Help! My Kitchen is SO Tiny!

Put It In Perspective

​If you find yourself complaining that your kitchen is not big enough, read Little House on the Prairie with your kids. Seriously! Reading about Ma Ingles cooking on the frontier puts things in perspective. Our fore-mothers fed their families with far less than what we have today!

Instead of focusing on what your kitchen lacks, focus on what it has. 

Word-Wise Tip: Start calling your kitchen "cozy."

Make Your Cozy Kitchen Work For You

• Use the table. If your counter space is lacking, use the kitchen table for food prep. It is big, and you can even sit down if you like! 
• Get rid of the stuff you never use. Toss the pot that is scratched and dinged. You do not need ten spatulas. Embrace minimalism (at least in your kitchen)!
• Go through the kids' dishes. Once upon a time my husband came home to find I had thrown out all of the kid cups and plates! He truly thought I had lost it because I went to the store to buy new stuff! But I had good reason: I wanted things that stacked neatly. I also wanted to give each kid their own color bowl and plate and cup (and snack container). Not only did this save a ton of space, but it also made sure the kids cleaned up after themselves. It also meant they quit fighting over who got what plate!

• Stay on top of your dishes. If you keep them clean, you don't need as many of them! This goes for pots and pans, too!
• Create a Table Time Routine for your children. Give your kids jobs to help with, such as setting, clearing, wiping, and sweeping under the table. Wash or rinse the dishes. As soon as one of them is tall enough to put stuff away, have them start drying dishes. To make life easier, assign the chores long-term. ​
• Go through your pantry on a regular basis. If you have a planner, go ahead and write that in there two to four times a year. (I use this one, if you're curious)

When you quit storing the things you don't really use or need or love, you gain a lot of space!

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Make Your Cozy Kitchen Lovely

It's easy to focus on the practical when it comes to kitchens. But if you take the time to add small touches to your kitchen, they will refresh the whole area! It is amazing how much joy a small, beautiful change can bring. Here's some ideas:

• Put up an art print, or create your own!
• Grow herbs in the windowsill.
• Paint a step-stool or chair (or your cabinets if you're really brave!).
• Check out my Pinterest Board, Cozy Kitchen, for more ideas.

​What about you? What will you do to make your kitchen cozy?