The Budget-Friendly IKEA Hack That Keeps Kitchen Counters Clutter-Free In Style

It seems that kitchen countertops have a sort of magnetic force that constantly attracts a variety of countertop items, including everything from coffee pods and Stevia packets to recipe cards and plastic utensils. And if you're sharing the space with other household members, your countertops may look like a bit of a pantry war zone on any given day. But nothing says "adulting" like nice, clean, organized kitchen countertops, which you can achieve with IKEA's Elloven monitor stand with drawer. This space-saving stand measures 18 ½ inches wide, 10 ¼ inches deep, and 4 inches high and can hold a maximum of 44 pounds. You can store countertop essentials both on top of the stand, such as a coffee machine, and within the convenient compartment drawer beneath it, allowing you to finally say goodbye to cluttered kitchen countertops in a matter of minutes.

And just like that, you can break the spell of chaotic counters while also incorporating a stylish countertop piece in your kitchen for only $30. Need a place to keep those Keurig K-Cups? No problem. Looking for a more organized way to house your daily go-to utensils, appliance manuals, and phone chargers? Done! The separators inside the stand's drawer are perfect for keeping those everyday staples neatly tucked away for when you need them. You can also house those random junk drawer items that tend to accumulate on the countertops, such as phone or earbud chargers, batteries, and writing utensils. 

Before ordering the stand, measure your countertops to ensure you have enough available space; it'll also help you visualize its ideal location. Next, you'll want to clear some space on your countertop by removing everything that may be contributing to its disorganization, such as expired coupons, ketchup packets, and miscellaneous items without a designated home. Next, empty your junk drawer of essentials that may be a better fit for the stand's drawer; this may include twist ties, paper clips, and sticky notes. 

Place your stand on the countertop. Then, use it as a coffee station for storing your Keurig, daily coffee mugs, K-cups, and sugar packet holders. Now, gather any loose items commonly found on your countertops, such as utensils, seasoning packets, and straws, and place them in the stand's drawer; be sure to separate them by item type or usage frequency first. It may also be helpful to add some mini storage containers inside the separators for added organization of small, loose items (such as thumbtacks). 

For convenience, place the most commonly used items or larger items in the front center or side separators of the drawer. This will make them easy to access, so you won't have to reach back into the drawer as often. This stand is undoubtedly one of those popular IKEA products that are well-loved by DIYers, and for good reason. And of course, you can always add a personal touch to the kitchen stand by adding decorative vines, stenciled quotes or names, or repainting the top portion of the stand so that it naturally flows with your kitchen's aesthetic.