The holidays have a funny way of making your kitchen feel approximately half its normal size.

Suddenly, there are extra groceries in the pantry, baking ingredients covering the counters, serving dishes coming out of storage, leftovers filling the refrigerator, and approximately 47 people standing around the kitchen island while you're trying to cook. 

And while we're all for a house full of people we love, a kitchen that's already overflowing can make holiday hosting feel a whole lot harder than it needs to.

That's why before you start stocking up on Thanksgiving ingredients or pulling out the holiday serving pieces, we recommend doing something first:

Make room.

You don't need to completely reorganize your kitchen. You don't need to buy a single new bin. And you definitely don't need to spend an entire weekend doing it.

Start by getting rid of the things taking up valuable space that you aren't actually using.

Here are 12 places we'd start.

1. Expired Pantry Items

Start with the easy stuff.

Pull out expired foods, stale snacks, spices that have been sitting around far too long, and anything you know your family simply isn't going to eat.

Then group what's left by category so you can actually see what you have.

Not only does this create more space, it can also keep you from buying your fifth can of pumpkin because you couldn't see the other four hiding in the back. 

2. Duplicate Kitchen Gadgets

How many vegetable peelers does one household need?

Or spatulas? Measuring cups? Can openers?

Kitchen drawers have a way of collecting duplicates over time, especially when we replace something without getting rid of the original.

Keep your favorites, the ones you actually reach for, and let go of the extras.

3. Food Storage Containers Without Lids

You knew this one was coming.

Match your food storage containers with their lids and let go of:

• Containers without lids

• Lids without containers

• Cracked or damaged pieces

• Anything you consistently avoid using

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Holiday leftovers are coming. Let's make sure you can actually find a container for them.

4. Mugs You Never Use

Mugs multiply when we're not looking.

Between gifts, souvenirs, holiday mugs, and promotional cups, they can quickly take over an entire cabinet.

Keep the ones you genuinely love and use.

If you haven't reached for a mug in the past year, it probably doesn't need prime kitchen real estate.

5. Water Bottles + Travel Cups

The water bottle cabinet might deserve its own support group.

Pull everything out and ask:

Does every bottle have a lid?

Does it leak?

Does anyone actually use it?

Do you need twelve water bottles for four people?

Keep enough for your family's routines and donate the extras that are still in good condition.

6. Small Appliances You Forgot You Owned

Bread maker from 2014, we're looking at you. 👀

Small appliances take up a significant amount of kitchen storage, so they're worth evaluating carefully.

Ask yourself when you last used each one.

If you love it and use it, absolutely keep it.

But if it's been sitting untouched for years because you might make homemade ice cream someday, consider whether you'd rather have the appliance or the cabinet space.

7. Takeout Condiments + Utensils

Soy sauce packets.

Plastic forks.

Ketchup.

Chopsticks.

Napkins.

Somehow they all end up in the same drawer.

Keep a reasonable amount if your family uses them, but you probably don't need enough disposable utensils to cater a small wedding.

8. Chipped, Cracked + Mismatched Dishes

Take a look through everyday plates, bowls, glasses, and serving pieces.

Anything cracked or chipped can go.

Then consider whether you're holding onto mismatched pieces you consistently skip over.

This is especially helpful before hosting season when you'll likely be reaching for more dishes and serving ware than usual.

9. Serving Pieces You Never Reach For

This one can be tricky because serving pieces often feel like something we're supposed to keep.

But if you've hosted holiday dinners for years and still haven't used that giant platter, it's worth asking why.

Keep the pieces that fit the way you actually entertain, not the imaginary version of hosting you think you're supposed to do.

10. The Junk Drawer Overflow

We're not anti-junk drawer.

Honestly, having one designated place for life's random little things can be incredibly useful.

But when the junk drawer becomes three drawers, we have a problem.

Remove trash, relocate anything that has a real home elsewhere, group what's left, and use simple dividers if needed.

The goal isn't a Pinterest-perfect drawer.

It's being able to find the scissors when you need them.

11. Cleaning Products You Don't Use

Under-the-sink cabinets can become another major clutter zone.

Remove empty bottles, duplicates you don't need, products you tried and disliked, and anything that belongs somewhere else.

Then keep your everyday cleaning supplies easy to access.

One small reset here makes post-hosting cleanup much easier.

12. Anything Taking Up Space “Just in Case”

This might be the biggest category of all.

The extra casserole dish.

The appliance you haven't touched in five years.

The fancy glassware you don't actually like.

The stack of reusable bags multiplying underneath the sink.

Kitchen clutter often comes from keeping things because we might need them someday.

But space has value too.

Before you put something back, ask:

Would I rather have this item or the space it's taking up?

Sometimes, space wins.

Before You Buy More Organizing Products...

This is important.

Declutter first. Organize second. Shop third.

One of the biggest mistakes we see is buying bins, baskets, and organizers before deciding what actually needs to live in the space.

Products can support a great organizing system.

They can't create one.

Once you've edited your kitchen, group similar items together and decide where they make the most sense based on how your family actually uses the space.

Then you can determine whether an organizing product would make that system easier to maintain.

Think About the Holidays Before You Put Everything Back

Once you've created some breathing room, think about what's about to come into your kitchen.

Extra groceries.

Baking ingredients.

Serving pieces.

Holiday treats.

Leftovers.

Guests.

Instead of filling every newly cleared inch, leave some space open.

An organized kitchen doesn't need to maximize every square inch of storage. Sometimes, the most functional thing you can create is a little breathing room.

And you'll appreciate that extra space when the hosting season arrives.

Get It Done Before Hosting Season

If you're reading this thinking, Okay... my kitchen needs more than a quick purge, you don't have to tackle it alone.

At South Coast Organizers, we don't just make kitchens and pantries look pretty.

We create thoughtful organizing systems around the way your family actually cooks, shops, hosts, and lives, so they're easier to maintain long after we're gone.

And if there's a kitchen, pantry, guest space, or other home organizing project you'd love to have finished before the holidays, don't wait until guests are on their way to reach out. 

Our pre-holiday calendar fills quickly, and we'd love to help you get it checked off your list now.

📍 Serving Baton Rouge + surrounding areas

Ready to make room before the holidays? Schedule your consultation today.

Contact us to schedule a free consultation at www.socoorganizers.com/contact