I tried using the Japanese concept of Ma to tackle my small cluttered kitchen and living space – it made me realize less really is more

Bright kitchen diner with green cabinets and range cooker.

I love keeping my home as streamlined and clutter-free as possible because a chaotic space makes me feel disorganized, stressed, and slightly off-kilter.

Over the past year, I've found myself leaning towards more minimalist ways of living. This is how I came across the Japanese concept of Ma, which focuses on creating 'negative spaces' in your home to help restore some balance.

After speaking with experts, I decided to put this philosophy to good use to help clear clutter from my busy kitchen cabinets, countertops, and living space. After doing so, the concept of Ma has proven to be a brilliant decluttering tip rooted in the less is more approach.

What is the Japanese concept of Ma?

Creating negative space reduces stressful visual clutter and restores functionality in the kitchen, such as counters, so they can be used for their intended purpose. (Image credit: HUX London / Guifre de Peray)

Up until the beginning of the year, the Japanese concept of Ma wasn’t something I’d come across. However after using the low-waste concept of 'Mottainai' to organize and declutter my busiest kitchen cabinets, I knew it was only a matter of time until I gave another Japanese organizing technique a go in this busy and important part of my home.

‘Ma is like the pauses, or rests, in classical music, which adds depth and meaning to the notes on either side and enhances the beauty and power of the composition,’ professional organizer Christine Thorn explains, who is a KonMari Consultant and founder of Sage of Interiors. ‘In the home, Ma is a design philosophy that focuses on embracing empty spaces, balance, and simplicity.’

According to Christine, the benefits of using Ma in your home are wide-reaching. ‘Ma encourages and honors the spaces between things, which inspires clarity of thought and living with purpose, surrounded by essential things in an environment devoid of the clutter that can prevent you from achieving balance and fulfilling your lifestyle potential.’

I needed this, so I decided to try decluttering my kitchen cabinets with the concept of Ma.

How to use Ma in your home to help you declutter

A peaceful Japandi-style kitchen, utilizing negative space perfectly. It's free from clutter and fit for purpose. (Image credit: Roundhouse)

The good news is that you can take the concept of Ma and apply it anywhere in your home. For example, as Michelle Parravani, owner of Designing with Less explains, you might apply it to shelves in your kitchen by asking yourself, 'What would it feel like to leave that space empty? Doesn't it look lovely and bring a small sense of calm to your kitchen?’.

You might also apply it to your hallway, which can often be overflowing with coats and shoes. 'But how would it feel to clear that space and put those items in a hallway closet instead?' Michelle asks. 'Does having an empty space next to your front door suit you? Does it make you feel a bit more relaxed when you come home at the end of the day?’.

What I learned after using Ma to help me declutter my busy kitchen cabinets

I needed to restore functionality to my kitchen cabinets. (Image credit: Nkuku)

1. Small changes can make a big difference

After taking all the reusable plastic containers and bottles out from the shelf, my kitchen cabinet looks as good as new. (Image credit: Rebecca Shepherd | Future )

Before, too many water bottles and reusable plastic containers haphazardly filled my shelves. (Image credit: Rebecca Shepherd | Future )

Being hidden, I’ve never really clocked how cluttered the space at the top of my fridge was until now. In my home, this shelf is a place where handy items like reusable water bottles and protein shakers live. And, despite being used on a weekly occurrence, I’ve never paid attention to how messy and annoying to reach this area is.

The thing is, at 5 ft 5", I have to get some foldable stairs, like these HBTower 3 Step Ladder, 3 Step Stool for Adults from Amazon, out of the under-stairs cupboard every time I want to reach something from this kitchen cabinet.

So, with the facets of Ma firmly in mind, I decided to clear away the reusable shakers and water bottles from this shelf and place them in another easier-to-reach area, while leaving this space free.

It might sound small, but already it’s made such a difference to the initial look of the cupboard and it's also given me one less job to do every time I want to make a protein shake!

