Creating a Minimalist Kitchen: Tips to Clean, Declutter and Simplify

56 Comments

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Today I’m giving you a little peek inside my modern and minimalist kitchen. I’m also sharing 8 tips to help you clean, declutter and embrace a little minimalism.

Creating a Minimalist Kitchen. My kitchen is a blend of cozy minimalist, warm modern, Scandinavian and SoCal design. Here are 8 tips to help you clean, declutter and embrace a little minimalism.

My style and aesthetic has definitely morphed over time. I’ve always favored a contemporary “look and feel,” with lots of white, as much openness and natural light as possible and an abundance of plants and greenery. But in the last few years that’s transitioned yet again into more of a minimalist, modern design, aligning with the Downshiftology notion of simplifying life.

For years I avoided using those two words “minimalist and modern” because honestly, I thought they lacked warmth and coziness. My internal assessment was that minimalist and modern meant stark, cold, empty and unfriendly. And never in a million years would I want the comfort of my home to feel like a sterile hospital room. But the truth is that minimalism doesn’t have to mean those things at all.

Watch the video to see inside my minimalist kitchen:

And subscribe to my YouTube Channel for weekly videos!

Minimalism is about so much more than the number of items you own, how much you’ve spent on them or what color they are. Rather, it’s about freeing yourself from excess “stuff” and those things that weigh you down. It’s quite simply, just simplifying life. And that’s something I can definitely stand behind.

As you can imagine, my job as a food blogger and recipe developer means that I spend a huge amount of time in my kitchen. So it’s important to me that this space is kept as clean and tidy as possible. But I’m by no means preaching perfection.

I’ll be the first to admit that my kitchen isn’t always as clean as you’ll see on this video (my mom considers me a bit of a Tasmanian Devil in the kitchen). I just do my best by implementing the tips I’m sharing today.

For most people, the kitchen is also a congregating area for the home, so decluttering and tidying up this room will naturally make you feel more at ease, calm and relaxed. And I think you’ll soon find the habits you implement in the kitchen will have a lovely way of spreading into the rest of your home.

This topic has been highly requested over on my YouTube channel (especially after my Pantry Organization video), so it only makes sense that I present today’s tips in video format. And if you love my style, make sure to check out my modern and minimalist living room. You’ll see many of the same design themes carried through into my living room.

Creating a Minimalist Kitchen. My kitchen is a blend of cozy minimalist, warm modern, Scandinavian and SoCal design. Here are 8 tips to help you clean, declutter and embrace a little minimalism.

Minimalist Kitchen Decor

Here are some of the items I shared in the video above:

APPLIANCES

Vitamix Blender / All Clad Toaster / KitchenAid Stand Mixer

COUNTERTOP DECOR

Fruit Bowl / Tea Kettle / Utensil Holder / Stainless Steel Utensils / Wood Utensils / Knife Set / Flour Jars / Liquid Soap / Sponge Tray / Soap Scrub Brush / Paper Towel Holder / Plants / more Plants

ORGANIZATION

Clear Bins / Clear Drawer Organizers / Spice Drawer Insert

OTHER

White Plates / Counter Stools

My kitchen is a blend of cozy minimalist, warm modern, Scandinavian and SoCal design. Here are 8 tips to help you clean, declutter and embrace a little minimalism.

Creating a Minimalist Kitchen. My kitchen is a blend of cozy minimalist, warm modern, Scandinavian and SoCal design. Here are 8 tips to help you clean, declutter and embrace a little minimalism.

My kitchen is a blend of cozy minimalist, warm modern, Scandinavian and SoCal design. Here are 8 tips to help you clean, declutter and embrace a little minimalism.

Creating a Minimalist Kitchen. My kitchen is a blend of cozy minimalist, warm modern, Scandinavian and SoCal design. Here are 8 tips to help you clean, declutter and embrace a little minimalism.

My kitchen is a blend of cozy minimalist, warm modern, Scandinavian and SoCal design. Here are 8 tips to help you clean, declutter and embrace a little minimalism.

