Countertops are meant to be handy surfaces where we can keep things conveniently within reach, but they also make for pesky clutter collectors. It’s only natural that a lot of us fill up our counters with items (blame busy schedules or simply having too much stuff). But if you walk into someone’s gorgeous home and they have clear countertops, they’ve learned a thing or two you may want to pick up as well.
‘One thing I notice in homes that feel polished and elevated is that the counters aren’t acting as storage,’ says professional organiser Michelle Urban of The Organised House. ‘Beautiful homes still have mail, medications, chargers, paperwork, water bottles, and all the same everyday items everyone else has—they just have designated spots for those things somewhere else.’
‘I’ve found that homeowners and renters who maintain beautiful spaces tend to think of their counters as valuable working surfaces rather than storage areas,’ says Lauren Saltman, professional organiser and owner of Living. Simplified.
If you’d like to clear your countertops and join the ranks of these beautiful homes, here are the items you should be stashing away.
Pieces of post 
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Urban says piles of post and stacks of paper can be big offenders. ‘Paper has a way of multiplying,’ she says. ‘The most functional homes have a dedicated landing zone and a system for incoming paper rather than allowing it to collect on kitchen counters.’
Reusable bags
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If you walk in from the store, empty your shopping bags and reusable totes, and leave them out on the counter, consider another place for them.
Saltman says, ‘These tend to pile up and make a space feel disorganised. Reusable shopping bags can be stored in a basket, closet, mudroom, or vehicle. I usually find a space in the mudroom for shopping bags to live just after they have been used and then my clients bring them back to the car the next time they leave the house. This way, when you are out and about during the day, you will always be sure to have reusable shopping bags with you.’
Small appliances 
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You may be guilty of having too many small appliances on your counter. ‘Most people only use a handful of appliances regularly, yet the counters become home to every gadget they’ve ever purchased,’ Urban says. ‘Freeing up even a few feet of counter space can dramatically change how a kitchen feels and functions.’
That’s why it’s best to find space in your cabinets for these appliances or install an “appliance garage” in your kitchen.
Drop zones 
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You may scatter random drop-zone items on your counters, except, they’re not in a designated drop zone. Saltman says this can include keys, sunglasses, charging cables, and loose change.
‘Everyday essentials like keys and sunglasses work well in a dedicated entryway station, drawer organiser, or small catch-all near the entry door,’ Saltman says. ‘Having a small, decorative tray on a table nearby is a great place to hold keys, cords, and loose change.’
Visible cables 
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‘Even when an appliance needs to stay on the counter, the cord doesn’t need to take up counter space,’ Urban says. ‘One of the quickest ways to make a counter feel cluttered is a tangle of visible cords. Simple cord clips, cord wraps, or cable management solutions can make a huge difference.’
Expired items 
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Many of us tend to strew products all over our bathroom vanity counters. And those expired products and duplicates can take up room in a hurry.
Saltman advises, ‘Toiletries and personal care products should be stored in drawers, cabinets, or bins keeping only daily-use items accessible if needed. Another place for a decorative tray is next to your bathroom sink. Corral the beauty items you use daily onto the tray. The items you use once a week or once-in-a-while can be stored in a cabinet or a drawer nearby.’
Charging stations
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Nowadays, it’s pretty common to have a charging station, or multiple charging stations, on a countertop, but this can make things look messy.
‘Phones, chargers, tablets, earbuds, and random cables often migrate to the kitchen because it’s a central location,’ Urban says. ‘The homes that stay looking tidy typically have a dedicated charging station somewhere other than the main countertop.’
Excessive decor 
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Thoughtful decor is amazing in a home (and this is especially true of maximalist homes), but sometimes, you don’t need all that decor on your counter. Urban calls this ‘decor that’s there to simply fill space.’
She says, ‘Beautiful homes don’t necessarily have more decor—they’re often more edited. A counter crowded with signs, faux greenery, canisters, trays, and decorative objects can feel just as cluttered as a pile of paperwork. The most inviting spaces leave room for the eye to rest.’