Design Vogue

Interior designers are all for keeping kitchen countertops nice and streamlined to the fullest extent possible.

"Clear counters aren’t just a personal preference; they are a design principle," says Cyndy Cantley, the founder of Cantley & Company. "It can quickly become a slippery slope with all the gadgets available to us today."

Wondering how to begin getting your kitchen counters into tip-top shape once and for all? Here, Cantley and two other professional designers share their insights on how to create a countertop that is as clutter-free as possible, all the while carving out designated space for appliances that you still need to keep handy.

Should You Keep Your Appliances on Countertops?

While interior designers do not want to see kitchen countertops crowded with appliances, they understand that certain appliances do deserve a permanent space there, a coffee machine often being one of them.

"If you are a coffee drinker, you understand the necessity to have this appliance in a convenient place," says Jessica Nixon, the founder of JNID Studios. "You do not want the added step of pulling it in and out of an appliance garage."

The concept of an appliance garage is indeed quite popular with designers, though, and is something that will be explored in further detail below.

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What to Do Instead

• Try an appliance garage. Designers note that for some, an appliance garage might be the best solution for keeping appliances handy yet out of immediate sight. Fiona Leonard, the founder of Fiona Leonard Interiors, appreciates how these "conceal all the mismatched appliances from coffee machines to air fryers and toasters." She recommends opting for a style with retractable doors to easily remove and put back appliances as needed.
• Add outlets elsewhere. Another technique Nixon offers is to add an outlet to a pantry or drawer so that you can permanently keep a specific appliance there—and off of your countertop. Cantley suggests thinking even further outside the box. "Use a bar cart with shelves below and a power surge protector tucked into the back; this frees up your valuable counter space," she says.
• Plan your remodel strategically. Remodeling a kitchen or designing one from scratch? Follow this practice Cantley implements. "I take an inventory of the appliances they use, how often they use them and how much space they need," she says, noting that she will then plan out storage solutions accordingly.
  

Best Tips for Managing Appliance Clutter

In addition to properly storing the appliances that you use often, you should also see if there are any items that you do not reach for regularly, and consider selling or donating them.

Nixon parted ways with her electric can opener after realizing she relied on it infrequently and would be fine with keeping a manual opener in her kitchen drawer, for example. Other examples of appliances you may have purchased at one point but rarely use include coffee grinders, countertop ice machines, and mini blenders, all items that are nice to have but may not play a key role in your day to day life.

You will also want to keep the area surrounding any essential countertop appliances looking streamlined.

"The best advice is to always keep it clean and tidy," Nixon says with regard to displaying a countertop coffee maker.

This might mean storing your coffee grounds, flavor syrups, and sugar packets behind closed doors in a cabinet so they do not overwhelm your countertop area. If you don't wish to do so, consider decanting these items into aesthetically pleasing containers or bottles so that you're not looking at unsightly labels. An added bonus of taking this step? You'll feel like you're playing barista at your very own chic coffee bar!