I Tried the Chaos Method to Declutter My Kitchen and It Really Worked
A few years ago, I took on a massive rebuild of our kitchen and did my best to add as many cabinets and drawers to the space as possible. I thought I’d have plenty of extra room to grow into over the years, but despite coming from our previous house with less storage, every corner of my kitchen filled up quickly.
While it doesn’t look particularly out of control at first glance — and even less so when my cabinets are closed — things are haphazardly strewn about, and very few things are where they belong. For instance, I own a matching pair of Crate & Barrel drink dispensers, each one with a removable wooden pedestal. One dispenser lived in one cabinet, the other in a different cabinet, and both pedestals somehow made their way under the kitchen sink. I can think of at least a few parties I hosted that these could’ve come in handy for, but I completely forgot I even had them.
At this point, I figured my only saving grace for this disorderly setup was implementing an organizing trick aptly named the chaos method. Popularized by Kim Jones of Lock & Key Home, the chaos method suggests emptying every box, shelf, container, cupboard, and drawer in your space (thus creating chaos), then sorting items and organizing it all before putting it all away. This is where you confront the volume of your belongings, expiration dates, double (and triple) purchases, and more.
How I Used the Chaos Method to Declutter My Kitchen
I pulled everything off of shelves in most of my cabinets, and I instantly regretted it. My overflowing countertops were overwhelming, and I couldn’t help but feel like I made a huge mistake.
I started with five cabinets but extended my project to include two additional cabinets. Even though I was on the verge of panic, the view of empty cabinets was addicting — but even so, seven cabinets were my max.
After pulling everything out, I placed like items together. I checked expiration dates and tossed anything I didn’t need anymore. Already, things felt more manageable. I placed certain categories back in their original place, like appliances, everyday dishes, and food, but the categories’ items were completely overhauled.
I organized rarely used items at the very top, moved my coffee mugs to sit over my espresso machine, smoothie ingredients to sit with the smoothie maker, and created a whole cabinet for hosting essentials.
Three hours later, I’m stunned at how much more I can get on the shelves — even with only a few items in the “toss” pile. Since I was able to reconfigure and reimagine my setup on a blank canvas, with a front-row seat to every dish, tool, and snack I’ve ever owned, I made my kitchen infinitely more efficient.
I had so much extra space that I started pulling in items to fill those free areas with items from different parts of the kitchen. I still have five cabinets and 12 drawers left to tackle, but without even trying, I’ve already emptied three of those drawers.
Final Thoughts
My kitchen feels lighter, which is pretty impressive, considering I only purged one shaker cup and some expired baby food. And one of the best parts of rummaging through the most cluttered depths of your home is you’ll always find gems tucked into places you forgot existed. I did! And decorated my countertops with them! Now, not only is my kitchen cleaner and easier to navigate, but it’s also so much more warm and inviting.
Further Reading
I Just Discovered the Smartest Way to Store Paper Towels in Your Kitchen (It’s a Game-Changer!)
We Asked 8 Pro Travelers What They Never Pack in Their Carry-On, and Here’s What They Said
