How to eliminate countertop clutter in less than 10 minutes! Organize your kitchen countertop with these simple tips to gain working space!
The easiest way to eliminate countertop clutter is to organize inside your cabinets. I’ll be sharing so much more about this soon! If you’re feeling overwhelmed by “stuff”, the first thing to do is to clear your countertop. It’s a quick and easy place to start. In fact, you can do it in 10 minutes or less!
For me, clearing the countertop immediately clears / cleans the kitchen. For a moment everything feels at peace. From there, you can not only clean your countertops, but assess what really belongs there.
A few well-selected things can add a lot of function to your kitchen without cluttering your countertop, easily integrating into your overall design. If you want my favorite kitchen picks you can visit my shop and Amazon store.
What to Keep on Your Countertop
My basic rule of thumb for this is to leave anything that is used daily and for larger items, 3-5+ times a week. In our kitchen, larger items include the coffee maker and KitchenAid mixer. I know many people have mixed feelings on a mixer being on the countertop. Ask yourself, how often do you use it? Does it offer a convenience to be on your counter or is it utilizing much needed space?
Rule of thumb: anything used daily can stay on the counter or heavy and often
Our working countertop space is limited, but our mixer is used 3+ times a week whether it’s to make pasta, juice or baked goods.
A knife block is convenient to keep on the counter. It not only keeps them all together safely, but makes them accessible. A magnetic knife stripe also works well and doesn’t consume counter space.
This one may surprise you, but if you use paper towels frequently, there’s no shame in keeping them on the kitchen counter. We had looked into having one installed below our kitchen cabinets but it would have consumed valuable interior space and made them less accessible. You can also keep them just below the sink, but they’re not quite as handy there for frequent use, so I say it’s okay to have a visible paper towel holder! Design your kitchen to function for you.
If it works for you, do it!
Keep your most commonly used cooking utensils in a crock by your range for easy access. Store any excess in a nearby drawer for convenience.
Sink essentials should of course remain, including dish soap, scrubber and cleaning spray. I used to hide these under the sink, but I found it’s just not that practical. A pretty tray is easy to clean and keeps them tidy, but convenient. I refilled a pretty hand soap container with dish soap and use it for both. Seek items that multi-task when possible.
Other Things to Consider for your Countertop
Do you use flours and sugars often enough to occupy the space? I go back and forth on this one. We have limited counter space and sometimes during baking season they come out, but they are often stowed away in summer.
Redefine Problem Areas
Last year, our bar was being consumed by papers. It quickly became a catch all to mail and school papers with no end in site. First, we had to change our habits. When bringing the mail in, we immediately stopped by the recycling bin to discard junk mail and envelopes. Anything that needed additional attention goes to a foot bath so it’s neatly compiled (and disguised). We go through it once a week to ensure things are being filtered where they belong and tended to.
Keep the Island Free of Clutter
Consider how you use the island and adjust accordingly. For most, the island should be almost completely free of clutter to make it fully functional – especially if it’s your primary workspace or seating area.
If it is your primary work space, what do you need to make it function for you? For me it’s a butcher’s block cutting board that is immediately on top of our trash cans so that excess can be discarded easily. With the block always on the island, I am more likely to whip up dinner without a lot of effort.
What do you keep on your countertop?
I tried keeping a pretty dish rack on my counter and removing the paper towels and spray bottle. Than I saw your site. I’m in love. I got hooked in to the farmhouse style and it’s over-whelming me. I love your clean and practical yet charming home. I’ve released the dish rack and am waiting for the products you have on your shop Amazon to arrive. So I have a teapot on my cooktop, a ugly water bottle currently and a roll of white paper towels, and a Nantucket Basket in the corner of my counter with supplements in it with a little blue and white cover out of fabric that I made. I don’t like it there. Fabric to me is fussy and dirty. I’m going to try and make room for my supplements else where.
Julie, thank you for sharing your ideas. I appreciate it so much. I have organization fever right now, from looking. 🙂
If you have time and can remember, can you mention where you found the white tray/dish your soap and counter spray sit on? The lip on it is so nice. But please don’t worry about it if you’re busy.
Thanks, Suzanne! It’s from Restoration Hardware – I ordered it online.
We have a big island, there I’ve placed a large tray with two big apothecary jars full of candy. On the same tray is a smaller tray for keys, sunglasses, etc. The refrigerator is between two small areas where I keep the coffee maker and a 20” tv. On the counter where the stove is we have an espresso machine and a cookie jar on one side and three antique scales on the other side with some cutting boards. Lots of stuff I could probably do without on a daily basis but we have high ceilings and an open concept living area so I like to make it cozier.
If it brings you joy, go for it! I always say do what works for you.
The only thing on my countertop is my Kerurig. My paper towels, toaster and knife block are out of sight but easily accessible in the appliance garage. I love just the sheen of the countertops!
I’m loving your good taps and lanterns. I might have to tweak mine. 😉
I love an appliance garage! It sounds like you, too appreciate the calm of open countertop space! Thank you, Joanna!