Kitchen Organization – How I Did On My Main House Goal of 2022

January 5, 2023
IN: house goals, kitchen, kitchen organization, kitchen updates

You might remember my number one house goal for 2022 was to start leveling up in the kitchen.

It’s a phrase I made up as I was thinking about what I really wanted to focus on in my home over the year. And it basically sums up…..

wanting to be thoughtful about what I’m using in the kitchen from pots and pans to glassware and storage containers
reevaluating where and how things are stored
putting time, energy, and funds towards new & vintage additions that will serve us well and make my heart happy
curating pieces that are about more than just function and are quality-made
letting go of things I no longer want, use, or need
and just generally creating a kitchen that is well-equipped with everything needed to prepare a meal and entertain with joy!

You can read more about what sparked all of this here.

Making this objective my focus for the entire year took a lot of the pressure off of the purging and organizing part which is what tends to feel like such a huge undertaking in a space like a kitchen. My slow but steady mantra actually allowed me to dare I say enjoy the process and over the course of the past year, I managed to organize almost every cabinet and drawer.

In 22 years of marriage, I can honestly say our junk drawer has never looked so good!

In the pantry, I busted out the old-school label maker.

And in terms of refreshing the essentials, I did fairly well on my checklist. But there are still a few items on my wish list. Something about not being in a hurry and wanting to bring in only what I really loved made me more thoughtful about what I said yes to, and also, I’m convinced the perfect soup bowl just doesn’t exist. 😉

This year-long project has made such an impact not only on my daily life but on my mindset. I’m not really sure why I’ve always felt like an organization/purging/curating project like this needed to happen quickly. As if organizing didn’t really count unless I tackled every drawer and cabinet at the same time. But that’s just not true. It’s not all-or-nothing. Small steps do move you forward.

I’m still reflecting on what I want to focus on in our home for 2023. Of course, I always have a list of house projects I want to tackle, but choosing one thing or area to really focus on last year truly made such a big difference. Giving myself a whole year made it fun!