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Tricks to Making the Most of Your Small Kitchen Countertops

Even if cooking isn’t one of your favorite activities, a small kitchen countertop can make life difficult. Even if you’re not slicing veggies, you’ll want a large enough surface to set your grocery bags, appliances, and other accessories or decorative objects, but how do you make the most of a little countertop?

If your modern kitchen doesn’t have enough space for an island, you’ll have to make do with the countertops you have, which is more said than done.

To help you out, here are easy ways to maximize space and make the most of your small kitchen countertops.

Choose multifunctional appliances

Appliances usually occupy a lot of room on your kitchen countertop, so opt for multifunctional ones whenever possible.

If you like coffee, your coffee maker, grinder, and frother (together with all their cords) might take up a lot of space on your worktop.

To save space, consider a coffee maker that grinds the beans, brews the coffee, and froths the milk. Although such an appliance will be of significant in size, it will still take up less room than the individual parts, and you can rest assured that there will be no excess wiring cluttering your space.

Many people often ignore the oven, which isn’t good. Consider replacing an integrated one with the standard four burners in your tiny kitchen with a domino hob.

Because most people don’t use all four burners simultaneously, choosing a domino hob with only two burners mounted vertically can help you gain some extra inches.

Get rid of duplicates and anything else you aren’t using

When you have limited room, you can’t afford to keep every outdated thing you don’t use.

This is because they will create a cluttered appearance and slowly but steadily take up the majority of your available surface, which is why it is critical to declutter your kitchen countertops if you want to regain some space.

Duplicates are common in most kitchens. You can be five-can openers or twenty wooden spoons, which aren’t necessary. To free up space, collect items from the same category and minimize the volume, preserving the best and greatest quality.

This way, you’ll have fewer things (that you use) but have more space.

Make use of the space above the sink.

This is a brilliant solution that you can use to your advantage. You need to cover the sink with marble or any other material and make use of the space.

Since you have covered the area you wouldn’t have used, now you have space to do some cutting and many other tasks.

Organize your cupboards properly.

Many people wind up cluttering their worktops with objects that could easily fit in their kitchen cabinets if they were a little more organized.

You can arrange your space more wisely now that you’ve decluttered and removed all duplicates and objects you don’t need.

Begin by organizing and maximizing your cabinet space so your countertops are not congested. This calls for you to look into storage alternatives for your kitchen cupboards to keep the counters clear.

Fortunately, there are numerous kitchen storage solutions to help you maximize your cabinet space, which allow you to use all of the area while quickly accessing all of your items, spice racks that hang on the back of cabinet doors, and shelf organizers, which allow you to use the space vertically.

You can use wire storage baskets to maximize space within your cabinets so you can tuck in.

Making the most of your storage means you’ll have less need to keep storage caddies or food packets on your countertops, which leaves you enough room to do other things.

Make use of drawers.

Because you’ll be stashing as much as possible away from the counters, you will have a lot of space.

If you have a mix of drawers and shelves, the equipment you use the most should be in the drawers, while less commonly used tools, such as special cake pans, should be stored in the rear reaches of the shelves.

If you don’t have a lot of lower drawers, try installing pull-out cabinet shelves, which are as close to retrofitting drawers into your existing cabinets as you can get.

Think about decanting

It’s debatable, but there is no harm in decanting pantry products into glass jars. After all, when the pantry items are too many, you place them on the countertops, and you don’t want this.

Yes, it’s fussy, but in a compact area, they fit far more neatly into cabinets than a jumble of boxes and bags, resulting in less mess overall and the need to move some to the countertops.

You can upcycle tomato sauce jars and the like, but nothing beats old-school clip-top jars when it comes to airtight storage.

Using the version has much potential for extra storage, but you’ll want to be careful not to crowd your area with too many objects hanging from the walls.

A magnetic knife rack on the wall is practical since it takes up far less space than in-drawer knife storage or a knife block, and it keeps your blades within easy reach.

A hanging rail is also a good idea to consider for that added space.

