Small kitchen appliances are amazingly helpful little machines, aren’t they? That is until they take over your counters and cabinets!
I’ve definitely been there, trying to juggle a blender, air fryer, toaster, and slow cooker all crammed into one space.
When I first set out to organize my kitchen, I realized that dealing with my small appliances made a huge difference. It cleared so much visual and actual space!
If your appliances feel more like a burden than a blessing, let’s tackle this together. I’ll walk you through the steps to declutter and organize your small kitchen appliances so you can reclaim your counters and your sanity.
If you’re ready to keep the momentum going after decluttering your appliances, check out my post on How to Organize Kitchen Drawers Like a Pro. Organizing both areas will make your kitchen a joy to work in.
Step-by-Step Guide to Declutter and Organize Small Kitchen Appliances
Some small appliances need to stay out on display. But not all of them need to live on the countertops. Here’s how to declutter, organize and sort your favorites.
1. Take Inventory
Start by pulling out every small appliance you own and setting them all out on your counter or table. Seeing them all together might be a little shocking – but it will be oh-so-helpful!
2. Ask the Big Questions
For each appliance, ask yourself:
- Do I use this regularly? If you haven’t used it in the past year, it’s probably time to let it go.
- Does it still work? Donate or recycle anything that’s broken or unreliable.
- Do I have duplicates? One waffle maker is plenty, let’s not overdo it! (Unless you use two, then by all means, keep the second one!)
3. Declutter What You Don’t Need
Donate appliances in good condition that you no longer use. Broken ones can usually be recycled at your local waste facility.
4. Organize by Frequency of Use
Keep everyday appliances, like your toaster or coffee maker, easily accessible on the counter or in easily accessible cabinets. Store less frequently used appliances, like a slow cooker or stand mixer, in higher or harder-to-reach cabinets. (Our mixer is on the bottom shelf because we don’t use it often and because it’s so heavy.)
5. Maximize Storage Space
Use stackable bins or rolling carts to make the most of your cabinet space. If your kitchen is really tight on storage, consider adding a freestanding shelf or pantry unit, like we did in our old house.
6. Maintain Your New System
Every few months, check to see if your small appliance storage system is still working. Have you stopped using an appliance? Did a new one sneak in? Is the location you’ve chosen to store your small appliances the right one for how you use your kitchen? Adjust as needed to keep your space functional.
For example, we originally we had our small appliances in the corner cabinet beside the stove. But after several months of that, we found it was just too difficult to maneuver the oddly shaped and sometimes heavy devices out of that cabinet. So we put the pots and pans there instead and moved the small appliances to a more accessible cupboard that works way better!
FAQs
Use vertical space with stackable bins or shelves. Store everyday items in easy-to-reach areas and less-used ones higher up.
If an appliance has sentimental value but you never use it, consider keeping just one meaningful item and letting the rest go.
It’s okay to keep a few “just in case” items, but limit this to one or two. Store them out of the way, like in a basement or utility closet, to free up your kitchen space.
Decluttering and organizing small kitchen appliances can feel like a big task, but it’s so worth it. You’ll love the extra space and how much easier it is to work in your kitchen. Plus, once you see those counters cleared off, you’ll feel a little lighter every time you step into the room!
How are you storing and organizing your small appliances? Do you have some you should part with? Let’s chat in the comments!
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Great insight on small appliance tips.
One of the best changes I’ve made in my kitchen, thanks to you Shannon, was to gather all the clear and aluminum lids to pots & pans and store them in a metal basket below the stove. You know those decorative baskets or large metal tins that companies use to gift you food baskets at Christmas? Well, it was the perfect size to fit all my lids. We have slide out shelves underneath the stove and it is so much easier this way. Pots & pans stack easier without the lids on.
That’s so awesome, Kari! 🙂 I love having our lids in a basket too!