Looking to reduce visual clutter in your kitchen? We’ve asked the experts for their top tips and creative ideas…

Hands up – if there was one thing you could make disappear from your kitchen, what would it be? I am the first to raise mine and say: clutter. I am guilty of accumulating an unhealthy amount of quirky kitchenalia, aesthetically pleasing but equally functional small appliances, and various storage solutions for spices, granola and other delicious dried goods. So, finding a place for everything, as you can imagine, can become a quest.

Surprisingly (or not), I am not the only one who wishes they could snap their fingers and make visual clutter begone. “The appeal for more streamlined storage has continued to gain momentum over the last year. We are seeing a desire for a clutter-free kitchen, with crockery and utensils being neatly tucked behind cabinetry doors,” says Nicolle Whyte, design director at Olive & Barr.

And this shift is especially common in open-plan kitchens, Cassie Jones, brand manager at Masterclass Kitchens, explains: “There is less wall space available, so making use of clever design and storage solutions is essential to ensure a minimal, clutter-free environment.”

Rest assured, I’ve asked the industry experts for their tips and tricks for clutter-free kitchen worktops…

Hidden kitchens

So, what are some of the best ways to keep your worktops free of clutter? First on the list – hidden designs. “The concealed kitchen is a nod to the recent trend of ‘back kitchens’ where the inner workings of the kitchen, dirty dishes and ‘messy’ items could be stored away out of sight,” says Nicolle.

Bi-fold doors that easily slide open to reveal extra preparation space, appliances and kitchen essentials are ideal for streamlining your design. Another great way to get a visually clean and unfussy look is by seamlessly integrating your utility or storage room’s door into your cabinetry. To find out more about hidden doors, click here.

Breakfast and coffee stations

Keep your morning essentials on hand and out of sight with the help of breakfast cupboards and coffee stations. Similar to the hidden kitchen look, bi-fold doors are ideal for maximising space while maintaining a clean and uncluttered design. “A bi-fold breakfast pantry can be designed to incorporate your entire morning routine, from a professional coffee machine, toaster, storage for everyday crockery, and a whole host of cereal options for the kids,” explains Tom Howley, creative design director at the eponymous kitchen company.

“The best thing is that once you’ve had enough, you can close the doors behind you, concealing all the mess until it’s time to tidy. This is ideal for keeping your worktops clutter-free,” says Tom.

Cassie agrees and says: “Having a dedicated place area with closed doors for your tea and coffee ingredients and appliances means that everything is always neatly stored away and out of sight when not in use. Having power points installed at the back of the cabinet means you can leave your appliances ready to use. Simply open the doors and away you go.”

Maximised corners

If you have awkward corners in your kitchen, why not make the most of the wall space available by adding open shelving. You can display your collection of spices, cookbooks, and other miscellaneous items which would usually be scattered on your worktops.

Alternatively, pull-out organisers are a great choice for keeping your corner base cabinets organised. “For smaller appliances that aren’t used as frequently, opt for corner cabinets equipped with flyover shelves. These shelves provide a secure storage space for your appliances, keeping them neatly tucked away. Enhance accessibility by integrating a pop-up socket into the kitchen design. This ensures that when you need to use the appliance, it can easily be accessed by popping up the plug, using and then neatly stowing away when not in use,” advises Cassie.

Wall-mounted kitchen storage

If you are tired of cluttered worktops, but would still like to display your favourite glassware, cookbooks or crockery, take your storage up the walls instead through open shelving. And I don’t know about you, but I love a shelf – an easy and cost-effective way of optimising wall space while clearing up your worktops. Plus, you can get creative with decorating it to add personality to your kitchen.

But shelving is not the only solution to help free up your worktops. “Wall-mounted storage such as shelves, racks or pegboards are perfect for keeping items within easy reach while freeing up valuable worktop and cabinet space,” explains Molly Chandler, designer at Willis & Stone.

Paul Richardson, showroom stylist at Wren Kitchens, agrees and says: “Wall-mounted shelving allows you to utilise unused vertical space for storing items like spices, cookbooks, or decorative pieces, keeping them off the countertops.”

Look up! You can even install ceiling-mounted floating racks above your island to keep oil, extra utensils or pots and pans on hand while recreating the popular pro-style kitchen look.

Under-island shelving

If an island is on your wishlist, then make sure to talk to your designer about including drawers or shelves for gaining extra storage. “A great way to get the most out of your kitchen island is to have built-in cabinets and drawers. You can tailor under-island storage to fit your needs and create organised work zones to improve workflow efficiency. Using pull-out drawers, open shelving, or deep cabinets for larger kitchenware, ensuring you have enough storage to keep surfaces clutter-free,” says Paul.

Multi-functional solutions

Last, but not least, multi-functionality is also important when looking to free up your worktops – from sink systems with built-in accessories to boiling-water taps that rid the need for kettles and smart ovens that feature microwave or air fryer functions. Jo Sargent, sales and marketing director at Franke UK, says: “Sink designs that incorporate flexible and intelligent functionality with accessories that can be easily stowed away, leaving the sink area tidy and efficient, are a good choice among consumers seeking a more organised kitchen and clutter-free worktops.”

“Upgrading to a multifunctional kitchen tap that delivers instant boiling water replaces the need for a kettle and frees up valuable worktop space. This creates a sleek, clutter-free look while boosting both practicality and style,” adds Jo.

I will be stealing some of these clever ideas for my own kitchen design – will you too?

Enjoyed this post? Click here to discover how to have a secondary storage room next to your kitchen

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