15 Stylish Kitchen Countertop Decor Ideas That Avoid Clutter

Your kitchen can be one of the most hectic areas in your home. Not only is it charged with meal preparation, but its often the center of the house and where people like to gather. Things tend to accumulate in the space, whether you want them to or not. The secret to clean and clutter-free counters may seem ever elusive, but there are some definite strategies that you can use to keep your countertops looking well-organized, making cleaning and cooking far easier. The key is finding a balance between functional and decorative objects by carefully curating what stays out on your counters and what gets put away. 

Luckily, we've found 16 different ways you can achieve this in. These ideas can help you streamline your kitchen and maximize the remaining elements you do have for usefulness and beauty. They can also prevent the kitchen from looking too sterile or boring. By adding some things and taking others away, you can create a personalized space that feels collected and calm. 

Anything you can do to get objects up and off your counter will go a long way toward a neat presentation. Hanging baskets are perfect for storing fruit and root vegetables above the counter instead of on it. You can also suspend collapsible hanging baskets from the ceiling above your counter for additional storage or use mesh bags on hooks to store items like onions, garlic, and potatoes. Keeping produce out in the open not only allows you to easily restock, but makes it easy to grab a healthy option when looking for a snack. 

If you have a lot of canisters and objects that need to remain on your counters, a great idea is to corral them inside some sort of platform like a tray, lazy Susan, or large charger plate. This will visually group the items together and create a tableaux that draws focus and allows the eyes to rest in the open space around them. This tactic is also good for keeping track of small objects that get easily lost and for preventing items like shakers and sugar bowls from getting knocked over or spilled. 

Towel bars attached to the wall above the counter are not just good for holding towels, but with the help of s-hooks and hanging baskets, they're also perfect for storing utensils, décor, jars, canisters, and shakers. Use the bar to hang pot holders, trivets, or hanging bins that can hold everything from herbs to silverware. Keeping things aloft rather than on the surface of the counter makes it far easier to clean with a wide open space. You can also use the bars to hold items like coffee mugs, strainers, measuring spoons and cups.

Rather than adding traditional art to the walls above and around your counters, consider the impact of visually appealing tea towels and other linens that add pattern, texture, and color to the space. Hang coordinated towels or pot holders on individual towel hooks or a stylish wood rack. This allows the towels to dry more readily than leaving them on the counter and makes them easier to grab when you need them. You can also use the hooks as a place to store pretty shopping totes or aprons.

Baskets are one of the most functional means of storage that grant an uncluttered look to your counters, housing everything from produce to silverware. To hide things that you don't want to be seen, including phone chargers, remotes, extra candles, and napkins, add a cute picnic basket on the counter. Use lidded baskets to hide unattractive packaging from the store or random things like leashes, pet treats, and batteries that usually get left on the counter. The baskets also add a bit of texture and natural materials to the decor. 

A great extra space for storage most people don't think about is the sides or front of their fridge. Use magnetic spice holders that sit flush against the side of the appliance instead of jars or vials on the counter. Or purchase an organizer rack or magnet shelf that can adhere to the side to hold items like spices, oils, and small jars. You can even purchase magnet hooks that allow you to hang pans, towels, and utensils directly on the fridge if you lack the requisite wall space. 

Not just for the garage or craft room, a pegboard can be invaluable for holding items in your kitchen securely. Use a pegboard on your kitchen wall to store utensils, cutting boards, and pans. You can also purchase bins, canisters, and baskets that hook onto the peg board hooks that can hold smaller objects like tea strainers, sponges, and dish brushes that will maximize your kitchen wall storage. Pegboards can be bought cheaply at hardware stores, craft stores, and the Dollar Tree in many different colors, shapes, sizes, and configurations.