Is Your Kitchen Overflowing? Here’s How to Tell It’s Time to Declutter
The kitchen is often the heart of the home—but it can also become the most crowded. From cooking tools and dishware to food and small appliances, it’s easy for this space to turn into a chaotic storage zone rather than a functional and peaceful cooking area. In fact, most people have more individual items in their kitchen than in any other room of their house. But how do you know when it’s too much?
According to professional organizer Becky Marple, founder of BeeNeat in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, there’s no universal threshold that signals it’s time to declutter. However, there are some unmistakable red flags that suggest your kitchen has reached its limit. Recognizing these signs can help you reclaim space and restore order—without waiting for a full-blown kitchen meltdown.
1. Your Countertops Are No Longer Surfaces—They’re Storage
Countertops are designed to be workspaces, not permanent parking for gadgets. If every inch of your counter is occupied by appliances, utensils, or unopened mail, it may be more than a matter of convenience—it could be a sign you simply have too much stuff.
Marple explains that there are usually two reasons why something is left on the counter: “You either don’t want to put it away, or you don’t know where it goes.” The second scenario often signals a deeper issue: your cabinets and drawers are full. If you’ve run out of logical storage spots, it’s likely time to reevaluate what actually belongs in your kitchen.
2. You Own Multiples—Too Many Multiples
It’s natural to have a favorite spatula or two, but do you really need seven of them? Marple and her team frequently start the decluttering process by taking everything out and sorting it into categories. This is when clients often have their first “aha” moment.
“It’s not uncommon to find four can openers, nine whisks, and duplicate measuring cups,” she says. Unless you’re running a catering business or regularly cooking for a crowd, having more than two of any tool is usually excessive.
3. You Keep Rebuying Things You Already Own
Have you ever stood in the peanut butter aisle, unsure if you’re out—only to come home and find two jars hiding in the back of the pantry? If this happens often, it’s not forgetfulness. It’s clutter. When your shelves are overstuffed, it becomes difficult to keep track of what’s there. The result? Duplicate purchases, expired food, and money down the drain.
Marple notes that disorganization can cost more than just space—it leads to wasted time, energy, and dollars. “If you can’t see what you have, you’ll end up buying things you don’t need,” she says.
4. Your Life Has Changed, But Your Kitchen Hasn’t
As life moves forward, so do your needs. Maybe your kids are off to college, but you still have sippy cups and plastic plates taking up prime drawer real estate. Or perhaps your cooking habits have shifted, yet you’re still hanging onto that bulky stand mixer you haven’t touched since 2019.
“If something hasn’t been used in three or four years, it’s probably not serving you anymore,” Marple advises. At that point, it’s just clutter—and could be far more useful to someone else. Whether you choose to sell, donate, or gift it, letting go can free up space for what you actually need.
5. You’ve Recently Combined Households or Inherited a Collection
One of the most common clutter culprits? Hand-me-downs. Between marriages, moves, and inherited heirlooms, it’s easy to wind up with a double (or triple) set of everything. “Most kitchens are designed with the basics in mind,” says Marple. “A set of dishes, a few appliances, and some cookware. When you start combining households or keeping sentimental items, it adds up fast.”
Rather than cramming everything into cabinets, take time to sort through your new additions. Keep what you love or use regularly—and be willing to part with the rest.
6. You’re Holding Onto Things You Might Use Someday
Everyone has one: the appliance you bought with good intentions—the bread machine, the yogurt maker, the air fryer you swore would change your dinner game—but somehow, it never made it into your weekly routine.
Marple draws a line between items that are truly useful (even if they’re not used daily, like cloth napkins for special dinners) and those that are collecting dust. If you keep telling yourself “someday,” it might be time to admit that someday isn’t coming. Free up that space for something you’ll actually enjoy using.