Creating a Minimalist Kitchen. My kitchen is a blend of cozy minimalist, warm modern, Scandinavian and SoCal design. Here are 8 tips to help you clean, declutter and embrace a little minimalism.

Have you embraced a minimalist lifestyle? What’s your favorite tip to declutter? And If you’d like to see the rest of my apartment, let me know in the comments below. Perhaps I’ll do another video in the future!

About the author

Lisa Bryan

Lisa is a bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer, and YouTuber (with over 2.5 million subscribers) living in sunny Southern California. She started Downshiftology in 2014, and is passionate about making healthy food with fresh, simple and seasonal ingredients.

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56 Comments

  1. Hello Lisa, Thank you so much for all the videos and the work that you put into them. I have pre-ordered your new book and am taking notes in the meantime-I’m another Grandma who is learning from you! May I ask the brand of your black handbag featured in this video.? I have searched hi and lo, but cannot find it. It’s the perfect one for me!

    1. Thanks so much for ordering my book, Sandy! And for your sweet words. :) My black handbag in the video is from Coach.

  2. First thank you for all the information. I have searched your site but have not found any mention of the plants hanging on the wall. I believe these are your fresh herbs. Is there any information on how, what, etc? Since you have been successful at putting a TV on the wall I am sure the plants where easier.

    Have a great day!

    1. Hi Janet! That plant wall was actually not at my current apartment, but in my parent’s basement 😂. I don’t have exact links for everything, but I just drilled a bar into the wall, and you can buy hanging planters with hooks pretty much anywhere.

  3. I love your kitchen.. and your honesty. Am moving soon and planning a dream kitchen. May I know where you get those airtight containers with a push button in the centre of the lid? I can’t seem to find it in the shop list.

  4. I’m new to your videos and really like them.  I do have kitchen envy and would appreciate suggestions for organizing some rooms, especially tiny kitchens.  Thanks!

  5. Hi, I’ve been searching for a video just like yours for months. Its provided all the answers I needed to minimalist ny kitchen living space so thank you!

    One question – what do you do with the paperwork/magazines you receive to avoid a dumping ground in your surfaces? Thats the worst habit of ours.

    1. Hi Clare! I do keep a pile of my favorite magazine in a box in my office. Otherwise, I will recycle everything else.

  6. I found your blog when I was looking to pare down on kitchen gadgets. I’m an aspiring cook and saw a lot of similarities.

    I love your kitchen setup! I recently acquired a food processor for grating and shredding. I noticed you didn’t have one – What do you use for jobs like making carrot cake or making quicker work of making pie/tart shells (cutting butter into flour)? 

    1. Hi Danny – I actually do have a food processor! I recently got the Vitamix food processor attachment which is great for shredding. Otherwise, I normally use a KitchenAid one.

  7. Hi Lisa love everything about Downshiftology, educational,easy to understand,lots of healthy recipes and your calm voice. Thank you. I am a new subscriber from Australia.

    1. Welcome to the Downshiftology community Maryanne! Glad to hear you’re enjoying all my content and are learning a few new things along the way :)

  8. I can see the “minimalist” in your website…well done

    We are relocating from NY to Florida, and the house we’re building is going to a have a nice sized kitchen..so this article has been very helpful….thank you!

  9. Hi Lisa!
    I LOVE your videos, they are extremely helpful. Thank you so much! Question: What is the brand for the measuring cups?

    1. Thanks so much Waleska! The stacking metal ones are listed on the Shop page on my website. And the glass ones are Pyrex. :)

  10. Hi Lisa!

    I may have missed it in one of your videos, but what type of spice grinder/mill do you use and:or prefer?

    Thank you, love your videos, your recipes and your lifestyle!

    Jamie

    1. Hi Jamie – I actually don’t have a spice grinder. You can see all of the spices I purchase (almost all from Simply Organic) on my Spice Drawer Organization video. :)

  11. Hello.
    I think I would ever easier if you didn’t leave all your appliances on your counters.
    I downsized to the wooden knife block to 4 knifes in a drawer, and less spoons.

