Declutter Your Kitchen Countertops With An Affordable Thrift Store Find

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Is your kitchen countertop constantly covered in clutter? It's simpler than you think to add more space for all that stuff. You don't need to build more cabinets or buy expensive organizers to get the extra storage you desire. In fact, all you need is something you might be able to find at a thrift store or salvage yard for a bargain: the top of a hutch cabinet. Once you've found something decorative, you can simply place it on your countertop. You can also make some alterations so it better fits your existing kitchen aesthetic or space requirements.

Also known as a dining hutch, these pieces of furniture were usually made in two parts — a bottom section with doors for closed storage and one above with open shelves for display. They are easily separated, which is great news for you. It means you can complete this project with basic tools or maybe even no tools at all. The effort you need to put in ranges from simply lifting the hutch top onto your counter to some minor dismantling. Pair this idea with other simple ways to create extra counter space in your kitchen and you will go from a cluttered kitchen to usable room. It's a quick, easy, and affordable project. The most complicated part is actually finding a hutch top in a style you like and the dimensions you need.

When finding the right hutch top, you are limited by the size of the kitchen counters and what free space you have on them. You might, for example, need a compact hutch top that will sit snugly under your upper cabinets or squeeze into a corner. Before heading to the thrift store, take measurements of the space where you plant to place it so you can find a piece that is guaranteed to fit once you get it home. From there, decide what style of hutch top you need. Do you prefer something with open shelves, so you can just grab what you need when you need it? Or do you want whatever you put inside hidden away behind glass doors and safe from dust? Want a modern hutch cabinet for your space instead of something secondhand? There's no shame in buying new to fit your space if you have the budget.

Once you have your hutch top home, you can use it as is or, if you're even a little bit handy, consider making some alterations to it. Create even more space on your countertop by adding cute wooden legs. A set of four Maricome Unfinished Turned Wood Furniture Legs costs about $25. Alternatively, you could mount the hutch top to the wall above your countertop. Paint the hutch in a hue that matches your existing kitchen design palette so it blends in seamlessly. Had to buy an entire hutch just to get the top? Since you're already giving your outdated China hutch cabinet new life by splitting it in two, use the lower half elsewhere in the house. It would, for example, make great extra storage in a bedroom or entryway.