Have you ever wondered how to keep kitchen counters clear? Do you think your kitchen counters can remain organized no matter how busy life gets? Or maybe you just want to make the most of your counter space.
One of the hardest tasks all home cooks want to achieve is having a clutter-free kitchen counter. Keeping your kitchen counters cleared of clutter can make meal-prepping and cooking easier and give you that feeling of calm in a busy kitchen.
It also looks much better when entertaining! The challenge is keeping it that way with so many necessary and small items needing storage space, like canister holders, paper towel holders, and spice racks.
If you’re up for a challenge, here are some tips on keeping your kitchen counters clear.
8 Steps on How To Keep Kitchen Counters Clear
When your kitchen counters become cluttered, it can be overwhelming. So how do you get the clutter cleared away and keep your kitchen countertops looking neat and tidy? Follow these eight steps to learn how to keep kitchen counters clear:
① Evaluate and Discard Items
Keeping a kitchen counter clear is essential for maintaining an organized, peaceful atmosphere. To do this effectively, the first step is to evaluate which items can be discarded. After you’ve decided what’s unnecessary, sort the remaining items into categories, so you know where they belong when re-organizing your kitchen.
And it’s important to stay consistent with this process; if something new comes in, see if something else can leave or be put away in its place. This helps keep your counter as clear as possible.
When evaluating and discarding items, you want to focus on the usefulness of each item and how it contributes (or doesn’t contribute) to making your kitchen efficient and pleasant. Remember: You ought to take a good look at everything before you make any decisions—and ask yourself whether or not the item fits seamlessly within your home’s theme. Doing so will make all the difference!
② Designate Storage Space
Designating areas for specific items and embracing a “put-away” policy are two key steps that can help your counters stay clutter-free. When designating storage, create labels like Keepsakes, Utensils, and Pots & Pans – each area will look tidier if it has a dedicated spot to go.
And don’t forget about storing canned goods in baskets or mason jars for easy access! You’ll also get plenty of mileage out of open shelves, maintaining an airy kitchen feeling while providing great organization tools.
Finally, going the extra mile with your ‘Put Away’ policy ensures nothing lingers on the counter: once dinner is cooked, return all the components to their rightful place immediately.
③ Choose Your Countertop Essentials
If you want to curate the perfect clutter-free look, start by choosing only the countertop essentials. Begin by sorting through your items and deciding which ones are actually necessary. Keep implements you often use, such as cooking utensils and remove everything else from nearby drawers or shelves.
Consider storing items like spices in tiered organizers for easy access. Try hanging holders on the wall for other small items like recipe cards, straws, or tea bags. The trick is not to overfill your counters with unnecessary clutter.
Once you’ve chosen only what’s essential, allow yourself to enjoy a spacious and relaxing atmosphere in your kitchen!
④ Store Appliances Out of Sight
Another great way to keep your counters clear is to store small kitchen appliances out of sight. To start, take an inventory of your appliances and note their size and shape. This will help you plan where to store them.
For instance, if you have a lot of little gadgets like blenders, coffee pot, and mixers, put them on an over-the-counter shelf or install a caddy on one side of the counter to keep all your small items organized in one place.
Additionally, use drawer organizers or storage bins under your sink to store bulky items like the coffee maker that you don’t need easy access to every day. Finally, group similar kinds of appliances together for quick identification when you need them.
⑤ Put Dirty Dishes in the Dishwasher Immediately
To avoid feeling overwhelmed by a sink filled with dirty dishes, make it a habit to put them in the dishwasher immediately after use. That way, they won’t have time to build up, and your counter will never become a hazard zone of used utensils and grease stains.
Whether you’re entertaining guests or making dinner for your family, putting each plate, bowl, cup, and utensil in the dishwasher as soon as they are used can save time and energy in the long run! Plus, with this simple step, you’ll avoid crumbs from becoming stuck to surfaces and any potential bacteria growth on food left too long on plates.
⑥ Keep Decorations To a Minimum
Another way to keep kitchen counters clear is to minimize decorations. This doesn’t mean we can’t add a few trinkets here and there – far from it! The goal is simply to ensure that the eye doesn’t jump around too much due to clutter but still gives it enough character.
A fun addition may come in the form of a colorful or humorous mug or even some small plants, giving a little life and color to the space. Also, don’t forget practical items which need to be stored in your kitchen, such as an automatic can opener, vegetable peeler, or even an exclusive cookbook holder!
These are all great items that can help reduce kitchen countertop clutter and brighten the place.
