Rarely used items
A set of dishes, a festive service, a collection of containers, a meat grinder, a grater - the abundance of things is inappropriate on the countertop, where they constantly cook. Kitchen utensils must be distributed in their places so as not to clutter up the workspace. In order to ergonomically distribute items even in a small kitchen, there are many tricks: roof rails, drawers, hanging shelves. You can read about how to equip a place for cooking. here.
Cutlery
The container for forks, spoons and shoulder blades, standing in plain sight, is often a variegated "bouquet" that takes up a lot of space. This is convenient, but does not decorate the interior and interferes with cooking, especially if there is nowhere to turn around in the kitchen. You can store the devices in a tray with dividers located in the drawer.
Small household appliances
Blender, toaster, food processor - these appliances can take up a lot of space but are rarely used. Appliances on the countertop steals free space, gets dirty faster and takes more time to clean, and the abundance of wires does not paint the kitchen. By hiding a couple of devices in closed cabinets, you can save more usable space.
Slotted knives
The once trendy coasters are still popular today and are easy to find at any hardware store. While the container is new, it decorates the interior. But the stand has several drawbacks:
- Many bacteria accumulate in its holes, which cannot be removed.
- From constant contact with the stand, the knives become dull faster.
- The capacity takes up a lot of space.
A good way to keep your blades sharp and relieve your workspace is to use a durable magnetic knife holder mounted on the wall.
Cookbooks
Many housewives prefer to use recipes published in paper editions. But you should not store books and notebooks on the countertop: they will not only interfere with cooking, but also quickly deteriorate from exposure to water and fat. Open shelves and cabinets work well for paper books.
Sauces and butter
Contrary to popular belief, you should not store sunflower and olive oil near the stove: the beneficial properties of products are lost because of this. The same applies to sauces and balsamic vinegar - it is best to remove all of the above in a cool, dark place.
Flowers
Photos of interiors do not always correspond to reality, so we do not recommend making the workplace with indoor flowers. Plants look attractive in glossy shots, but in reality they cannot be placed near a sink, next to a stove and a gas boiler: few people can withstand the constant exposure to splashes of soap, grease and hot air. A great way to decorate your countertop is to plant healthy, natural herbs in pots.
Drainer
Before purchasing a bulky structure, it is worth determining a better place for it.A tabletop dryer with a tray will take up a large part of the area, while plates and cups will be in plain sight. The most successful option is a dryer built into the cabinet, but if it is not possible to purchase such a structure, it is better to use a hinged one.
Decor
All good things are in moderation. If there is enough space on the countertop for various figurines, baskets and photo frames, you should not place them in areas where cooking is actively taking place. Decorative elements will quickly get dirty and lose their former attractiveness, and it will take twice as long to clean the surface. An alternative option for jewelry that is dear to your heart is open shelves.
Cans with bulk products
Another category of things that are preferable to put on shelves or in a closet. In professional photographs, transparent containers with pasta, cereals and sugar look very impressive, giving the interior a homely feel. But cans on countertops quickly become covered with dust and greasy deposits, visually cluttering up the environment.
An empty countertop is one of the most important ingredients for comfort while cooking. By getting rid of unnecessary items, you will not only make the interior of the kitchen more tidy, but also make your life easier.