How To Create A Home You Love - Kitchen Edition

I am SO excited to begin a series of posts this year teaching you… 

“How To Create A Home You Love!” 

Like my own home, your house might need some repairs or have some renovations left to do. But just because your home isn’t “finished” doesn’t mean you can’t do some temporary things to make your home more practical and beautiful. I can PROMISE you that a clean, organized home with a few bits of pretty will make you feel so much happier with your home as it is right now. 

Each month we’ll go room-by-room to talk through how to get a space deep cleaned, decluttered, and organized. Then I’ll show you some simple styling products and methods I use to make a space feel more beautiful. We’ll even include links to some of our favorite things to help you out!

Some of these links might be affiliate links which just means we earn a small commission for any sales at no extra cost to you.

The Kitchen

This month, we’re tackling the kitchen! 

I know this is a big one, but I guarantee this room gets more use than any other room in the house. And a more functional and beautiful kitchen will make the biggest difference in your day-to-day life. 

I prefer to tackle each section of my kitchen space-by-space, rather than emptying everything out and doing it all at once. To me, it’s less stressful and helps me see progress faster. So let’s get into it!

The refrigerator - 

CLEAN: 

Take everything out (I just go shelf-by-shelf) and check the expiration date. If it’s expired, toss it. If you haven’t used it within the last month, you probably don’t need it anymore, so toss it.

I like to clean my fridge with warm water + a couple tablespoons of baking soda. It deodorizes,  and the grit from the baking soda helps to take off any grime left on the shelf. Wipe both the top and bottom of each shelf and let it dry. Depending on how dirty your fridge is (I’m totally guilty of this), I sometimes have to make a few bowls of warm water and baking soda.

For the drawers, I know it’s crazy, but vacuum out the drawers to get all the gunk out first. Then wipe the whole thing down before putting your items back in.

ORGANIZE:

I designate specific shelves to specific products. This is how I like to do ours…

  • Pickles, salsa, hummus and other canned fruit/vegetables (top left)

  • Leftovers (top right)

  • Eggs (middle left)

  • Meal items for that week (middle right)

  • Tall beverages (bottom left)

  • Bowl of fruit/lettuce (bottom right)

  • Apples & lemons/limes (bottom left drawer)

  • Vegetables (bottle right drawer)

  • Sparkling waters, protein shakes, mixers & dressings (left door)

  • Cooking condiments, sandwich condiments & large water bottles (right drawer)

MAKE IT PRETTY:

We have vintage style water bottles we keep filled and in the fridge. Not only are they pretty, but they’re also nice to have set out on the table for family meals or company. My boys especially love pouring out a nice cold glass of water whenever they want.

I’ve also started using these pyrex glass dishes for small fruits and berries. I can wash, slice and place the fruit in the container and they’re ready to go for school lunches or snacking.

The pantry - 

CLEAN:

*Disclaimer here…technically my pantries are still under construction from when we started our kitchen renovation a while back, but I’ll talk you through my method from when I DID have a pantry and what my approach is for when I do have a pantry again. Ha!*

Again, take everything out shelf-by-shelf. Check the expiration date, and ask yourself if you’ll actually need it in the next 30 days. If you won’t or if it’s expired, toss it.

I like to vacuum each shelf out, then wipe it down with a damp cloth and thieves spray.

ORGANIZE:

Rack up your canned goods (I organize mine based on sauces/vegetables). This is GREAT for deeper pantries and holds up to 36 cans at a time.

I love using stackable baskets in my pantry for onions and potatoes, but I also use them to store bagged items of pasta, rice or small baking items (like vanilla extract, baking powder, cupcake liners, etc.)

MAKE IT PRETTY:

If you want to take your pantry look to the next level, my absolute favorite pantry purchase ever are THESE dry goods storage containers. They are air-tight, come in a variety of sizes and they provide label stickers for you. Not only are they pretty and practical, but they’re affordable, too! Adulting = loving my dry goods storage containers.

The stove - 

CLEAN:

Whether you have a gas range or a glass top, Dawn Powerwash Foam Spray is the BEST thing for cleaning off your stove top. It cuts through any grease and gets the entire surface spotless and shiny. Game changer!

