Have you just finished your kitchen renovation but you don’t know where to start on how to keep your countertops looking styled and new. You have these beautiful new countertops and will want to show them off. Or, are you about to embark on a renovation and trying to consider all the things you may need? If so, here are a few easy tips to help keep your kitchen looking magazine-worthy yet functional:
1. Take an inventory of your kitchen countertop
Set aside anything that you do not use every day or frequently and store it away. For example, you may use your toaster every day but should an appliance that you use for 10 minutes a day take up significant real estate on your countertop? Consider hiding smaller appliances inside a pantry cabinet. If you’re lucky enough to be planning a kitchen renovation, really think about how you will work in your kitchen and where everything should go. How will you store your reusable containers? Do you need a drawer for lids? Spice rack? Thinking this through ahead of time can help keep your countertops clean and your cabinets organized.
2. Look at things in stations
Follow the sage advice of The Home Edit team and create stations. For example, a coffee station with the coffee machine on the counter and mugs above or below. Or, what about a breakfast station. You can use a pantry cabinet to house your bread and the toaster, instead of using the countertop. Charging stations are a great addition the catch-all drawer. Everything is not only styled but functional.
3. Reduce your clutter
Mary Kondo’s motto is only to keep “what sparks joy.” By doing so, every time you enter the space, you will feel a sense of happiness. To give your joyful items a sense of style, cluster items in odd numbers (1, 3, 5) on your countertop and then leave a space between them. For example, three bottles of oils or vinegar then leave space and then a bowl of fruit. The only rule is that the items should be of different heights and textures.
4. Use food
Using food on your countertop is a great way to add a pop of colour. The added bonus—studies have shown that families who leave bowls of fruit out tend to be healthier. If you leave it out they will come. Have some fun with the vessels you use for your fruit as well. Consider an antique dough bowl or a handmade ceramic cake stand.
Whether you’re starting a kitchen renovation, completing one, or dreaming of one, whatever the case, learning tips on how to best style your countertops can go a long way. A well-styled countertop not only looks beautiful but can increase the functionality of your kitchen and make cleaning and resetting easy.