When you have two little ones, organization is something that I have to implement to keep my sanity. And since the kitchen is the first thing people see when they walk into our home, I want to make sure it looks bright, inviting and organized at all times. Which leads me to ask: how to organize your kitchen countertops?
Here are a few tips that I’ve found help me maintain tidy and attractive kitchen countertops with little effort. After establishing these countertop organization ideas, simply make it a practice to put things where they belong at the end of the day. That way, you’ll be sure to have an organized kitchen even on your busiest days!
5 Kitchen Countertop Organization Ideas 1. Dish Rack
I don’t have anything against dishwashers, but it can be a bit of a hassle to reach down and open the dishwasher to get the dishes out. Also, I want to make it easy for my young children to reach up and grab a cup to pour their own juice or get their own plates. I still like to wash dishes by hand because I know for certain that the dishes are completely clean, and I love the easy access.
If you have certain colors that you want to stand out, the dish rack can be unexpected way to punch up the color in your kitchen. I chose turquoise and peach because of the way these colors naturally compliment each other.
2. Clear Kitchen Canisters
Ingredient canisters are a great way to organize kitchen countertops. I have three with the ingredients that I use the most. For me, those ingredients are sugar, flour and pasta. Of course you can use as many canisters as you need.
I like to use clear canisters when I organize because I don’t have to do any guesswork when it comes to knowing what’s inside. Labels are also a great way to know what’s under the lid.
These glass canisters perform double duty: they keep my countertops organized and looking good.
3. Tiered Fruit Basket
I love my tiered fruit basket because it provides double the space for storing my fruits than a typical basket would.
Having our fruit right on the countertop helps us all make better choices when it comes to snacking. When I go to the grocery store, I make sure to pick up everyone’s favorite fruit. My son Drew would rather eat apples than candy, so I definitely make sure I pick up some ripe red apples. I absolutely love oranges and lemons for flavoring my water. I find we are more likely to choose these healthy fruits over junk food more easily simply because they are visible.
You also can’t deny how lovely a fruit basket looks in the kitchen. It allows you to be organized, add color and may even help you look a little slimmer in your jeans.
4. Kitchen Utensil Organizer
If you like to cook like me and don’t want to look everywhere for your spatula or spoon, a kitchen utensil organizer is a must! There are so many styles to choose from but I opted for a stainless steel set. I also saw some nice bamboo sets as well. When organizing, never miss an opportunity to introduce your own style or theme into the décor.
5. Countertop Spice Tray
Spice racks can get expensive and I’ve found a cute and inexpensive way to keep your most frequently used spices close by. A simple tray can store your teas, coffee and favorite spices. Some of my favorite spices are cinnamon, nutmeg, oregano and garlic. Lately I’ve really been into experimenting with cinnamon and nutmeg because I enjoy the fall season.
How to organize your kitchen countertops will largely be based on the tools you have at your disposal. Gather any unused storage pieces you have lying around that match your style, like baskets or trays. Next, identify problem areas, and match items with the storage pieces accordingly.
Decluttering your kitchen should also bring pieces of you and your family’s personalities into it. Make it make sense for your lifestyle. For instance, I buy plastic cups and plates for my children because they’re easier to clean and come in a variety of different colors. Buying expensive china wouldn’t make sense for our situation, but it would if your children are older and wouldn’t break your glasses and plates.
Last but not least, organizing your kitchen countertops doesn’t have to be boring. One way to stay away from being bland is to choose a color scheme and pick organization accessories that have those colors or textures in them.
I hope you found some inspiration for organizing your own kitchen countertops! Check out our kitchen organization guide for more ideas.
Editor’s Note: This post originally appeared on the Life Storage Blog in September of 2015. It has been updated to bring you more kitchen organization tips all in one blog post. Enjoy!
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