10 Things Making Your Kitchen Feel Small & Dirty

While I typically don’t mind small appliances and mail piling up on our counters, my fiance is the type of person who’s hyper-aware of visible clutter, especially in the kitchen. I thought I had it all covered by tucking stray iPhone cords in a drawer and keeping the toaster in a cabinet.

Then, my soon-to-be mother-in-law and self-proclaimed interior decorator walked through our apartment to make suggestions before we moved it and, well, I saw our kitchen with new eyes.

Wondering what could be cluttering up your counters?

Here’s what my other mother has to say about common clutter and design choices that get in the way of a neat-looking, functional kitchen.

1. Photos and art on the fridge

Sticking your favorite photos (and your kids’ macaroni “masterpiece”) on the fridge is great for showcasing those cherished memories and making your kitchen feel more “homie.”

But using your refrigerator as a display is bound to make your kitchen messier than it is. Instead, opt to display pictures on a gallery wall in another room or keep them in a photo album.

While you’re at it, tuck the magnet collection away, too—or invest in a glass whiteboard with a magnetic section for your home office. 

2. Poor lighting 

The single overhead “boob” light that came with your apartment kitchen is a blemish you can’t remove, which sucks.

It ends up becoming a dimly lit tomb for dead fly carcasses.

Low lighting doesn’t just make your space feel darker, it can also make everything in your kitchen feel dirtier. Low light levels can effectively hide dirt and grime. Spills, splatters, and crumbs that might be readily apparent in good lighting can easily blend into the background in a dim kitchen.

Don't rely on just one overhead light source.

Consider adding under-cabinet lighting, pendant lights over islands or prep areas, and even sconces for a warm, inviting ambiance. We recommend brightening up with cool LED lighting, and always making sure every light fixture has the same color light bulb.

3. Grease and grime

Grease and grime are the unwelcome villains in any kitchen.

They build up on surfaces, making your kitchen look sticky and feel unsanitary. This buildup is especially prevalent if your vent hood recirculates air back into the kitchen instead of venting it outside.

Aim to clean your cooktops, cabinets, and other affected areas at least once a week. This will prevent layers of greasy grime from building up and becoming a stubborn enemy later.

4. Appliances on the counters

One of the most common clutter culprits is a collection of small kitchen appliances, from coffee makers to stand mixers and blenders.

While these items might make your kitchen more functional, they prevent potential buyers from noticing other elements of your kitchen, like your countertops, cabinets, and hardware.

So keep anything you don’t use daily in a separate storage space, with one exception: A bright-colored mixer or toaster can be a playful and fun touch for staging, but remember, less is more.

5. Clutter on the floor

Be just as aware of your floor space as you are of your counters and storage areas. Pet bowls, garbage cans, and recycling bins in addition to appliances can quickly start to crowd your walking areas.

The same is true for island or breakfast nook seating if you don’t push your stools or chairs in. 

6. Mismatched tile, floors, or appliances

It’s not always realistic to design a totally cohesive kitchen, but try to be consistent in each category.

For example, mismatched tiles, appliances, or flooring types in a kitchen can make it feel a whole lot messier than it actually is. During my apartment hunting escapades, I toured a place where the countertop was a pretty granite but the backsplash was an entirely different tile with a rough finish.

Individually, they were nice choices, but together, it was too many textures and made the space feel cluttered.

7. Cooking ingredients left on the counter

Salt, pepper, and cooking oil left next to the stove make for convenient food prep, but they only add clutter to the space.

The oils and spices we use are rarely picture-perfect, and while it’s convenient to have them handy, those bottles and jars look messy and oily to those who may be viewing the kitchen.

Instead of keeping them on your counter, find a creative, accessible spot to store them, like in a cabinet or drawer adjacent to your stovetop.

8. Soap bottles and brushes

Leaving your dish and hand-washing tools on display is a great way to make your sink area appear cluttered. Plus, soap can leave pesky rings on your sink or countertop, and moisture accumulation beneath the bottles can even cause rot behind a sink area.

I recommend squeezing the water out of any sponges or scrub brushes, letting them dry in the sun, and then storing them under the sink, which balances convenience and neatness.

9. Cookbooks and recipes

Your kitchen isn’t the place to put cookbooks or recipes on display, either.

Make sure those loved and worn books and papers with tomato stains and grease on them are packed away in a tote and put in a closet.

That way, it’s easy to get to them when you’re moving and grandma’s secret cookie recipe won’t ever be forgotten.

10. A tangled web of cords

When you work with a lot of little gadgets or appliances, cords can get a bit out of hand and clutter up your space—even if they’re not in the way.

When putting things away isn’t an option, investing in some sort of cord organization tools can help reduce visual clutter.

Things like cable sleeves that run across the back of your counters can be an elegant solution.

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