If you can’t remember what color your countertops are, you’re not alone. From backpacks to boxes and everything in between, my counter is a magnet for all clutter. Here are some awesome tips for clearing counter clutter and most importantly, keeping them clear!
1. Assess your space
- I love this quote from Kathryn, “Think of your home as real estate. Piles form when the best storage is reserved for things you don’t use often.” This is so me. Right next to our kitchen counter I have a great buffet space and these drawers that are just filled with junk because I haven’t really gone through them.
2. Empty and purge
- This was a pretty quick process because we don’t use this stuff. It feels so good to vacuum an empty drawer. I did the same thing with the rest of the drawers…except for the one we couldn’t open. This process was so addictive I actually organized the cabinets underneath as well.
3. Create homes
- Create homes based on the frequency of use. A lot of stuff was on the counter because we used it all the time. I moved that to the very first drawer, so now it’s a functional junk drawer. The kids’ artwork is another everyday issue. I filed away all these warranties I have that I rarely need and created a drawer where I could just pop in the good artwork and then go through it at the end of the school year. It’s so much easier and such a better use of that space. Tess’ stuff was kind of everywhere. Some of it was in a basket so I created this awesome drawer filled with her supplies. I kind of feel like McGyver now when I change her diaper. We then continued this process with all the items on the counter.
4. Catch-all basket
- Not everything has an obvious place, so we created a catch-all basket especially for projects in flux. My husband’s always saying that What’s Up Moms is the reason our counters are cluttered and its because we have so many products and stuff for episodes I’m currently working on that don’t really have a home. So I found a basket I loved that I’ll keep nearby.
5. Make it pretty
- These are for the things you do need on your counter. For example, hand sanitizer you can put in a nice dispenser. Same with tissues, a shadowbox for coins, a nice acrylic tray for unread mail and a big sign that reads “Do Not Put Anything Else On Me!!!! I’m kidding about that last part…but not really.
I hope this gives you a few ideas. Thank you, Kathryn, for being amazing as usual with all your fantastic tips – no matter the space!
