Use Bookends To Clear Kitchen Clutter With This Functional Decor Tip

Bookends can serve more purposes than just displaying your favorite novels. While their original use was to store books vertically to avoid the covers becoming warped, over time these pieces have transitioned from just functional to useful and decorative accents. Still serving their original purpose to keep literature in good condition, bookends can be used for a myriad of other purposes, too. One really inventive way to incorporate your vintage, thrifted, or brand new pieces is to de-clutter your kitchen with them! Rather than storing books, why not use bookends to hold up your chopping boards so they are out of the way and look stylized, too?

Your kitchen can be a magnet for clutter, even if you constantly stay on top of organizing and cleaning. With so many different items needed to prep, cook, eat, and simply exist, it can be tricky to keep everything tidy and in a designated "home." Chopping boards are a necessary part of your cooking routine, but sometimes these can take up much needed counter space and don't always fit in your cabinets, drawers, or pantry. Not only that, but keeping them within easy access ensures a smooth prep process, but where do you store them so they aren't in the way?

The simple answer is to prop them up vertically and sandwich them between your decorative bookends. Displaying your cutting boards is a stylish kitchen decor trick, and this way you can keep several together, or just place your main chopping board between these useful pieces to keep it nearby but taking up less space. The fun part of this clever hack is how creative you can get. First, find your bookends. These can be unused sets you already own, or you can head to your nearest thrift store to seek some out. You can even DIY your own bookends on a budget with clever items around the house. If you come across one half of a bookend set and can't find the matching piece, buy just the one and use it to hold your cutting board up against an empty wall along your countertops. You can also mix and match different pieces that have similar colors or themes.

Once you have your bookends, find a place where you can keep them along with your chopping boards. Ensure you find pieces that will hold these up, as some boards are thicker or taller and will need more leverage and support. Place each board on its edges and then push your bookends in to keep everything upright vertically. This trick looks great on an island or in the corner of your counters so the bookends are visible but out of the way.

While this hack is certainly easy with cutting boards, there is other kitchen clutter you can organize with spare or unused bookends. Tea towels, napkins, plates, and even coasters and cookbooks would all work between these pieces. Fold up towels into squares and place them on their "edges" then press the bookends together, being careful not to squeeze the fabric together too much. You should still be able to see the pattern, colors, or print on the fabric, and this goes for napkins as well.

Plates might be a little trickier, but it can still work if you have the correct bookends. They should be tall enough to hold your dishes so they don't topple, and if you can find the sets that have the bases which turn inwards, this might add extra support and stability for plates. Place this setup on your island, countertop, or table during parties for a spin on "serve yourself" style eating! Elevate your bookend display by adding everything to a tray to create a tableau area, a clever hack Joanna Gaines uses to style kitchen counters and keep clutter compartmentalized. Incorporate a complementary candle, frame, or knick-knack in similar colors or materials to turn the whole area into a unique and stylish display.