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Oct 18, 2023

The Best Kitchen Counter Organizers

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LAUREY W. GLENN

It's all too easy for the kitchen counter to become overwhelmed with a mixture of cooking supplies, paper goods, and who knows what else. But with the right organization systems, it is indeed possible to eliminate unnecessary clutter from your food prep area once and for all. Below, professional organizers based in the South share their top 10 picks for getting countertops into tip-top shape.

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Active home cooks will appreciate keeping a Lazy Susan within arm's reach, says Nancy Meck of Meck Organizing in Atlanta. "Sometimes going into the cabinet with ‘cooking fingers’ and digging for spices or oils is a pain," she says. "Lazy Susans are a great way to make items you need on hand easily accessible while looking cute and organized."Price at time of publish: $18

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Lisa Greene Smith of Simplify Studio serving Charlotte and Raleigh also recommends turntables and will outfit hers with cruet set for oil and vinegar as well as a salt bowl. "The addition of these key organizing items makes creating delicious meals easier and more enjoyable while keeping counters clear from clutter and allows for a cohesive and styled look," she says.Price at time of publish: $25

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If piles of apples and bananas are taking up too much real estate on your countertops, consider picking up a hanging fruit hammock, suggests Meck, who often comes across these contraptions in her clients’ homes.Price at time of publish: $16

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Rather than letting countless jars full of coffee pods, tea bags, and other essentials fill your countertop, pick up this all-in-one system that offers plenty of storage yet takes up minimal square footage. It may even free up space inside your cabinets, notes Atlanta organizer Kenika Williams of Tidied By K.Price at time of publish: $129

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Everyone needs to keep a handful of utensils nearby when cooking, but the key is choosing the right vessel that will maximize storage potential—Charleston-based Jennifer Truesdale of STR8N UP Professional Organizing Services swears by this one. Investing in the right utensil holder is beneficial in more ways than one. Truesdale adds, " A large counter crockery creates more drawer space for other necessary items needing a home like foils, wraps and baggies, towels, knives, or other categories."Price at time of publish: $25

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It's helpful to decant other pantry items and place them in clear jars so that you always have an accurate sense of what you have on hand. Rather than setting canisters on the countertop, though, place them on floating wood shelving, suggests Kate Swenson of Order by Kate in Atlanta. She particularly likes using these one-gallon sized glass jars, which come with air-tight lids and pre-printed, waterproof labels. "This jar will be your new favorite kitchen storage organizer for cookies, coffee beans, rice, flour or sugar," Swenson says. "Beautiful, durable and even dishwasher safe!"Price at time of publish: $27

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Countertops often become drop zones for loose pieces of paper, including bills, school papers, and invitations. "The best recommendation I have is to use upper space," notes Stephanie Worinkeng of A Time to Organize in Greenville, S.C. You can easily mount this wooden paper holder to any wall, and it’ll do the job without interfering with your kitchen's aesthetic.

Price at time of publish: $27

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Other day to day essentials, including keys, earphones, pens and pencils, and the like, often make their way to the kitchen counter, too. Dai Smith of Simplicity By Day in Houston recommends keeping a small, soft container on the countertop to corral these types of objects. "This is a catch-all for things so you won't lose them around the house, and it looks better on the counter than piles of random things," she says.Price at time of publish: $37

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Ashley Barber of Houston's Simply Maven suggests keeping paper towels off the counter yet still easily within reach with an adhesive holder. This one also happens to be stainless steel and rust proof. Price at time of publish: $12

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If you wish to keep soap bottles off your counter, Tara Bremer of House Peace offers a solution. "I don't like anything to be on my kitchen island which is where my sink is, so I use a cabinet basket to store counter spray and hand soap," says the pro organizer, who works between Mobile, Birmingham, and Atlanta.Price at time of publish: $10