Paper
Mail, newspapers, bills, child’s drawings and so on. I don’t think there is a lived-in house where people haven’t used the countertop as an office desk at least once. I know, it comes in handy to leave that piece of paper there so you can easily come back to it later.
I also know that there isn’t just one piece of paper but several. So let’s say you just came home from work and it’s dinner time. You have to make some space in order to cook so you bring all your papers together, but you leave them on the countertop.
You don’t mind having them there since the area is pretty much uncluttered. However, there is a great chance for your papers to get wet, or worse, to get stained while you cook. If you’re like me, maybe organizing them isn’t your thing so here’s my advice.
Set aside a dedicated shelf where you can toss all these papers until you have some time for organizing them.
need info
Great article – really appreciated as I’m a neat freak!
THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST ARTICLES I’VE READ IN A LONG TIME. LEARNED SO MUCH FROM IT. THANK YOU.
This article was pretty much common sense… only thing In my opinion I don’t agree with is a knife block is something 90% of people who cook at home use so it’s heavy and having to lift back and forth would be stupid so there is no reason not to keep it on your counter.
I agree with the idea that knives need to be handy. The traditional knife block can add to contamination so instead of taking up counter space and possibly adding a chance of contamination I use a 12 inch magnetic strip attached to the wall above the counter area where I would use my knives the most and keep all my knives on that strip. On the opposite side of the kitchen where I’d be using steak knives or splitting bagels or english muffins I have another magnetic strip with those particular knives. Knives are pulled, used, cleaned then replaced where they are not in the way but visible and quickly attainable. The full knife is visible so no quessing which handle is to what blade if they had been stored in a block.
Sorry.
If the goal is to have a magazine “photo shoot ready” countertop, then just take everything away.
For my real life, yes—-I do use my toaster, knives, coffee maker and a cutting board daily.
That is why I have a kitchen counter layout to accommodate them.
Still plenty of room for what needs to be accomplished.
Taking those things in and out of cupboards daily would be exhausting.
Sure, keep the blender or waffle maker or slow cooker or other gadget not used daily (or even weekly) out of sight.
Common sense.
One size will not fit all.
There is a balance to convenience, functionality and the decorator optic.
Not advocating “clutter”, but the kitchen is a functional area
Mary has said it correctly.
The kitchen is a WORK area. The tools & supplies need to be conveniently near but not in your way. Safety first.
I am with Mary too because much on my counter is used daily or 5x weekly. Wish there was a storage solution that allows for daily kitchen uses yet decluttered without having to put in cabinets for those with problems with back and hands. Had surgeries on both hands and back. I even had kitchen remodeled and ended up with less space. Yet my kitchen is rather small and I do use some of the suggestions but need more affordable options please.
No enough cabinet storage space for all my appliances so on t he corner cabinet they will stay!