When it comes to getting your kitchen in order, purging is only half of the equation. You have to get your remaining gear organized so you can easily access what you have deemed worthy. And the counter? That's precious territory. Leave too much out and you'll have nowhere to chop herbs or prep your mise en place (not to mention that it will look like a cluttered mess). But don't leave out enough and you’re squandering prime real estate. Some smart equipment will let you have it all: These tools help organize what you need out in the open and free up space on your counters.
If you’ve got high cabinets, dangle utensils from the bottom of them. This rod from Ikea costs a cool $10 and will get those ladles and spoons out of the jar and off of the counter. Sure, you can still keep wooden spoons and rubber spatulas that won't hang in a pretty container, but this way it doesn’t get too crowded in there.
While you’re at it, hang drying dishes, too. IKEA has a whole series of different items that hang from a rod, including ones for drying plates, wine glasses, and utensils.
Stick your knives to the wall. If you are Batman in the kitchen, then knives are your Robin, so you want them at the ready. A magnetic strip is the answer. (Your kitchen scissors and whisk can also attach to it, too.)
Give your condiments boundaries. It’s all about the right balance: Keep those rarely-used, special-guest items in a cabinet and the ones you reach for multiple times a day out in the open. Our food director Carla Lalli Music uses a Heller tray that she got as a wedding present to hold olive oil, vinegars, salt and pepper, chili flakes, room temperature butter, and nutritional yeast (her go-tos). I use a big tile I snagged at my gardening nursery for similar things. It’s like a mind trick! You never overfill the space because the surface acts like a border. Extra points for a lazy Susan.
Hide your dish cleaning supplies. Try placing sponges in a suction basket that sticks to the inside wall of your sink. And while you’re at it, pour your dish soap into a handsome dispenser so that it doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb.
Put your spices on your refrigerator. The Container Store sells magnetic spice tins so you can put your spices right on the fridge. They’re ultra-functional magnets you can use when you're cooking—and also to hold up a postcard from your mom.