12 Things Making Your Kitchen Look Cluttered

Life gets busy and sometimes things start to pile up. While clutter does happen, it's not something you want to see when walking into your home. There are a lot of things that can lead to clutter, especially in a kitchen, which is often the heart of a home. If you are looking to declutter your kitchen, the first step is to figure out exactly what is creating the mess in the first place, and then find a way to reduce it. But what are some of the items making your kitchen look cluttered? It could be anything from decor to appliances.

While there are plenty of items that might belong on the top of your counters, there are also several that don't necessarily belong there and by having them out and on display it creates an environment that doesn't look clean. Even things that actually belong in the kitchen can start to create a mess if they aren't put away where they should be or when items just build up over time. This is especially true in an open concept home where the kitchen is always in plain sight, meaning so is any of the clutter. Keeping your kitchen countertops neat and organized can make a big difference in your space. 

Loose papers and mail can create clutter when left on counters and tabletops. Instead of leaving mail and other pieces of paper lying around on a countertop, have a small tray for these items or even a place inside of a drawer. Consider doing a DIY project to organize and declutter your loose papers and mail. Having an actual spot for these pieces of paper can cut down on the mess, while also making it easy to find what you're looking for when you need it. 

While magnets on the fridge can give you a place to hang things and add a touch of art to your kitchen, they can sometimes be considered visual clutter. Even if your counters are clean, having too many of these decoration can immediately draw the eye to the refrigerator. Instead of a crisp, clean surface, multiple magnets act as a focal point for your eye. With an excessive amount of them in one place, it might just feel like the focal point is clutter. Reducing the number of magnets immediately reduces the mess.

Not only can a dish rack be a form of clutter, as it takes up space on the counter next to the sink, drawing one's eye as they enter the kitchen, but so can dishware sitting in the rack. Even if the dishes in the drying rack are clean, they are still acting as a form of visual clutter. If you have a lot of mugs, plates, bowls, and pots drying in the rack, it makes your kitchen look untidy, even if they are just waiting to be put away. 

Houseplants are a living thing that can add beauty in any room. They can also become a form of clutter in your kitchen, if you have too many of them in one space, they are overgrown, or if you're not taking care of them properly and they are dying. When it comes to mess, a plant that looks unhealthy is just as much of a problem as an excess of items taking up space on a counter.

While it makes sense to find jars and containers with food in the kitchen, having too many of these items out on a countertop can create a space that feels cluttered. These containers end up drawing your eye in a manner that takes away from the rest of the space. Instead of leaving all of the jars on display, consider keeping just one or two of the more decorative options out and putting the rest behind the closed doors of a cabinet or pantry. 

While small kitchen appliances might be part of your daily kitchen routine, they can still contribute to the disarray. Having just more than one small appliance on the counter can feel like too much, especially when you don't have a lot of counter space. It's best to store small away appliances that you aren't using daily. If you have to have an appliance out on the counter, consider placing it in a spot out of the way so that it doesn't give the countertop the appearance of being cluttered.

Although utensils and utensil holders are just part of kitchen life, that doesn't mean they can't be a form of clutter. Too many utensils can create an overcrowded holder that looks like a mess versus an organized storage space. For a more minimalist approach, keeping the tools off the counter entirely is the way to go to keep the mess to a minimum as your cooking tools don't create an unwelcome focal point. 

It doesn't matter what room you're in, an excessive amount of decor goes from being a way to decorate a space into being a form of clutter. Too many candles in one space doesn't create a mood, it makes a mess. In a kitchen, too much decor eliminates your available space for working, while also creating a place that looks overwhelming. Choosing one or two pieces that make a statement is fine, but anything more really isn't needed.

It makes sense that if there are children in a house, then toys and craft supplies to keep them busy and active will make it into every room. And the kitchen is no exception. Unfortunately, toys create clutter when they are left out on tables and countertops in a shared living space. While having these enrichment items in the kitchen is fine, they need a place to be stored away once they are done being used so they don't leave a mess behind. 

If you're someone who grabs a meal from the drive-thru or you order takeout, then you might find yourself with condiment packets and takeout menus building up in your kitchen. Sometimes those items end up in drawers, but not always. And if you find that you're throwing these things onto the counter or in the middle of the kitchen table, they can be creating a space that feels cluttered and messy. While you keep menus and sauce packets thinking you'll use them, the reality is that you won't, and they are just taking up space.

There comes a point when you just have too many water bottles and tumblers. While it's important to stay hydrated and a backup water bottle is a good thing, having one for every day of the week (or month) is only creating clutter. Even with multiple people in a home, having all the water bottles and tumblers sitting out on the counter is messy and draws the eye in a negative way. If you must have multiples, keep them stored away until they are needed.

Cooking with fresh produce is good. The problem comes when it adds to the clutter on the countertops in your kitchen. Instead of just leaving all of your fresh produce out, consider a fruit bowl for items that shouldn't be refrigerated. For others, it's best to store them in a cool, dry place like the pantry. Leave any fruits and vegetables that you need in easy reach in a container to keep them from looking messy. There is even a nifty, space-saving idea that organizes all the produce in your home on a budget.