Hey! Holly here. As you all know the kitchen is where life and wellness truly happen. It’s where meals are prepared, conversations unfold, and daily habits are formed. It truly is the heart of the home. As the holidays come to a close, the kitchen often reflects the excess of the season. We all have succumbed to crowded cabinets, overfilled pantries, and countertops... that hold a-lot. Taking time to reset this space after the holidays is one of the most impactful ways to set the tone for healthier, more mindful behavior throughout the year.
A cluttered kitchen can quietly influence the choices we make. When ingredients are hard to find, cookware is worn out, or surfaces are overcrowded, cooking can feel like a burden rather than an act of self or family care. Here are a couple of ways I suggest improving the efficiently, organization and health and wellness of your kitchen.
Check Expiration Dates:
As you declutter, it’s also important to check expiration dates, because it's something that’s easy to overlook. Items in the fridge or pantry can quietly age without notice, especially staples like flour, baking soda, spices, and some oils that aren’t used daily. Replacing these items when needed helps optimize cooking and baking results and ensures that the meals you prepare are truly nourishing and effective.
A Pantry Refresh:
A pantry refresh can be one of the most transformative steps in the process. Clearing out older items as mentioned, wiping down shelves, and organizing what remains helps the pantry feel like an intentional extension of the kitchen rather than a forgotten catch-all. Transferring dry goods into glass containers helps preserve freshness and makes it easier to see what you have. Thoughtful details like bins for produce, labeled jars, or even wallpapered shelves can turn the pantry into a mindful, inviting space that supports your daily routines.
Countertop Clean-ups Are a Must:
Countertops deserve just as much attention. Over time, they tend to collect unused appliances, papers, and miscellaneous items that create what many experience as “countertop fatigue.” Clearing these surfaces allows the kitchen to feel calmer and more functional. Keeping only what you use daily on display and making utensils easily accessible streamlines meal prep and reduces unnecessary decision-making. Consider making a message board, or family communication center for all mail, schedules, bills, deadlines and appointments.
Bring in Quality Food:
One of the most meaningful places to begin is with the quality of what you bring into your kitchen. Selecting fresh, seasonal ingredients not only improves how food tastes, but also how it makes you feel. Shopping locally supports farmers, strengthens the community, and reconnects us to where our food comes from. The Hickory Farmers Market, located downtown, is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. during winter hours, with extended hours in the spring, summer, and late fall. Making local markets part of your routine can naturally guide healthier eating habits all year long.
Consider the Tools You Keep:
Kitchen tools deserve just as much attention as ingredients. Over time, cutting boards (especially older plastic ones) can develop deep grooves that harbor bacteria and are difficult to fully sanitize. If a cutting board is heavily scarred, warped, or holding odors, it may be time to let it go. Wooden cutting boards, when properly cared for, are naturally antimicrobial and often a healthier, longer-lasting option. To clean them, wash with warm soapy water, rinse thoroughly, and allow them to dry completely standing upright. Avoid soaking, which can cause cracking and warping. Shop our Dash Board brand of cutting boards.
This is also a great moment to assess utensils. Plastic spatulas and cooking tools can degrade over time, especially when exposed to heat, and may release unwanted chemicals into food. Swapping these out for wooden or silicone utensils is a simple upgrade that supports both health and longevity. Show some love to your existing wooden cutting boards, butcher blocks, and utensils by conditioning them regularly with food-grade mineral oil. Applying a generous coat and letting it absorb helps prevent drying, cracking, and staining, while extending their life for years to come. Shop our Kitchen Prep Tools.
Replace Worn Linens:
Linens are another often-overlooked element of a healthy kitchen. Dish towels, napkins, and cloths work hard every day, and over time they can become stained, worn, and less effective—sometimes even harboring odors or bacteria. Replacing old linens is a simple but impactful refresh that instantly elevates both cleanliness and functionality. In our store, we carry Geometry Towels, which are thoughtfully designed for modern kitchens. Made from recycled materials, they’re highly absorbent, quick-drying, and resistant to lingering odors, making them a more hygienic option than traditional cotton towels. Their durability means fewer replacements over time, while their beautiful patterns add intention and style to everyday kitchen tasks. Fresh, functional linens may seem like a small detail, but they play a meaningful role in creating a kitchen that feels clean, cared for, and ready for daily life.
Replace Cookware:
Upgrading cookware to fewer, well-made, non-toxic pieces can significantly improve both your cooking experience and long-term health. Heirloom-quality options like Smithey Ironware or Heritage Steel are designed to last for generations, replacing the need for frequent upgrades while eliminating concerns about harmful coatings. Investing in quality over quantity brings intention back into the kitchen. Check out both brands here and be sure to check-out my follow-up post on forever chemicals in cookware.
In Review:
A healthy year doesn’t begin with extreme resolutions or rigid rules. It begins with creating a space that naturally encourages good habits. Decluttering your kitchen after the holidays is a powerful reset—one that reduces stress, supports wellness, and makes everyday nourishment feel simpler and more meaningful. When your kitchen feels intentional and welcoming, caring for yourself and your household becomes second nature.
Be sure to check-out our cleaning and organizational products.