Once again, baking soda is my cleaning product of choice for oven cleaning! This article has all the methods if you want to do a deep dive, but essentially you just make a paste with water and baking soda (and salt if you’ve got some big burned on sections), rub it onto the walls of your oven, let it sit, and then scrub it off.

If you’ve got a lower oven drawer like mine, you’ll want to empty that out, vacuum it out, and give it a good wipe down with thieves and a damp cloth.

ORGANIZE:

I don’t like to over-stuff my lower drawer (it only makes me frustrated), so I just stack my couple of my favorite jelly roll pans and two cookie sheets in there. 

MAKE IT PRETTY:

Didn’t think you could make your stove area pretty, think again!!! Add a pretty dutch oven or tea kettle to your stove and *boom*...it’s like an English Country kitchen. Beside the stove, add a small tray and style it with a crock for wooden spoons, a pretty olive oil dispenser and salt & pepper shakers or dishes (links to all of these below!)

The cabinets & drawers - 

CLEAN:

Just go drawer by drawer/cabinet by cabinet here, otherwise this can get overwhelming FAST! Ask yourself the following questions as you’re cleaning out each one:

  1. Have I used this in the last 3 months? If not, donate or toss it.

  2. Do we really need this many _____ <water bottles, dishes, casserole dishes, cooking spoons, etc>?

  3. Do I enjoy using this _____ <dish, cup, utensil, pan, small appliance, etc>?

  4. If I keep this, do I have a proper spot to store it?

If you’re constantly having to cram items into spaces, I guarantee it will become irritating to you. So sometimes downsizing what you have is the first and best solution to a more enjoyable kitchen.

So once you’ve emptied out a drawer or cabinet, vacuum it out and then give it a good wipe down with thieves and a damp cloth. 

ORGANIZE:

I like to keep spices and stove/oven items close to the range. It just makes things easier when cooking a meal. Our open shelves house our dishes and glasses. And our island is for snacks + water bottles/plastic container storage. 

Having an organized spice shelf or spice drawer is a GAME CHANGER for someone who loves to cook. It makes everything accessible and easy to read.

Small baskets inside drawers are great for sectioning out snacks (or batteries vs. pens in the junk drawer). 

MAKE IT PRETTY:

You can make your drawers or storage extra pretty with a bag organizer for your drawer or knife storage for your drawer. If you’re a big tea drinker like me, I love this tea organizer! It’s pretty enough for the countertop but could also fit in a deeper drawer or cabinet.

Countertops - 

CLEAN:

Take everything off each section of your countertop. Spritz it down with some Dawn spray and scrub, then go back over it again with some thieves and a damp cloth. Your counters will be sparkling clean after this. Feel free to give your backsplash a good wipe down during this part of the cleaning process, too!

ORGANIZE:

Ask yourself where each countertop item makes the most sense. A crock with cooking utensils by the stove makes sense. A canister for coffee beside the coffee maker makes sense. If the kitchen is the drop zone for your family (like mine), maybe add a mail organizer or tray to keep track of everything and not clutter up your counters.

MAKE IT PRETTY:

Having a fruit bowl out is great for easy (and healthy) snacking, but you could also store some of your veggies out, too. You can create a little styled moment with various sized bowls and baskets.

Add light! Whether it’s a lamp, some candlesticks, or just a solo jar candle of your favorite scent, it just helps to set the mood for a cozy kitchen. A few of my favorites are linked below!

Other ideas to make your kitchen even prettier!

  • Create a “gallery wall” of your cutting boards.

  • Style your open shelves with things that make you happy.

  • Hang a piece of art or a wreath above your hood.

  • Add a crystal ball or pendant for some magical prisms on a sunny day (linked below).

  • Buy yourself some fresh flowers and set them out in the kitchen.

  • Lean some artwork up on your open shelves or countertops.

Wrapping Up -

I hope this post helps you fall MORE in love with your home! Below are links of my favorite and most used kitchen cleaning, organizing and styling products. Enjoy! - Sarah

Matt Sain