teatowelTea towel

Planning a Kitchen Setup for One Person.

Making the most of precious time is what planning is all about.  To that end, a kitchen setup for one person should be planned for timely tasking that's enjoyable. 

So, how can a busy single person plan a stellar kitchen setup?

Girl, you guessed it!  Dream up a scheme, capture it in a planner, then realize your vision by rewarding yourself with each item as it's most opportune. 

Confidence, creative inspiration, and a sense of control can come together as well planned kitchen goals fall beautifully into place.

Plan each piece.

Styling a comfy, convenient kitchen setup for one person is easier with a running list of exactly what to shop for.  That's why the O.f.O. planner comes with a Try & Buy notepad and image board, complete with eleven categorized sections for listing everything from interesting ingredients to must-have prep tools and cookware.  Plus, all random kitchen ideas can be captured in the planner's Delicious Thoughts notepad and image board.

Treat yourself!

Taking kitchen space seriously is worth it, so don't feel guilty!  There's no need to overspend or rush into shopping through the list.  A kitchen setup for one person can be put together piece by piece, when it's most convenient.

  • Speed up and expand prep possibilities with tools and appliances.
  • Keep your kitchen clean and tidy with lift away liners, organizers, and food storage containers.
  • Display ingredients for easy image based inventory record keeping.
  • Store snacks, meals and ingredients so they're easy to grab and track.

Here are five essential features of a comfy kitchen setup for one person:

  1. Easy to keep clean:  Stay-clean safeguards in place.  Unnecessary items purged or packed out of the way.
  2. Everyday items within reach, and a stowable step stool for accessing everything.
  3. Easy on the eyes:  Tidy and uncluttered, with plenty of luxuriously clear counter space.  
  4. A special spot to sit and relax, make a plan, or have a snack.
  5. "Mademoiselle kitchen, your scarf!":  A well appointed kitchen can hardly be considered fully, functionally outfitted without the soft warmth of an attractive towel or two near the sink.

Pick a place for everything.

Designate storage and display areas for ingredients, then shop for storage containers and display organizers within your design scheme.

Mix and match material elements.

Carefully coordinated pieces made of materials like glass, wood, stainless steel, copper, or ceramic can tie together a clean, cohesive look and feel throughout the kitchen.  

Material elements on shelves, sills, walls, and flooring can frame clear, uncluttered surface areas to set off pretty pops of color; like a dutch oven on a stove or a pot of flowers on a table.

Pick a color pop that's easy to swap.

Accents like dish towels, fresh flowers, wall art, or even a hanging apron can provide powerful pops of color.  Look to home decor and design magazines for examples of trending seasonal colors.

Put your love upon a shelf.

The look and feel of interior kitchen shelves reflects self-care status with each casual fling of fridge and cupboard doors.  Love your shelf, love yourself.           

Food makes fabulous art.

Beneath a bulky clutter of disposable packaging lies the raw materials for prettier, more practical shelf displays. 

  • Dried foods like seeds, corn, pasta, peas, berries, or beans can be transformed into sleek kitchen art with glass containers.
  • Cute little bottles, jars and cruets can make lovely dispensers for pantry liquids. 
  • Long lasting produce like lemons or apples can transform clear canisters or bowls into colorfully tempting fridge displays.  So practical, so pretty!
  • All types of glass jars may be vacuum sealed for safer, longer term food storage.  I am happy with the Pump-N-Seal manual system.  

Plan pretty centerpieces.

grassinglassWheatgrass in glass

With a good planner in play, ideas for fun, freestyle centerpiece designs are always on the table!  Capture ideas and images of centerpiece designs in the Try & Buy/Delicious Thoughts notepads and image boards.

Plan kitchen-time audio content.

Finding and following dedicated kitchen-time entertainment makes prep sessions more fun.  Whether laughing, learning, enjoying music, or losing oneself in a story, saving special content for the kitchen is fabulous for encouraging happy work habits.

Pondering pots and pans?

Replacing tired old cookware with an attractive, affordable new set is fun!

If you're not happy with your current cookware, but aren't quite ready to invest in top-of-the-line "forever" pieces, starting fresh with an affordable set of cute cookware is a solid plan.  Working with a pretty set can make the kitchen feel cozier, meanwhile, more serious pieces can be acquired over time.

Considering countertop cookers?

Cooking solo on a busy schedule can be done wonderfully with nothing more than a typical apartment oven and stove, but when it comes to countertop appliances for faster, easier scratch cooking and baking, convection toaster ovens, pressure cookers and bread machines are my favorites! 

Cook and bake faster with a cute counter top oven.

Smaller ovens heat up faster, use less energy, and are easier to clean. 

Pick up a pressure cooker.

Whether electric or stovetop, pressure cookers are powerful, efficient time savers that can cook almost anything.  In fact, it's not unheard of for home cooks to use two pressure cookers at once!

Buy a bread machine.

bread headPatty Paddleturn, flour power pursuer

I recommend bread machines for busy singles, because they work wonders!  There is simply no easier way to make dough or bake bread from scratch, in my opinion.  The vented lid keeps dough safe, cozy and clean, so it's super convenient to quickly load ingredients and walk away...then poof!   Later, lovely, homemade dough (or bread) will be on the rise, ready to bake, refrigerate, or freeze.   

Beyond dough and bread, the jam function can cook and stir sauces.  

Find fun tools for faster prep.

eggsteamEgg steamer

Good affordable kitchen gadgets really do make cooking for one less work and more fun. 

Planning for faster, more enjoyable cooking pays off!

Here are a few examples of good gadgets to get:

  • Egg steamer for perfectly poached or "boiled" hard, medium, or soft eggs.
  • Rice cooker for easier multitasking and just-right rice every time.
  • Hand held citrus reamer/juicer:  Handheld juicers are super simple to grab for a quick squeeze, then drop into the dishwasher.
  • Side-cutting can opener:  Works much like a traditional handheld can opener, except the can is cut on the side, so the severed lid doesn't fall into the can when cut.  Instead, the lid lifts cleanly off.  It's so much nicer!
  • Stainless steel measuring cups and spoons:  Safe for hot temperatures and available with pretty color coding/fridge magnets.  Why settle for cheap plastic?
  • Sauce pan with strainer lid:  Eliminates the need to dirty a colander!
  • Food processor, blender, and stick blender.
  • Presto Salad Shooter for grating cheese.     

Plan a pretty, practical kitchen setup for one person, then share the love.

As your kitchen space becomes a happier place, a comforting cascade of self-care spillover may benefit those closest to you.  Sharing good homemade food is a thoughtful, tangible, uniquely personal way to care for and celebrate with friends and loved ones when the time is right.

Here's to styling the heart of the nest with comfort, color...all the best!