A Non-Pinterest-Ready Kitchen
It’s taken me a while to embrace my kitchen. I live in an apartment with a very small kitchen, and I’ve finally realized that my kitchen will never look like the cute and minimalist ones I see on Pinterest and that’s ok. I don’t have the cabinet space to hide everything, and everything that’s on my counters are things that we use all the time. Here are some of the things you’ll see out in my kitchen that you probably won’t see in those model kitchens:
1. My air fryer. We use this so often and have no other space to store it, so we always keep it out and accessible.
2. A fly catcher. No matter how clean we keep our apartment, there always seem to be those little flying bugs. This Zevo flying insect trap has totally eliminated that.
3. Dirty dishes. Of course, these aren’t left there for long, but sometimes you just need to leave some dishes in there until your dishwasher finishes running or until you finish dinner.
4. Food on the counter. We do not have the cabinet space for all of our food, so some of the big stuff has to live on the counter until we are ready to use it.
While I’ll always admire those pristine, bright, minimalist-looking kitchens, I’ve accepted that my current one physically cannot be that kitchen.
Okay, let's talk about the elephant in the room – or on the counter: Dirty Dishes. Who hasn't walked into their kitchen after a long day and seen a pile staring back? In my small apartment, cabinet space is a luxury, so a full dishwasher often means a temporary stack. I’ve found a few things that really help: First, embrace the 'pre-rinse and stack' method. Even if they're not going straight into the FRIGIDAIRE dishwasher, a quick rinse prevents crusty food and makes cleanup easier later. Second, invest in a compact, stylish dish rack if you don't have a double sink. Mine sits proudly next to the sink, holding just a few essentials until it's time to load. And honestly, sometimes you just have to accept that a few dishes will be visible. It means you're cooking, you're living, and that's okay! Next up: those infuriating little flying critters! No matter how spotless I keep things, those uninvited guests (often fruit flies!) seemed to materialize out of thin air. The original article mentioned my Zevo Fly Catcher, which has been a game-changer. But beyond that, I've learned that prevention is key. Keeping a lid on your compost bin, emptying the trash daily (especially if you have food scraps), and wiping down counters immediately after cooking makes a huge difference. For fruit flies, a small bowl of apple cider vinegar with a drop of dish soap left out overnight can work wonders as a DIY trap. It’s a constant battle, but these small habits help me keep them at bay without feeling like I'm living in a sterile lab. And finally, the 'non-Pinterest' reality of Food on the counter and appliances like the Air Fryer living out in the open. For me, it's a necessity, not a choice. My air fryer gets used almost daily, so tucking it away in a non-existent cabinet makes no sense. Instead of fighting it, I've leaned into smart counter organization. Grouping items that belong together, using small trays or baskets for smaller essentials, and choosing appliances that are aesthetically pleasing (even if they're not hidden) can make the 'clutter' feel more intentional. For food, things like fresh fruit in a nice bowl or my coffee station items become part of the kitchen's look. It's about function gracefully coexisting with form. My kitchen might not be Instagram-perfect, but it's perfectly functional for my life, and that's what truly matters.
