One of the biggest priorities in our kitchen remodel is creating smart storage for dishes and entertaining pieces. Our home isn’t enormous, so I need to be intentional about how we use every inch. I don’t like clutter, but I do enjoy collecting beautiful, useful items for hosting—mix-and-match plates, cake stands, vases, platters and pitchers. Those things bring me joy when they are accessible and well stored.
To me, clutter is anything you don’t use or love. If you don’t give the things you love a proper place, they get lost and start to feel like clutter. If an item brings you joy, find it a home where it will be used and appreciated.
When we moved into our last house, movers joked that we were “book and decor” people. It was true—we love both books and pretty things. If they had looked in our boxes, they might have called me a “dishes” person too. I don’t collect excessively, but I do enjoy several sets and serving pieces that deserve functional storage and to be seen.
Think of a smaller space as freeing, not limiting
I’ll admit I would keep more if I had a larger house. But a smaller home forces clearer choices, and that can feel liberating. Boundaries can help you prioritize time, money and space. Downsizing or living in a compact home doesn’t mean you’re missing out—it simply encourages you to keep what matters most.
If you’re in a smaller house or planning to downsize, try to see boundaries as helpful rather than restrictive. Having less can give you freedom to focus on the pieces and routines that truly enhance your life.
I loved larger homes for many reasons in the past, but I also appreciate the simplicity and calm a smaller space can bring. How you feel about your home depends on what you choose to do with it.
A smaller footprint encourages creativity: you’ll find clever ways to store and display what matters. The goal is to keep things you really use and love, not every extra item that seems fun in the moment.
For me, fewer choices makes it easier to focus on favorite items. As I plan the remodel, I’m deciding what will stay and what will go. I won’t have room for everything, and I’m okay with that—less often brings greater peace.
Let your space help you decide what to keep
Sometimes the idea of “sparking joy” doesn’t help if you love many things. A practical approach is to define the storage you have first and then let that limit what you keep. If there isn’t space for an item, it can’t remain without contributing to clutter.
Letting go becomes easier when you accept the reality of your space. Larger homes can encourage holding onto items that rarely get used. Use your available space as a tool to pare down to what you truly need and cherish.
Over the last year I’ve given away many things, but we still have more than our new home can hold in its current storage. The remodel will clarify what storage is available so I can set realistic boundaries: either an item fits into the plan, or it needs a new home.
Out of sight can mean out of use
Make storage useful and accessible so you actually use the things you love. Basements, garages and storage rooms can be both blessing and curse: when items are out of sight they’re often out of mind. If it’s a hassle to retrieve something, it won’t be used—even if you love it.
That said, a small home can’t have everything on display. The trick is balancing accessible storage with hidden storage so your home stays tidy without hiding away everything you adore.
Right now many items are still in boxes from our move. That clutter overwhelms me and keeps those items unused. If the remodel doesn’t create clear, easy-to-reach places for these things, they’ll need to go.
Plan for a mix of open and closed storage
I plan to include dish drawers, glass-front cabinets and open shelving near the kitchen so favorite pieces can double as decor. A mix of open and closed storage keeps spaces from feeling cluttered while giving you spots to showcase special items.
Better utilize nearby spaces
We’ll also maximize nearby spaces like the mudroom and dining room to store items that don’t need to live directly in the kitchen. These adjacent areas keep things accessible without crowding the cooking zone. I’m excited to share the ideas we’ll use to make the most of those spaces.
Use freestanding cabinets for extra storage and display
We use freestanding glass cabinets to keep items visible and accessible without creating mess. Freestanding cabinets are versatile when built-ins aren’t available—they provide storage and a chance to display curated collections in a tidy way.
If you feel cramped by a small space or overwhelmed by too much stuff, remember that having less can be freeing—letting go of what you don’t need makes room for what you love.
More storage isn’t always better if it just enables keeping too much.
You don’t have to be a minimalist to live simply; reducing clutter is a gift to yourself.
I wrote a book called Make Room for What You Love about simplifying home life, sharing my own struggles and strategies for creating order. It’s an ongoing journey—especially for people who love books, decor and entertaining. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s feeling in control of your home and making space for the things that matter.
Looking for more ideas? Explore organization and small space inspiration to help you pare down, organize and enjoy your home.
Are you a book, decor or dishes person? Share which one you are in the comments!