Few of us are fortunate enough to have spacious kitchens with plenty of countertop room. Moreover, as our culinary skills improve, we tend to gather more kitchen utensils and devices. It’s discouraging to realize how much less enjoyable home-cooked meals become when finding sufficient workspace means constantly reorganizing the kitchen. If this predicament resonates with you, perhaps it’s time to think outside the box for those compact kitchen spaces. Fortunately, several approaches can help maximize your limited countertops effectively.
“Countertops serve as the intersection between aesthetics and utility, yet they’re also prone to becoming disorganized hotspots. However, optimizing countertop area doesn’t mean reducing items; rather, it involves utilizing your available space more effectively,” explains Rachel Blindauer, an interior and product designer. Thus, if you aim to make the best use of your kitchen countertops,
tackling clutter
And being extremely selective about what gets placed on your countertops is one of the initial steps toward transforming your kitchen.
This does not imply that you must get rid of every item (though it might be quite appealing to do so). The objective is not minimalism just for the sake of being minimalist. Instead, aim to design a countertop area that complements how you genuinely live and prepare meals—effortlessly, attractively, and with ample breathing room,” according to Blindauer. Therefore, allocate some time one afternoon to address your countertops and apply these professional suggestions to enhance your workspace.
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Get Rid of Things You Don’t Use Anymore
“Decluttering is one of the most neglected aspects when it comes to increasing space,” asserts Seymen Usta, Founder, Interior Organizer and Designer. This is precisely why decluttering tops this list because attempting to accommodate each item without evaluating whether they truly deserve shelf space will make subsequent suggestions less effective.
These things ought to be among the initial ones to get rid of when you’re cleaning up your kitchen.
Consider that countertop space as valuable property and be strict about what earns the right to occupy it.
Household gadgets often consume the most countertop space. As Usta points out, it’s perfectly acceptable to leave daily-use items such as your coffee machine or toaster on display. Nonetheless, he cautions against having infrequently-used devices—like crock pots, blenders, and juice extractors—occupy valuable counter real estate unnecessarily. Whenever possible, store these underused appliances inside cabinets, pantries, or carts instead. Once you’ve addressed larger equipment, proceed with organizing smaller objects including utensils, condiment bottles, and spices.
While organizing, Rachel Blindauer recommends conceptualizing your kitchen area through different zones. She advises dividing countertops based on their function (preparation, serving, coffee station, etc.), and being strict about keeping items related solely to these specific purposes out where they belong. This approach not only clears off valuable countertop real estate but also simplifies meal preparation because everything needed for each task is easily accessible nearby.
Gather and Secure All Unsecured Objects on Your Countertop
A key factor behind the congestion on your kitchen counters is the rapid buildup of clutter due to objects lacking designated places. According to Ria Safford, a Professional Organizer and Command Brand Ambassador, ensuring that items staying on the countertop have specific spots can help establish proper homes for these things. This approach gives your countertops an overall cleaner and tidier appearance.
For organizing stray utensils and tiny objects, purchasing several different types of utensil holders could prove beneficial to maintain order. As per Diane Greenhalgh, an experienced organizer and founder of Tiny to the Max, another approach involves grouping these items on an attractive tray or cutting board. When deciding where to store your utensils, assess their usage frequency; relocate those not needed daily into cabinets or drawers. Additionally, this process presents an opportunity to discard tools that are damaged or redundant.
After reducing your utensil collection, group them according to their use (for example, put cooking spoons close to the stove or baking equipment near the pantry). Sorting items by size might also prove beneficial.
Utilize risers to optimize vertical space
A simple way to create additional room on your countertops for condiments and containers is purchasing some shelf risers or multi-level platforms. Despite seeming counterintuitive, these additions can effectively expand your storage options. As Ria Safford notes, “Using risers allows me to make use of unused vertical areas; I can raise up items while still keeping others underneath.” These solutions are cost-effective and do not necessitate using complex equipment. Additionally, unlike when mounting wall shelves, which might involve drilling into walls, employing risers poses no threat of upsetting your landlord due to alterations needing repair upon moving out.
According to Rachel Blidauer, “Using a tall, slim riser can increase your available surface space without taking up extra room. Tiered platforms are particularly useful, especially when placed in corners, for organizing items like mugs, canned goods, or fresh produce.” These shelf risers not only provide utility but also offer a wide range of options in terms of material, color, and size, ensuring you can find ones that match both your countertop and style preferences. Additionally, unlike fixed wall shelves, these risers allow easy relocation should you wish to alter your layout based on evolving requirements.
