Do we really need to place every kitchen item we own on our kitchen counter top? The answer is “no,” especially if we have limited counter space. Although our kitchen is a major room in our homes, we do not use every item we keep on our counter tops every day. Having too many items on your kitchen counter can lead to clutter. Some items are only used once a week or even once a month. To help reduce clutter and to keep a clean and organized kitchen, I recommend evaluating the items you store on the counter top. All of the below listed items do not have to “house” themselves on the counter. Feel free to put some of the less used items inside of the cabinets, drawers, or pantry.
Relocate Your Blender
Unless you are a daily juicer or smoothie drinker, I recommend keeping your blender elsewhere. Especially if you are like me and only use your blender on rare occasions. I blender can add to visual clutter in the kitchen.
Reevaluate Your Spice Rack
Although I love to cook and use multiple spices, I use only a fraction of the spices in my elaborate spice rack. Keeping such a large item on my counter is a misuse of space. If possible, I recommend removing the individual spices and putting them in a drawer or cabinet.
Multiple Knife Blocks
Most house holds have at least one or two knife sets. One of my clients had four different knife sets on your kitchen counter. It took up so much space. In an effort to declutter and save space. She donated two sets, put one set in her utensil drawer, and kept one set on her counter. I love my new knife block. My knives are places 100% vertically and saves much space than a typical spice rack. The brown and cooper accents also add decor to my kitchen.
Chopping Blocks on the Kitchen Counter
Chop blocks may be used daily to cut fruit, meat, and or other items. Its very convenient to keep them on our counters for easy access. My main suggestion is to make sure they are properly cleaned after each use to avoid cross contamination. If you’re not using your chopping block often, feel free to lay them vertically in your drawer or under cabinet.
Empty Dessert Trays
I love desserts probably more than the next person. My mother is a dessert caterer and her house is full of freshly baked desserts. There is no need to have an empty dessert dish on your counter.
Empty Fruit Bowls
Fresh fruit is awesome. However, an empty fresh fruit tray can take up a lot of useful counter real estate.
Multiple Cook Books
Instead of having a million cook books, try keeping your favorite one in the kitchen. You can also remove the pages of your favorite recipes and put them in a binder. That will save a lot of space and make it easier to find your favorite recipe.
Paper clutter is the culprit of why your flat surfaces are not organized. Try to avoid bringing on so much mail, paper clutter, circulars, etc. Click To TweetLarge Stand Mixers on the Kitchen Counter
A Kitchenaid Stand Mixer is an excellent investment. It’s also a large piece of equipment. If you aren’t using it often, feel free to remove it from your counter.
Can Opener
Do you use your can opener on a daily basis? Most people don’t. I keep mine in my upper cabinet and only take it down when I use it. Consider relocating your electric can opener.
Crock Pot
I absolutely love cooking with my crock pot. It is very convenient and super easy to use. There are multiple recipes online. Feel free to check out my Pinterest page for crock pot recipes. Although I love my crockpot, it is too large to keep on my countertop.
Bonus: Paper Clutter
Paper clutter is the theft of an organized home. Avoid paper clutter by not allowing it to be placed on your countertops. Daily remove all old mail, circulars, kids projects, etc… from the counter.
I hope you found these tips helpful. It is not necessary to remove all items from your counter. Just remember you don’t have to keep all of these items in view. They may be stored and brought out when needed.
As always, if you need help getting your home and life organized, register for my free “5 Days to an Organized Home & Life” email course. Each day you will receive strategies for keeping your home & life organized and having a “company ready” home at all time. You can register for the free course at www.decoratorsvoice.com/free5daycourse.
For information about my Full Home & Life Organizational Strategies course, please visit www.decoratorsvoice.com/homestrategiescourse. In this course, you’ll receive tons of useful information, a one on one private consultation, access to my private Facebook group, and a physical organizational kit.
Thanks for stopping by. If you have any organizational or decorating questions, please do not hesitate to ask. I would love to hear from you. For information concerning our decorating services and products, please visit www.divineelementsofdesign.net
Omg!! This is so true! I counted 5 items that you listed on my counter that I haven’t used in forever. Thank you 😘
Omg! This is so true! I counted at least 5 of the items that you listed on here that I haven’t used in forever! I don’t even think I ever really thought about it. I just knew every time I walk into my kitchen it feels like it’s so cluttered. Thank you for the tip 😀
You’re very welcomed. I’m glad you liked the tips.
haha I don’t own half this stuff and my counters are still full !
What do you have on your counters that are causing clutter? Step back and decide if you really need those items on your counter everyday. If not, find another location for them.
You don’t even know how bad I needed this post, haha! We currently live in a very small apt… and the kitchen is tiny! Thanks for sharing 🙂
For some reason, we all think we have to display all these items.
Hahhaha… guilty for only 2😊😊😊 i should take those spice rack out😉
Two is not bad. You’re on the right track.
SO true! I definitely have a few of these on my counter currently.
Thanks for stopping by. Have a great day!
Such great suggestions. My husband hates clutter, so he’s always taking things off the counter. However, he never tells me where he puts them!
Lol, you husband sounds like a character.
So true! I just recently put the spice rack away in the pantry. After eight years. 😮
Love your blog!
Thanks for stopping by. Do you use all of the spices in your spice rack?
I needed this! A clutter-free kitchen is so much more inviting!
Yes, the ultimate goal is to have a clutter free home. One room at a time.
A good rule of thumb is to only leave out appliances and utensils you use all the time. If you don’t use it at least a few times a week, put it away!
Molly and Stacie
Exactly!! That’s for sharing.
Great tips! My rule is if I don’t use it daily, it gets put away!
That’s an excellent rule of thumb! Thanks for stopping by.
Looks like I have some de-cluttering to do!
Glad to help. Thanks for stopping by.
I love this! I am super OCD when it comes to being tidy, yet I always seem to have some sort of clutter. I will definitely put these tips to use.
Yes, put those unused items away and enjoy the free space.
Oh my stars, did I ever need this post right now. Kitchen clutter is really getting the best of me lately…now if I can find a solution for the pile of mail!
We are going to address the mail issue in an upcoming mail post. Stay tuned!!
I need to do some of this right now. Thanks for the ideas.
You’re very welcome. Thanks for stopping by.
Okay, new plan for me…I’m off to store lots of stuff! My can opening will stay, though, because although I only use it about once or twice a week, it’s usually mid-cooking, so I don’t have time at that moment to take it out and put it away.
Sounds like a plan. Only you know what works best for you. Plus, the can opener is one of the smaller appliances, so it doesn’t take up too much space. Thanks for stopping by.
Good ideas! Thank you for sharing them, Nakeya!
Wow such a brilliant concept! Both do indeed appear to be fantastic. So long did they take you to complete?
Hey, thanks for sharing, Nakeya! Glad I stopped by your blog.
All the best!
There are so many useful tips in your blog, Nakeya! Thank you for sharing your ideas with us.
Thank you for sharing! Your blog is a pile of useful and interesting infomation.
I like when there are few things on the table. This makes wet cleaning easier and faster and reduces the amount of dust in the room.