7 Sneaky Things That Are Making Your Kitchen Look Cluttered

All Those Non-Kitchen Items

Think, that jacket or purse you have hanging on a chair, or eyeglasses or medications that have found themselves on the kitchen table. If you don’t use it in the kitchen, it doesn’t belong there.

Jacobs says that all mail, shopping bags, toys, cosmetics, backpacks, random gadgets, loose change, and the like should be cleared from the kitchen once per day. “The countertop is a working space not a storage space," notes Jacob.

Fridge Art

Sure, it’s fun to showcase photos and works of art on the fridge—but your fridge is an appliance, not a gallery. “Fridge art can be placed in a scrapbook, keeping the front of your fridge free and clear,” Jacobs suggests.

You can also consider framing and hanging sentimental piece to give a clean, curated look to children's artwork (that will also make them feel mighty special!).

Tattered Rugs

If your kitchen mat has seen better days, consider this your sign to replace it. Jacobs says a tattered rug can make an otherwise clean kitchen look messy. Same goes for kitchen towels or other linens that are overly worn and stained. Use them as rags or bring them to textile recycling.

Superfluous Appliances

Do you really need a toaster oven, air fryer, pressure cooker, multi-cooker, blender, and coffee maker? On display at all times? “Appliances [should] live in accessible cabinets depending on their usage or in a pantry, categorized by purpose,” Jacobs says. “If you have small appliances you're not using every single day; they should live in lower cabinets to be pulled out when needed.”

Dirty (or Drying) Dishes

Though a stack of dishes in the sink may seem subtle, they can add a sense of instant chaos to the room. “Place dirty dishes in the dishwasher," says Jacobs, or, if you're hand-washing, be sure to tackle them by the end of the day. "Do not leave piles in the sink." Budget cleaning time into your cooking time or establish a chore system or nighttime routine to ensure breakfast dishes aren’t lingering long beyond dinner.

Similarly, your drying rack wasn't made for storage. Dishes on the rack should be cleared off once they have dried. Each morning, put away the dishware you washed the previous night to keep the system moving and the space clear.

Various Groceries

It's a common scenario: Sometimes you're in a rush and can't always put groceries away, so you quickly stash the perishables in the fridge or freezer and leave the rest for later. But try not to make it a habit—or one of storing nonperishables on the counter.

"Check cabinets and the fridge weekly to know what you have and what you need for grocery shopping," suggests Jacobs. Keep an inventory of your kitchen so you don't over-purchase what you don't need, and regularly check for expired foods, condiments, and spices to toss."

Jacobs also suggests the "one-in, one-out" rule to prevent food items from piling up. "Only buy an item when you toss the unnecessary or expired item," she says.

Cookbooks

Unless you’re actively using a recipe, cookbooks shouldn’t be left out, according to Jacobs. “Store cookbooks and recipes on shelves inside an island or in the pantry, not on the countertop,” Jacobs says. 

Even having them alphabetically stacked in the corner can create a messy eyeline. You'll be surprised at how much cleaner your counter will look.