One of my main concerns for our kitchen remodel is creating thoughtful storage for dishes and items used for hosting. Our home is a comfortable size—not huge, not tiny—so every inch matters. I’m not a fan of clutter, but I do enjoy beautiful pieces that make hosting easier and more enjoyable.
To me, clutter is anything you neither use nor love.
If you don’t give treasured items a proper place, they get lost or start to feel like clutter and then you stop using them. If you love something, find a home for it so it remains part of your life—whether that’s keeping it, sharing it, or passing it along to someone who will use it.
When we moved into our last house, the movers joked we were “book and decor” people. It was fitting—our boxes revealed a mix of books and decorative items. I also realized I’m something of a dishes person: I don’t own an excessive collection, but I do enjoy having a few mix-and-match sets and serving pieces like cake stands, vases, platters, and pitchers.
Think of a smaller space as freeing, not limiting
I’ll admit I might keep more if our house were larger. But a smaller space forces choices, and for me those constraints are liberating. Fewer square feet means clearer priorities about what to keep, use, and enjoy.
If you live in a small home, are downsizing, or simply have a small kitchen, it can feel frustrating if you focus on what you don’t have. Flip that perspective: boundaries can help you decide how to spend your time, money, and energy. Less can feel like more when you intentionally curate the things around you.
That said, I’ve appreciated larger homes for different reasons in the past. The key is to embrace the home you have and the lifestyle it allows. A smaller space encourages different choices—it’s neither inherently better nor worse, just different. How you use the space matters more than its size.
A smaller footprint invites creative solutions. With intention, you can keep what you truly need and love, rather than holding onto everything that seems fun or extra. Those limits help clarify what sparks real joy for you.
I’m embracing that approach while planning our kitchen remodel. I won’t have every possible item on hand, and that’s okay. Having less brings peace and a clearer sense of what matters to me.
Let your space help decide what you keep
We often treat “stuff” and “clutter” as a moral failing rather than a logistical problem. Many things spark joy, and that makes choosing hard. Start by defining the physical space you have for specific items—dishes, decor, or books. When space is limited, decisions become clearer: if there’s no room, it can’t stay.
Sometimes letting go feels difficult until you accept there simply isn’t room. More square footage can encourage hoarding of seldom-used items. Use limitations as a tool to pare down to what you genuinely love and use.
I’ve given away a lot recently, yet we still have more than our new home currently accommodates. The remodel will clarify storage locations, which will guide what stays and what goes. I don’t want to store items we rarely use; I want to keep things accessible and meaningful.
Out of sight, out of mind can become clutter
Create storage that’s both useful and accessible so you’ll actually use the things you keep. Basements, garages, or storage rooms can be blessings—or traps—depending on how organized they are. If items are hard to find, you won’t use them, even if you love them.
That said, in smaller homes you can’t keep everything on display without making the space feel cluttered. The balance is deciding which items should be easily reachable and which can be tucked away. Be honest about how much you’ll realistically use and maintain.
Right now many of our belongings are packed in storage boxes. It’s overwhelming and impractical because I know I won’t access some of those items unless they have a clear, labeled place. If the remodel doesn’t create practical, easy-to-find homes for them, those items will need to go.
Plan for a mix of open and closed storage
Because I want our dishes to be easily accessible and also to serve as decor, I’m planning dish drawers, some glass-front cabinets, and open shelving near the kitchen. Mixing open and closed storage keeps rooms from looking cluttered while still allowing a few curated displays of items you love.
Better utilize the space you have
I’m also rethinking our mudroom and planning storage in the dining room so not everything needs to live in the kitchen. Nearby, well-organized spaces make items accessible without crowding the kitchen. I look forward to sharing the ideas we plan to include.
Use freestanding cabinets for extra storage and charming display
We rely on white freestanding glass cabinets to keep favorite pieces accessible without crowding surfaces. When built-ins aren’t available, freestanding cabinets are practical and attractive options for storage and display. They let you enjoy pretty things while keeping the overall look tidy.
If a small space or too much stuff feels overwhelming, remember: having less can be liberating. Let go of what you don’t need and make room for what you love.
More storage isn’t always better if it encourages keeping too much.
You don’t have to be a minimalist to have an orderly home—simplifying is a gift to yourself.
I wrote a book, Make Room for What You Love, about simplifying and creating order in the home. It shares my struggles with stuff and practical strategies that helped me. Simplifying is an ongoing process—especially for people who love books, decor, and entertaining—but it’s rewarding to feel in control of your space.
Looking for more ideas? Explore organization tips and small-space inspiration to help you make the most of your home.
Are you a book person, a decor person, or a dishes person? Share which you relate to most in the comments!