Create a clutter free kitchen in just 10 minutes with these simple kitchen counter organization tips with creative kitchen counter storage ideas.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by “stuff”, the first thing to do is to clear your countertop! Kitchen counter organization is a quick and easy place to start. In fact, you can do it in 10 minutes or less!
I’ve been on a mission for a clutter free kitchen. When you clear the counter top, it immediately makes the kitchen feel clean and neat. For a moment everything feels at peace. After all, counter top space is valuable real estate!
The kitchen is the hardest working room in the house – and requires plenty of workspace. You can maximize space in the kitchen with these simple tips.
Kitchen Counter Organization Tips
The easiest way to eliminate kitchen counter top clutter is to organize inside your cabinets. If everything has a place, it won’t get misplaced on your counter. You can learn more about organizing inside your cabinets and see all my Kitchen Organization ideas here.
As a minimalist, I’m passionate about blending design and function – especially with kitchen counter storage.
A few well-selected things can add a lot of function to your kitchen without cluttering your countertop. They’ll easily integrate into your overall home decor. You can find my favorite kitchen picks in my shop and Amazon store.
Assess what needs to be on your counter. If an item is used daily it can remain on the counter. For larger items, if you use it 3-5+ times a week it’s also a good fit for your counter.
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. Our working countertop space is limited, but our mixer is used 3+ times a week whether it’s to make homemade pasta, juice or baked goods.
With each item, 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?
Consider items that multi-task. For example dish soap that doubles as hand soap, a blender that doubles as a food processor, etc.
Find kitchen counter storage ideas that fit your lifestyle.
Kitchen Counter Storage
- Utensil Holder – Make frequently used cooking tools easily accessible placing them in a crock or utensil holder next to your range. Grouping items together feels tidy and reduces the space it consumes.
- Sugar and Flour Canisters – 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.
- Knife Block – A knife block is convenient to keep on the counter and keeps them all together safely in addition to making them easily accessible. A magnetic knife stripe also works well.
- Large Kitchen Appliances – If you use a coffee maker or stand mixer frequently, you may consider having them easily accessible.
- Paper Towel Holder – 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.
- Soap and Dish Scrubber – I used to hide these under the sink, but I found it’s just not that practical. Displaying next to the sink provides easy access to the most frequently used items in your kitchen. A pretty tray is easy to clean and keeps them tidy, but convenient. Seek items that multi-task when possible. We use dish soap in a hand soap dispenser! Since a dish scrubber is used frequently, it’s also a perfect contender for the counter. Bonus points for using something pretty. We make marble cleaner in this clear glass spray bottle, and use a wood scrub brush. They’re accessible and easy on the eyes!
- Paper Problems? – 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.
If it works for you, do it!
Check out how to organize your mudroom right here, and get tips for organizing closets!
Clutter Free Kitchen
To maintain a clutter free kitchen, we store small appliances like a mini food processor, waffle maker and can opener in a cabinet where they’re easy to grab.
We identify problem areas and find solutions to prevent them. As previously mentioned, the best way to keep your kitchen clutter free is to make sure your cabinets are organized so everything has it’s place.
I hope you enjoyed these kitchen counter organization ideas!
I’d love to see yours! Share in the Celebrating Simple Facebook Group or tag me on Instagram! For more easy ideas, subscribe on Youtube!
What do you keep on your countertop?
I look forward to reading your blog and love all your organization ideas incorporating many in my own home! Wonder if one may consider using a cloth to serve the same purposes as paper towels. I try hard to reuse in my daily living. I do keep paper towels under the sink for those certain times when they are necessary.
I try to do the same, but sometimes, I just can’t help myself. We are plastic free, compost, reuse and recycle when at all possible though.
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!