I Enforced a "Countertop Curfew" in My Kitchen, and It Freed Up So Much Space

"Decluttering and organizing expert Lenora O'Keith of Aronel Home 's "countertop curfew" trick is simple: If you don't use a kitchen item at least three to four times a week, you remove it from your countertop. Additionally, the decluttering pro has three strict "nos" for kitchen countertops - knife blocks, oils and spices, and that dreaded "mail pile.""

"The first step of the process is to assess which items you use regularly, and which you don't. You can tally up how many times you reach for each item in a week, or just go off your gut about what you use most often. For my husband and me, the appliances that we use almost daily include our Nespresso machine, SodaStream, NutriBullet, toaster, and Ninja air fryer. We use them so frequently that it doesn't make sense to tuck them away, so they stayed."

"However, we use our egg boiler and tea kettle only about once a week, so those two were easily evicted to a lower kitchen cabinet. Next, according to O'Keith's advice, my bulky knife blo"

A countertop curfew approach limits what remains on kitchen surfaces. Items not used at least three to four times per week are moved off the counter. The method also sets strict exclusions for knife blocks, oils and spices, and any mail pile. The process starts by identifying frequently used items and less-used items, either by counting weekly reaches or using intuition. Frequently used appliances such as a Nespresso machine, SodaStream, NutriBullet, toaster, and air fryer can remain out. Items used about once weekly, such as an egg boiler and tea kettle, are stored in lower cabinets. Bulky or cluttering items are removed to reduce visual clutter and improve counter space.

Read at Apartment Therapy