Declutter Kitchen Counter

Clear Your Countertops with an inset Compost Bin.

The Impossible Dream?

For years the counters in my kitchen could have won the clutter Olympics. They held normal countertop accoutrements, a compost bin, canisters, coffee pots and kettles, as well as stuff unique to us, DH’s personal cereal bowl, a sugar jar so large it had its own zip code, and more. Once I saw a small dragon behind a coffee cup. Can you spell CLUTTER?
I vowed the new kitchen would usher in a new countertop era.

Clear countertops for all!

For years the counters in my kitchen could have won the clutter Olympics. They held normal countertop accoutrements, a compost bin, canisters, coffee pots and kettles, as well as stuff unique to us, DH’s personal cereal bowl, a sugar jar so large it had its own zip code, and more. Once I saw a small dragon behind a coffee cup. Can you spell CLUTTER?
I vowed the new kitchen would usher in a new countertop era.

Kitchen clutter

I found new homes for the the canisters. The jumbo sugar jar moved to the pantry. I purchased a decorative kettle pretty enough for staging. But one thing had to remain. We accessed our compost bin continually. We could not rehouse or discard it.
The solution? Sink the compost bin into the countertop. Cue the great sunken compost bin hunt.
First stop, Amazon (of course). For the first time, Amazon failed me. Nothing, nada! Next, Google. What? $495! Not an option. Second find, $350. Nothing cheaper appeared. I broadened the search to sunken anything. Pay dirt for the term “sunken trash container”. The price dropped to $95 which now felt cheap, and Amazon had this so no shipping.
I expected clear sailing from there. But, no.

Declutter Kitchen Counter

Under my counters are a dishwasher, a stove, a trash compacter and drawers, important drawers: one for silverware, another for utensils, a drawer for measuring cups and the obligatory junk drawer.

My junk drawer was full (isn’t every junk drawer full?) But, maybe I didn’t need quite so many matchboxes. Are 3 hand can openers a requirement? Clean out time. After half the junk was gone we shortened the drawer by adding a board across the width half way back then cut a U out of the bottom of the drawer. Triumph!

My new kitchen has been complete for 5 months. So far, we’ve kept the counters clean.

Cinderella sang, “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes” *

*Mack David, Al Hoffman and Jerry Livingston for the Walt Disney film Cinderella (1950).

7 responses to “Declutter Kitchen Counter”

  1. Marcia Russell Avatar
    Marcia Russell

    As much as you use your kitchen, this is a triumph! Bravo!

  2. Vicki W Avatar
    Vicki W

    Wow! Congratulations! 5 months clear countertops equals a new habit.

  3. Angie Hassler Avatar
    Angie Hassler

    Persistence and creativity paid off for you!

    1. admin Avatar

      Thank you. Every time I walk in the kitchen, I feel happy.

  4. Carol Larson Avatar
    Carol Larson

    Wow, Bobbi, great job!! Your counters look so good! Not only new and shiny but cleared off so you can see the new and shiny!

  5. […] I made in my own kitchen? Want to see more? I have blog posts about the floating shelves, the compost bin set in my counter tops, the color of the cabinets, the cabinet paint, the cabinet doors, our […]

  6. […] In-counter compost bucket […]

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