31 Days to a Clutter Free Life: Kitchen Counters (Day 10)

Day 10: Kitchen Counters

Like the dining table, the ample flat surface area provided by kitchen counters is often a catch-all for, well, everything—mail, an endless stream of school papers, groceries, appliances, dishes that need to be put away, fruit bowls, the butter dish, salt and pepper shakers, loaves of bread, recycling……you name it. If it comes in the kitchen, it will most likely end up on the counter.

The problem with this is that cluttered counters do not a happy kitchen make! It is difficult and frustrating to try to cook and work on counters full of things that don’t belong.

The trick to tackling this easily cluttered space will be to establish a clear and vigilant no-clutter policy by removing everything but the barest essentials, and then creating a collection zone for the items that find their way in so that they can be quickly removed.

 Objective: Clear and functional kitchen counters that make cooking and working in the kitchen a pleasure instead of a chore.

Assess the current situation: How are your counters used right now? What are your biggest clutter struggles on the counters? What would you like to change?

Assignment:

 1. Remove and put away any items that belong in other rooms. If necessary, use a basket to collect items, then distribute them to their proper homes.

2. Clear and de-clutter counters. Remove all items that are not absolutely critical, using the following criteria.

 Keep only the appliances or other items that:

• You use more than three times a week
• Are in good working order

 Do not keep items that:

• You don’t use
• You don’t like
• You feel obligated to keep because they were expensive
• You feel obligated to keep because they were a gift
• Are constantly in your way

 3. Create new storage space. You will need to create additional storage options for any appliances or other counter items that you still want to keep but don’t use very often.

 4. Toss unwanted items, or donate them to a local thrift shop if appropriate. Consider selling any expensive items that may be valuable on Craigslist or Facebook.

 

1. A Kitchen Catered to You (Ikea.com)

2. Dish Drawer For Snappy Table Setting (BHG.com)

3. Ditch the Bulky Boxes & Save Space At the Same Time (HGTV.com)

4. Clutter Free Countertops (RealSimple.com)

5. Form & Function- Kitchen Island & Storage Area (Ikea.com)