Pack of 10

10 PACK Clear Storage Bins Clear Storage Containers for Kitchen Pantry Organization and Storage Bins, Organizing Bins with Built in Handles, Cabinet Organizers

Over time, I’d love to invest in some clear storage bins like this set, to help me keep the top of this cupboard space more organized without clogging up the whole area, and letting it breathe.

2. My space feels so much calmer

My kitchen feels more peaceful after decluttering with the concept in Ma in mind (Image credit: Nkuku)

At the end of every week, I tend to do a quick Friday 30-minute speed clean as I find it helps me start off the weekend on the right (and tidy!) foot.

Since I started doing this more than two years ago, there is one thing I can count on every time – and that's come the end of the week, there will be a pile of stuff left on my kitchen countertop. Whether it’s placemats, paperwork or cables I’m yet to find a home for. But all this 'stuff' leaves my countertops looking cluttered, untidy and without much space to chop or prepare my food.

But after approaching this section of my home with the concept of Ma in mind, my kitchen feels spacious without feeling sparse or soulless.

After tidying away all items that had been left on my kitchen counter over the week, order has been restored. (Image credit: Rebecca Shepherd | Future )

Before I used the concept of Ma, odd piles of paperwork, cables and cards had gathered on my kitchen countertop. (Image credit: Rebecca Shepherd | Future )

Five-star rating

Woven Wall Pocket with Faux Leather Loop Taupe - Threshold™: Wall File & Mail Organizer, Office Holder, FSC Certified

Helping to keep my paperwork in a neat and orderly fashion, this wall file looks good and does good. I’ll be positioning this right above my trash so that any letters I no longer need can be torn up and recycled and outgoing mail will be positioned right by the door, ready to be posted.

Pack of 20

Silicone Cable Ties in pink, gray, black and green

Cords and cables could run riot in my home and drawers if I don’t keep a watchful eye on them. In a dream world, I’d love a pop-up socket. But in reality, these Silicone Cable Ties are the next best thing.

Plant derived

Method French Lavender All Purpose Cleaners Spray Bottle - 28 fl oz

After I’d decluttered the space, I was able to give my countertops a once over. This plant-based formula is an antibacterial all-purpose cleaner and is ideal for wiping down worksurfaces at the end of the day.

3. You’ll need to find somewhere to put the items you’ve moved

Moving things that didn't belong in the kitchen to their proper forever homes helped create the negative space in the kitchen I was hoping for. (Image credit: Todd Goodman - LA Light)

This is something I had to keep in mind when using Ma to declutter. While the concept helped me say goodbye to some of my goods that no longer served a purpose – like odd bits of paper and containers with ill-fitting lids – I ended up removing other household items I still wanted, like candles, from one space and this left me having to find another home for them.

As someone who loves a tidy home, decluttering is something I do throughout the year. However, during the process of tidying and decluttering, it can become all too easy to move things from one place to another – pushing the problem further down the line rather than just nipping it in the bud.

So, while completing this decluttering challenge, I really focused on creating negative spaces, asking myself:

• Did I really need certain items?
• If I didn't, could they be given a new home?
• If I did, what is the perfect spot for them without creating more clutter?

By doing so, it helped me say goodbye to a handful of items that no longer served their purpose and restored some much-needed balance to my home.

Explaining how, professional organizer Amy Mayorga, who is a Master Certified Konmari® Consultant and founder of Minimalista Organizing says, 'Decluttering isn’t just about tidying up. It can also create mental clarity and improve overall well-being as when you clear your home, you clear your mind.'

And the wonderful thing about Ma is that it's helped me do all of the above. ‘Ma allows us to rest in the empty space, be present, and recharge,’ Amy adds. 'By letting go of things that no longer serve you, you open up room to breathe and truly enjoy your surroundings.’

After taking some time to decide what I need and don't need, Ma helped me restore quiet and calm to other corners of my home (Image credit: Rebecca Shepherd | Future )

Before decluttering using the concept of ma, items were arranged haphazardly. (Image credit: Rebecca Shepherd | Future )

Meet the experts

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If this has inspired you to try out more Japanese organizing techniques, discover Danshari decluttering, which could help you adopt a minimalist mindset, or the 5S method which can help streamline your home organizing and cleaning into one task.