The Tidy Kitchen Counter Trick

Regardless of size, kitchen counters can easily get cluttered—that's why space-saving compost bins were invented. We love this kitchen counter organization trick because it's virtually effortless. The basic idea: Instead of constantly fighting against the clutter that naturally collects on your kitchen counter, corral it. Invest in a tray (or multiple trays) that are strategically sized to fit your counter and the type of clutter you typically struggle with. For example, if the condiments and spices threaten to take over, order a turntable large enough to stash the essentials within reach. If a pile of mail is the culprit, order a shallow woven tray to contain it.

The moment these trays start to overflow, it's a signal to relocate extra spices to the cabinet or finally tackle that paperwork. Rather than attempting to maintain a flawless countertop all 365 days of the year (a worthy, but entirely unrealistic goal), the tray method makes your kitchen look perpetually tidy without daily organizing.

We Tried It!

Our former editor-in-chief, Liz Vaccariello, put this trick to the test. To reclaim her kitchen counter from her #clutterhusband ("a neat but prolific pile maker"), Liz introduced a rectangular tray to collect everything from mints to medicine bottles. Without tossing out a single thing, the counter looks instantly neater.