Your kitchen counter is likely one of the most used areas of your home. It can easily get cluttered and dirty. But keeping this space tidy can have many great benefits.
Having a tidy kitchen counter can make your overall home and space feel tidier and less cluttered, improving your mood and vibe of your home. It’s also important that this space is clean when cooking.
Plus, having an organized kitchen counter will make cooking in your space easier because everything has a place. These are some of my favorite organizing ideas and kitchen countertop organization tips to get your kitchen looking and functioning at its best.
How To Organize Your Kitchen Counter
Start With Your Cabinets
Before you even start organizing your kitchen countertops, I think it’s crucial to go through your cabinets first. Why? There’s likely space you can use to place items that are on your counter, into a cabinet instead. So before you even get started on this organization, first go through your cabinets.
Get rid of anything you aren’t using. No one needs a dozen mugs if you are just two people in a home. Purge old cutting boards that have seen better days and any pots and pans that are not ever being used. This will free up your cabinets and you can maybe now move some of these counter top items into a cabinet so it’s out of sight, and also create more space on your counters.
Decide What You HAVE To Have On Your Countertops
Once you clear some cabinet space and have a real visual of what is on the countertop, decide what you really need to have out at all times. You don’t need a toaster oven out, even if you use it a few times a week. It can easily be stored in a cabinet. What do you use all the time that needs easy access when cooking and prepping? Usually, this means a pepper mill and salt cellar, your everyday cooking utensils like spatulas and such, and a fruit bowl.
Sure, your cabinets may not be able to fit your espresso maker and KitchenAid so this will have to stay out. But decide what you have to have, and what you don’t reach for constantly, those can all be stored away.
Use Vertical Space
A few tricks I like to use to clear my countertops are to utilize vertical space and utilize storage. This can mean putting a paper towel holder under the upper cabinets so it’s off the counter. Or instead of a big fruit bowl, use a taller and vertical one. These are easy ways to use less countertop space and maximize vertical storage.
Store Appliances You Don’t Use Daily
If you aren’t using a small appliance every single day, you can probably store it. I use a mini toaster oven frequently, but in my small space, it still takes up too much real estate. I now keep this over the cabinet of my microwave. While it’s an extra step to pull it out, it helps to clear space. If you can store it, even if you use it frequently, put it in a cabinet!
Avoid Keeping Spices Out
Your spice jars should really be kept in a cool, dark place away from sunlight and any heat. You may think a countertop organizer is a great option, but these should really live inside a cabinet. I love these jars and these spice risers.
Create Spaces
Creating spaces or stations on your countertop will help to keep things feeling more organized and less chaotic. If you have to have your coffee out, create a coffee space and keep everything right there. By the stove, you’ll want to have your cooking utensils, pepper mill and salt cellar, and that’s it. Everything else can be stored. Kitchen countertop organization is key and making spaces and zones can be a big help.
Use Trays To Create Stations And Keep Things Tidy
Utilizing trays to keep things organized does a few things. It helps to keep your counter tidy by containing similar items together. Also, it helps to create stations so you have like with like, and the things you need together. It also keeps you from putting a bunch of stuff in an area. If you have one small tray by the stove, you’ll always keep the same items right there, versus having items pile up over time.
Kitchen Counter Organizers
Kitchen Utensil Holders
Every kitchen needs a good utensil holder by the stove. Making it easy to grab what you need when cooking. When you don’t have a ton of kitchen storage to begin with, this is great to have on your counter. Keep the kitchen tools to a minimum, though–you don’t need 5 spatulas out if you can help out!
Fruit Bowls And Fruit Baskets
Store your fruit, onions and so on in a bowl or basket. Optimize your countertop space by choosing taller options versus short and wider ones.
Sink Caddy Organizer
Containment is key when organizing your countertops and the same goes for the sink area. Get a sink caddy organizer so that your soaps are kept together. This will also keep you from having too many cleaning supplies out. You just need the basics on the countertop, the rest can go underneath the sink.
Vertical Shelf Counter Organizer
If you are truly limited on cabinet space and have to utilize your counters for more than you’d like, these vertical shelf organizers are great. They help to maximize your space and create lots of option for storing items.
Sponge Holder
Get your sponge off the countertop by the sink, and instead place it in a sponge holder inside the sink. This helps to get one more thing off the countertops.
Knife Block Organizers
Most bulky knife blocks are full of knives you don’t actually need. Or even use every day. Instead, try a slimmer vertical magnetic knife block that allows you to keep a few knives in easy reach.
Coffee Or Microwave Drawers
Try stands that hold your coffee maker, microwave or small appliance that have a drawer built in. These are great to maximize storage.
Under Cabinet Shelves
Maximize the cabinets you already ahve by adding under cabinet baskets. They slide right onto the shelf and allow you to create a whole new spot to store items that are up and off the counters.
Rolling Cart
While this isn’t for the countertop, this is a great organization option to get things off your countertops. I have a weird nook in my kitchen that is just lost storage. A rolling cart fits perfectly and holds my rice cooker and Vitamix to make it easy to grab when I need them, but out of the cabinets and off the countertops.
Magnetic Shelves For Fridge
If the side of your fridge is exposed, this is amazing vertical storage you can be taking advantage of. These are great for keeping your most used items or even tools. Keep your coffee, sugar, salt and pepper, maybe even oils and vinegars. Again, make sure these are not in direct sunlight if they are spices, oils and vinegars.
KitchenAid Slider Mat
If you are keeping your KitchenAid out, A KitchenAid slider mat is a great accessory to have. It allows you to easily slide your heavy KitchenAid mixer around on the counter top.
Paper Towel Holders
If you can get your paper towels off your counter, and under a cabinet, that is key for getting more real estate freed up. Or putting your paper towels inside a cabinet is a great option as well, with paper towel hooks.
Lazy Susans
These are a great option to keep a few things on your counter with easy access and maximize space. I also love having these in the kitchen cabinets to store all of my oils and vinegars and make it really easy to find what you need while optimizing your space.
There you have it, some of my favorite tips and tricks to organizing your kitchen counters. Maximizing kitchen storage is always important, and creating more space to cook and feel less cluttered is key. For more tips read my guide on how to organize kitchen drawers. Don’t forget to add some fun and color to your kitchen too. Try adding colorful kitchen rugs to your space to make it warm and inviting.
Looking for more kitchen design and ideas? Check out the best kitchen backsplash ideas here and the white galley kitchen ideas that inspired my own renovation.
