How to Create a Joy-Centered Kitchen

Alisha Smith
Aug 26
2 min read

by Alisha M. Smith | Grief to Gratitude Chef

Joy doesn’t need marble countertops. Joy doesn’t need perfection. Joy just needs permission.

A joy-centered kitchen isn’t built on aesthetics—it’s built on intention. On the way your shoulders soften when the kettle hums. On the playlist that brings your ancestors into the room. On the handwritten recipe card stuck to the fridge with a magnet.

So how do we create a kitchen like that?

Here are three joy-centered shifts to begin:

Ritual Prep List Design a short pre-bake ritual that signals: this time is for you. Light a candle. Wrap your favorite apron. Turn on a playlist that brings you home to yourself.
Emotional Mise en Place Before gathering ingredients, gather yourself. Breathe. Ask: What am I feeling today? Let that answer guide what you bake."Mise en place" is a French culinary term meaning "everything in its place" — it's about preparing your ingredients before cooking. In this context, it also means preparing yourself emotionally.
Sanctuary, Not Stage Let go of performance. This is not for TikTok. This is for you. Make the space reflect your softness—a mug you love, a spice jar from your grandmother, a corner for breath.

And consider this: Think of your kitchen as an altar. An altar is a sacred space set aside for ritual, reverence, and presence. In your kitchen, that could look like a small cloth, a photo, a flower, or a candle—anything that reminds you this is sacred time.

Try This Simple Ritual Recipe: Joy-Spiced Chai Cookies