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Last updated on April 8th, 2022 at 02:58 am
My kitchen is the busiest spot in my home. It’s where my family and friends congregate daily and during get-togethers. We need plenty of space for all our food prep, baking, and memory-making. This means my kitchen counters need to be clear and ready for whatever the day brings.
I have two rules when it comes to my kitchen: it must be clean and items must be accessible. In order for that to happen, what I keep on my kitchen counters (and in my kitchen) is very minimal.
In this post, you’ll learn how to decide what to keep on your kitchen counters and how to keep it organized.
How to choose what stays on your kitchen counters
Which tools and appliances do you use most? Which items are a big hassle to get in and out of drawers and cabinets as you’re cooking and baking?
These questions should be the parameters you use for deciding what to keep on your kitchen counters.
In my kitchen, the only appliances I leave on the counters are the coffeemaker, electric kettle, and toaster oven. I use these appliances daily so it makes sense to keep them accessible.
In the past, I kept my stand mixer on the counter. Since I don’t use it very often, I relocated it into my pantry. It’s easier to pull it out once every one to two months when I want to use it than to allow it to take up valuable space.
Tools, oils, and spices that I reach for nearly every day make the cut for the kitchen counters. For me, it’s much easier to quickly grab these tools straight from the counter than to be fumbling through drawers and cabinets.
I chose to move my knives into a drawer on my kitchen island. When I’m chopping or cutting, I use the kitchen island because there’s more room. It didn’t make sense to put a knife block on a back counter and turn around to use it on the kitchen island. Keeping my knives in a drawer was a safer choice.
I prefer to keep my kitchen island completely clear of all items. This gives us space throughout the day for preparing meals, unloading groceries, or just hanging out.
One thing that does end up on the island often is a bowl of fruit or veggies that don’t need to be refrigerated.
Function versus decoration
After remodeling our kitchen, I kept a decorative tray on the kitchen island. It didn’t take long to get annoyed by needing to move those decorative pieces every time I cooked.
Now, as previously explained, anything that stays on my kitchen counters must serve a purpose.
That doesn’t mean they can’t also be aesthetically pleasing.
My main cooking tools, oils, and spices are arranged neatly and decoratively on the counter. The items are corralled together on a pretty tray, serving for function and decoration.
When I wanted an electric kettle (or any appliance I choose to keep on my counters), I searched for one that was both functional and nice to look at.
I have two very large bamboo cutting boards that I lean against the backsplash in one corner. I reach for both almost daily, and they do double-duty by adding interest to the kitchen counters.
Where to place items on the counters
My rule for organizing is to always place items where it makes the most sense. For example, my coffeemaker and electric kettle are next to the fridge and under the coffee mugs.
Another example is my tray of cooking tools and oils are directly next to the stove.
Wherever you are most likely to use an item is where it should be located, if possible. This maximizes efficiency and cuts out a lot of extra effort of moving around and searching for things.
What not to keep on your kitchen counters
The number one thing to not keep on your kitchen counters is homeless clutter. Be proactive about clearing clutter daily.
If you keep mail and papers in your kitchen, keep them neatly together in an Actionable Paper Hub instead of piles all over the counter.
At the end of each day, identify and throw away any trash and put items away where they belong. (This includes any clean dishes left out to “air dry” —see the end of this post for more clarification on that.)
If you don’t know where an item should go, decide where you would look if you were looking for it. If it’s not useful, discard it either by throwing it away or placing it in a donation pile.
Organize your kitchen counters by keeping out items you use often. Choose items that double for function and decoration. Place items where you’re most likely to use them. Under no circumstances allow clutter to pile up on your counters.
Need a guide to get your kitchen organized? Download a free quick-start Kitchen Organizing Action Plan here, and stay tuned for a complete Kitchen Organizing Guide coming soon!
Pssst …you’ll want to download the Kitchen Organizing Action Plan to receive a special promo on the full guide!
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