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"You're house
is always so clean," a neighbor told me one afternoon after she
stopped by to see the new tile backsplash we had installed earlier
that week.
It's an
illusion, I said to myself, certain that our clutter-free
counters had led to her to that conclusion.
If you would
also like the "illusion" of a clean home, here are three questions
to ask when clearing your counters of clutter.
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How often
is it used?
For years,
our counters were cluttered with a wine rack, canister set, coffee mugs
and other items we rarely used. It seems silly now to think of
how many times I wiped around items that were not worthy of
taking up precious counter space. If you too are tired of the
clutter, follow this rule when deciding which items are
counter-worthy:
Give
what's used a lot a premier spot.
Tuck away what's not used every day.
To
illustrate, the photo below shows how a napkin holder and hanging silverware set get a choice
spot on the end of the counter that is closest to our kitchen
table. For a similar
hanging flatware set, visit Amazon.com.
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Where is
the best place to store it?
When it's
not possible to store an item in a cupboard or pantry, consider
giving it a lift by hanging the product under a kitchen cabinet. This
strategy worked well in our first home to elevate paper towels,
a television and our telephone answering machine. (See photo
below.)
For more
great ways to get hung up on clutter, click on the links below.
Napkin Holder
Coffee Filters
Wooden Cookbook Holder
Acrylic Cookbook Holder
Can Opener
Wine and Stemware
Pullout Cutting Board
Drop Down Knife Storage
Hideaway Organizing Drawer
Wall Mount Soap Dispenser (More Expensive
Model)
Wall Mount Soap Dispenser (Less Expensive
Model)
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Can
counter-worthy items double as decor?
I used to
think items were either useful or beautiful. The problem
with this either/or mentality was that it added clutter to our countertops as I
interspersed decorative items
with essential appliances.
After
moving into our new home last July, I resolved
to decorate with the necessary rather than the ancillary. My
first purchase was a set of bowls that store fresh fruit and add a splash of color to
our kitchen. Next, I replaced our worn out toaster, blender, and
coffee maker
with new appliances that matched the counter stools and kitchen
chairs.
For
a final touch, I
placed two glass vases on each side of our stove to store
utensils and added a blue pot that looks pretty and serves a
purpose.
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