6 Things Minimalists Never Keep on the Kitchen Counter, According to Pro Organizers

While professional organizers are all about efficiency, they also know that not every jar and gadget needs to be stored on the kitchen counter at all times. If you’re wondering how to style your kitchen so it looks a bit more minimal, you’re definitely going to want to streamline those countertops and only keep the essentials stored there.

Below, three experts share six types of items that minimalists would never keep on the kitchen countertop—and you can aim to follow suit!

Too Many Decorative Canisters

Staying organized in the kitchen by decanting items into accessible jars is great, but minimalists know that they do not need to keep all of their canisters of ingredients out in the open, Angela Nguyen, the founder of Bring It Home Style, explains.

“A whole lineup of jars for flour, sugar, and coffee just adds visual clutter,” she says.

Instead, keep these items in the pantry to keep counters open, the organizer suggests.

Want more cleaning and organizing tips? Sign up for our free daily newsletter for the latest hacks, expert advice, and more!

A Knife Block

Say goodbye to that chunky knife block for good. Maria Bear, the founder of The Baer Minimalist, has been happy with her decision to add a drawer insert for knives into her drawers in lieu of keeping a knife block on the counter.

She did have to pare down her collection in the process, but she appreciates the open counter space this swap has provided.

Small Appliances

If you brew coffee multiple times a day, by all means, keep your espresso machine within reach. Otherwise, though, Nguyen recommends storing away blenders, toasters, and coffee makers to create a cleaner, more streamlined kitchen.

If you really can get into the habit of taking out and putting away your small appliances, do it—you may have no trouble falling into this routine. Baer shares that she stores all of her appliances, even the ones she uses daily, in the pantry.

“It just feels cleaner and lighter that way,” she says.

Piles of Paper

Your kitchen is not a drop zone for anything and everything, and therefore, you should not make a habit of cluttering up your countertops with papers galore.

“As paper and mail comes in, deal with it right away,” Dana Reder, the founder of Winnow & Bloom, says.

Baer recommends immediately recycling or throwing away anything you can and filing what you do need to hold onto. She advises keeping papers you need to return to later in the home office and recommends still going through them within a week’s time.

Baer has established a system for dealing with her kids’ artwork as well, noting that her young children return home each day with pieces from school. Each evening, she determines what will go into recycling and what she will store, ensuring that the kitchen counters never become victim to a huge pileup of papers.

“I keep a separate paper recycling bin in the garage that fills up for a month or two at a time,” Baer says. “That way if someone comes asking about a particular piece, I can quickly say, ‘Oh, I’ve got it right here!'”

Tech Items

Reder acknowledges that many people sit at the kitchen counter or island to work and catch up on email, but she states the importance of clearing laptops, iPads, and the like out of the space when work time wraps up.

“It is essential to pack these away so that you can unwind and unplug from the day,” she says.

Plus, you don’t want to run the risk of your electronics getting spilled on or having cords get tangled up as you dart around the space during meal prep.

Cleaning Supplies

It’s good to keep cleaning supplies on hand in the kitchen so that you can quickly deal with any accidents, but they should be stored out of sight, not on the countertops, Reder explains. This is the most sanitary approach and also prevents clutter, she shares, noting that a bin or lazy Susan placed under the sink is an excellent solution.