⑦ Keep a Central Location for Papers and Mail
Documents, bills, and other mail that tends to clutter up your countertops should also be stored in a central location. This will ensure that everything remains in one spot, preventing it from building up over time on your kitchen counters. Designate a neat and organized bin or folder system where you can quickly sort items based on type or importance.
An organized system like this will keep papers from cluttering up anywhere besides the designated area. Therefore, you won’t have to worry about them taking over your kitchen or other parts of the house. Best of all, having everything sorted and contained makes it easy for family members to find whatever they want.
And if everyone takes part in using this system, you can achieve minimal-to-nonexistent paper clutter in no time at all!
⑧ Start Fresh Each Night
Before going to bed each night, make sure that the counters are entirely cleared off. Take everything off and place it in its designated spot or, better yet, in the dishwasher before heading off to bed. This provides a clean slate for the next day and helps keep things from piling up over time.
Doing this every night will also give you something to celebrate each morning when waking up to a cleaner kitchen space. Try setting a timer or putting up reminders so that it becomes an all-encompassing part of your routine. Then, even if things start accumulating during the day, you’ll have a way of starting fresh after dinner!
Storage Ideas For A Clutter-Free Kitchen
Whether you’re looking to declutter your kitchen counters or efficiently organize utensils and appliances, you can use plenty of storage solutions.
? Choose An Island With Open Storage
Open storage means that you can easily access items without digging through closets or dark cabinets, which can often be a hassle. Having open storage also encourages better organizational habits; always seeing utensils and dishes in the same place will help you keep them tidied up more easily.
On top of that, choosing an island gives additional counter space and a pleasant visual effect, making it perfect for busy cooks who need extra work area plus attractive yet practical display pieces. Some island designs even come with wheels, so they can move around as needed or even fit into a corner, and they don’t have to stay in one spot all the time if needed.
? Use Hanging Baskets
To keep countertop space available and the kitchen looking neat, one of the best storage ideas is to hang baskets. They are a great way to store items that you frequently use yet only need to leave on countertops all of the time, like vegetables, rice, and flour bags.
Plus, they look great while keeping items at an easy-to-reach distance, so you have everything within arm’s reach. Hanging baskets can be easily secured on walls or countertops, making them versatile enough for every kitchen. Depending on your storage needs, you can gain as much storage space as you want with hanging baskets since they come in all shapes and sizes where something fits everyone’s tastes and practical needs.
Storing produce and other ingredients in stylish hanging baskets is the perfect way to open countertop space for meal preparations while ensuring everything stays organized.
? Build In Appliances
Another best storage idea for a clutter-free kitchen is to build small appliances. This small engineering fix can give you efficiency and style while freeing counter space, cabinets, shelves, and even hallways. When small appliances like mixers, blenders, and electric kettles are stored away out of sight but still within easy reach, your kitchen will look much more polished and streamlined.
You no longer have to scramble for extra outlets to power small appliances because it’s already taken care of! This makes for a more organized kitchen and allows you to save room for other essential items like pots and pans or baking supplies. And as a bonus, built-in small appliances add value to your home if done correctly!
? Move Items To Carts
Sometimes, the biggest obstacle to having a clutter-free kitchen has too much stuff! It might be time to invest in a kitchen cart if you constantly struggle with countertop space or finding a place for everything. Not only does it free up countertop space and keep your cookware, utensils, and small appliances organized, but it also allows you to move the items around when needed.
Investing in just one or two small storage carts can do wonders in helping to make your kitchen more efficient while also styling it up a bit – you can go for wooden ones if you’re looking for an earthy aesthetic or attempt some classy metallic models that offer both convenience and great looks!
Plus, they come in various sizes, so no matter what kind of small appliances you have, there’s bound to be something that fits both their size and style requirements!
? Strap Cutting Boards To A Cabinet Door
Another genius storage idea is to attach cutting boards to the inside of a cabinet door. As a bonus, this approach also keeps cutting surfaces within easy reach whenever needed. Use magnets to fasten the boards onto the interior, ensuring they are securely attached so they won’t come loose when you’re bumping around in your cupboards.
Keep all your wooden and plastic cutting boards on one side of the door, then use adhesive hooks on the other side to hang up B-B-Q tools, mitts, spatulas, and more. This creative approach not only uses otherwise wasted space but also goes a long way towards decluttering those top shelves where all these items can be prematurely retired. Plus, it looks good too!
? Turn the Drawer Into A Cutting Board
If you feel like your kitchen could be clearer with all the food prep, consider turning one of your drawers into a cutting board. This simple hack avoids space-consuming chopping boards and adds extra drawers for other items.
