Simplified Kitchen, Effortless Living
A practical setup that’s easier to use day to day
A simple setup that came from experience
I moved into this place about three years ago, after spending around a year and a half living in my car.
Back then, I had a camping stove, two pots, and a BBQ.
Before that, I’d lived in a four-bedroom house with my wife. We had just about every gadget you could think of, and I tried all sorts of organising systems to keep it under control.
But honestly, living with just the essentials felt easier.
If we had people coming over, we’d spend a day — sometimes a whole weekend — trying to get the house back into shape.
So when I moved in here, I didn’t set out to make things minimal.
I just wanted the kitchen to feel easier to use.
Easier to maintain.
A bit more straightforward day to day.
Less moving things around.
Less losing things in cupboards.
This is where it’s ended up for now.
The problem: things drift
Even after moving in, I noticed the same pattern starting again.
Things would get separated.
The cable for one appliance would be in a different cupboard.
The blades for another somewhere else.
Before I could even start cooking, I’d be searching.
Over time, things drift.
They get pushed to the back.
Stacked in front of each other.
And eventually, they just disappear from use.
You know you’ve got them… but you stop reaching for them because they’re harder to get to.
After living with so little, I noticed that pretty quickly.
I didn’t want that friction creeping back in.
So instead of doing one big reset, I just started adjusting things as I went.
One drawer.
One cupboard.
One section at a time.
Multi-use tools over more tools
One of the biggest shifts was moving toward things that can do more than one job.
I used to have more single-purpose items, and they all took up space in their own way.
When my rice cooker broke, I didn’t replace it.
Instead, I picked up an Instant Pot (after a bit of convincing from a couple of mates at work).
It turned out to be far more useful than I expected.
Now I use it for:
- rice
- bulk meals
- dried beans
It didn’t just save space — it changed how I cook.
The same idea applies to my food processor.
It doubles as a blender just by switching the attachment, and everything lives together in one crate.
When I need it, I grab the crate, use what I need, and put it all back together.
No searching. No missing parts.
Even coffee ended up following the same path.
I moved to an Aeropress:
- simple
- easy to clean
- no maintenance
- easy to take to work or when travelling
Over time, it became less about having options, and more about having things that actually fit how I use the space.
The pantry: grouped by use
The pantry is probably where I noticed the biggest difference.
I used to organise things by type:
- all the jars together
- all the cans together
It looked tidy, but it didn’t match how I actually cook.
So I changed it.
Now everything is grouped by use.
I’ve got trays for:
- beans
- spices
- baking
- snacks and spreads
Instead of grabbing bits and pieces from different shelves, I just grab one tray.
Everything I need for that kind of meal is already there.
It’s a small shift, but it makes a big difference.
- less stopping and starting
- less going back and forward
- everything goes back together as a set
It stops things spreading out again over time.
Drawers: organised by frequency
The drawers follow the same idea.
They’re set up based on how often things are used.
- Top drawer: everyday items (cutlery, knives, basics)
- Second drawer: meal prep tools (spatulas, spoons)
- Third drawer: support items (wraps, tea towels, bags)
- Bottom drawer: pots
Moving pots into a drawer made a bigger difference than I expected.
No more stacking them in a cupboard.
No more digging for the one at the bottom.
No more lids falling everywhere.
Now they’re right next to the stove, exactly where I need them.
Small space decisions that add up
A lot of the rest comes down to small decisions that build on each other.
Things like:
- collapsible cookware (same function, less storage space)
- plates stored vertically instead of stacked
- cups kept in a tray instead of scattered
- mixing bowls stacked neatly but still easy to access
We also switched to using the same cups for hot and cold drinks.
It stopped the cupboard from filling up with different mugs and glasses.
We just rinse or wash between uses, and everything stays together in one place.
None of this is complicated.
It’s just making everyday use easier.
It’s still evolving
This isn’t a finished setup.
If anything, it’s helping me figure out how I’d want my own place to be in the future.
At the moment, I’m leaning towards:
- more drawers
- fewer cupboards
- keeping bulky storage minimal
But it’s still changing.
If something feels awkward, I adjust it.
If something works well, it stays.
The result: less friction
Overall, the biggest difference has been how the kitchen feels to use.
- less searching
- less moving things around
- less friction
And that’s really all I was aiming for.
A simple approach to start
If you’re simplifying your space too, it doesn’t have to be a big reset.
You don’t need to redo everything at once.
Start small.
One drawer.
One cupboard.
One section at a time.
