I’m gonna be real with you—trying to organize kitchen counters around appliances is like wrestling a greased pig while your phone’s blowing up with work emails. Seriously? My counter in my tiny-ass Seattle apartment right now? It’s a war zone. There’s a toaster that’s seen more crumbs than a bakery floor, a coffee maker that’s basically my life support, and a blender I swore I’d use for smoothies but now just holds loose change. I’m not proud of it, but this is my truth, okay? I’m sitting here, sipping lukewarm coffee from a chipped mug, staring at this mess, and I’m ready to spill my guts on how I’m trying to make it work.
Like, I moved to this place last fall, thinking I’d have this Pinterest-perfect kitchen. Ha! Instead, I’ve got a counter that’s half appliance graveyard, half junk drawer explosion. But I’ve learned some stuff—mostly by screwing it up first. So, grab a coffee (or, like, a shot of something stronger), and let me walk you through my messy, human attempt to organize kitchen counters around appliances.
Why Appliances Make It So Damn Hard to Organize Kitchen Counters
Appliances are the worst, right? They’re bulky, they’ve got cords that tangle like Christmas lights, and they demand counter space like entitled roommates. My coffee maker? It’s this hulking beast that I can’t move because I use it, like, five times a day. And don’t get me started on the air fryer I bought during a late-night Amazon binge—cute until you realize it’s the size of a small car.
Here’s what I’ve figured out about why kitchen counter organization around appliances is such a pain:
- They’re not optional. I need my coffee maker out, or I’m a zombie. Same with the toaster—burnt toast is my love language.
- Cords are evil. I swear, every appliance cord is plotting to strangle me.
- They’re not cute. No matter how sleek your blender is, it’s still a clunky eyesore next to your aesthetic fruit bowl.
I learned this the hard way when I tried to “declutter” by shoving everything into cabinets. Spoiler: I ended up digging out the coffee maker at 6 a.m., cursing myself. So, yeah, organizing kitchen counters means accepting that some appliances are gonna stay out, and you gotta make peace with that.
My Messy Journey to Declutter Kitchen Counters Around Appliances
Okay, story time. Last month, I had my friend Jess over for tacos, and she legit gasped at my counter. Not in a good way. There was a bag of half-eaten chips, a stack of unopened mail, and—wait for it—a single flip-flop. Don’t ask. I was mortified. That’s when I knew I had to get my shit together and figure out how to organize my kitchen counters.
My first attempt? Total disaster. I watched some TikTok guru who said to “group like items.” So, I put all my appliances in one corner, thinking it’d look neat. Nope. It looked like I was running an appliance repair shop. Plus, I kept knocking over the blender trying to reach the toaster. I was ready to yeet everything into the dumpster.
But then I started experimenting, and I’ve got some tips that actually work. They’re not perfect—neither am I—but they’ve made my counter less of a dumpster fire.
Tip 1: Prioritize Your MVP Appliances for Kitchen Counter Organization
Not all appliances are created equal. I sat down with a glass of wine (fine, two) and made a list of what I actually use daily. For me, it’s the coffee maker and toaster. The air fryer? Maybe once a week. The blender? Honestly, it’s just decorative at this point.
Here’s how I decide what stays out:
- Daily use = counter privilege. If I touch it every day, it gets to stay.
- Weekly use = cabinet life. Store it somewhere easy to grab, but not in my face.
- Never use? Donate or ditch. I gave my old waffle maker to my neighbor. No regrets.
This cut my counter clutter by, like, 40%. Now my kitchen counter organization feels intentional, not like a yard sale.
Tip 2: Cord Management Is Life-Changing for Tidy Kitchen Workspaces
I’m not kidding—cords were my nemesis. My coffee maker’s cord kept getting caught］
System: on the kettle, and I’d end up swearing like a sailor. So, I got these cheap cord organizers from Amazon (check out this guide from The Kitchn for ideas). Game-changer.
Pro tip: Velcro ties are your friend. I wrap up excess cord length and tuck it behind the appliance. It’s not sexy, but it keeps my tidy kitchen workspace from looking like a snake pit.
