23 Ideas for Kitchen Countertop Organization
Organize your way to a clean & functional kitchen.
Kitchen countertops see it all: meal prep, midnight snacks, holiday party buffets, coffee-making stations, and that small kitchen appliance that you haven't given up on… yet. Needless to say, it can be hard to keep kitchen countertops clutter-free and well-organized without the right tools. Savvy countertop organization techniques make it super easy to find specific ingredients and cooking tools while also opening up more counter space for you to use. Give your countertops a bit more love with these 23 ideas for kitchen countertop organization.
1. Get Organized Using Countertop Shelving
Make use of vertical space with this idea for kitchen countertop organization. Consider a mini shelving unit or stackable shelves to store and arrange mugs, cooking oils, spices, and small kitchen gadgets you use on the regular.
Decorative trays help create 'zones' on your countertop by making room for specific countertop accessories and cooking ingredients. You can design your kitchen counter tray any way you like. The above display features cooking oils, herbs, and a mortar and pestle, but you can also use a tray as a mobile coffee or tea station!
Storage canisters are your friend when it comes to kitchen countertop organization. You can use them to store coffee grounds, tea bags, sugar, flour, or just about anything you want, all while keeping your countertop looking pristine! Most canister options have decorative details that contribute to the aesthetic appeal of your counter space, too. If you do go with decorative canisters, make sure you label what's in each one to make things easier for you. Otherwise, clear canisters might be the way to go so you can easily see the contents within.
Create the ultimate coffee-making station with this kitchen countertop organizing idea. Use a condiment organizer to store stirring sticks, mini creamers, sugar packets, coffee pods, and paper coffee cups so you can get your coffee to go!
If you're all about the bare counter look, this method of kitchen countertop organization is for you! Install wall-mounted shelving and hanging racks on your backsplash to hold cooking ingredients, everyday dinnerware, cutting boards, and even knife sets. This method is especially helpful if you have limited countertop space to begin with because it frees up counter space.
Tip!
Check out How to Organize a Small Kitchen and 13 Brilliant Small Kitchen Storage Ideas (With Photos!) for more space-saving organization ideas.
6. … Or Go for Under-Cabinet Racks
Under-cabinet racks attach onto the interior of upper kitchen cabinets using hanging rods/clamps to provide extra storage space and reduce countertop clutter. These products can store spices, extra dinnerware, mugs, and other small items that you don't want on your countertop but need easy access to.
A utensil crock is a classic kitchen countertop organization idea that is easy to overlook. Utensil crocks come in a range of sizes, designs, and colors to add decorative flair to your countertop while also creating a convenient storage space for large cooking utensils and serving utensils. Keep a utensil crock beside the stove so you're always ready to stir, saute, and taste test!
Amp up your storage space with kitchen countertop ideas that help you get the most out of those pesky countertop corners. Stack up mini corner shelves as far as your upper cabinets will allow. Use the shelves to store condiments, spices, utensil crocks, knife holders, canned goods, or kitchen storage canisters. You can even capitalize on the space beneath the bottom shelf to store bowls of fruit/vegetables or a corner-shaped bread box.
Add a fruit bowl to your kitchen countertop to encourage healthy snacking and to make fruit easily accessible. Some fruit bowls come with multiple tiers to organize types of fruit, while others have a handy hanging mechanism for bananas. This type of kitchen counter storage also looks so much more appealing on the countertop compared to a grocery store produce bag.
Use woven baskets to help sort and organize countertop essentials while adding warmth and rustic charm to your kitchen. Store dry goods, kitchen towels, drinking glasses, or coffee/tea accessories in countertop baskets for a cozy feel.
A kitchen cart can help declutter kitchen countertops by providing extra storage space for countertop appliances, recipe books, drinkware, and cooking ingredients. These handy storage pieces come in a range of sizes. Most kitchen carts are the same height as countertops and have usable tabletops so you can use them as countertop extensions!
Consider a kitchen island if you want to free up even more countertop space and get organized. Kitchen islands have a generous tabletop surface so you have ample room to prep ingredients while keeping your kitchen countertops organized and uncluttered. Most kitchen islands come with built-in drawers and shelves to help with organizing and storing items that would otherwise take up valuable countertop space.
Wondering how to declutter kitchen counters while still keeping essentials close by? Consider cabinet door organizers. These attach to the inside of cabinet doors with simple hook mechanisms that you can install in seconds. You can use cabinet door organizers for cleaning products, paper towel rolls, spices, kitchen towels, dry food canisters… the list is endless.
Tip!
Want to tackle your kitchen cabinets? Read Declutter Your Life: How to Organize Your Kitchen Cabinets to get empowered.
14. Reenvision the Space Around Your Kitchen Sink
The space around your kitchen sink has so much organization potential. Set up over-the-sink kitchen counter shelves to maximize your storage opportunities. The shelving unit above features an elaborate, multitiered design, but there are plenty of options that have a single shelf (perfect for a makeshift window sill!).
Tip!
There are also a ton of storage opportunities for the space below your sink. Reference these 7 Under-the-Sink Storage Ideas (With Photos!) to learn more.
15. Section-Off Storage With Overturned Crates
Get creative with kitchen counter organization ideas like this one. Overturned crates or baskets create cubby-style shelving for your countertop. You can stack and layer them for a cool and storage-friendly design.
Lazy Susans are the ultimate kitchen countertop organizers. They come in single or double configurations and feature a rotating tabletop that moves independently from the base. This means you can easily turn it to retrieve spices, drinkware, cooking oils, or dried goods without moving the structure itself.
No more searching for the spice blend you need! Get a spice rack to display on your kitchen counter and reap the benefits of having all your cooking spices at your disposal. Spice racks come in a variety of designs and help you organize your spices so retrieval is quick and easy.
On the surface, bread boxes help store bread and keep loafs fresh for longer. However, they actually also present a savvy kitchen counter storage idea for more than just bread. Flat-top bread boxes can serve as an elevated shelf for kitchen gadgets, drinkware, and dried food storage. The interior of the bread box itself can also house spices or dried goods in addition to bread.
Open up countertop space and stove burners by hanging ready-to-use pots and pans on the walls. Even if you have upper cabinets, you can still utilize this organization method. You can even repurpose a few hooks for kitchen towels, cooking utensils, dried herbs, oven mitts, and cleaning brushes.
Give your kitchen countertop storage a decorative feel by swapping in a tiered dessert stand. You can use tiered dessert stands to store and organize fruit, display potted herbs, keep storage canisters, or showcase coffee/tea blends.
Invest in a quaint storage solution for your countertop by introducing a mini accent cabinet. Mini accent cabinets have interior compartments where you can organize and store dried goods or spices and a top shelf for even more storage potential. Not to mention, they're adorable!
Give your cookbooks a spot to shine on your kitchen countertop. Feature one or more books on a bookstand so you're always ready to try a new recipe. Some bookstands have multiple holders so you can display more than one cookbook.
Always be prepared to clean up a mess with the help of a gorgeous paper towel holder. Disguise paper towel rolls in decorative dispensers that look like decor on your countertop or stick with a classic paper towel holder for quick paper towel access.
Tip!
Now that you know how to organize a kitchen countertop, learn how to decorate one: How to Decorate Kitchen Countertops.
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