Create a clutter free kitchen with these simple kitchen counter organization tips and creative kitchen sink organization ideas! There’s no need to hide the tools you use daily – learn how to style them instead.
The key to keeping your kitchen counters and sink area clutter free is to implement a system that works for you! This post covers storage all the prettiest countertop organization inspiration for daily living.
It might seem like such a simple thing, but I really believe that clearing out just one space in your home can help create a sense of calm. Your home should be a sanctuary, but life is busy, and clutter comes in whether we like it or not!
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!
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!
We’ve already tackled your Under Sink area – now let’s work on your countertops so you can enjoy your home without the stress of clutter.
The kitchen is the hardest working room in the house – and requires plenty of workspace. You can maximize space in the kitchen, on your countertops and your sink area, with a few of these simple tips.
Kitchen Counter Organization
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. We like to identify problem areas and find solutions to prevent them.
To maintain clutter free kitchen countertops, we store small appliances like a mini food processor, waffle maker and can opener in a cabinet where they’re easy to grab. Of course, this can be difficult if you’re limited on space – get 20 of my best ideas for Small Kitchen Storage here!
We also added a Microwave Drawer in our kitchen island in St. Louis, and it made such a difference.
A few well-selected items can add a lot of function to your kitchen counters and sink area without adding clutter. They’ll easily integrate into your overall home decor.
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.
Tips
- Consider items that multi-task. For example dish soap that doubles as hand soap, a blender that doubles as a food processor, etc.
- 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?
- 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.
- The best way to keep your kitchen clutter free is to make sure your cabinets are organized so everything has its place.
Find our pretty swing arm wall sconce here!
Kitchen Counter Organization Sources
Use any of my favorite ideas that are not only utilitarian, they are also decorative. We’ve used these elements in our St. Louis home and our lake cottage as well. Your kitchen sink and countertops will thank you!
Utensil Holders
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.
I love these crocks, and I use them in a variety of places. At the lake, they hold our dishwasher pods under the sink!
Canisters
Do you use flours and sugars often enough to occupy the space? What about rice or pasta? 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.
I do love the look of clear glass canisters on our countertops, though!
Rattan Canisters
Such pretty texture in this set of four!
Knife Blocks
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.
If you want to move your knives off your kitchen counters entirely, don’t skip my post about Drawer Organizers! We like our knives to be out on the countertop, so we choose a pretty light colored set that doesn’t distract from the other elements of the space!
Spoon Rests
Another item that adds a lot of functional charm – spoon rests! These are so useful for keeping your range top and counters clean, and they can add a little personality too.
Marble Lazy Susan
These are so pretty, and perfect for storing your most used oils, spices and more!
Oil Dispensers
Speaking of oils, why not store them in beautiful containers, too? Functional and charming!
Large Kitchen Appliances
If you use a coffee maker or stand mixer frequently, you may consider having them easily accessible. In our case, we love our mixer – another utilitarian, yet decorative object that we use often.
If you have the option, it’s always wonderful to tuck appliances into cabinets, a pantry, or even behind an appliance garage. However, sometimes they need their place in the sun for practicality!
One of the best organizing tools we’ve found is these cord keepers for your larger appliances. It helps keep them streamlined on your countertops, creating less clutter. We love them!
In our lake kitchen, we have a single serve coffee maker tucked into a corner. We chose white for that appliance so as not to draw attention to it – the choice is yours! However, we’ve tucked all the coffee pods and accessories into the drawer below so as not to create more clutter.
Paper Towel Holders
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.
Kitchen Sink Organization
Kitchen counter organization needs to extend to your sink, too! It’s so much more pleasant to do the dishes when the space feels fresh, clean and pretty.
Seek items that multi-task when possible. We often use dish soap in a hand soap dispenser! Since a dish scrubber is used frequently, it’s also a perfect contender for the counter.
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.
Check out how to organize your mudroom right here, and get tips for organizing closets!
I hope you enjoyed these kitchen counter organization ideas!
What do you keep on your countertop? Read more about our new Quartz Countertops at the lake, as well as all of the different Countertop Edge options!
Amazon Storefront
Follow my Amazon Storefront to find more holiday looks for less.
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!