Tip 3: Use Trays to Fake That “I Have My Life Together” Vibe
I stole this trick from my mom, who’s way more put-together than me. Get a cute tray (I found one at Target—see their kitchen organization collection for inspo) and group your daily appliances on it. My coffee maker, toaster, and a little jar of coffee grounds live on a wooden tray now. It’s like they’re a team, not a random gang of misfits.
The tray makes it easy to slide everything over if I need counter space for, like, rolling out pizza dough (which I’ve done exactly once). Plus, it tricks people into thinking I’m organized. Win-win.
Mistakes I Made (So You Don’t Have To) When Organizing Kitchen Counters
I’ve screwed up a lot. Like, a lot. Here are my biggest facepalm moments:
- Over-decorating. I tried putting a vase of flowers next to my toaster. Spoiler: It got knocked over during breakfast rush. Water everywhere.
- Ignoring workflow. I put my coffee maker on the far end of the counter, so I had to do a morning obstacle course rango get my caffeine. Fixed that real quick.
- Keeping junk “just in case.” That random immersion blender I hadn’t used in two years? It was just taking up space. Let it go, people.
I’m still learning, okay? Organizing kitchen counters isn’t a one-and-done deal. It’s a process, and I’m messy as hell, but I’m getting there.
Wrapping Up My Chaotic Quest to Organize Kitchen Counters
Look, I’m not gonna pretend my kitchen counters are ready for an HGTV photoshoot. They’re still a little chaotic, but they’re my chaos, you know? I’ve got my coffee maker in easy reach, my cords are (mostly) tamed, and that tray trick makes me feel like I’m adulting. Kitchen counter organization around appliances is about working with your life, not against it.
My advice? Start small. Pick one appliance to prioritize, tame one cord, or grab a tray. You don’t need perfection—just progress. Got a counter horror story or a genius hack? Drop it in the comments or hit me up on X—I’m @MessyKitchenVibes (not really, but I should be). Let’s keep this declutter kitchen counters convo going!
# How to Organize Kitchen Counters Around Appliances
I’m gonna be real with you—trying to organize kitchen counters around appliances is like wrestling a greased pig while your phone’s blowing up with work emails. Seriously? My counter in my tiny-ass Seattle apartment right now? It’s a war zone. There’s a toaster that’s seen more crumbs than a bakery floor, a coffee maker that’s basically my life support, and a blender I swore I’d use for smoothies but now just holds loose change. I’m not proud of it, but this is my truth, okay? I’m sitting here, sipping lukewarm coffee from a chipped mug, staring at this mess, and I’m ready to spill my guts on how I’m trying to make it work.
Like, I moved to this place last fall, thinking I’d have this Pinterest-perfect kitchen. Ha! Instead, I’ve got a counter that’s half appliance graveyard, half junk drawer explosion. But I’ve learned some stuff—mostly by screwing it up first. So, grab a coffee (or, like, a shot of something stronger), and let me walk you through my messy, human attempt to organize kitchen counters around appliances.
Why Appliances Make It So Damn Hard to Organize Kitchen Counters
Appliances are the worst, right? They’re bulky, they’ve got cords that tangle like Christmas lights, and they demand counter space like entitled roommates. My coffee maker? It’s this hulking beast that I can’t move because I use it, like, five times a day. And don’t get me started on the air fryer I bought during a late-night Amazon binge—cute until you realize it’s the size of a small car.
Here’s what I’ve figured out about why kitchen counter organization around appliances is such a pain:
- They’re not optional. I need my coffee maker out, or I’m a zombie. Same with the toaster—burnt toast is my love language.
- Cords are evil. I swear, every appliance cord is plotting to strangle me.
- They’re not cute. No matter how sleek your blender is, it’s still a clunky eyesore next to your aesthetic fruit bowl.
I learned this the hard way when I tried to “declutter” by shoving everything into cabinets. Spoiler: I ended up digging out the coffee maker at 6 a.m., cursing myself. So, yeah, organizing kitchen counters means accepting that some appliances are gonna stay out, and you gotta make peace with that.