To make this idea come to life, simply acquire a countertop-width cutting board that fits well in the drawer you wish to use while still leaving enough room behind it for other utensils or items. Then insert the cutting board and instantly have an efficient and tidy workspace.
This storage solution increases kitchen organization and convenience by providing easy access to chop ingredients right near your cooktop or stovetop. Ideal for busy family meal preps or entertaining guests!
? Use Your Pantry Door
Instead of having items scattered around, you can have everything neatly organized and easily accessible. With the right shelves and hooks, you can maximize the space in your pantry – allowing for more space for items like cooking ingredients and small appliances. Plus, you will find it much easier to keep up with what’s inside by simply glancing at the door.
Whether you choose a full-door hanging system or individual pick-up organizers, this storage solution is practical and aesthetically pleasing. You can even take customization to the extreme by choosing different colors and finishes to suit your taste further. In other words, it won’t just keep your kitchen organized but also help make it look great!
? Hang Cooking Utensils
Hanging cooking utensils is a great way to keep them within easy reach while adding style and personality to your kitchen. Whether you prefer an old-fashioned pot rack, stylish pans hung on hooks, or subtle accent pieces on the wall, this is an efficient way to keep your kitchen free of culinary chaos.
If a simple hanging rack isn’t quite enough, consider adding a raised shelf near the stove where spatulas and spoons can remain at arm’s reach but out of sight. On this shelf, you could even add potted herbs for added flair! Hanging cooking utensils creates an attractive look while keeping your kitchen organized and free from clutter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How can I make my kitchen cabinet storage more efficient?
There are many ways to make your kitchen cabinet storage more efficient. One of the easiest and most effective methods involves maximizing space by utilizing cabinet organizers. This could include stacking shelves, drawer dividers, or corner racks to create tiers in your cabinets so you can store items at different heights instead of all in one large pile. Additionally, you could use pull-out shelves to easily access stored items instead of rummaging for them in the back. If you have the extra budget, consider investing in a dedicated spice rack, pot lid organizer, or even an over-the-door rack that fits within a limited amount of wall space near your cabinets. All these solutions will enable you to organize and find what you need quickly, saving time and energy in the kitchen!
Q: Does kitchen clutter affect my health?
When it comes to our health, most of us focus on nutrition and exercise. But your kitchen environment can be just as important; clutter in the kitchen can affect your mental and physical well-being! Feeling overwhelmed by messes and disorganization can raise stress levels, leading to increased anxiety and even depression. With too much clutter around you, it’s hard to think clearly or determine how best to care for yourself. Plus, all that stuff might distract you from preparing meals with wholesome ingredients that your body needs. So if you want to look after your mind and body, try tackling any kitchen chaos first!
Q: Can a junk drawer help with kitchen clutter?
Well, it depends on what kind of kitchen clutter you’re trying to tackle. A junk drawer can help clear the countertop, but it won’t replace the need for organization. You can put all sorts of miscellaneous items in a junk drawer and corral them away from the rest of your kitchen workspace, but that won’t make it any easier to find things when needed. It’s still important to find an organizational system that works for you and label all items to know where to look when something needs to be found. A junk drawer is great for overflowing items, but don’t rely on it as a long-term solution – it can quickly become cluttered!
Q: How do I keep my pantry door organized?
A few simple habits go a long way in helping to keep things tidy. Committing to placing items back where they belong after you use them can help with organization. Labels are another secret to organizing your pantry shelves, drawers, and bins. That way, you know where everything goes when it’s time to put it away! It is helpful to group items together – like how canned goods all go on one shelf or pasta and grains get grouped together. Therefore, finding something takes up a little of your time. Finally, perform regular cleanouts or purges every three months and donate any unneeded canned goods or other expired foods you find. This will make space for new finds and show love to those who may need it!
Q: Which materials should I use to store my kitchen utensils?
Metal and bamboo are popular options. Metal is usually more expensive, but it won’t warp or break like wood can, so it can hold heavier items. Plus, it’s a bit easier to pull items out of metal utensil organizers compared to those made from other materials. Bamboo is great if you prefer a more natural look and feel in your kitchen. It is also very lightweight yet still sturdy enough for everyday use. Remember to measure your cabinets before buying any storage units, so you know you’re getting the right fit!
Final Words
Sure, it’s nice to have a fully stocked kitchen counter, but that can lead to clutter really quickly. The trick is finding a balance between having the things you need and keeping them organized. It all starts with the organization – ensure designated spots for everything like a utensil holder, cutting board, and more. Also, get into the habit of returning things where they belong right away. That way, your kitchen will look neat most of the time, and you will always be ready to whip together your favorite dish in no time flat!
