The Nifty IKEA Solution That Keeps Paper Towels And Utensils Off The Counters And Tidy

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Sometimes kitchen countertops can take on the job of a junk drawer. One day, they're clean and neat, with only a few items lining them, such as small appliances or coffee mugs. Then, before you know it, they're riddled with everything from runaway paper towels and random utensils to kitchen shears and rogue measuring spoons. The truth is, there may be several things in your kitchen contributing to the clutter. Luckily, IKEA is serving up genius countertop solutions that don't involve building a cabinet from scratch. So, if you're at the point where you're almost forgetting what the countertops look like, consider purchasing a few items from IKEA's Hultarp collection, including a mountable rail, a container, and a paper towel holder. They'll offer you a convenient way to hang your countertop kitchen essentials on the wall, taking advantage of the vertical space and offering a light, decorative touch. 

The canister-shaped container comes in three options: blue, white, or black mesh, and its attachable hook is available in either a nickel-plated or polished brass finish. In addition to a black finish, the rail also comes in a trendy polished brass or nickel-plated finish, giving you a few ways to match your kitchen's vibe. You can buy these space-saving products individually, or get all three for a complete countertop storage solution. 

This may be helpful if you have limited countertop space or a lot of utensils and accessories. The rack, paper towel holder, and container are all available for $6 each. If you've been looking for paper towel storage ideas or other ways to declutter those countertops, this solution may be the perfect fit.

Installing wall-mounted storage accessories is a smart way to keep your home tidy and your kitchen countertops clear. The good news is that mounting them to the wall is easy. If you already have a rack on your wall, you can simply hang the container along with the paper towel holder. If you don't, or you want to install a new rail, you can do this using a drill, screws, and wall anchors (be sure to use a level as well). The second installation option is to use heavy-duty double-sided tape, such as this Exlifego tape on Amazon. The downside with the tape is that it may damage the wall upon removal. 

However, once you've got your storage accessories mounted, the next step is deciding which items will go up there. It helps to first separate your kitchen essentials into categories, such as daily-use utensils, overflow items, and miscellaneous items. You can purchase a set of S-hooks and use the rail to mount commonly used items, including coffee mugs, spatulas, stock pots, towels, and other longer cooking utensils. The paper towel holder can also go on the rail. 

For the container, consider using this to house utensils such as stirring spoons, cheese graters, and whisks. The container is also great for storing items like bottle brushes, tongs, cleaning gloves, and sponges — it's best to use it for items that are tall enough to be seen at eye level, unless you choose the mesh container option. Remember, it's all about convenience and practicality first, and aesthetics second.