Could Your Kitchen Benefit from De-Cluttering?

The team at Crowley Space Station Storage has been helping folks at 1600 FM 1187 manage overflow belongings for years, and kitchens create the most storage needs. People's kitchens are often cluttered with gadgets, duplicate items, and things they haven't used since 2015.

In this blog, we’ll talk about when the right time is to declutter your kitchen and what to do next.

The Texas Kitchen Problem

Living in Crowley means many of us have decent-sized homes with good kitchen space. But here's the thing, kitchen stuff multiplies like rabbits. It doesn't matter how much cabinet space you have; somehow, you'll fill it and then some.

What we see in Texas kitchens

Multiple sets of dishes "for different occasions" that all get used maybe twice a year. Gadgets bought with good intentions that got used once and now collect dust. Air fryers, bread makers, spiralizers, and juicers. Duplicate tools because you couldn't find the first one buried in the drawer, so you bought another. Tupperware containers with no matching lids. Small appliances taking up all your counter space, such as toasters, coffee makers, blenders, mixers, microwaves, Instant Pots, rice cookers, and more. Pantry items from 2019 that you'll definitely use "someday." The result? You can't find what you need, can't use your workspace efficiently, and cooking becomes more stressful than it should be.

The "Can't Cook Because Too Much Stuff" Syndrome

Some kitchens have so much stuff that actually cooking becomes difficult.

No counter workspace because small appliances occupy every surface. Where are you supposed to prep food? Can't find the tools you need because drawers are packed with junk. You own three can openers but can't locate any of them. Expired ingredients in the back of cabinets mean you buy duplicates, waste money, and have even more clutter. Stress from visual chaos makes cooking feel overwhelming before you even start.

We had a customer tell us she was eating out constantly because using her kitchen was too frustrating. After decluttering and storing occasional-use items with us, she actually started cooking again. That's not a small thing.

What Deserves Kitchen Space

Your kitchen should hold items you use regularly or seasonally. Everything else is just taking up valuable real estate.

Daily-use items like a coffee maker, a toaster, basic pots and pans, everyday dishes, and essential utensils. Seasonal items you'll use in the next few months, like a crockpot during winter, grilling tools during the Texas summer. Food and ingredients that aren't expired and you'll actually consume. Specialty appliances are used once or twice yearly. Duplicate items you don't need. Dishes and serving pieces for occasions that happen rarely. Cookbooks you never reference. Gadgets that only do one thing, you could do with regular tools.

The Crowley Storage Solution for Kitchen Overflow

Here's where Crowley Space Station Storage comes in. You don't have to choose between keeping items and having a functional kitchen.

Seasonal serving pieces and dishes. Your Thanksgiving turkey platter and Christmas china don't need year-round kitchen space. Specialty appliances are used occasionally. Store the fondue pot, bring it home when you're actually having a fondue party, then return it to storage. Extra sets of dishes. Keep your everyday set at home, store the fancy china and guest sets. Bulk pantry items from Costco runs that don't currently fit in your pantry. Catering supplies if you occasionally host large events, but don't need that stuff daily.

What Storage Actually Looks Like for Kitchen Items

People worry about storing kitchen items, but it's actually pretty straightforward. Clean everything thoroughly before storage. Food residue attracts pests. Climate control matters for anything nice. Extreme Texas heat can damage certain items, and humidity affects cardboard packaging. Use plastic bins for organization and protection. Label them clearly. Stack carefully to prevent damage. Don't crush lightweight items under heavy ones.

The "But I Might Need It" Mental Trap

This is the thought that keeps kitchens cluttered forever. "But I might need this someday" prevents people from letting go of anything. If you haven't needed it in two years, you probably won't suddenly need it. If you do need it someday, borrowing or buying is cheaper than storing it for years. The mental relief of a decluttered kitchen outweighs the tiny chance you'll miss one specific item.

Our Take from FM 1187

Look, we're in the storage business, so you might think we want everyone to store everything forever. Not true. We want people to use storage strategically to improve their actual lives, not as a way to avoid making decisions.

For kitchens specifically, the goal is a functional space where cooking is enjoyable, not stressful. Sometimes that means storing items you want to keep but don't need daily access to. Sometimes it means actually getting rid of things. Both are valid.

Crowley kitchens deserve to be workspaces, not storage units. If you can't prep a meal without moving 15 things off your counter first, something's wrong. If you can't find basic tools because drawers are jammed, that's a problem. If expired food is taking up pantry space, that's wasted money and wasted space.

Come talk to us if the kitchen overflow is affecting your quality of life. We've got climate-controlled space, we're right here on FM 1187, and we can help you figure out a rotation system that keeps your kitchen functional while preserving items you want to keep.

Your kitchen should make your life easier, not harder. If it's not doing that right now, decluttering (with or without storage) is worth the effort.