Keep Kitchen Counters Clutter-Free With 14 Decorative Solutions

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Maintaining a clutter-free, photo-ready kitchen can be a struggle. The heart of the home is a busy space, and no matter how hard you try, clutter tends to accumulate, especially on the counters. You may drop your keys on the island at the end of the day, or leave common cooking ingredients out near the stove for convenience. Instead of always trying to fit these things into cabinets and drawers, there are several decorative solutions that either conceal your kitchen odds and ends or display them as decor right out in the open. 

There are many tricks to decluttering your kitchen and keeping it organized. One of these is to give each item a designated home in a convenient spot. From baskets and boxes to trays and shelves, these solutions do just that. Plus, they are versatile and can be tweaked to fit your style and the dimensions of your space. Many of the products even do double-duty, adding character to your kitchen while also keeping your counters neat and organized. 

Magnetic accessories can help you move clutter off the countertop and take advantage of often underutilized space on the side of appliances. Since they're magnetic, these accessories are damage-free and renter-friendly too. Amazon and other sites are full of shelves and racks of various sizes that can hold decor items like small plants, photo frames, and cookbooks, to get them off the counter but keep them visible.

Of course, magnetic kitchen shelves are functional first, but you can dress them up to be decorative. For example, you can find simple spice shelves, like the HuggieGems Magnetic Spice Storage Racks, that come in a variety of colors. The Ofiray-Home Magnetic Shelf has a spice shelf on top and a produce basket below, if you also want to get the fruit bowl off the counter. Or, for a more organizer-style rack, the Yamazaki Home Tosca Magnetic Kitchen Storage Rack has a combination of shelves, rods, and hooks to tidy a variety of items. To make these accessories look decorative, mix in items like plants or photos. Or, use small baskets and jars to do double-duty, working as storage and utilitarian decorations. 

A kitchen rail is useful for storage and also adds a lot of character. Popular in rustic and farmhouse homes, it gives kitchens a lived-in look and is a quaint alternative to open shelving. If you only plan to hang lightweight items, it's even possible to add one using adhesive strips, so it can be a renter-friendly option too. In terms of reducing clutter, this is another solution that takes advantage of vertical space, using the area on an empty wall or between countertops and cabinets. You can add plenty of accessories for organizing and hiding small clutter. Hooks and baskets let you hang various items, from cooking utensils to potted herbs and plants. Any nice-looking kitchen item, however utilitarian, can be decorative when displayed this way. Copper pots and pans are a popular example. 

Wall-mount rails come in many styles and finishes, so you can find one that enhances your kitchen, whether that's a chrome rail for a modern scullery or an antique brass one for a traditional space. IKEA has excellent budget-friendly choices, like the HULTARP Rail for just $6. If you'd like to hang larger items, look for more substantial products in larger sizes, like this OROPY Pot Bar Rack, which is a thick industrial-style rail.

A decorative storage box is both functional and aesthetic. It's the perfect hiding spot for your small daily clutter, keeping it easily accessible on your counter, but out of sight. It can easily hide pens, tea bags, receipts, charger cables, and much more. If your clutter usually consists of paperwork, a flat filing box is an excellent solution. Either way, opt for a lidded box since an open one just doesn't look as neat.

You can find decorative boxes for all sorts of interior decor styles. Thrifting one is a fun and eco-friendly option, or you can try to make your own nifty storage solution out of a cardboard box. Or, of course, there are lots of options you can shop, like the La Jolie Muse Fluted Cardboard Storage Baskets and Hipiwe Flat Woven Wicker Storage Bins, which both have rustic charm. For a sleeker design, look for options like DreamsEden's Metal Storage Box.

For larger clutter (whether in size or amount), a countertop cabinet has more space to store your stuff. And a small one with shelves can offer more organization while allowing you to see items better. Plus, it can easily be renter-friendly since it's just placed on the counter. This option looks more substantial and is a good choice if you want a permanent home for certain clutter, unlike a box that you may move around. 

