How to Declutter and Organize for a Home Remodel

You signed the contract. The remodel is happening. And your dream kitchen will soon become a reality. 

Demo Day

Now Demo Day is fast approaching and you’re wondering, where will I put all this stuff? Not to mention, how to prepare meals? In the garage? Maybe the basement? 

Unfortunately, I’ve seen many clients wait until the last minute, box everything up, and pile it in a corner. Then, dig through boxes for months looking for items they need. Instead, spend a little time organizing and decluttering the contents thoughtfully. Consider before, during, and after the remodel. Here are some tips to keep you organized.

Before the Remodel

Start easy. Declutter with a clean sweep of the room. Use the Demo Day deadline as motivation. Walk through the kitchen and fill three boxes labeled Trash, Donate, and Relocate. Open every cabinet and drawer but move quickly. Set a timer. Be decisive.

• Trash/Recycle  – Mismatched plastic containers, chipped glasses, extra lids, junk drawer, stained towels, and worn potholders.
• Donate – Mismatched glassware, excess coffee mugs and dishes, uni-tasker utensils, specialty baking pans, and rarely used small appliances.
• Return/Relocate – Kitchen counters collect clutter. Return items to where they belong or send them packing.

Once you’ve completed the clean sweep, go through everything again but this time with a critical eye. Evaluate one category at a time. Set aside just 25 minutes a day to go through each category. You can do it!

Kitchen Categories

Utensils

• Lay them out on the counter, yes all of them.
• Pick your most frequently used utensils. Eliminate duplicates.
• Donate uni-taskers (avocado scoops, garlic peelers, pineapples corers etc). Identify any task that could be solved with a quality chef’s knife and a little training from YouTube. Learn how to core and cut a pineapple properly.
• Consider the frequency of use for each utensil
• Set a goal to reduce by 50%. Box up the keepers
• Identify a few utensils for cooking during the remodel. (Rubber spatula, whisk, wooden spoon, heat-resistant spatula, and stainless steel server)

Pots and Pans

Look at all of them on the counter. Keep the frequently used. More pots and pans means you have more to clean and store. Fewer choices means fewer dirty dishes at one time which is easier to manage and clean up. Consider your family size and how you cook 365 days of the year. Keep in mind that Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter represent less than 1% of your cooking days. Downsize accordingly. Consider borrowing items as needed when you host very large groups.

Casserole and Serving Dishes

Use the same approach as as pots and pans. I rarely use 2 lasagna pans at the same time. And I can borrow from a neighbor if needed. But be sure to make decisions based on your family’s needs. Reduce the collection of casserole and serving dishes to what you need and use routinely. And choose ones that nest and stack easily to create more organization.

Plates/Cups/Silverware

Just like clothing, the less you own, the less you wash. We have a 6-place setting of dishes that accommodates our family of 3 and the groups we frequently entertain. I borrow plates and silverware for the holidays or very large events. During the remodel, set aside one place setting per family member. The fewer dishes available, the less dirty ones in the sink. (Assuming you will be without a dishwasher.)

Pantry, Fridge, and Freezer

Cook as much of the existing food inventory as possible. Stop grocery shopping a few weeks before and force yourself to use up the consumables. Where will you store food during the remodel?

Small Appliances

Move the coffee pot, microwave, and toaster into your temporary kitchen where you can use them during the remodel. Box up the remaining small appliances that are routinely used for the future kitchen. And yes, it’s ok to pass on the Instapot or Breadmaker. You thought they would save time and effort but they did not.

During the Remodel

Home remodeling will take over more than just the kitchen. Decide where to store the boxes of kitchen gear.  Identify an out-of-the-way space, like the garage, but keep a clear path to your car, kids’ bikes, the lawn mower, or snow blower. You still have to live in the house during this time. There’s nothing worse than tripping over cardboard boxes every day as you leave for work!

If needed, take time to declutter the garage first. Resist renting a storage unit. With a little planning, you can save extra work and expense.

If you have vaulted ceilings and an open floor plan, dust invades every corner of the main level. I suggest removing window treatments, covering furniture, and relocating electronics. Move your “family room” to another level if possible. Or ask your contractor to install a zip wall to quarantine most of the dust.

During our remodel, we lived in the basement. The closed bedroom doors and restricted living space made for a more comfortable and dust-free experience. 

After the Remodel

It’s done. You have your house back. What a relief! Now it’s time to clean and organize.

Deep Clean

Spring clean your empty space.  It’s so much easier to clean uncluttered space. Take the time to deep clean your new space while you think about how to use each cabinet. Savor the emptiness and appreciate how your eyes can rest in a clutter-free room.

Step back and admire the simplicity of empty countertops. Consider how to maintain these flat surfaces instead of filling them with small appliances. Don’t hide that beautiful new backsplash!

Unpack As Needed

During our remodel, we spent 5 months with very few dishes and appliances. So, when it came time to unpack the boxes, we did so one item at a time, unpacking as needed. Again, with a critical eye for true necessities. If possible, return items to the kitchen only when you need them. This will result in a clutter-free and organized space, and more donations!

The countertops are prime real estate. Consider the convenience fallacy of keeping small appliances in reach.

“Sure, by leaving them out, you may save a couple of seconds when you want to grab one of them. But for the other 99.9 percent of the time they’re sitting out, where they create visual distraction, get in the way, add to the disorganization of our spaces, and attract more clutter.” Joshua Becker, becoming minimalist.

Restock Slowly

Refill your pantry carefully. Most kitchen remodels include a generous pantry. Be sure to empty and rotate inventory frequently. Build weekly meal plans for healthy meals and save money by using existing inventory

Are you feeling overwhelmed by your current remodeling project? I would love to help! Contact me to learn more?

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