It’s a battle throughout the entire year, but it seems especially once school starts- how do you keep your kitchen counters clutter-free? While there is no one solution that will fit everybody, there’s all kinds of solutions you can choose from to fit your specific family and needs to help you live a kitchen clutter-free life! And less clutter usually means we’re eating healthier, eating out less, and feeling less anxious and stressed in general! At least, that’s the case for me ;).

Here are 9 tips for keeping those counters clutter-free and clean!

1. Have a designated landing area. There’s always going to be something that you’re not quite sure what to do with when you first walk through the door, and having some sort of basket or bin that functions as a catch- all can really help reduce the amount of things that collect on your counter!
2. If you do decide to have a catch- all basket, put a weekly event in your calendar to go through the basket and clear it out. If something doesn’t already have a specific place to go, create a new space for that item or throw it out!
3. It’s also helpful to set a timer every night for just 10 minutes to quickly declutter the counters before bed- whether that’s your catch-all basket or the counters in general! 10 minutes doesn’t seem like much, but when you’re racing against the timer, you’d be surprised just how much you can clean up in just 10 minutes!
4. Minimize decor. I love a cute sign from Hobby Lobby as much as the next girl, but when you get too many cutesy things on your counter, it stops looking attractive and looks messy and cluttered. Limit the cute things you put on your counter. Less is more!
5. Take a minute right now to evaluate everything on your counter. Is everything that is on the counter there because you truly want it there? Is there room for the blender in the pantry, or do you just keep it on the counter because that’s what your parents did? Do you enjoy having your toaster on the counter, or does it cause unwanted clutter for something you don’t use often? Be honest with yourself with every single item on your counter and be intentional with what stays! This process can be easier if you start by taking EVERYTHING off, and only putting the things back on that you truly want on your counter. Everything else needs a new home!
6. Keep a small white board for reminders, instead of leaving out fliers and papers. They don’t serve as great reminders anyway, and just add clutter! Put reminders in your phone if you don’t have the space for a small white board.
7. Take some time to think through your daily habits. Where does the clutter come from? Is it mail from walking through the door? Is it kids leaving toys and homework out? Is it dishes that are left unwashed? Identify the culprits of clutter and think through what you can do to prevent those issues (e.g. doing dishes after every meal or placing them in the sink, having a basket designated for homework and school fliers, a folder for mail)
8. Make a space for items you use regularly. Do you find that your planner is often left on the counter? Make a space for it by your cookbooks or another easy to access cupboard! Do you often charge your phone or tablet in the kitchen? Find a cute solution to keep it hidden. Do your keys always find their way to the counter? Buy a command hook or cute key ring to put right next to the door! The more stuff you have on your counters, the more likely you are to put more stuff there!
9. Follow the “one in, one out” rule. If you buy a new water pitcher, take out something to make room. A new cake stand? Don’t just squish it in, remove something else. Most of us have way more things in our kitchen than we actually need.

Having a clutter-free counter can really help you feel more creative, which makes it more likely that you’ll want to cook homemade meals. It also reduces stress and anxiety, so it’s totally worth making a priority! I hope these tips will help!

    Camille Hoffmann
    Monthly Newsletter Contributor since 2014
    Email the author! camille@dvo.com