'Stop Treating Your Kitchen Countertop Like an Overrun Coffee Table' – Here’s How Designers Balance Adding Character Without Adding Clutter

It's a trend to style your countertops. There aren't just the practical spaces they once were, but an opportunity to add character to your kitchen, little vignettes that turn this hardworking space into one that has depth and feels personal.

But as trends turn kitchens into living rooms, is countertop decor getting out of hand? Are we treating these practical spaces too much like coffee tables, or bedside tables, spaces that can afford to be taken up with books and coasters and trays of trinkets? Yes, in theory, more things equate to more personality, but in reality, more things just means more clutter – clutter you certainly don't need in the kitchen.

'When kitchen counters are styled in the manner of coffee tables, the sense of clarity and intentionality is lost, and they will begin to appear chaotic,' interior designer Lauren Saab explains.

'A coffee table is largely decorative. It supports the mood of a living space and is looked at as a styling opportunity for books, objects, or pieces that are there purely for visual interest,' agrees interior designer Terri Brien. 'A kitchen countertop, on the other hand, plays a major role in how the kitchen functions day to day. It is a working surface.'

So how do you get that balance between clutter and character?

1. Remember the Countertop's Primary Purpose

'The most important stylistic difference between kitchen countertops and coffee tables, is that a kitchen counter is primarily a work space, and secondary a design feature,' Lauren explains. 'Kitchen counters need to be able to facilitate food preparation and cleanup as well as everyday routines, while visually having minimal distractions.'

At their core, kitchen countertops are meant for cooking – they're not a display space for decor or a temporary holding zone for miscellaneous objects. However, it's only natural that these surfaces end up looking as such. 'Kitchens are the heart of the home, which is exactly why they so often become cluttered,' Terri says. 'They tend to be a catchall.'

Lauren explains further, noting that 'kitchen counters become cluttered because they serve as the crossroads of daily activities, where mailbags, chargers, supplements, and miscellaneous items are placed because they seem most convenient in the moment.' However, using countertops as convenient holding surfaces 'disrupts the visual and functional flow of the kitchen,' Lauren continues.

And with the growing interior design trend to create characterful interior spaces, some might have the desire to fill every inch of counterspace with trinkets and decorative accents. While these are nice touches, they can get in the way of the main purposes of the kitchen – prepping, cooking, and eating.

When designing and styling your kitchen, remember the room's primary purpose as a work zone. Countertops can be decorated, but it's important to keep the space functional first.

2. Avoid Impractical Dust-Gathering Decor

You might be wondering – what doesn't belong on a kitchen countertop? 'Items that do not support cooking, cleaning, or gathering are generally items that do not belong on kitchen counters,' Lauren advises. 'This would include mail piles that immediately turn a kitchen into a transitional space, rather than one that is intentionally designed.'

Even kitchen appliances and storage containers can be culprits of cluttering a countertop, despite their importance in the kitchen. 'Some of the most common items I see that do not belong on kitchen counters include too many small appliances like air fryers, blenders, food processors, stand mixers, toaster ovens, and slow or pressure cookers,' Terri tells me. 'Even well intentioned storage like flour and sugar canisters can quickly overwhelm a space when there are too many of them out in the open.'

Certain decor should be eliminated from kitchen countertops, too. 'Trays filled with decorative items that never get moved or replaced just accumulate dust and take up valuable counter real estate,' Lauren remarks. Instead, think about styling your countertops with things that you actually use, like cookbooks, your nicest crockery and chic but useful storage containers.

3. Add Decorative Storage

In order to keep countertops from looking too much like coffee tables, it's important to prioritize storage in the kitchen. This way, the countertops can be kept clean, organized, and ready for cooking.

'Good kitchens plan storage aggressively so counters can stay clear,' Lauren explains. 'Deep drawers near prep zones pull appliances off the surface and keep them accessible. Integrated appliance garages hide the everyday items without sacrificing convenience.' Lauren even recommends incorporating 'drop zones' in the home's entryway or mudroom so that non-kitchen-related items can be placed there and not on your countertops. 'With a well-thought-out kitchen design, your countertops will naturally remain calm and clutter-free,' she says.

But even before you plan storage and organize your kitchen, it's important to consider how your kitchen will be used. 'A household that cooks daily and prepares multiple meals needs very different storage than someone who cooks occasionally or eats out often,' Terri explains. 'People who enjoy cooking and baking naturally own more gadgets and small appliances, and without properly planned storage, those items almost always end up living on the counter.' Before thinking about storage, think about how you use your kitchen. This way, you can plan for what your space will actually need. 'When storage is planned with intention, the possibilities are almost endless,' Terri says.

And if you're worried that your kitchen will look too industrial or utility-driven with storage as a priority, don't worry. There are kitchen storage options that can add character to your countertops while organizing the space – like McGee & Co.'s Ponsford Stoneware Canisters or even The Container Store's Water Hyacinth Bins.

4. Pick Just a Few Styling Moments

Here's the thing – while you should keep your countertop styling to a minimum, these surfaces don't need to be completely empty or void of decor. They just need to be styled in a way that makes sense for the kitchen.

According to Terri, there's no problem having a few styling moments or kitchen vignettes on your countertops, just as long as they don't take over the space and turn the kitchen into something it's not. After all, these are kitchen countertops we're talking about, not coffee tables. 'The counter should still feel open and usable, not crowded or visually noisy,' Terri explains.

As for what to style on your countertops, Terri recommends 'styling that feels natural and collected,' she tells me. 'A small grouping of cookbooks leaning against, or under, a vintage pitcher can work beautifully. A handcrafted ceramic bowl used for fruit or vegetables feels more interesting than a mass-produced decorative bowl.' Vintage kitchen decor, like glassware and decorative plates can help create a characterful display, too.

Lauren also thinks a kitchen counter can benefit from some styling moments here and there. 'A simple bowl of fruit, a casual leaning of a wooden cutting board, or a singular sculptural vessel can add warmth to your countertops without creating clutter,' she suggests.

According to Terri, 'the key is editing and leaving breathing room.' Refrain from overloading your kitchen counters with trinkets and decorative objects that might be better suited for your coffee table.

'Only allow one styling moment per zone,' Lauren suggests. 'When every surface becomes a vignette, your kitchen loses its usability.'

Shop Kitchen Countertop Decor That's Chic and Practical

'A well-designed kitchen naturally stays calmer and more functional, and the countertops are free to do what they are meant to do,' Terri says. Even though trends do point towards more layered lived in kitchen, don't let this tip into making your space impractical.