Pro Organizers Cringe When They See These 7 Things in a Kitchen

I think the last time my kitchen was truly organized was the day my husband and I moved in — when we hadn’t unboxed a single pot or utensil. Ah, the look of clean, empty countertops and clutter-free cabinets! Of course we eventually needed to cook meals and eat, and so began the endless quest to keep our kitchen organized.

This summer I am making an effort to declutter my kitchen. To help me make a decision about what should stay or go, I reached out to four professional organizers for their advice on kitchen organization. Here are seven things that they will pretty much declutter on sight when visiting a client’s home for the first time. 

Decorative fruit bowls are an attractive way to serve up seasonal fruit, but they can all-too-easily turn into “junk collectors,” says Seattle-based pro organizer Shantae Duckworth, founder of Shantaeize Your Space. “What may have started as a bowl of lemons for a pop of color often becomes a catch-all for mail, receipts, coupons, and stray odds and ends,” she says. (Guilty: I once used our empty banana stand to hang the car keys.)

It’s a good idea to keep your kitchen sponge at the ready and in a place where it can dry in between uses. But maybe don’t put it in one of those backsplash caddies, shares professional organizer Leslie Kilgour, founder of Get It Straight in Long Island, New York. “While these may seem convenient for everyday life, they instantly break the visual flow of a kitchen and often end up falling off, getting moldy, or just looking worn,” she says.

Eagle-eyed Kilgour can also spot another convenience that’s actually not all that convenient for kitchen organization: over-the-cabinet plastic bag holders. It’s fine to want to use up the last of your plastic bag stash, but like the sponge caddy, it might be helpful to get rid of the thing that’s been holding them. Kilgour says that these little add-ons might serve a purpose in the moment, but ultimately they clash with a cohesive, elevated design.”

Mugs are useful — to a point. Duckworth encourages you to curate your collection. “I love a cozy morning cup as much as anyone, but I’ve seen cabinets bursting with dozens of mismatched mugs — many of which haven’t been touched in years,” she says, noting that while each individual one might seem small, too many will quickly take up coveted cabinet space. (Yup, I could easily clear out a whole cabinet shelf in seconds.)

Briana and Erica Spruille are sisters and the founding duo of Just BE LLC, an organizing company based in New Orleans. Hire them, and they’ll likely take note of the number of appliances on your countertops. 

They note that while it at first seems practical to keep things like your toaster, blender, air fryer, and more at the ready, it can make an otherwise beautiful kitchen look and feel “crowded and chaotic.” Even worse? It’s a chore to clean around it all, they say. The Spruille sisters encourage clients to leave out an appliance or two that you use daily to not only simplify your kitchen routine, but also make the space more open and inviting. 

I should really take them up on this advice and relocate my KitchenAid mixer. But it’s just too heavy to move, so there it stands on my countertop for me to dust and clean.

It’s fine to have one or two small pieces of kitchen decor that you love, but too many simply create countertop clutter. “Countertops are some of the most valuable real estate in a kitchen, and a clean, clear counter makes it easier to cook, prep, and enjoy being in your kitchen,” says Duckworth. She encourages clients to keep their kitchen surfaces streamlined, with the exception of a knife block, a utensil container, and perhaps your favorite cookbook. “When everything on the counter has a purpose, the whole room feels calmer and more efficient,” she explains.

Kilgour would like to have a word with you about the collection of food storage containers on the verge of bursting out of your cabinet. She knows that you’re just being practical and trying to recycle, but chances are those lids and tubs are either mismatched or too warped to seal or stack properly. “Not only does this create visual and physical clutter, but it’s [also] a signal that the kitchen lacks intentional organization. Yikes!” she says. 

Instead, Duckworth encourages her clients to purchase a more streamlined set of glass or silicone containers. “Not only do they function better, but they also photograph beautifully and give the impression of a kitchen that’s clean, curated, and ready to be lived in,” she explains.