Declutter Your Countertop Clutter with These Space-Saving Solutions

If your kitchen countertops are cluttered with appliances, tools, ingredients, and other items, you're not alone. Messy countertops are a common problem in many households.

While a little clutter may seem harmless, disorganized countertops can lead to frustration while cooking and baking. Having to shuffle items around to find what you need wastes valuable time. Cleaning around clutter is also more difficult.

Evaluate What You Actually Use on Your Countertops

The first step to decluttering your countertops is evaluating what you actually need on them. Take some time to observe your kitchen workflow.

Are there items sitting out that you rarely or never use? Be honest about what adds value and convenience versus what's just taking up space. Remove seldom used items and store them elsewhere.

Prioritize keeping your most used and beloved items on the countertops. Having your daily essentials right at your fingertips makes cooking easier and more enjoyable.

Everyday Items to Always Keep Close By

Certain items deserve prime real estate on your countertops. Here are some everyday essentials to always keep close by:

• Small appliances: Your coffeemaker, toaster, stand mixer, and other appliance you use regularly should have a permanent home.
• Knives and cooking tools: Keep your most used spatulas, tongs, ladles, and knives easily accessible in a countertop caddy or wall-mounted rack.
• Oils and spices: Store your go-to cooking oils, vinegars, herbs, and spices near the stove in spice racks or wall shelves.
• Prep tools: Items like your salt and pepper shakers, measuring cups and spoons, a fruit bowl, and cutting board(s) should stay out.

Clever Countertop Organizing Ideas

Now that you've cleared away less used items, it's time to get organized. From better storage containers to space-saving racks, there are lots of clever ways to arrange your essentials and maximize every inch.

Utilize Vertical Space Above Counters

Don't limit yourself to the counter's surface. Utilize vertical space right above your countertops with the following ideas:

• Floating shelves: Perfect for storing spices, oils, and decorative items.
• Wall-mounted knife and utensil racks: Free up counter space while keeping essentials in plain sight.
• Overhead pot racks and hooks: Get bulky pots and pans off your counters by hanging them from the ceiling.

Use Countertop Organizing Products

From lazy susans to pull-out drawers, certain products are designed to optimize countertop organization. Try using:

• Spinning spice carousels: Keep spices neatly in one spot while saving space.
• Tiered racks: Great for showcasing fruits and vegetables.
• Divided trays: Corral cooking spoons, spatulas, and other utensils in their own compartments.
• Canister sets: Lidded glass or stainless steel bins keep baking staples contained.

Add Functional Storage Features

Take advantage of often overlooked spaces with these functional additions:

• Pull-out drawers: Install these under counters to access items otherwise buried in back.
• Cabinet door racks: Mount on the inside of cabinet doors to store smaller items.
• Drawer dividers: Customize dividers to sort utensils, gadgets, or anything else.
• Cutlery trays: Designate one for all your kitchen tools.

Maximize Corner and Wall Spaces

Make use of corner nooks and vertical wall space by installing:

• Corner shelves: Ideal for small appliances like a coffee maker that otherwise take up precious surface area.
• Wall-mounted paper towel holder: Free up space taken by a bulky holder.
• Towel bar: Hang dish towels from a wall-mounted bar within arm's reach.
• Wall-mounted cutting board: Keep one staple item off the counters but still easily accessible.

Keep Things Visible with Adequate Lighting

It's easier to keep counters looking neat and organized when you can see everything. Proper lighting helps make sure items don't get buried.

Consider installing:

• Under-cabinet lighting: Illuminates your countertop work area.
• Puck lights: Provides visibility inside cabinets without a full-on remodel.
• Lights inside drawers: Lets you see contents instead of forgetting what's tucked away.

Maintain Clutter-Free Counters with Daily Habits

An organized kitchen doesn't happen overnight. But adopting some simple daily habits makes maintaining order much easier.

Get into these routines:

• Put items away after each use: Avoid the habit of just leaving things out after cooking.
• Regularly purge unused items: Reevaluate every few months and remove clutter.
• Group like items: Keep utensils, cooking oils, appliances, etc. together.

Investing some time up front into better countertop organization pays dividends for years to come. You'll cook more comfortably in a kitchen that's optimized for efficiency and functionality.

Dealing with messy, cluttered countertops can make your time in the kitchen feel stressful. But implementing some of the clever organizing solutions and storage ideas covered above can give you back a clutter-free workspace.

The first step is removing unused items and identifying everyday essentials you want close at hand. From there, make the most of vertical space and unused nooks, while choosing products designed to maximize storage. Round it out with lighting that keeps everything visible. Lastly, adopt daily habits like putting items away after using them.

You can enjoy cooking and baking again in a countertop environment tailored to your storage needs with an organized foundation.