Swap Your Clumsy Dish Rack for a Compact Folding One
Dish-drying racks tend to be large, cumbersome, and frankly, quite unsightly. Nevertheless, after your dishes have been dried and stored, these racks shouldn’t occupy valuable countertop space unnecessarily. Fortunately, numerous alternatives are available that won’t hog your countertops when not in active use.
Consider investing in a collapsible dish rack as suggested by Seymen Usta. Unlike conventional drying racks, these models do not take up precious countertop space; rather, they can be stowed away when not needed, keeping countertops tidy and efficient.
If a folding dish rack doesn’t fit your kitchen layout, an alternative might be an over-the-sink dish rack. According to Lior Kahana from 123 Remodeling, such racks offer additional draining areas without eating into your workspace. Plus, many of them roll up easily for storage inside cabinets.
Another viable choice proposed by Diane Greenhalgh would be a drying mat. This works well for individuals with minimal items requiring air-drying after hand-washing.
Utilize The Vertical Spaces In Your Kitchen Walls And backsplash
Don’t dismiss the possibility of utilizing
straightforward organizational ideas for your kitchen walls
And consider adding a backsplash during your kitchen decluttering process. As Seymen Usta points out, “The best approach is vertical storage; place commonly used items on shelves, racks, or hooks rather than overcrowding the countertops.” If you’re unsure about tackling do-it-yourself projects such as installing shelves, begin with smaller changes. According to Diane Greehalgh, “Hanging items can be an effective solution too—think about suspending cookware from hooks beside the stove or mounting a magnetic bar for knives instead of using a traditional knife block. Additionally, you could display decorative hot pads on the walls when they’re not needed.”
Hooks aren’t just for your walls; they can also be used beneath cabinets. As suggested by Usta, “utensils, cups, or pots can be hung from hooks or racks installed underneath shelves, maximizing otherwise unused areas.” Once you’ve explored alternative solutions but require additional storage, it’s time to consider this approach.
Utilize shelves to increase countertop area.
If you want an option besides shelves, consider this
A pegboard wall is a budget-friendly option for adding more storage space to your kitchen.
, and these boards offer extensive customization options. A pegboard wall can serve as a single location for installing hooks, baskets, and additional features to keep items like utensils and pots organized efficiently. If you’re seeking another suggestion: consider purchasing a magnetic rack or spice containers and affixing them to your refrigerator for better accessibility.
storage solution hack that really functions
.
Buy Multi-Use Appliances
In a compact kitchen where space for storage is at a premium, choosing which tools and appliances to purchase becomes crucial. It’s important to consider whether you’ll genuinely utilize items like an oversized pasta machine or an infrequently needed ice cream maker. This can be challenging because numerous appealing and fashionable kitchen contraptions claim they will simplify your culinary tasks.
Compact, single-purpose kitchen devices tend to consume valuable countertop real estate. Should your budget allow, consider acquiring an item such as a multicooker. This versatile appliance has the capability to perform multiple functions including pressure cooking, slow roasting, baking, sautéing, and even making yogurt — which could diminish the necessity for various standalone tools. By utilizing just one device capable of handling numerous tasks, you stand to reclaim significant cabinet space typically occupied by separate machines dedicated to specific jobs.
This isn’t the only instance of a multi-use kitchen gadget. Consider, for example, collapsible colanders that also function as steamers and trivets.
Immersion blenders
Are an additional versatile asset that goes beyond mere soup blending; a high-quality model can take the place of both your standard blender and food processor, thus freeing up precious countertop space.
Use A Lazy Susan
Spacious kitchen countertops offer extra room for storing and preparing food. Nonetheless, these areas can become spots where small objects might disappear or be overlooked due to their hard-to-reach locations. Here enters the
lazy Susan turntable
— A basic revolving tray that gathers smaller similar items together, keeping your countertops organized and uncluttered. As Safford points out, “A turntable is an excellent method for housing your daily cooking oils and seasonings in a manner that appears both attractive and purposeful.” Minimizing visual disarray holds equal importance with maximizing countertop area in compact kitchen spaces.
