Eight Ways to Free Up Kitchen Counter Space

We spend a lot of time in our kitchens-about 400 hours every year, according to one survey-which works out to more than an hour every day. That's more than just preparing meals-it's making coffee, it's grabbing snacks, it's hanging out and chatting with friends and family. Since we spend so much time in our kitchens, it's not surprising that we fill them with a lot of stuff; although you don't need much to have a basic, functioning kitchen space, we love our gadgets (even the unserious ones). As a result, the kitchen counters become crowded with stuff, sometimes forcing us to prep food in unusual places.

There are basic things we all do to clear off some counter space, like using the extra space above our cabinets or even remodeling the kitchen with an eye toward storage. But there are some really clever, simple ways you can grab back a lot of that counter space without doing a full remodel or renovation while still maintaining the functionality and efficiency of your kitchen. Here are eight ways to make more counter space that will also make your kitchen better.

Finnish Dish Cabinets

America gave the world jazz, but Finland has given us astiankuivauskaappi. These dish-drying cabinets get the dish rack off your counters, allowing you to put damp dishes in a cabinet over the sink (or a bowl or towel, though that reduces the efficiency level because it's still taking up counter space). An open bottom allows the dishes to drip-dry right there, meaning you can skip all the towel-drying and get back precious counter space. It's hard to find pre-made dish cabinets in the U.S., but you can DIY one from your existing cabinets if you're adventurous. You can also try some similar solutions like this over-the-sink drying rack, which at least clears off your counter.

Backsplash wall hanging

Your backsplash is an untapped resource for storing stuff that might otherwise lounge on your counters. This could be as simple as a magnetic strip for knives and other cutlery, adhesive hooks for temporary (and renter-friendly) hanging, or a more robust and permanent solution like this kitchen pegboard. Any wall storage you choose will make some room on your counters.

Drawer outlets

One way to keep your counters clear is to get all the charging devices and plugged-in small appliances off of them and into your drawers by installing drawer outlets. All you need is a plug somewhere behind the drawer in your lower cabinet and you can pretty easily install an outlet in the rear of the drawer box. This lets you move a bunch of stuff that would normally hang out on top of the counter near the wall outlets into drawers, where the clutter won't bother you (as much).

Sliders

Placing small appliances on appliance sliders like these and sliding them into cabinets or into otherwise inaccessible areas of your counters can help clear up some usable space while keeping your appliances within easy reach. You can also leverage the magic of sliding by installing some lower cabinet slide-outs. If you have a power outlet in a lower cabinet as well, you can place small appliances on the slide-out drawer and tuck that toaster or blender away when you're done using it.

Shelf risers

Sometimes solutions are so obvious we overlook them-like shelf risers. A set of cheap, expandable risers can double the capacity of your wall cabinets, allowing you to clear a boatload of stuff off your counters without driving a single screw or replacing a single piece of cabinetry.

Burner covers

One way to make more counter space is to install a cover over your stovetop and/or sink. These are removable, so you can have more counter space during food prep but still use your stove and sink when it's time to cook and clean up. You can have custom covers made if your sink is an unusual shape or size, but even an inexpensive cover will give you a few feet of space to work with that you didn't have yesterday.

Under cabinet mounts

You can mount a lot of stuff under your wall cabinets, including small kitchen appliances like coffee makers, toaster ovens, microwaves, or even can openers and paper towel holders. Getting all those gizmos and pieces of hardware off your counters and under your cabinets will open up a lot of work space and help keep that space neat and tidy.

Behind door storage

Your cabinet doors offer a lot of opportunities to get stuff off your counters. Hanging door organizers can store a ton of stuff that would otherwise wind up taking up space, knife holders mounted to the rear of cabinet doors can get that enormous knife block off your counters, and spice racks can do the same for those dusty bottles of garlic salt and cinnamon you rarely use.