix of light grey and white or varying shades of grey.

While you’re at it, take a look at all your fixtures. Minimalist home decor is simple and sleek. The simplest way to get this look is by changing out your faucet for a modern chrome fixture. Replace the handles on your cabinets and drawers with something that matches the new aesthetic.

Minimize Waste Production

Minimalism means using as little as possible. It is also a philosophy that seeks to minimize waste. Donate items instead of throwing them in the trash.

Look for reusable items like glasses and stainless steel water bottles over single-serve plastic water bottles. And seek environmentally friendly options where possible.

For example, you could switch to environmentally friendly K-Cups, which are compostable. Compostable is more than recycling or buying a biodegradable product – it is better.

You can add these coffee pods to your composting bin and create soil in just a few weeks instead of adding to the landfill.

Store Everything Appropriately

Neatly organized storage is a major component of a minimalist kitchen. After you’ve thrown out unused or expired spices, take the time to organize your spices in an attractive spice rack.

Consider hanging your pots where they’re readily available when you need them. Put food staples in sleek glass containers so that they’re safe but make it easy to tell how much you have and what is in each container.

Put things you rarely use but want to keep in closets or on shelves behind what you regularly use.

Conclusion

Your kitchen is one of the most frequently used rooms in the house. This is why applying minimalist philosophy to the space can make such a difference in your life.