My Messy Journey to Declutter Kitchen Counters Around Appliances
Okay, story time. Last month, I had my friend Jess over for tacos, and she legit gasped at my counter. Not in a good way. There was a bag of half-eaten chips, a stack of unopened mail, and—wait for it—a single flip-flop. Don’t ask. I was mortified. That’s when I knew I had to get my shit together and figure out how to organize my kitchen counters.
My first attempt? Total disaster. I watched some TikTok guru who said to “group like items.” So, I put all my appliances in one corner, thinking it’d look neat. Nope. It looked like I was running an appliance repair shop. Plus, I kept knocking over the blender trying to reach the toaster. I was ready to yeet everything into the dumpster.
But then I started experimenting, and I’ve got some tips that actually work. They’re not perfect—neither am I—but they’ve made my counter less of a dumpster fire.
Tip 1: Prioritize Your MVP Appliances for Kitchen Counter Organization
Not all appliances are created equal. I sat down with a glass of wine (fine, two) and made a list of what I actually use daily. For me, it’s the coffee maker and toaster. The air fryer? Maybe once a week. The blender? Honestly, it’s just decorative at this point.
Here’s how I decide what stays out:
- Daily use = counter privilege. If I touch it every day, it gets to stay.
- Weekly use = cabinet life. Store it somewhere easy to grab, but not in my face.
- Never use? Donate or ditch. I gave my old waffle maker to my neighbor. No regrets.
This cut my counter clutter by, like, 40%. Now my kitchen counter organization feels intentional, not like a yard sale.
Tip 2: Cord Management Is Life-Changing for Tidy Kitchen Workspaces
I’m not kidding—cords were my nemesis. My coffee maker’s cord kept getting caught on the kettle, and I’d end up swearing like a sailor. So, I got these cheap cord organizers from Amazon (check out this guide from The Kitchn for ideas). Game-changer.
Pro tip: Velcro ties are your friend. I wrap up excess cord length and tuck it behind the appliance. It’s not sexy, but it keeps my tidy kitchen workspace from looking like a snake pit.
Tip 3: Use Trays to Fake That “I Have My Life Together” Vibe
I stole this trick from my mom, who’s way more put-together than me. Get a cute tray (I found one at Target—see their kitchen organization collection for inspo) and group your daily appliances on it. My coffee maker, toaster, and a little jar of coffee grounds live on a wooden tray now. It’s like they’re a team, not a random gang of misfits.
The tray makes it easy to slide everything over if I need counter space for, like, rolling out pizza dough (which I’ve done exactly once). Plus, it tricks people into thinking I’m organized. Win-win.
Mistakes I Made (So You Don’t Have To) When Organizing Kitchen Counters
I’ve screwed up a lot. Like, a lot. Here are my biggest facepalm moments:
- Over-decorating. I tried putting a vase of flowers next to my toaster. Spoiler: It got knocked over during breakfast rush. Water everywhere.
- Ignoring workflow. I put my coffee maker on the far end of the counter, so I had to do a morning obstacle course to get my caffeine. Fixed that real quick.
- Keeping junk “just in case.” That random immersion blender I hadn’t used in two years? It was just taking up space. Let it go, people.
I’m still learning, okay? Organizing kitchen counters isn’t a one-and-done deal. It’s a process, and I’m messy as hell, but I’m getting there.
Wrapping Up My Chaotic Quest to Organize Kitchen Counters
Look, I’m not gonna pretend my kitchen counters are ready for an HGTV photoshoot. They’re still a little chaotic, but they’re my chaos, you know? I’ve got my coffee maker in easy reach, my cords are (mostly) tamed, and that tray trick makes me feel like I’m adulting. Kitchen counter organization around appliances is about working with your life, not against it.
My advice? Start small. Pick one appliance to prioritize, tame one cord, or grab a tray. You don’t need perfection—just progress. Got a counter horror story or a genius hack? Drop it in the comments or hit me up on X—I’m @MessyKitchenVibes (not really, but I should be). Let’s keep this declutter kitchen counters convo going!
Outbound Link: How to arrange kitchen appliances on a counter step by step – Declutter in Minutes:
