5 Signs You Have Too Much Kitchen Clutter

Cluttered kitchen? It happens to the best of us—after all, it is the hub of the home, and for many of us that means a constant rotation between family dinners, homework sessions, dinner parties, and rushed breakfast before school. But if you’re starting to feel like your kitchen has become an obstacle course of mismatched food storage containers and unused appliances, it might be time to assess the situation.

Identifying clutter is the first step to clearing it away—and it’s easier (and more satisfying) than you think. Below, we’ve tapped a few pros to help walk you through some simple signs that it might be time to declutter your kitchen that go far beyond having too much dishware. Grab your coffee or tea (in whatever mug you can find) and get ready to take back control of your kitchen.

Your Junk Drawer Has Become Junk Drawers

A junk drawer is a kitchen rite of passage, and it’s an unsexy bit of organizational chaos that most pros can actually get behind. That said, when you find your single junk drawer expanding into two or even three drawers, that’s when you know you’re in trouble. “While one small junk drawer for odds and ends is common, having multiple—or even an entire junk cabinet—is a clear sign that clutter has taken over,” says Rachel Rosenthal, a professional organizer and owner of Rachel and Company.

Instead of having purposeful storage solutions, small household essentials end up in a catch-all space, making it difficult to find important items like batteries, tape, or measuring tools. “This kind of disorganization often leads to frustration and unnecessary repurchasing,” she adds. “Over time, junk drawers become black holes of forgotten items, creating more clutter and stress.” 

You Can’t Find a Spare Spot to Meal Prep

Available counter space can depend on a lot of things, from the size of your house to the layout of your kitchen. Regardless of the hand your house has dealt you, you want to make the most of the prep surface area you do have, and if you find yourself balancing a cutting board over the sink or escaping to the dining table to slice and dice, you may need to consider what unnecessary gear is sucking up your workspace.

“The biggest giveaway that someone has a cluttered kitchen is if countertops are always covered,” says Jenna Haefelin, professional organizer and owner of SPIFF. “If there’s no clear space for meal prep because small appliances, mail, dishes, and random items pile up, it’s a sign the kitchen lacks functional systems. This often means cabinets and drawers are too full or disorganized, forcing everyday items onto the counters.”

You Avoid Unloading the Dishwasher

A freshly cleaned batch of dishes should fill you with joy—especially if you didn’t have to be the one to scrub them clean. But, if you find yourself putting off emptying the dishwasher every time the light turns green, there might be more at play than just a bit of laziness. The truth is, a lack of organization—or just a general feeling of chaos in your kitchen—can make putting away more stuff a stressful process.

“A well-organized kitchen relies on intuitive placement; everything should have a designated home,” says Rosenthal. “When kitchen tools, food items, and cookware are scattered across multiple areas with no consistent system, it disrupts the natural workflow.” This results in constant shuffling, lost time, and frustration, especially when trying to clean. Without proper organization, even the most basic chores become inefficient, leading to a general sense of chaos in what should be one of the most functional spaces in the home.

You Often Leave Out Items “Just for Now”

Ever break out your oversized blender to make a morning smoothie, only to have it still taking up residence on your countertop days later—you know, just in case? Yeah, us too. There’s a delicate balance between cluttering your counters with gadgets and squirreling away your most used items in a place that makes it difficult to keep taking them out and putting them away.

“If clients struggle to put things away or frequently leave items out ‘just for now,’ it often means they don’t have true designated storage spots,” says Haefelin. “This results in clutter accumulating over time, and it’s why I always recommend starting with decluttering first before jumping into organization.” She suggests taking everything out, assessing what you actually use, and, more importantly, where you use it. Prioritizing flow and function makes the kitchen naturally easier to maintain.

You Have Chaos Waiting Behind Your Drawers and Doors

You know the saying “Out of sight, out of mind?” Well, we’re not going to apply that here. Being able to close the door on clutter is nice, but it’s a lot like pushing off a chore you know you have to get done until another day. If you’re constantly dodging a tumbling tower of Tupperware or a tangle of wooden spoons, it’s probably time to admit that your drawers and cabinets aren’t enough on their own.

“When drawers are crammed full of random utensils, gadgets, and miscellaneous items with no logical order, it’s a major red flag,” says Rosenthal. “Clients often feel frustrated when searching for something specific, only to be met with a tangle of items they forgot they even owned.” This not only wastes time but also leads to unnecessary purchases of duplicate items. When people can’t easily access what they need, they’re less likely to enjoy cooking and meal prep, turning what should be a joyful experience into a stressful chore.