Rachel Blindauer points out that the lazy Susan is especially useful for kitchens with deep corners or unusual areas because it provides easy access without causing disarray. A simple rotation of the lazy Susan makes everything stored in those hard-to-reach spots easily reachable. This not only increases the likelihood of items being utilized rather than taking up unnecessary space but also helps prevent purchasing duplicate goods, as it becomes simpler to keep track of your available inventory at a glance.
Generate Additional Workspace Near YourSink Or Cooktop
The shortage of workspace for food preparation is often a major inconvenience for people with restricted countertop space. However, an effective solution lies in utilizing the areas above your sink and stove. This approach works well for individuals unable to install additional features like kitchen carts or moveable islands. As Seymen Usta points out, “A great way to instantly expand usable counter space is by placing a cutting board over the sink. When equipped with a properly fitting board designed specifically for this purpose, your sink transforms into a versatile prep station, offering added working surfaces without requiring any permanent modifications.”
If you’re unable to locate a cutting board that fits perfectly around your sink, consider getting one designed for your stovetop instead. These boards come in various sizes; some will span across only two burners, while others can cover all four. Just keep in mind that when this board is placed over the stove, you won’t be able to use the cooking elements underneath—another trade-off for additional preparation area. After completing your chopping tasks, simply remove the board and return your sink or stove back to their original functions without hassle.
Create An Appliance Garage
Reducing visual chaos can help make your compact kitchen appear more spacious. Grouping items into a utensil holder or a Lazy Susan are effective methods for tackling this disarray. Our specialists also recommended using an appliance “garage.” Smaller appliances significantly contribute to visual mess because of their bulkiness, plus many lack aesthetic appeal. This explains why the appliance garage concept is so appealing. Angie Kreller, an interior designer from Yabby, states: “Appliance garages are great; these mini hiding cabinets store your toaster or kettle discreetly yet conveniently within reach. Many folks errantly display all their gadgets openly, even though doing so isn’t necessary.”
To ensure you have sufficient room in your “appliance garage,” evaluate which devices merit a spot inside. Typically, this area should be reserved for items used frequently every day such as a toaster or electric kettle. Furthermore, many individuals opt to transform their appliance garage into a dedicated coffee corner. This allows them to store their coffee maker along with related tools like grinders and containers holding coffee beans within easy reach, only stowing these away once they’re done using them.
Optimize Cabinet Door Storage
We’ve previously discussed utilizing underused vertical spaces like walls and backsplashes in your kitchen, yet there’s another clever storage solution lurking within your cabinets. As Seymen Usta points out, “Adding hanging organizers inside your cabinet doors can be a fantastic method to keep items such as spices, measuring utensils, or cleaning products off your counters and away from drawers.” Moreover, positioning these organizers strategically—like placing your spice containers and oils near the stove area—is even more convenient since everything remains easily accessible without encroaching on valuable countertop real estate.
You might consider utilizing the cabinet door beneath your kitchen sink to organize the soap, sponges, and brushes typically found scattered across the countertops. As an illustration, Ria Safford recommends fitting a sponge holder since these fit nicely on the inner side of the under-sink cabinet space for keeping all your cleaning essentials handy. This way, you avoid having a messy area surrounding your sink!
Invest in a Movable Kitchen Trolley
Adding more cabinets or a kitchen island might be an aspiration, but for now, consider increasing your storage space and providing extra horizontal work surfaces through alternative means in your kitchen.
a rolling kitchen cart serves as an excellent substitute for a kitchen island, ideal for compact areas
Although initially pricier compared to the alternatives listed here, the kitchen roll cart proves to be highly worthwhile. As noted by Seymen Usta, “It functions both as storage and extra workspace, offering a flexible space for tasks like cutting, assembling dishes, or dining.” These carts are available in numerous designs, allowing you to choose one that suits your preferences and decor. Stainless steel models are quite trendy; however, wooden versions—paintable to complement your cabinets—are equally appealing choices.
A lot of these carts feature shelves or drawers, allowing you to stow away countertop messes — effectively increasing their storage capacity twofold. An additional advantage of kitchen carts is that many include wheels. As Lior Kahana points out, this makes it an easily movable prep area that can be pushed aside when not needed. Should extra preparation space not be what you’re after, consider using these mobile units to tuck away items such as microwaves, blenders, slow cookers, or coffee makers, keeping them off your counters.
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