If you don’t keep it in order, your kitchen will accumulate more and more things overloading it daily. Every house needs a kitchen with enough space to breathe, allowing you to find what you need without digging through the cupboards. To maintain a minimalist kitchen, you need to be consistent.
You should not store more dishes than you use
If you regularly organise evening parties, you may need them, but if your household is small and you rarely have guests to eat, reduce your collection of dishes by half.
Keep only the utensils you have used in the last six months
Of course, you need plates, cups, bowls and whatever you regularly use in your household. But when it comes to special salad bowls, tureens, etc., that are part of a set of dishes that you never, never, never use, it’s time to think about getting rid of them.
Don’t forget to “turn off” the kitchen
Part of maintaining a minimalist aesthetic is regular cleaning. A messy kitchen leads to chaos because simplicity mixes with clutter. But if your kitchen is clean, everything out of place will inevitably irritate the eye. “Turning off” the kitchen means getting into the habit of never going to bed without cleaning and tidying the kitchen.
Respect kitchen counter tops and keep them clean
Only put things on your kitchen counter tops if you can find another place for them. Find other places for keys, documents, mail and trinkets you want to keep. Clean counter tops are the basis of a minimalist kitchen.
Clean your refrigerator once a week
By reviewing everything accumulated in it, you keep your refrigerator clean and get up-to-date information about the necessary groceries you need to supply. You buy just what you need.
Do not keep duplicate items
The only duplicates you can store are the ones you regularly use simultaneously. So two or more serving spoons are standard, but three openers are probably not.
Minimalism or maximalism – what is your style?
According to interior designers, maximalism has replaced minimalism in home furnishings and decor, but both styles have faithful followers. Which style is right for you – minimalist or maximalist?
Pros and cons of minimalism
The minimalist style has been around for a long time as a leading trend in home furnishings and decor. Designers and stylists drew ideas and inspiration from the Scandinavian countries, which often rely on this type of interior. Minimalism is simple and clean but elegant and refined precisely because of its modesty and restraint. It is dominated by stricter lines, without curves and abstract design, as clean and classic as possible.
In the basic palette in the minimalist style – neutral colours such as white, ecru, beige, grey and classic black predominate. Colour accents are considered redundant. Small details bring depth and give character to the room.
You will notice only a few decorative elements in the decor of a home furnished in a minimalist style. Home textiles play an important role, but they also retain the colour advantage of neutrals. Caring for nature and the environment also has an impact. More natural materials predominate in furniture and decor.
The minimalist style relies on more natural light – large windows, drawn curtains during the day, and bright colours in the rooms that create a feeling of space.
The advantages of this style can be turned against it – some people find the minimalism too restrained, creating a sterile environment. Others lack individuality due to too few elements in the decor, and others are annoyed by the uniform colour palette.
Pros and cons of maximalism
Maximalism has taken over the trends in home decor only recently. Rich in colours, prints and textures, it wants to be noticed, attract attention and tell stories. The combination of diverse decor elements gives the home character and individuality. Every detail is connected somehow with the homeowner and contributes to the overall image.
Maximalism works with bright and saturated colours from the whole spectrum. There are no taboos, and it mixes both individual shades and prints. The furniture design is also more broken and relies on more curves, avoiding sharp edges and strict lines.
Interior textiles play a crucial role in maximalism. Thick curtains and attractive print carpets that cover most of the floor and attract the eye with bright patterns are a must for this style. The decor is complemented by colourful photo frames and art, relying on a more modern and abstract trend. The scale is always significant – if you are wondering whether to make a collection of succulents or put a pot with a large palm tree in the living room, the answer to maximalism is more than evident.
The truth is that only some people understand maximalism as a style – usually more artistic, modern-minded and open to innovative ideas. For others, however, so many patterns and colours come in more. They are tiring because they distract. In addition, the line between a well-arranged room in the maximalism style and kitsch is very thin. Last but not least, a home furnished in this style takes more time and effort to clean and maintain.
Easy cleaning at home
No matter what your home is, according to the above classifications, the number one rule for quick and easy cleaning is to have quick and easy access to appliances and cleaning products. When it comes time to clean, you should maintain motivation in searching for the necessary accessories. Keep detergents and a vacuum cleaner on hand to use when inspiration comes.
- Choose your cleaners carefully. An excessive amount of cleaning agents can damage some surfaces. Some detergents work slowly and should stay for some time to break down dirt. It is best to use biological products. That will reduce the risk of allergies and take care of the environment.
- Soda and vinegar also have lovely cleansing properties, wholly harmless and cheap. It is enough to include them more often in the hygiene of your home.
- Start with dry cleaning – vacuum and dust – then move on to wet, which will prevent the spread of dust and dirt.
In maintaining your home, whether small or large, the little cleaning tricks are not limited to the hygienic side of things. You will find unique solutions for the better organisation of your belongings in the space you have!