12 Items Worth a Spot on Your Kitchen Counter

Article By: Charmean Neithart

In certain areas of my house, clutter just shows up out of the blue. The kitchen countertop is a dumping ground for random, misplaced objects left by children and a naughty husband. On any given day I find junk mail, empty grocery bags, the ubiquitous unfinished glass of milk and spare change. 

I like my countertops sparse, so I take responsibility for clearing them each night after dinner. As part of my nightly ritual, I clear the countertops, wipe them clean and then reposition all the things for the next day. I like a combination of functional things and pretty things out on my countertops, but I am very picky about my selections. It is a working area, after all, so function comes first. Here are some ideas for countertop styling that looks good and is functional, too. 

Eclectic Kitchen by New York Interior Designers & Decorators Chango & Co. 

Kitchen scale. This is a handy kitchen tool, especially for those who track portion sizes. A scale can also be useful for baking and weight conversions. You can find scales online in every color of the rainbow and digital versions, too. 

Traditional Kitchen by Santa Cruz Media and Bloggers Shannon Malone 

Fruit bowl. I keep a bowl on my counter filled with fresh, seasonal fruit to encourage healthy snacking.

Traditional Kitchen by Los Angeles Interior Designers & Decorators The Old Painted Cottage 

Silverware caddy. We use a silverware caddy for three square meals a day and just leave it on the counter. It makes perfect sense on a countertop close to the table or dishwasher. 

Traditional Kitchen by Chicago Kitchen & Bath Designers Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab

Condiment canisters. You can place canisters for sugar and flour, plus salt and pepper shakers, right on top of the counter. These canisters can be glass, ceramic or tin. The styling details are endless, but I suggest airtight versions to keep out pests. 

Contemporary Kitchen by Temple Tile, Stone & Countertops Wilsonart LLC 

Mixer. I know an appliance garage is a handy thing, but I honestly like seeing mixers. I love the color and the simple engineering of a mixer. We use ours all the time, so it earns a counter spot in our house. Try a baking corner with a mixer, measuring cups and a rolling pin.

Traditional Kitchen by Atlanta General Contractors Dresser Homes 

Cookbook stand. The book stand is one of my favorite countertop accessories. Use it for a hard-copy cookbook or an iPad with a recipe app. The best book stand is heavy enough to support even a large book. Consider a cast iron one with felt pads on the bottom to prevent scratching. 

Traditional Kitchen by Decatur Kitchen & Bath Designers CR Home Design K&B (Construction Resources) 

Oversize bowls. Here is an idea sure to appeal to some but not others. Oversize bowls can sometimes be hard to store, especially with standard-depth upper cabinets at 13 inches. I use oversize bowls a lot for pasta and salad. Find the best-looking and thickest one you can and leave it on the counter. 

Traditional Kitchen by Bellevue Interior Designers & Decorators Marianne Simon Design 

Herb plant. I like to keep rosemary on my kitchen counter for the fragrance and general softness it brings to the hard surfaces in my kitchen. Of course, I snip a bit here and there for cooking. Find a sunny spot on your counter and water your plant once a week. Other herbs to try growing are mint and basil. 

Eclectic Kitchen by San Francisco Architects & Designers Andre Rothblatt Architecture 

Utensils and ingredients. I really like a container for tall utensils right next to my stove. I use a slotted spoon just about every time I cook, so why not have it there at the ready? And I think it's fine and interesting to keep oils and salt and pepper right within arm's reach. 

Eclectic Kitchen by San Francisco Architects & Designers Andre Rothblatt Architecture 

Coffeemaker. Another power appliance in many homes, the coffeemaker need not be hidden away. Those who drink coffee every day should consider a coffee section for their counter.

Traditional Kitchen by Other Metro Interior Designers & Decorators Andrea Brooks Interiors 

Blender. Another kitchen tool available in any color, a blender is handy for blending soups, juices and smoothies. My favorite is the Vitamix Professional Series 750.

Traditional Kitchen by San Marino Interior Designers & Decorators Charmean Neithart Interiors, LLC. 

Toaster. My family loves toast. I bought the biggest toaster I could find, and there still is a line at breakfast time. The toaster definitely gets a spot on the counter in my kitchen. Keep yours next to a bread drawer or bin for a complete toasting section.

Strategies to Create Color Flow Throughout a Home - a Case Study

Originality and creativity are having a moment: eclectic, colorful spaces are all the rage. But though many are over matchy-matchy furniture and one-size-fits-all paint colors, some consistency throughout the home isn't a bad thing. Done right, color coordinating leads to better flow and a polished, cohesive interior design. 

Model-home interior designer Mary DeWalt from Austin, Texas; creates designs to appeal to buyers, and one of the ways she does does that is by maintaining color flow throughout. "For us, picking colors is all about memory," she says. "People are more likely to remember a home with a particular color scheme, because it's different from all the rest. If buyers are looking at several homes, that all-turquoise one will stand out in their minds."

DeWalt's savvy color-coordinating strategies can help turn a disjointed, choppy sauce into a flowing thought-out masterpiece, as this model home design demonstrates. Pick and choose the ideas that might work for you, too.

 Photo: Colorful House in Portland via Flickr

As you make your color choices, go with what you love, not just what is trendy. DeWalt suggests picking one neutral and two accent colors to carry throughout every room. Accessories provide the color in rooms with neutral walls and grouping accessories in threes keeps tabletops interesting yet clutter free. 

Not every room needs to include every color. Cohesion is key, but that doesn't mean you can't experiment with materials. When accessories aren't enough, add a wow factor, or what DeWalt calls a punctuation mark. 

Even if you love your color scheme, be cautious with big purchases. "Don't commit to large, colorful furniture, because if you get tired of the color, it is much more expensive to replace," DeWalt says. Game rooms and kids' rooms are great spaces to take chances in; consider going bold with a brightly painted ceiling. In a transitional room, such as a hallway or an entryway, don't feel the need to go big with color just a hint of your palette can be enough. 

Don't limit your color scheme to the interior - bring it to your pool or patio with matching tile. For those whose budget doesn't include a pool renovation (or even a pool), something as simple as colorful outdoor cushions can ensure that your outdoor and indoor spaces pair perfectly.

(You are reading an article orginally posted on Houzz)