Luckily, there are lots of options available to fit your kitchen's style. The Collective Home Mini Countertop Cabinet has a farmhouse feel that's more traditional. Or, you can consider the sleeker HollyHOME Small Bamboo Kitchen Pantry Sideboard for something more modern. If you want more storage space and have an area of countertop without top cabinets, you can even add a hutch. A piece like Mopio's Blake Storage Cabinet can be set up on the counter to expand your kitchen storage and add to the room's vibe.

A produce bowl can take up a good chunk of the counter. However, a fruit and veggie hammock is a fun alternative. It gets produce off the countertop and has a relaxed charm to it that can suit boho and rustic home styles. Plus, in a room often full of hard materials, a macrame or cord fruit hammock can add just a little bit of cozy texture.

These products aren't too expensive, so this is an affordable clutter-busting idea. In slightly different styles, but both under $20, you can check out the khaki Ycsst Fruit Hammock or the more spacious Prodyne Under Cabinet Veggie Hammock. Both are airy and minimalist, doing away with the bulk of a produce bowl.

Countertop appliances are a frustrating clutter source for those who want an ultra-minimalist kitchen. However, an appliance garage is a purpose-built spot to hide these small kitchen tools. It tucks them away while also keeping them within easier reach compared to a traditional cabinet or drawer. Essentially, they're just a type of cabinet at counter-height that can help reduce visual clutter. 

There are many ways to implement an appliance garage for less mess. Sizes range greatly, and you can choose from various door styles too, with roll-up doors and vertical lift cabinet doors as two popular choices. While many people integrate these into their cabinet systems, there are ways to install a no-demo, no-reno appliance garage on a tight budget. A simple curtain can be hung to hide an area of the countertop. Or if you're up for a DIY, a product like the Omega National Straight Appliance Garage can be stained or painted to match your existing cabinets and nestled into an area where you have space.

A household command center is a DIY-friendly essential in busy homes. With a smart design, you can use it to clear kitchen counter junk like paperwork and keys. Now, there are plenty of command center ideas that use a cork board or magnetic white board. Those are excellent, functional options. But to inject even more style, consider this linen board project. By covering the cork with fabric, you get all the utility of a bulletin board, but with an elevated look.

Start with a framed base like this Decorative Hanging Cork Board. Cover the cork with linen, and add hooks for hanging keys, jewelry, and other things that often end up tossed onto your counter. Opt for small screw-in ones like the Goiio ½-inch Ceiling Hooks if you want to mount them directly into the frame. Or, the Picture Hang Solutions Push Pin Hooks are an alternative option that you can pin into the board surface for light-duty hanging.

With the variety of devices that need their batteries topped up (often daily), charging clutter is unavoidable in most homes. The tangle of cords can be a major eyesore on kitchen counters, but rattan boxes and baskets are an excellent solution to conceal the mess. This DIYer shows how you can make a small cut in the back of a rattan box to create a secret charging area. If you don't want to cut into a storage box or you have larger electronics to hide, you can use a bigger wicker basket instead. 

The Sujun Handwoven Boho Rattan Display Boxes are a good pair for this project. Or, if you want a larger basket (and don't want to make cord holes) the Onlytak Large Wicker Storage Basket is an option to consider. It's also possible to find baskets purpose-made for this task. The Cantalop Cable Management Box has a large slit on each side for feeding cords through, which improves convenience but is slightly less effective at completely hiding the clutter.

Whether used to store cookies or sugar, decorative jars are already a mainstay in the kitchen. You can repurpose cookie jars and more to store clutter instead. Just choose an option that isn't see-through and that is large enough for what you want to hide. While most jars are intended for dry pantry goods and spices, you can really put anything you want in them, from charging cables to loose change. Decorative, matching spice jars can also turn a messy countertop spice rack into an eye-catching decor feature. 

If you'd like to go with a vintage look, the Portmeirion Botanic Garden 4.5-Inch Spice Jars have a cozy design and wide openings that make storing small items possible. If you'd like a more modern vibe, create a set of Sweejar Kitchen Canisters in the sizes and colors you need. For bigger items, the Blue Donuts Vintage Cookie Jar is a metal tin that's spacious and durable enough to hold miscellaneous kitchen utensils instead of cookies. 

