Counter Clutter: 9 Tips To Help You Avoid The Mess

Lexy Ward

I honestly wish this photo was a joke. But in order to share my excitement about the “afters”, you must see the “before”. Ugh. I like to think of myself as a neat person. I do. I’m neat and tidy. USUALLY. On occasion, things in my life tend to pile up (literally), and before I know it, I’ve gone a whole month without organizing my workspace/kitchen/bathroom counter. I’ve sworn off that part of me, and I’m sharing a few tips to help you stay a littler neater, too.      

Lexy Ward

Wowza! What a difference, am I right? I spent an afternoon gutting every countertop in my house. I partnered with Poppin to keep things looking ultra-glam. I’m now ready to share my wise words with the masses! 

Lexy Ward

Tip #1: Utilize your drawer space! I can’t tell you how much junk was in my drawers. Makeup, brushes, hair and skin care items were strewn about. There was no rhyme or reason to any of it. By placing several accessory trays like this, this, this, and this one in the drawer, I was able to make things a little more organized. Everything has a place. And everything is in plain sight. 

Lexy Ward

Lexy Ward

I wear contacts, but can never seem to find an actual pair. This grip grass by Poppin holds a variety of items, and it was perfect to keep my lenses on display so I can pop them in first thing in the morning. 

Lexy Ward

Tip #2: Wipe the bathroom counter and mirror every morning! After you’ve finished getting ready each day, take a minute to put the hairsprays, toothpaste, and other necessities in their rightful place. Use a towel or wet wipe to clean any makeup dust or stray hairs off the counter. By wiping down everyday, you’re forcing yourself to destroy the clutter. 

Lexy Ward

I’m totally fine with a few jars hanging out on the bathroom counter, but I love when the drawers are jam-packed, but in a neat way. Even the cotton balls have a home!

Lexy Ward

Tip #3: Sort your mail daily. This may seem like a “duh”, but you’d be surprised how easy it is to let the letters stack up. Each day, open your mail and sort into folders like these white and coral folios from Poppin. Designate a space for bills, coupons, and other mailings that you plan to save. At the end of the week, go through each folder and toss anything that you don’t need. As a rule of thumb, monthly bills (utilities, cable, energy, etc.) can be tossed at the end of every month. Hang on to any tax documents or medical bills. 

Tip #4: Use a TINY bowl for odds & ends. If you’re like me, you collect change to be used on a rainy day. It’s just as easy as throwing it in your wallet, but if you can’t or don’t want to do that, place things like spare change and keys in a cute lil’ bowl like these latte bowls from Anthropologie. 

Tip #5. Clean as you go! When cooking or baking anything in the kitchen, make a conscious effort to put things back immediately after using them. Just need 1/2 tsp of salt? Great. Put the salt back after you’ve measured. By doing this, the after-dinner cleanup will be much easier (and much more efficient!) for the chore-doer!

Lexy Ward

Tip #6: Less is more. As a DIY blogger, I’ve become somewhat of a hoarder with crafty supplies. Glue guns, decorative paper, glitter, OH MY. It all just sort of piled on top of the desk. But I knew I wanted a pretty space to inspire me daily, so I chose a few of my favorite items to be on display all the time. The rest of the stuff? Stored away in boxes and drawers until I really need it. 

Stack letter trays on top of one another to take advantage of limited counterspace. Go crazy with color or keep things classic with white trays like these.

Lexy Ward

Give pens a little face lift by wrapping with decorative washi tape. These make me happy to keep on display year-round. 

Lexy Ward

Lexy Ward

Tip #7: Give everything a place. If you’re going to use it, find a place for it. Even the business cards I collect have a place on my desk now. That grip grass was just the ticket to organize the cards from businesses on my mind. 

Lexy Ward

Tip #8: Create vertical storage! I use glitter and tinsel a lot. These materials come in pretty vials, but they take up A LOT of counterspace. I used a tall glass apothecary jar to hold them, and it also added a pop of color to my workspace! Win win.

Lexy Ward

Lexy Ward

This has become a space that I actually want to work in! There’s even a place for my laptop! No more long nights on the couch!

Lexy Ward

Tip #9: Store the toys in boxes with easy access. I have an almost one-year-old whose favorite game is to get all the toys out and use each one for a few minutes before moving onto the next. There are toys on the dining table, on the couch, on the bed, on the stove, on my desk, and everywhere else you can think of.  At the end of each day, after she’s gone to bed, every toy gets tossed in a little fabric box that hangs out in front of the fireplace. 

Lexy Ward

The lid keeps things sealed tight. The box is on the floor ready and waiting to be emptied the next day.

Once more…

Lexy Ward

Lexy WardI’m hereby pledging to stay as neat as humanly possible from here on out. I’ll update you next month and let you know how I’m doing. A huge, HUGE “thank you” to Poppin for helping me find my inner organization goddess! Visit Poppin to learn how you can work happy!

Please tell me you have a clutter issue like me! What are some of your tips to help you stay organized?