Want to feel like you have remodeled your kitchen for free? It'll take some work, but by cleaning out the kitchen cabinets, storage units and pantries, you'll feel like you have a whole new kitchen. Sort, organize, sift, and prioritize what is in your kitchen and you will have a better idea of how your family uses your kitchen.

Here are four questions a kitchen designer asks to help clients inventory their kitchen.

First: What is in your kitchen that you need to keep? By emptying the cabinets, one cabinet at a time, you will find things you didn't know you had, find things you thought you had tossed, and find things you would rather not have. That's OK — everyone has stuff like this. Before putting items back, ask, “Do I really need to keep this? And, do I need to keep it in the kitchen?”

Make a pile for discarded items and put the saved items back. By cleaning out the cabinets, wiping down the interiors, and sorting through your kitchen gadgets and dishes, you will feel good about the growing pile of items to discard and the organized cabinets.

Second: What is in your kitchen that doesn't need to be there? I guarantee most people store things in their kitchen that belong elsewhere — laundry, garage, toolbox, and the office. Gather all that stuff and put it where it belongs and you will no doubt free up at least one, if not two, drawers. Use that empty space to reorganize utensils, plastic wrap, and similar-sized items. What to do with the growing pile of items to discard? Give them away to friends, family, or the resell shop. They will appreciate getting something new and you will feel good about giving it away.

Third: What is stored in the rest of your house that should be in your kitchen? Most people have small appliances, storage containers, and other kitchen stuff they use stored elsewhere in the house. Again, sort the accumulated pile and in the newly reorganized kitchen, find an appropriate space for it. If not, consider if you need it and start a list of these items. When you start your future kitchen remodel project, you will have a better idea of storage and usage needs. Consolidating and streamlining items stored elsewhere will help you feel good about getting a handle on what needs to be included in your kitchen space.

Fourth: What kitchen items are in the rest of the house that you don't need to keep? Organization and cleaning now expands to the linen cabinet, the laundry room, the mudroom, the garage and the basement. The premise is the same: Sort, organize, clean, and discard. Getting rid of stuff will not only make you feel good, but also could help others.

See? Getting a kitchen remodel for free just takes some time and decision-making. Go on — you can do it.

— Erica Kalkofen is an Independent Kitchen Designer based in Winter Park. Email her at cabinetgrl@hotmail.com