Clutter Free Kitchen Counters in 10 Steps!

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I used to struggle making supper because I felt like I didn’t have enough counter space to cook. I blamed it on the size of my counters.

But then it finally occurred to me that there was too much clutter on my counters. All that stuff was getting in the way of actually using them.

Does your kitchen feel cluttered too?

The answer may not be the amount of counters that you have. It may be that your countertops need a good decluttering.

That probably sounds easier said than done. Kitchen islands and counters are magnets for clutter. The mail gets put there.

Lunch boxes, store bags, paperwork, random things that no one wants to put away.

But all of that clutter is creating chaos. Your kitchen is a busy place and needs to be both functional and welcoming.

You can do this by decluttering your kitchen. The countertop is a great place to start.

Whether you have a big or small kitchen counter, you can keep your kitchen counters clear by being intentional with your daily habits and training your family to do the same.

The key is to get rid of the nonessential and practice putting things away on a regular basis.

Benefits of clutter free kitchen counters

• more space to cook and prepare meals

• place to put groceries when you get home from the store

• room for homework or craft projects

• welcoming space for family and guests

• lowers stress

Clutter Free Kitchen Counters:

1. Throw away the trash.

Gather all the trash sitting out and toss it in the trash can. Most likely you’ll find food wrappers, junk mail, and other odds and ends.

2. Take out anything that doesn’t belong in the kitchen.

The kitchen island is a magnet for all kinds of random things that don’t even belong in the kitchen.

Gather all the items that belong in another room and put them where they should be. These will be things like toys, books, paperwork, ect.

3. Get rid of unused appliances.

Do you have appliances in your kitchen that never get used? They are taking up valuable space in your kitchen, maybe even counter space.

Get rid of these items so you have room for the appliances that you actually use.

4. Remove excessive decor.

I love decorating my home and yes, even my kitchen. However, there is a point where too much decor gets in the way and causes frustration.

Look around at the decor you have on your countertops. Does it add to the beauty of the room or does it get in the way?

Remove any decor that doesn’t need to be on your countertop. Keep out the decor that you love and doesn’t get in the way while you use the kitchen.

5. Put food in pantry.

Do you leave food out on the counter that could go in the pantry? Put it away in the pantry. Only leave out the food that you use every day.

Personally, I leave my coffee jar and cookie jar on our countertop because we use them every day. I also keep a small bowl with apples or bananas for easy access to healthy snacks throughout the day.

But we keep chips, bread, and other pantry foods off the countertop.

6. Store appliances in cabinets.

You already got rid of appliances that you never use. Now, let’s deal with appliances that you douse regularly. As you look at your counters, are there any appliances you haven’t used in the last week?

Can you find a spot in your kitchen cupboards or closet to store those rarely used appliances?

Try to put it somewhere that is easy to get to. If you put it somewhere difficult to get to, you will be tempted to leave the appliance out on the counter.

Storing it where it’s easily accessible will make it easier to return the appliance when you’re finished using it.

I have several appliances that I use 1-3 times a week like my toaster, can opener, and rice cooker, but they don’t need to take up valuable space on my counters ever day.

Instead of keeping them out, I put them all in a cupboard which is easily accessible.

7. Don’t let the mail pile up.

It’s easy to drop the mail on the kitchen counter every day as you come in the house. I used to pile up my mail all week and then finally deal with a big stack of mail on the weekends.

Put that mail always cluttered up my counters. Now, I have the daily habit of dealing with mail right away.

As soon as I walk in the door, I throw away junk mail, open up the bills and other paperwork and file them accordingly.

8. Put groceries away as soon as possible.

Another important habit is putting groceries away as soon as you get home from the store. Don’t let them sit out on the counter.

Pull all your groceries out of the bags and put them exactly where they go. Put your grocery bags away too.

9. Put clutter away the first time.

This may be the most important tip for keeping a clutter free kitchen counter top! When I shared my 2 tips for dealing with clutter, I talked about making decisions right away instead of letting clutter pile up by being indecisive.

My kitchen counters used to be the landing spot for my purse, the mail, laundry that needed to be put away, and other random objects that needed put up.

But after reading Make Room for What You Love*, I purposefully put my purse away when I get home, file the mail as soon as I bring it in, put the laundry away after it is folded, and return items to where they belong.

10. Remember why you want clutter free counters.

Each day you’ll have to choose to keep up with your clutter free habits. The only way to stick with them is to remember why you want to have a clutter free kitchen.

Remind yourself regularly of the purpose for putting things away and keeping your kitchen clean and tidy.

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