Ditch Cluttered Countertops: IKEA Has A Smarter Way To Store Cutting Boards

No one likes being greeted with the loud, annoying clatter of falling cutting boards every time you start prepping dinner. Stacking heavy cutting boards against the backsplash might seem like a smart way to save space in a cramped kitchen. In reality, it takes up valuable space, looks chaotic, and the boards rarely stay stacked neatly for long. While the KonMari method works well for decluttering a kitchen, there are other, simpler ways. Case in point: you can repurpose an IKEA VARIERA pot lid organizer for cutting board storage and reclaim your countertop space.

Storing your boards vertically between the pegs of an $8.99 IKEA VARIERA pot lid rack keeps them tidy and out of your way. You may even be able to fit the organizer inside a large cabinet or drawer and remove the boards from the countertop entirely. This expandable product is made of durable stainless steel, so you won't have to worry about rust. It also has rubber feet for added stability.

The accordion-style organizer is 5¾ inches wide by 4 inches tall and couldn't be easier to customize to your needs. Push it together, and you have a 3¼-inch rack; pull it out, and it measures 19¾ inches. You can even temporarily remove a few pegs to fit really chunky cutting boards. Plus, this IKEA pot lid rack is easy to clean. To get it sparkling, wipe it down with a mild cleanser and a clean, damp cloth. Dry it by hand right after.

Even if it's time to ditch the plastic cutting boards, you still need somewhere to store the new wooden cutting boards you bought to replace them. If you're still holding onto a plastic cutting board or two, don't worry, this organizer works with any material. To get the VARIERA pot lid organizer set up on your countertop — or inside a cabinet or drawer — adjust its length so that it fits perfectly across the space. Simply hold each end of the rack and gently pull them apart. Place it in your chosen location and slot in your cutting boards. Place the heaviest, tallest boards at the back of the organizer, and your smaller or thinner boards up front.

Once all your cutting boards are in place, take a moment to stand back and appreciate the usable countertop space you just gained. Then consider how else you could use this affordable IKEA pot lid organizer in your kitchen. For example, if you're an avid baker overwhelmed by bulky oven equipment, you could use it to store baking sheets and cooling racks. Likewise, there's no need to waste countertop space on a knife holder. Squish the VARIERA pot lid holder together and slot the blades of your knives between the pegs. You could even mount it on the wall vertically to hold your recipe book collection. Sometimes the smartest kitchen storage solutions are exactly where you'd expect them: at IKEA.