
On a recent trip to the Bay area in Northern California, my husband and I stayed at an Extended Stay America Hotel in Alameda. These hotels offer mini kitchens as well as other long stay amenities such as laundry facilities, a fitness room, pool, and more. Apartment style hotels are our favorite way to travel so that we can cook our own food and save money by not eating out every meal.
Our mini kitchen had only the bare necessities: two small and large plates, two bowls, two forks, two knives, two spoons, two glasses, two coffee mugs, a pan, a pot, a spatula, one serving spoon, a coffee maker, and a toaster. The only major thing missing from this kitchen was an oven, yet there was a microwave which we never use, a double burner stove top, and full size refrigerator.
After enjoying the ease of using only the minimum kitchen essentials, my husband and I were finally ready to downsize our kitchen at home.
As a household of two, we downsized our kitchen to one set of four small and large plates, four bowls, four coffee mugs, four wine glasses, two tumblers, and a complete set of utensils. We also have a set of serving dishes and a salad bowl. Serving dishes and a full table setting are extremely helpful for hosting dinner parties which we love to do. For more than two guests Bamboo Veneerwear Dinnerwear table settings will be perfect, chic, and ecofriendly.
We decluttered everything that we had multiples of such as an extra wok, cooking utensils, a set of knives that we never use, and a vase.
Of course we are keeping the juicer, toaster, blender, food processor, and hand mixer, yet I would love to one day get one appliance that will blend, food process, and mix all in one. Neither one of us is ready to live with only one pan and one pot, so keeping the set of pots and pans that we have is important to us, and works well when preparing food for guests. I’m just in awe to take our minimalism to the next level.
My minimalist lifestyle with home decor involved getting rid of excess furniture and my unneeded personal items. Now after two years of decluttering I am so excited to have my husband on board with decluttering more of the things that we share. Not to mention he decluttered his own personal items upon our return.
The truth is that we don’t need more than one table setting and whatever kitchen appliances that we use consistently.
Multiples of everything can be downsized. There really is no need to keep appliances or other kitchen items that we rarely use or don’t need to have. What I love most about having less in the kitchen is that doing the dishes is no longer the hassle that it felt like before.
How would you like your minimal kitchen to look?
(Image by Extended Stay America)
Alex says
I love this! I’m moving in six months and I plan on completely starting over. I’m selling/giving away all of my furniture, clothing, and just stuff now. I’ve already planned out the kitchen, and I won’t even have any pots or pans. An electric kettle to boil water, a multi racked wok to steam veggies, an air fryer (gotta have my sweet potato French fries), and a reversible grill/griddle is all I need. I only will have one five piece set of silverware, because with it just being just me, it guarantees that 1) I clean up after every meal and 2) every meal is highow quality and nutritious. I suffer from Depression and the minimalistic lifestyle is really helpful when episodes come.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Alex,
Thank you and best wishes on your move! It is such an amazing feeling to have a fresh new start in a new home. I love how you already have an idea of how to simplify your kitchen space. Striving for a minimalist lifestyle can give you the space to really look at your life and make changes towards what you are truly passionate about in life. It has definitely changed my life tremendously. Again best wishes on your move and with everything that you are doing!