Another typical countertop item you can repurpose is the humble bread box. If your counter ends up covered in a bunch of everyday staples, a bread box can hide them with easy access. It's a convenient solution for items like vitamin bottles, meds, and foods you tend to enjoy often. Plus, bread boxes come in several styles and are most often made of classic wood or sleek metal, so you can find one that looks perfectly quaint on your counter.

For a rustic vibe, look for a bread box with a roll-top door like the RoyalHouse Natural Bamboo Roll Top Bread Box. If you have a contemporary kitchen, you might prefer a modern stainless steel bread box, like the Oggi Steel Roll Top Bread Box. However, if maximizing storage space is your goal, the Baie Maison Extra Large White Farmhouse Bread Box is a good choice that's more like a large bin, so you can pile your clutter inside and guests will be none the wiser.

Floating shelves are popular in many kitchens. You might be thinking that displaying clutter on open shelving doesn't solve the issue. However, open shelving is a good spot for placing any nice-looking appliances and utensils that crowd your counter. Plus, eye-pleasing items like a pretty teapot, a stack of stylish serving bowls, or a cute utensil holder can double as decor. You can also place more attractive cabinet items (like wine glasses) on open shelving, clearing up interior space to hide less appealing clutter. Open shelves keep these items within easy reach and can give your kitchen more character than shelving adorned exclusively with decor. 

Plenty of floating shelf options exist for all budgets and styles, but if you're looking for one with extra utility, the Love-Kankei Floating Shelf has a line of useful hooks along the bottom. If you have more space and would like a more modern look, Bestier's Industrial Pipe Shelf has two tiers and comes in sleek black marble. It's also possible to DIY stunning floating shelves that are strong enough to hold kitchen supplies if you want to take on a new project. 

Some level of countertop clutter is often inevitable. After all, it's a home kitchen, not a stage set. If there are items that you use all the time, it's not really worth corralling them into a box or cabinet, just to take them out again in a little bit. Instead, you can place these items on a tray or board. The aesthetic addition lowers the visual weight of clutter and makes it look more styled, even if it doesn't actually hide anything away.

Your salt and pepper shakers or that bottle of cooking oil can find a stylish countertop home on an extra cutting board or a thrifted tray. Or, just like other kitchen decor items, if you want to buy new, there are options in all sorts of styles. Sleek, modern, and crafted from concrete, the MyGift Concrete Round Tray suits minimalist kitchens fabulously. For a more rustic touch, the raised farmhouse-style Zoocatia Wood Tray Pedestal Stand is an option to consider.

Vases and planters aren't just for flowers. Just like some of the other ideas on this list, you can repurpose these vessels for storage. Depending on the size, you can hide all sorts of random clutter in them. An opaque option with a wide opening is best-suited for this job. In this example, a vase becomes a makeshift tissue box that's a lot more stylish than the original cardboard one. Vases are also excellent for holding small odds and ends that end up on the kitchen counter in passing, like pens, jewelry, lip balms, and car keys.

As expected, decorative vases and planters come in all sorts of designs and materials. You can repurpose a woven plant basket, like this decorative Oradrem Cotton Rope Pot. Another option is to grab a cheap IKEA planter on your next run, like the highly-rated and pleasantly plain GRADVIS Plant Pot. Or, you can invest in more exclusive vases and planters that resemble a work of modern art, like the Kaitnax Silver Ceramic Vase, resembling a metallic crinkled paper bag, fashioned into a vase. 

When all else fails, get a junk basket. After all, sometimes you can try all sorts of organization methods or labeled bins and jars, but what you really need is a big basket to slide countertop junk into. This video shows this idea in action, and it instantly upgrades the space. Plus, baskets can be larger and taller than decorative boxes, so they'll better conceal things like tall jars, large bulk supplement bottles, and miscellaneous kitchen gadgets.

Baskets with a lid will hide clutter best, and the WHW Whole House Worlds Seagrass Basket Boxes is a stylish choice. Otherwise, you can go with a classic rectangular basket, such as the StorageWorks Large Rectangular Wicker Basket, that can be tucked against the backsplash. However, if you'd like to sort items, a basket with dividers, like myHomeBody's Wicker Basket With 3 Compartments, can be helpful.