There are other alternative options for going vertical. For example, you can screw cup hooks into the underside of higher cupboards and hang your cups next to the coffee maker.

Install a hook and hang a wire fruit basket to reclaim the space previously occupied by the fruit bowl, and purchase strong magnetic hooks and stick them to your range.

While going vertical will save you a lot of granite countertops Raleigh that you can use for other roles, you should note that if you use all of these tactics, your kitchen will feel claustrophobic. And you don’t want this.

Instead, you should work with experienced contractors who will guide you on taking advantage of the vertical spaces without letting things get out of control.

7 Ways to Decorate your Kitchen Countertops

Knowing how to decorate kitchen counters is all about striking the right mix between aesthetics and functionality.

The kitchen should be a welcoming location in the home, full of character and charm. It also should be a functional workspace where you can entertain, cook, and store all kitchen appliances and accessories.

The key to decorating kitchen countertops is to think about everyday products you use frequently that could benefit from being on the show and ornamental pieces that make kitchen ideas feel distinct and special to you.

To help you out, here are ways to decorate your kitchen counters:

Keep the countertops clean and decluttered

When designing countertops, you should keep them clean and decluttered. Unlike other areas of the home, countertops do not benefit from a heavier touch.

Always leave enough space on your counters and kitchen islands for people to sit and dine, so never overcrowd the surfaces.

Whenever you are done preparing the meals, clean the surfaces.

Use flowers and plants.

Decorating with plants and flowers in the home will always produce a peaceful and tranquil feeling, even in a kitchen, which is frequently a busy and frantic hub.

You can place tiny cachepots of potted herbs next to a window for cooking and for the peaceful, heady scents they weave throughout a kitchen.

Decorating kitchen counters creates a welcoming atmosphere rich with color and natural beauty, whether you have lovely blooms in a vase on a kitchen island or pots of herbs and plants alongside a window or near preparation areas.

When selecting, choose small, compact plants that flourish indoors and require little care. Popular alternatives include succulents, herbs, miniature potted flowers like orchids or African violets, and even air plants that don’t require soil. Choose plants that will thrive in your kitchen’s lighting circumstances, whether bright and sunny or with limited natural light.

If you don’t have a lot of space, you should use hanging planters or macramé plant holders from the ceiling or wall if you have limited countertop space. Hanging pothos, spider plants, or ivy creates a cascade effect in your kitchen, adding vertical appeal while saving important counter space.

Use appealing pots, planters, or vases that complement your kitchen’s style and color scheme when using containers.

Choose from ceramic pots, glass vases, or reuse old containers such as mason jars or teacups. To prevent water from accumulating, make sure the containers have drainage holes or use a layer of pebbles at the bottom.

Extend the shelving

Extending a shelving design allows extra shelf styling options and produces a sleek, tiered impression.

The countertop in this kitchen is treated as an extra shelf, with an eclectic mix of goods that echo your desired design.

This shelf and countertop design creates a visually appealing focal point in the kitchen and a central, zoned space where ornamental objects and functional accessories are housed.

Group items in small zones

You should plan to group objects in zones when deciding where to place them to adorn kitchen counters. When done right, it will result in a well-styled space.

Start with a blank slate and construct little depth and vertical height clusters.

Kitchen countertops’ corners allow you to tuck away from the main countertop surface area.

You should consider marking or graphically identifying each zone to make it plain and intuitive for all family members.

To indicate the purpose of each zone, use labels, stickers, or even ornamental features such as chalkboard signs or miniature drawings. This will aid in organization and ensuring that items are returned to their proper locations.

Once you’ve established the zones, develop a routine of regularly arranging and clearing the stuff in each zone. Return items to their designated locations after usage, and reassess whether any adjustments are required depending on your changing needs.

Use decorative trays

You can use decorative trays to curate and display your favorite items and accessories; they are a fashionable and functional way to decorate kitchen surfaces.