    1. Yep, totally agree, Shan! You should see how many appliances I have. So what I have on the counter is pretty minimal :)

  12. I’m having a new house built and I am going for white this time and it is a kitchen that opens into the family room. One huge space with a massive island. I too have evolved, I want all the small appliances hidden in the pantry out of sight but accessible to use and yet hidden, I love gadgets but I hare clutter and over time I too have gone minimalist and I will be continuing this in my new digs.

    1. New homes are always fun to design and decorate! It’s funny how our tastes change as we get older, but I think less clutter is always a good thing. ;) Have fun with your new space!

  13. Hi Lisa, thought I’d reach out here now instead of all my instagram questions ?. 

    Are your stainless steel utensils like large spoon, spatula etc ALL CLAD? Or just random. I’m switching out my plastic ones and wondered what works best. I do plan on graduating to ALL Clad pots and pans soon and I like the look of the ones you use. 
    Thanks again. 
    Therese Cornelius :) 

  14. Living in a tiny village in France called St Laurent d’Aigouze, and an equally tiny multi tiered house , your style of living is of great joy to me personally. I thought I had is sussed, but this Granma has learned a great deal from you, and it is true, that one is never too old to learn…….what a joy to get your emails. The latest on minimal kitchens, was simply wonderful!

  15. I love seeing how you organize your kitchen, and especially where you get what you use in your kitchen. I’d like to see more on your organization tips in the kitchen (possibly more drawer and cabinet organization). I’ve actually ordered some of your recommended products.

    1. That’s wonderful to hear Judy! And I’m sure I’ll have many more organization tips and videos in the future. :)

  16. Love your kitchen and organization tips!!! I would love to know what you use for freezer storage? I’m looking to get rid of my old plastic freezer containers, but haven’t had much luck with the glass wide mouth Ball containers as I’ve had a lot of breakage.

    1. Thanks so much! I actually use all the Weck Jars you see in my pantry for freezing soups, stews, etc, and use rectangular glass storage containers for casseroles, chicken and other meals, like these: http://amzn.to/2ivLnDT I’ve never had either container break yet! :)

  17. Fantastic video and you know I am very versed in this subject! Our kitchens are so similar and I follow all your tips on a daily basis. Even tho I am not a food blogger, or recipe developer, I do use cooking as my therapy and grounder. I am not a gadget cook….but do have the spiralizer you recommended and absolutely love it. Than you for producing this video and your amazing photos. I will pass them on!-Laurel

  18. Love this post! Love your channel. Could you please do a video on kitchen essentials, like your all-clad pots and pans?

    1. Thanks so much Lin! And yes – I’ve got a video planned for kitchen essentials in the future. Stay tuned! :) x

  19. I really love the aesthetic you’ve achieved in your kitchen and agree that modern and minimalst doesn’t have to be sterile and cold. I think we have all seen examples where it is, and I think that’s where the fear comes from, but when you see it done well, as here, it reveals how calming but warm it can be.

    1. Thank you so much for your kind words and I agree 100%! It’s just about finding that right balance. :) x

    1. I’ve always had small kitchens as well, until recently. But even with a larger kitchen, it’s important to not let those unnecessary items creep up on you! :) Glad this inspired you to declutter Deanna!

  20. You have my dream kitchen! ? My space is a lot smaller so it is definitely important for me to Me to minimalize the amount of clutter that I have awesome post again beautiful space

    1. Thanks Gina! I’m fortunate that my apartment has an awesome kitchen. Closet space…not so much. So I need to focus on decluttering there as well. ;) x

  21. I love the simplicity yet elegant look of your kitchen. I guess its time to declutter my kitchen as there’s a lot of going right now.

  22. So well put! Loved the video and all the ideas. I am a huge fan of modern kitchen and truly loved your style.

  23. Haha well you and I already discussed this in our DM on Instagram ;) But I’ll add this: My favorite tip to declutter is to ask myself (about any item), “For what?” Meaning, I have to ask myself why I’m keeping something; and if there’s no quick (but still gut) reaction, I put the item in the donation pile or throw-away pile. I would love to see more photos of your apartment! Obviously love the style.

    1. That’s a great question to ask yourself! Sometimes we keep things out of longevity but for no other reason. Cheers to the clean, minimalist styleistas! ;) x