How To Organize Your Kitchen Cabinets Like Marie Kondo

Marie Kondo's KonMari organizing method is famous for its emphasis on keeping what "sparks joy." Depending on how passionate about cooking you are, you might not feel like that concept applies to your kitchen cabinets. But a closer look at the KonMari method reveals that it works just as well for the kitchen as it does for the closet or garage. You can organize your kitchen cabinets like Marie Kondo by reflecting on each item you have, discarding what you no longer need, and storing things in an easy-to-use manner.

There are several rules to the KonMari method. The first is to mentally commit yourself to the process of resetting your space and the effort that it requires. The next is to visualize what kind of lifestyle you want to be living; Kondo's process of tidying is designed to bring you closer to your ideal life and create a space that makes you feel good. The other rules involve going item by item, keeping only what sparks joy and letting go of the rest. Read on for specific ways to apply the KonMari process to your kitchen cabinets.

The KonMari method focuses on tidying by category, not by room, so in this case, you'll want to focus on organizing all the kitchen items you own (whether they're in the cabinets or the garage). As with all KonMari tidying, first take some time to think through your intentions for tidying your kitchen cabinets and how you hope it will affect your life, and commit yourself to seeing it through. Your goals can be personal to you. For example, perhaps you're hoping to feel more peaceful in the kitchen or enjoy cooking more.

Next, it's time to go through each item in your kitchen cabinets and decide what to discard. Imagine yourself using the item, perhaps thinking back to your vision of your ideal life and where it would fit into it. Think about what types of foods you use or could use the item to make. Think about what it feels like to handle that tool or use that ingredient. Overall, if these thoughts spark joy, the item is worth keeping. If not, or if the item is expired or broken, it gets discarded. With the KonMari method, you don't just throw items away, but rather take the time to thank them for serving their purpose in your life and then let them go. Kondo also encourages recycling, repurposing, and donating where possible. An item that doesn't spark joy in your life could spark tons of joy in someone else's!

In the KonMari method, discarding always comes before organizing. After you've made those tough decisions on what to get rid of, it's time to tidy up what you've decided to keep so that you can get as much use out of it as possible and it continues to spark joy. Kondo recommends organizing kitchen pantry items by category — dried goods in one section, cans in another, and snacks in another, for example. Every category of item should have its own place where it belongs.

Kondo also advises storing each item upright so that you can easily spot what you have at a glance. Kondo even has a folding method for kitchen towels so that they're upright and you can see them all at once. To make your kitchen cabinets more pleasant to look at and use, you might invest in some kitchen pantry storage products that you personally love, like jars, baskets, labels, or hooks.