16 Storage Ideas That Will Free Up Your Counter Space

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Clutter seems to breed on kitchen counters. Whether it's bowls of fruit or one of many coffee-making appliances, stuff just piles up there no matter what you do. But if you want to have a clean aesthetic that makes the most of the space you've got, you can only dedicate so much counter real estate to your kitchen necessities. The rest? That's where these brilliant storage ideas come in. From strapping cutting boards onto the side of a cabinet to giving the microwave its own drawer, here are some creative and practical ways to clear up counter space. You'll have plenty of room to get cooking in no time.

Use Hanging Baskets

williams-sonoma

Hanging planters have been trendy for a while, but it's time to bring back the hanging fruit basket. This copper one will bring chic farmhouse vibes to your kitchen, even if you don't own an inch of shiplap.

BUY NOW Hanging Wire 3-Tier Fruit Basket, $70

Build in Appliances

douglas friedman

Built-in microwaves are common, but built-in coffee makers? That's the wave of the future. This kitchen by designer Michelle Nussbaumer also features other custom features like a water dispenser and speed oven to really maximize space.

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Make Your Sink Do Triple-Duty

Amazon

If you're in the market for a new sink, consider one that truly makes your life easier. Kohler's Prolific line has mini ledges inside the sink, so you can easily pop in a drying rack, wash pan, or cutting board, making use of that 36-inch space normally reserved for stacking dirty dishes. (And, okay, actually cleaning them. At some point.)

BUY NOW Kohler Prolific Sink and Accessories, from $893

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Move Items to Carts

reid rolls

If you have an expansive kitchen—or even just a small empty corner within a tighter room—make the most of free space with old filing cabinets, work tables, or bar carts, which can be used to host small appliances, cookbooks, extra mugs, and more.. This kitchen by designer Leanne Ford perfectly fits three stylish storage pieces.

Strap Cutting Boards to a Cabinet Door

Tikkido

Slim boards stay tucked away (but won't stop your cabinet from closing) in this clever storage spot.

Get the tutorial at Tikkido.

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Or Turn a Drawer Into a Cutting Board

joe schmelzer

If you'd rather have one cutting board that you can easily whip out, consider nesting one within a drawer. This pull-out board designed by Alice Lane Interiors was strategically placed over a pull-out garbage and comes with a hole for easy disposal.

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Give Your Bread Its Own Home

laura moss

If you tend to keep bread on the counter rather than the refrigerator, consider these clever built-in baskets. But be wary of this method if you have pets.

Use Your Pantry Door

Amazon

You have an over-the-door organizer for your shoes, but you really need one for your pantry. Just think: With those shelves clear, you've got room to stow that blender, Crock-Pot, and bulky knife block.

SHOP ORGANIZERS Over-The-Door Cabinet Organizer, $49

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Move the Microwave Down Low

Young House Love

Your microwave can take up a huge chunk of precious counter space, but it's not the type of thing you can pull in and out of a cupboard every time you want to use it. Young House Love has just the solution: Stick it in your island.

(Property Brothers star Jonathan Scott recommends a drawer microwave, which opens from the top if you hate bending down to heat your leftovers.)

Find out more at Young House Love.

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Hang Cooking Utensils

Annie Schlechter

Crocks of spoons and spatulas are easy to grab, but they get in the way. In this Scandinavian-inspired kitchen designed by Susan Serra, a few workhorse utensils hang neatly over the stove.

Stow Cereal and Snacks Out of Sight

Jason Donnelly

There's nothing that cramps your granite's style like a row of ripped cereal boxes. Designer Karin Edwards found a solution with a handy pull-out cabinet loaded with matching bins from the Container Store.

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Give Magazines Their Own Side Shelf

shelf, room, furniture, countertop, shelving, kitchen,

White Tulip Designs

Unearth your favorite cooking mags from the pile of junk mail, and give them a dedicated place in your kitchen.

Get the tutorial at White Tulip Designs.

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Put Shelves on the Side of Your Cabinet

The Chronicles of Home

You're not using that space for anything, anyway. Might as well make the most of it.

Find out more at The Chronicles Of Home.

Install a Built-In Fruit Bowl

Francesco Lagnese

We admit this idea is a bit high-concept–but isn't it totally genius? Designer Mick De Giulio revealed the built-in "bowl" in our 2012 Kitchen of the Year. As you prep ingredients for a recipe, you can just stick them there, so they won't roll around (and off the table) as you work.

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Choose An Island With Open Storage.

Mom 4 Real

This piece started its life as a sideboard. Repurposed as an island, the shelves provide a place to stash cookbooks and extra tools, keeping must-haves nearby but not scattered everywhere.

Find out more at Mom 4 Real.

More: 15 Ways To Upgrade Your Kitchen Island

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Turn a Wood Pallet Into a Catch-All Organizer

Schon's Ideas

A pallet's grid of slim slats provides a flexible storage station unlike any other—a magnetic knife rack can clip to a board, hooks can dangle in-between, and you can even clip grocery lists and cards to it.

Get the tutorial at Schön's Ideas.

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