This Is What You Need To Know To Avoid Kitchen Counter Clutter

No matter how big or small your kitchen is, you only have so much counter space to work with. It’s valuable real estate, and what you choose to store there can have a big impact on the overall functionality of your kitchen! Navigating cluttered countertops while you’re trying to cook dinner can be maddening, and can even discourage you from spending time in the kitchen in the future!

If you struggle with countertop clutter in your own home, you’re in luck! Because today’s post is all about figuring out what should and shouldn’t stay on you kitchen counter. But before we get started, I wanted to point out that you are the only one who can really say where things should be stored. It all comes down to how often you use things, so as always, use your best judgment! :-)

11 Things You Should Store On Your Kitchen Counter

1. Canisters

Canisters like these are great for keeping small items organized and within reach on your countertop. You can use them for grab-and-go snacks, napkins, or other odds and ends to prevent your countertops from becoming overly cluttered.

2. Coffee Maker

If you make coffee every day, there’s really no better place to store it other than on your kitchen counter. Create a “coffee zone” in the area surrounding your coffee maker to keep all of your coffee-making supplies handy. Have a spot for ground beans, coffee grounds, coffee filters, mugs, travel cups, etc.

If you’d like to save some counter space while still keeping your coffee supplies handy, check out the IKEA RÅSKOG utility cart! You can store all sorts of stuff on it, then roll it into a pantry or somewhere out of the way when you’re not using it. (And for more brilliant ways to use this cart, check out my post at the link below!)

Related: 8 Reasons This Cheap IKEA Cart Is The Ultimate Storage Solution

3. Dish Rack

Dish drying racks are a must-have for those without a dishwasher, and are still pretty handy for those who have one. If you use your dish rack every day, it makes sense to keep it out on your counter or in your sink. Dish racks like this one are designed to fit nicely in your sink.

But not everyone uses a dish rack every day. It you use one less frequently, consider finding one small enough to tuck away in a cupboard.

4. Stand Mixer

There are very few drawers or cabinets that can accommodate a stand mixer. And even if you did have a big cabinet to put it in, the mixer may be too heavy for it! For those reasons, the best place to store your stand mixer is probably on your countertop.

To keep the area around your stand mixer looking tidy, check out the cord organization hack at the link below!

Related: This One Easy Hack Will Solve All Your Cord Problems

5. Paper Towels

Paper towels should be kept within reach, but out of the way. You can hang a paper towel holder like this one right over a cupboard door. However you decide to store them, it’s always a good idea to keep your paper towels somewhere near the sink.

6. Kitchen Utensils

Pick about half a dozen of your most frequently used cooking utensils and store them in a crock near your stove. It keeps your wooden spoons, tongs, and spatulas handy for cooking, and prevents them from cluttering up your kitchen drawers. You can find utensil crocks online, or you could use a spare vase, a large jar, or even a planter instead.

7. Salt & Pepper

If you cook frequently, you probably also use your salt and pepper shakers or grinders frequently too. If that’s the case, it makes sense to keep them on your countertop. There are plenty of attractive sets of shakers and grinders out there to choose from!

8. Fruit & Veggies

Many fruits and vegetables are best stored at room temperature, including garlic, onions, potatoes, tomatoes, citrus, avocados, and more. Store these foods in a basket on your countertop or on a shelf. It’s functional and it looks great too!

9. Toaster

If you make toast every day, go ahead and keep your toaster on your counter! If you rarely make toast, store your toaster in a cupboard or somewhere out of the way.

10. Cutting Board

If you have a nice cutting board, keeping it out on your counter can be both decorative and functional! If you want to keep your cutting board handy but can’t spare the counter space for it, check out the link below. I’ll show you how to modify a cutting board so you can keep it on your stove instead!

Related: How To Modify A Cutting Board For More Counter Space

11. Cookbooks

Keep your most frequently referenced cookbooks on a shelf where you can see them. They look nice in the kitchen, and it will remind you to check them out when you’re in need of some inspiration for dinner.

4 Things You Should NOT Store On Your Counter

1. Rarely Used Appliances

Special tools like food processors, blenders, and other appliances you don’t use every day should be stored out of the way. Keep them in a cupboard, drawer, or on a pantry shelf instead.

2. Collections

Collections of items like teacups, figurines, and photographs are fine to keep in the kitchen, as long as they are kept up off your counters. Instead, mount them on your kitchen wall or install a shelf where you can display them properly!

3. Papers

Papers, documents, and junk mail often find their way on our countertops, but it’s not the best place to keep them. Instead, keep important notes and papers inside a cabinet to keep them handy, but out of the way. Check out the link below for more information about making your own kitchen “command center!”

Related: “Hidden” Family Command Center For Staying Organized

4. Serving Dishes

Serving platters and trays take up a lot of space, so it’s best to store them on a cupboard or shelf instead of your counter. Another option is to mount your nice serving dishes on your kitchen wall so they double as decor!

How do you decide what to store on your kitchen counter?