A tray collects items such as vases of flowers, coasters, and other small kitchen accessories, leaving more room for cooking and meal preparations. Depending on your use, you can pick up a tray and move it around the kitchen.

To add visual interest, vary the height and texture of the items in the tray. To raise some items, use small pedestals or stack books or coasters. Using different textures such as glass, ceramic, or woven materials to create depth and perspective to the display.

Display items with sentimental value or represent your interests to provide a personal touch. A piece of artwork, a special cooking utensil, or a family relic could be used. Personal touches like this make your countertop design one-of-a-kind and special.

Besides the tray, you also should take note of the area around the tray. Ascertain that there is sufficient space for food preparation or other kitchen tasks without the tray becoming an impediment. You want the tray to improve rather than inhibit the operation of your countertop.

Layer items

Adding layers of objects to your kitchen counters will help the space feel more welcoming and warm.

Layering art or cutting boards against the backsplash – with a few smaller items in front – adds depth. You can also use a tray topped with three items of different heights to draw the eye vertically.

The layered, warming wooden chopping boards in the kitchen effortlessly give character to the area while also nicely matching the earthy terracotta paint color on the walls.

For example, flowers and a woven basket provide texture and dimension to a slick, modern kitchen space.

Bring colorful accents

Having colorful trinkets strewn about the kitchen provides lovely highlights and eye-catching contrast.

Simple accents like the fruit dish and wooden cutting boards gracefully contrast with the paint in the kitchen, bringing an additional element of contrast and color to the space. Regardless of whether you have granite countertops Durham or any other countertops, the accents are bound to improve the look of the countertops.

How Not To Clean Your Kitchen Countertops

As a responsible homeowner, you want to keep your kitchen countertops, don’t you? As much as this is a great move, you should note that some things might not work to your advantage, and you shouldn’t do them. Which are these things? Here they are:

Using vinegar And Baking Soda On Grout

You might think using vinegar and baking powder to clean grout can benefit your surfaces, but this isn’t the case. In fact, it often ends up being more harmful.

This is because vinegar and baking soda have been shown to make the grout harder to clean.

Another trick that doesn’t work is using abrasive scrubbers or steel wool on tile surfaces because they can scratch and damage the tile.

The solution is to stop using cleaning hacks that don’t work and use a pH-neutral cleaner made for tile and grout. This is a great way to eliminate dirt and grime without damaging the surfaces.

Cleaning kitchen counters with bleach

Many homeowners will use bleach after handling raw meat, poultry, or fish. While this might seem like a great idea, it isn’t. the reason is that bleach is dangerous for people, pets, wild animals, aquatic life, and the environment.

The harmful nature of bleach comes from the volatile organic compounds made by bleach fumes which can cause asthma, COPD, chronic lung problems, allergic reactions, and headaches.

Instead of using bleach to clean your counters, use 3% hydrogen peroxide to kill germs on a surface after you’ve cleaned it.

Using lemon juice

Using lemon juice to clean might seem like a cheap way to keep things shiny, but lemon juice is acidic and can damage many surfaces, like marble and granite countertops.”

Instead of using lemon juice, which could make things worse, try using natural ingredients like baking soda and vinegar to clean and scrub in the kitchen and bathroom.

Putting baking soda and vinegar together on countertops

Many homemade cleaning products use vinegar and baking soda together, but you shouldn’t do this because these ingredients have been shown to work much better when used separately.

When you mix the two, you get nothing but water and salt after a fizzy show that promises shiny counters. You might be wondering how this happens, but it’s basic chemistry. Baking soda is a base, and vinegar is an acid. As a result, they cancel each other out when they’re together.

The best way to use them is to use an equal amount of vinegar and water in a spray bottle to clean the kitchen and bathroom.

Vinegar is a great disinfectant. Ensure not to use it on natural stone, as the acid can damage your surfaces. If you have stains, baking soda is a great way to eliminate them.

Tricks to make it easy to clean your countertops

The first step to making your kitchen easier to clean is to get rid of things that don’t belong there. Once you’ve removed things you no longer use and rearranged your cabinets to make things easier to find, find a way to clean your surfaces daily.

