The kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s a place where families gather to cook and eat together, and it’s also a space where memories are made. If your kitchen needs an energy boost, don’t worry – here are 10 ways to refresh your kitchen!
Get organized.
Getting organized doesn’t all have to be done at once. Choose different zones in your kitchen to tackle one at a time. These steps can help you with your kitchen organization:
- toss out old and expired salad dressings & sauces from the refrigerator
- take everything out of the cabinet and wipe down the insides of the cabinet with a mild cleanser before neatly placing items back inside
- group like items together to create zones {canned goods in one place, snack foods in another, pots & pans nestle inside each other}
- consider using a label maker to help everyone else follow your new organizational rules
- use clear containers in the pantry and refrigerator so that you can see what you have
Stock your pantry.
A well-stocked pantry is key to quick and easy meals. Invest in some basics like olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper, as well as canned tomatoes, beans, and broth. These staples will help you whip up a meal without having to run to the store every time you get hungry.
Our favorite place to stock our pantry is Sam’s Club. Mr. C is a dangerous man when left unattended, but he sure does keep my pantry stocked. My favorite pantry items to keep on hand are:
- canned tomatoes
- artichoke hearts
- roasted red peppers
- olive oil & vinegars
- chicken broth
- beans
Create a kids’ snack area.
If you have little ones, create designated space in the pantry where they can reach for snacks like squeezy applesauce, goldfish crackers, and juice boxes. In the refrigerator, use a clear container with pre-portioned snacks like carrot & celery sticks, fruit, and cheese sticks.
Place healthy food where it can be seen
You’ll be much more likely to choose an apple over snack bars if you keep your healthy food choices in a visible place in your kitchen. When a bag of apples is front and center on the kitchen counter they get gobbled up in an instant unlike if I put them in a crisper drawer (aka fruit & vegetable hospice).
Fill your kitchen with fresh growing herbs & plants
I love cooking with fresh herbs but buying them at the store can get expensive. My new favorite thing to do is grow herbs on my kitchen windowsill. I’m currently growing basil, parsley, sage, thyme, & cilantro. Not only do they add flavor to my meals, but they also make my kitchen smell amazing.
Definitely add herbs, but also consider adding a plant or two. Adding plants to your kitchen is not only beautiful, but they also have health benefits. Plants help to purify the air and can boost your mood.
Change out your kitchen artwork
Is your kitchen artwork feeling a little stale? Give it an update by swapping out the pieces that you have. You can find some really fun and affordable art prints at places like Minted or Etsy. Digital art prints are always a steal and then you can print them right away from your home printer. If you need a different size you can also send them to a local printer.
I love changing out my kitchen artwork every few months to keep things feeling fresh. Right now I’m loving these botanical & fruit prints from Minted.
Declutter the cabinets and countertops
Why do the countertops become a dumping ground for the whole family? To keep paper clutter under control, file important paperwork using a countertop filing system. That keeps the piles from forming & makes it easy to find things when you need them quickly.
Keep mail under control by immediately tossing junk mail and filing anything that needs to be kept.
If kid stuff is piling up, they can also do the trash bag tango to toss out what they don’t need, and take the rest to their bedrooms.
Use Mason jars & other pretty glass jars to store your dry goods
Not only do Mason jars look cute, but they’re also airtight and can be used to store a variety of things like flour, sugar, rice, pasta, etc. Plus you can see what’s inside so you don’t have to guess when you’re trying to make that last-minute dinner decision.
Mason jars are also great for make-ahead and take-along meals like overnight oat or fresh garden salads.
I love my large Anchor Hocking jars that I use on our countertop for storing coffee beans, sugar, flour, and dog food. We use these a lot so it’s nice to have them right at my fingertips. In the pantry, I have a variety of mason jars, smaller anchor hocking jars, and candy canisters for storing dry goods like rice, dried beans, pasta, popping corn, seeds, and nuts.
Remove the appliances you don’t use
Do you have a toaster oven that’s never been used or that blender that collects dust? If so, it’s time to remove them from your kitchen. Less clutter means less stress and more room for the things you actually use.
I know it can be hard to let go of things, but if you haven’t used it in the past six months then it’s time to say goodbye.
Replace your kitchen hardware
One of the easiest (and cheapest) ways to give your kitchen a quick refresh is by replacing your hardware. This can be as simple as swapping out your knobs or pulls for something new.
I love doing this because it’s a really affordable way to change the look of your kitchen and it can be done in just a few hours.
