Keep Kitchen Counters Clean With A Simple Dollar Tree DIY

Keeping tidy kitchen countertops is never easy. Kitchens are constantly being used, and messes just inevitably happen. If your cleanliness issues in the kitchen are more related to organization than cooking spills, then it may be time to make some changes. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to keep kitchen counters clutter-free with some decorative solutions. One option that will make your kitchen feel cozy and put-together is a wooden soap pedestal. If spending $15 or more on a piece of wood that will literally collect dust sounds less than ideal, then creating a DIY version using Dollar Tree materials is the perfect project for you. 

For this simple DIY, all you need are some unfinished craftwood cubes and a bamboo cutting board from Dollar Tree. You'll also need wood glue, which you can find at Dollar Tree if you don't already have some. Finally, for a more finished look (and one that better matches the rest of your kitchen), you may want to pick up some wood stain or paint. Go for a natural wood look in traditional, rustic, or cottagecore kitchens, or look for a lighter stain for a contemporary kitchen. Paint can also be a nice way to bring a pop of color into the room or to help your pedestal better blend into the countertop for a more seamless look. Once you have your supplies and have decided on a color, you can start your simple assembly process. 

The first step of this project is to glue the wooden legs to the pedestal. Examine each of the wooden cubes and find the sides that you think look the best to be visible from the sides of the pedestal. Once you have chosen, carefully align the cubes to the corners of the cutting board and glue them in place, following the directions of your wood glue. Depending on the type of wood glue, it could take several hours to a whole day to completely dry. You can also use other legs for the tray, such as large wooden beads or mini furniture legs.

Once the glue is set, you can stain or paint the wood, though it may help to learn some tips and tricks to successfully use wood stain first. Gently sand the wood, and wipe away any dust before applying your wood stain or paint. It is also a good idea to buy an extra wooden cube or cutting board so that you can test what the stain will look like before applying it all over. Applying a sealing coat can also help preserve your soap pedestal, which is especially good in the kitchen, where it will likely have contact with water, cleaning supplies, and spills.

While it may seem like adding more items to your countertop will make it feel more cluttered, the intentionality that a soap pedestal brings to the space will really help things feel more organized. In fact, your kitchen will also probably benefit from another Dollar Tree kitchen find that keeps countertops neat while adding storage — stack and nest bins.