The cool thing is that you don’t need any special things—all you need are the right habits, like wiping down surfaces everyday and washing and putting away dishes as soon as you have used them.

Some homeowners have the impression they need different cleaners, but this isn’t the case. All you need is one good quality surfactant or soap to clean everything. As you can tell, you keep your kitchen clean and have an easier time as you don’t need to think about different products.

Getting a kitchen organized in a way that works well will also help. For example, store the cups, bowls, and plates in cabinets within arm’s reach of the dishwasher. This makes it easy to unload because everything is right there.

If you have a lot of work to do in the kitchen, like mopping, wiping down surfaces, or scrubbing tile grout lines, break up the work into smaller pieces and do it over several days if you need to. This will not only prevent you from getting too tired, but it also helps you to stay motivated.

Parting shot

These are some ways you shouldn’t clean your granite kitchen countertops Raleigh or any other ones you might have installed in your kitchen. The key to keeping your countertops clean is to keep it simple. When dirt happens, move fast and get rid of it. While at it, ensure that you are using the right cleaning products.

What Should You Not Sit On Granite Countertops?

As much as granite countertops are tough, there are some things you shouldn’t allow to sit on them for a long time as they damage the surfaces. These things include:

Spills

You shouldn’t let spills of any nature stay on your countertops for extended periods. This is because granite is porous, which means it is susceptible to staining if you allow liquids to penetrate the surface.

There is also the risk of the countertop surface etching or getting dull when you allow acidic substances such as lemon juice, vinegar, or tomato sauce on your surfaces for a long time.

To keep your countertops stain-free, make it a habit to clean up spills as soon as they happen. When doing it, use an absorbent cloth or paper towel to blot up as much of the liquid as possible. Once you are done, use mild cleaner or warm water and a soft cloth to wipe the area gently.

As much as you want the surfaces dry, avoid using abrasive cleaners or scrubbing pads, as these can scratch or damage the surface of your countertop.

Hot pans

It’s true that granite is tough and heat resistant. Unfortunately, it’s not heatproof. This means it’s bound to get damaged when you place hot pans and other items on it.

There are plenty of ways hot pans can damage your countertops. One is through thermal shock. This happens when a drastic temperature change causes the countertops to crack or even break.

Placing the hot pan on the countertop also puts the sealant at risk of damage. It’s customary to seal granite countertops which protects the surfaces from damage. When you place hot pans on the countertops, you damage the sealant, which causes the countertops to get more susceptible to stains and other forms of damage.

Sometimes you might even burn your countertops, especially if you are fond of placing the hot pan on the surfaces or you place an excessively hot pan on the counters.

Never place a hot pan directly on the countertops to prevent this from happening. If you have to, use trivets or hot pads.

To protect yourself from accidental burns, wear mitts when handling hot pans.

Yourself

The other thing you shouldn’t let sit on the countertop is you, your kids, your partner, or any other person.

You might wonder why this is so, as granite counters are tough and can withstand a lot of pressure, right?

While it’s true that the counters are tough, they sometimes develop cracks and other imperfections due to old age or other factors. As a result, they could break or even crumble when you sit on them.

Avoid sitting on your counters at all costs to prevent this from happening.

Many people sit on their counters while waiting for the food to cook. Instead of doing this, have a stool or any other seat in the kitchen to sit on.

Other people will stand on the counters as they reach the top shelf or replace the bulb. Instead of stepping on the counters, have a ladder or even on the above-mentioned stool.

Raw meat

As much as it appears harmless, raw meat can be dangerous to your countertops. One of the dangers is that water and blood can get into your countertops and stain them, especially when you let them sit on the surfaces for a long time.

Raw meat often harbors harmful bacteria, and when you leave it on your counters, there is the risk of cross-contamination through contact with surfaces and utensils. For example, when raw meat comes into contact with a cutting board or knife previously used to prepare other foods, it can transfer bacteria to those surfaces and utensils, increasing the risk of food poisoning.

