Kitchens can so quickly become cluttered and disorganised. Before you know it, you have way too many hosting platters, a cupboard bursting at the seams with glassware and a few too many pots and pans for daily use.
Decluttering should be easy, but how do you know you won't need it in the future? Unless you're a cut-throat organiser with perfect kitchen storage ideas who also finds it easy to send things to the charity shop, you might need some clear rules to follow.
Advice from professionals is sometimes the easiest way to finally admit that multiple cutlery sets is too many for one home (I'm looking at myself, here), which is why I've sought out expert advice for the amount of kitchenware you actually need. Here's what she had to say.
How much crockery do you need in a kitchen?
I'll be the first to admit that I have a serious problem with hoarding homeware for a rainy day. Whether that is a small appliance that I hope to have room for one day in my dream kitchen or fun dishware that is destined for a dinner party, I find it hard to get rid of kitchenware that I might one day want or need.
However, this is why my kitchen is bursting at the seams. I have plenty of cupboard space, particularly for a small kitchen, but somehow 3 months after every declutter it is once again jam-packed.
So when I heard an expert advising the exact amounts of crockery and kitchenware you actually need in a cooking space, I knew it was just the type of cut-and-dry advice that I would actually listen to. When you bring maths into the equation, how can you argue?
Now, this advice largely depends on the size of your household; it's designed to be adaptable to fit your exact needs.
'The key is to have enough crockery, cookware, and glassware to cover at least a few meals for every person in your household. This can help to manage mealtimes and dishwasher turnover efficiently, without causing surplus items to take up precious storage space or leading to countertop clutter (particularly near to the sink),' explains Gaël Blake, design director for Nook Home.
This makes sense - the last thing you need after throwing away or donating kitchenware is to find that you don't have enough to host, which leads to spending more money on replacing items. However, you also don't want an abundance of things that clutter up your space, 'just in case' they one day come in handy.
Sharing her insights with Nook Home, interior designer Samantha-Jane Agbontaen suggests that these quantities are a safe bet for diminishing clutter:
'For cookware and ovenware, stick to 2 to 3 pieces solo, 4 to 6 for a family. Nesting trays, two roasting dishes maximum. When it comes to pots and pans, 3 for one person and 5 to 6 for a family will be plenty,' Samantha explains.
'For crockery and cutlery, buying four above your household size is the sweet spot. It covers you for guests and the occasional breakage without tipping into excess that sits unused in a cupboard for years. The same logic applies to cookware,' she adds.
'A saucepan, a frying pan, a casserole and a stockpot covers almost every cooking scenario. Anything beyond that should only come in when something specific and regular demands it. These numbers work because they keep the kitchen practical, easy to use and free from unnecessary duplication.'
Sticking to a specific number for kitchenware is about so much more than practicality. Yes, it helps to keep your cupboards organised and it will also streamline your cooking experience, but it's also far better for your mind, too.
'Physical clutter can add to the mental load that we are carrying, leaving us feeling stressed or anxious. Decluttering can positively impact mental health by regaining control, tackling overwhelm, and creating space,' explains psychotherapist Georgina Sturmer.
Wondering where to start? 'The right time to declutter is when you are reaching past things to get to what you actually use,' Samantha recommends. 'I recommend going through once a year, ideally before any new purchases, and asking honestly: ‘have I used this in the last twelve months?’ If the answer is no, it does not need to be there.'
Shop kitchen essentials
I invested in this crockery set a few years ago and it's versatility has removed any desire for special hosting dishes - it truly does everything you need.
A big crockpot like this ProCook style is perfect for everyday home cooking and is large enough for hosting too.
Investing in a set of nesting dishes like these from Falcon Enamelware will make storing them simple, while giving you plenty of options for cooking.
Ready to tackle kitchen clutter? These simple rules for decluttering a kitchen will inspire you to get started.
If you enjoyed reading this, sign up for the Ideal Home newsletter for all the latest home decor trends and inspiration delivered straight to your inbox
