Some of our favorites for decluttering the kitchen counter

The first step to getting organized is to assess what you have to organize. Pair with what you really need, then you can order it efficiently. The main objective of the organization is accessibility. Some of our favorites for decluttering the kitchen counter and keeping items accessible include:

Make the space under your cabinets do the work for you. Under-cabinet storage pieces can hold items that would otherwise sit on the counter in their path. You can easily install under cabinet organizers and free up valuable counter space. After all, it’s more fun to cook when you know exactly where to find things. A pull-out cabinet containing spices arranged alphabetically. Spice drawer organizers are available to give you just the right angle and space. To take the idea a step further, you can collect matching jars to store the spices. The clear jars allow you to see what’s inside, but your spice drawer organizer can be rotated so the top of the jars face you as you take it out and the labels on the top of the jars are easy to see all at once. A label maker can be used to label your jar collection. Another extraction may have colorful beans and dried beans to reflect the same sense of design.

Use your wall space.Many kitchens have unused space on the walls and sides of cabinets. Hooks help hang items within easy reach. Perhaps a strainer would be conveniently located on a nail on the side of the cabinet closest to the sink or some of the most used spices on a small shelf near the stove. Easy access handles on a hook or hooks for some of your most frequently used utensils. Hooks don’t have to be fancy. They will be covered by the item they are intended for most of the time. Look around your countertops. You’re sure to find some items that are usually out but don’t need to use counter space.

Under Wall Cabinet Storage. There are under cabinet lights, radios, appliances designed for under cabinet storage, and flat screen TVs that fold under wall cabinets for storage. The right storage systems allow you to store enough items in plain sight so that they no longer need to be left on the counter.

Hide the trash can.Sometimes a customer tells me that they don’t have an extra cabinet to give up for trash cans. Whenever I look at a kitchen, I can find a more functional use of storage space by assigning one of the cabinets to the trash can. Various pull-out mechanisms are available to neatly stow away unsightly trash bins. What most customers don’t consider is that the space currently occupied by waste bins could be filled with an attractive item. You may wonder if you’d rather look at your trash or your pots, pans, spice jars, utensils, or any other attractive items that might be in a cabinet that would be better used to hide your trash can. Unsightly please put items out of sight.

Now go into your kitchen and take a good look around you. Items left on countertops often need a more accessible storage location. If you can’t find it when you need it, there’s no point in having it in your space. Remove excess items, and then organize the remaining items where you can easily access them when you need them. Look for unused spaces in your kitchen that could be used to increase functionality. Hide unsightly items, but keep frequently used items in view. It might take a couple of rounds to get things where you like them, but a well-organized kitchen can enhance your lifestyle. After all, your kitchen is probably the hub of your home.