I wanted to up my game when it comes to blogs – I was really enjoying writing them but as I got busier I just wasn’t prioritising taking the time out to write them. I haven’t published a blog in almost a year!
Now that I have a fresh profesh newsletter coming it is a way to keep me on target and get those blogs written and published!
So, I wanted to ensure the first one back was a good one and so I’ve focused on the space that I probably get asked about the most and is the one I work on most with my clients.
THE KITCHEN!!!
It is the heart of the home and needs to work the hardest for us. It is a multi-purpose zone – we spend A LOT of time here so it makes sense that it is the room that CAN become the most cluttered and therefore hardest to tackle.
This time of year – kids are just back after mid term we already have multiple end of year shows and our own social calendars are filling with upcoming events so we have less time than ever to focus on full resets so with that in mind I wanted to cover my top tips on getting your kitchen reset in under 30 minutes. We’re going to focus on the visual noise….
Set those 30 minute timers and……GO
1) Counter tops – 15 minutes – check the island, all counters, around sink and window sills and remove the RANDOM. Take anything that is clutter – and by that I mean items that should have a home and shouldn’t be there and move to the kitchen table. What sort of things am I referring to:
a. Kids art
b. Keys
c. Bills
d. Leaflets
e. Chargers
f. Appliance that don’t normally belong on the counter
2) If it is an item that should be put back in a cabinet – start here – food, cooking equipment, appliances whatever it might be – put it away. I keep my make up bag in the kitchen as this is where slap on some war paint in the mornings so it makes sense to me that it lives in my kitchen. Think about what works for you – how do you use and live in the space.
3) Now the only things on the counter should be whatever normally lives there – kettle, toaster, knife block, chopping boards and the to do is what is now on the kitchen table
4) We need to find homes for everything on the kitchen table. Make piles
a. Recycle/Bin
b. File – add bills/important documents to a box to be dealt with later – ideally all bills are paperless and you should keep important documents in an accordion file or similar.
c. Put away – involve the kids especially if it is their stuff – homework, toys, clothes – get them to put it away.
5) Next 5 minutes should focus on the floor – shoes, clothes, toys whatever the case may be – same approach – make piles for items that should not be in the kitchen and ask for help in getting those items put back – you have 10 minutes left.
6) Next you have 5 minutes to load/unload the dishwasher, wipe down the sink and counter tops.
7) For the last 5 minutes do a sweep, hoover/mop the floor – light a candle and enjoy the clutter free vista!!
It is a quick reset so while you cannot solve every problem in the kitchen – i.e. the dreaded junk drawers – you can identify problem areas and think about longer term solutions for a later date when you have more time. Maybe storage is needed, maybe a full declutter but for now enjoy the clutter free counters and remember the most important rule to maintain a tidy home:
PUT BACK, NOT DOWN!
I could turn these 30 minute resets into a series – looking at every space in the home – let me know if that is something you would be interested in – or if there is anything you would like me to blog about please let me know in the comments here or via email or DM!
Thanks, Hazel x
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