Create a clutter free kitchen in just 10 minutes 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.
-JULIE BLANNER-
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 and it made such a difference. We identify problem areas and find solutions to prevent them.
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. You can find my favorite kitchen picks in my shop and Amazon store.
shop our home and favorite kitchen items
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.
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.
Find our pretty swing arm wall sconce here!
Kitchen Counter Inspiration
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 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.
I love these crocks, and I use them in a variety of places. At the lake, they hold our dishwasher pods under the sink!
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.
I do love the look of clear glass canisters on our countertops, though! These canisters in our lake cottage are sold for a much higher price on designer sites – I love them!
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.
If you want to move your knives off your kitchen counters entirely, don’t skip my post about Drawer Organizers!
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 pretty copper toned mixer and it stands out in our kitchen – 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!
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 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.
Incoming Papers
Last year, our little kitchen bar countertop was being constantly consumed by papers. It quickly became a catch all area for 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 pretty blue and white ceramic 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.
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.
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 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.
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!
Soap Dispensers and Scrubbers
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!
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