If you are one of those people with perfectly clean, empty counters my hat is off to you – but this post is intended for the rest of us.  People who, like me, have a few too many things on the counter and a toaster that seems to think it lives out in the open. It seems that more and more of the things we love or use regularly tend to huddle together on the kitchen counter, taking up valuable real estate and creating more items to clean.  Fall is a great time to really evaluate what belongs on the counters, and hopefully thin the hoard prior to Thanksgiving preparations.  Let’s tame that kitchen clutter!

Tip 1: Evaluate

We spend so much time in our kitchens, it can be difficult to see the forest for the trees.  Take a good hard look at each item on the counter – does it really need to be out?  If you utilize an appliance daily (like the coffeepot), it may be worth keeping available.  But anything that isn’t used as often would be good candidates for a permanent home in the pantry or a cabinet.  PRO TIP: Appliances can be hard to “home”, and something I’ve found really helps is a kitchen cart.  There are several on the market designed specifically for particular items (such as the Instant Pot), which works very well.  And if you can roll it into the pantry or a nook, all to the better!

Tip 2: Consider “Musts”

It’s easy to fall into the trap of believing something “must” be on the counter when the reality is [pause for effect] YOU make the rules!  Several things fall into this category, but the prime offenders are knife blocks and spice racks.  But guess what?  They don’t need to take up the space – the wooden drawer organizers for both knives and spice bottles are wonderful.  Just because your mother or friends have knife blocks doesn’t mean you need one. 🙂  PROP TIP: If space is at a premium, there are excellent racks available now to utilize the interior of cabinet doors and other areas once considered lost space.  You can even use Command Hooks just about anywhere to create extra storage!

Tip 3: Focus on the Pain Point

Every kitchen has that one thing that seems determined to be a perpetual problem or pain point.  For me, it’s paperwork.  I’m forever coming up with new ways of dealing with the daily barrage of mail, receipts, work documents and other flotsam and jetsam that inexplicably gravitates to the kitchen counter.  Maybe yours is a charging area, or homework center.  Whatever your pain point is, focus on just that to try to come up with a solution. I’m still dealing with mine, but the current solution is a series of files in the office to sort things into, and a wall pocket in the mud room for coupons and “hot” items.  It’s a work in progress!  PRO TIP: Pinterest is great for solutions – chances are good it’s a pain point for someone else, too! 

BONUS TIP: Home organizers often say the #1 reason for kitchen clutter is lack of other options.  It’s hard to get something off the counter when there just isn’t anywhere to put it.  Chances are it’s an important item, too – getting rid of it usually isn’t an option.  But if you scour your kitchen you may find other items that you don’t need.  I always ask myself “What would I use instead of ________?”  So many things serve multiple purposes, it’s easier than ever to get rid of unitaskers!