It might not be time for spring cleaning just yet, but decluttering your kitchen countertops is a good idea at any time of the year.
Your counter, after all, is valuable real estate. If you’ve got too much on your countertop, you won’t have space to prep and chop. Too little, and you’ll be forever scrambling for your tools. It’s critical to strike the right balance between the two – having the things you need close at hand while freeing up space and sightlines.
Choose What Needs To Be On The Counter
Chances are if you’ve got a cluttered kitchen, there are a lot of things on the counter that you don’t ever use. Start the purge by removing every item so you can thoroughly clean your countertops.
Put all your items on the kitchen table or island so you can look at everything and choose what you’re going to keep and what you’re going to banish.
Some of the items you might want to put in your “keep” pile include:
- Toaster
- Blender
- Coffee maker
- Bean grinder
And anything else you use every day. Separate the practical items from the decorative and put the things you don’t need or use in a more logical spot.
When you start putting things back, think in practicalities. If you have a cupboard with coffee cups and glasses, that’s where you should put your coffee maker and blender. Put your cooking utensils as close to the stove as you can. This way, you’ll be able to prevent these items from migrating to other parts of the kitchen and turning into a big pile of clutter again.
Items you don’t use every day should not be on the countertop. For less-used appliances, find spots in cabinets to store them. They should still be close to the part of the kitchen you’ll use them in, but if you only use the item once in a while, like a food processor or a deep fryer, for example, it doesn’t need to be out in the open.
If you have appliances you never use, just get rid of them. For seasonal items, like serving platters and things like that, put them on a high shelf out of the line of traffic.
Decorations can be hung on walls, moved to another room, or gotten rid of entirely. If you keep unnecessary items off the counter, it will be less likely to collect other unnecessary items.
Ideas For Organizing Your Countertops
1. Hang Essential Utensils at The Bottom of Your Cabinets
There are plenty of inexpensive rods and hangers that allow you to hang your utensils, getting them out of the ubiquitous tool jar and off the counter while still within sight and easy reach. Stuff that doesn’t hang, like your wooden spoons and spatulas, can stay in the jar if you like, but at least now you can see what you’ve got.
2. Elevate Your Drying Racks
If you’re challenged for counter space, but you have some vertical space to play with, you might think about putting drying shelves above the sink and counter. This gets your drying dishes off the counter, freeing up space for other cooking tasks.
3. Magnet Your Knives to The Wall
Install magnet strips above the counter by your prep area for your work knives and anything else that might stick to it – serving spoons, whisks, kitchen scissors, and so on.
4. Use Trays to Create Order
If you have collections of condiments or items you use every day—olive oils, vinegar, tea, that sort of thing—think about using trays or tiles to create a zone for them. It might only be psychological, but you’d probably be surprised at how well this tactic works to contain the spread.
5. Magnet Your Spices
Magnetic spice tins are easy to find in a range of sizes. You can stick them on your fridge randomly, or you can add another magnetic strip above your utensils to keep all your essentials close at hand.
6. Have a Place for Everything
If your drawers and cupboards are organized, they will tend to stay organized. From keys to cookbooks to paper towels, all of your things should have a home. This way, when you bring something into the space, you’ll know exactly where it goes.
If kitchen clutter is taking over your countertops, these tips can help you take back control. But, if you feel like a kitchen remodel is in the cards, we can help you with that too. Reach out today, and let’s talk about it. We’d love to show you how we can help.