To protect your kitchen countertops Raleigh and prevent cross-contamination, don’t leave raw meat on the counters for extended periods.

You can also be an agent of contamination, and to prevent this from happening, make it a habit to thoroughly clean your hands after coming into contact with the meat.

How To Polish Marble Countertops

Do you have dull marble countertops and don’t like their unappealing look? Don’t worry as you can easily restore gleam. How do you do it? Here are steps on how to polish marble:

Step 1: Clean the countertops

Cleaning the countertops ensures you start with a clean slate. Use a soft, dry cloth to remove any surface dirt and debris, then wet a non-abrasive sponge with warm water and use it to wipe the marble top again.

Spray the marble surface with a commercial stone cleaner and wipe it off with a clean, soft rag or a mild dishwashing liquid. Once you are done, rinse it well with plain water.

If you used a commercial cleaner, use a clean damp rag to wipe the marble cleaner. You should then dry with a chamois or an unused microfiber cloth.

Step 2: Remove stains

Since marble is porous, it tends to easily develop stains, especially if you don’t take good care of it. Before you proceed with polishing, you need to get rid of these stains. How do you do this?

If you have the budget, buy a commercial marble stain remover. If you don’t have the money or you love making your own things, you can make your own stain remover by mixing one tablespoon of ammonia into a half cup of hydrogen peroxide then slowly add just enough baking soda to make a thick, creamy texture.

You should then spread the poultice over the stained areas using a clean paintbrush and cover it with a plastic wrap. Leave the poultice in place for 12-24 hours, remove the wrap and let it dry out completely.

Using a razor blade, carefully scrape the crumbly poultice while taking care you don’t gouge or dig at the marble surface. You should then clean away any remaining poultice residue with a damp cloth then wipe the marble dry.

Step 3: Buff out the etching with a polishing powder

If your countertops have severe etching, don’t waste your time or money with polishing powder. Instead, hire a professional to look into it. On the other hand, if your countertops have minor etching from acidic foods and cleansers, you can remove them easily using a polishing powder that you can buy from a home improvement store.

After getting the powder, wipe it over the etched areas with a water-dampened cloth, then sprinkle small amounts of the powder onto the etched spots. You should then gently buff the powder into the blemishes with a damp cloth, then follow with a clean, damp rag to the powder residue.

You should finally wipe the countertops dry to reveal the restored shine.

Step 4: Seal the countertops.

After polishing the surfaces, seal the marble countertops to retain the shine and resist major stains. You can use topical or impregnator sealants.

From their name, topical sealants sit on the top of the marble and prevent staining while impregnators go below the surface and repel water and oils while still allowing marble to breathe.

Your countertops will look best when you seal them with an impregnator.

You can do the sealing by yourself or let a professional handle it. If doing the work yourself, begin purchasing the sealant from your local hardware store, then apply it on the surface.

After applying the sealant, give it a few minutes to dry. You should note you shouldn’t let it fully dry as it will streak. After 10-20 minutes, wipe off the sealant residues using a dry cloth.

You should then allow your marble to sit 6-8 hours without placing anything on it.

Retaining the shine

Other than sealing the countertops, you need to take good care of your countertops, so you maintain the shine. How do you do this?

Clean the surfaces with the right products: While you might be up to good when cleaning the surfaces, you might be harming them by using the wrong products. As a rule of thumb, you should never use bleach or cleaning products containing alkaline or any acidic substances as they will degrade the sealer and expose your countertops.

Remove spills as soon as they happen: Even if you have sealed your kitchen countertops Raleigh, it’s stupid to leave the liquid on the surfaces for a long time as it tends to penetrate the porous marble, leaving ugly stains that are difficult to remove.

To ensure this doesn’t happen, make it a habit to clean spills as soon as they happen or as soon as you notice them.

Granite Kitchen Countertops: What To Put On Kitchen Countertop For Decoration?

Imagine this. You have installed granite kitchen countertops or any other countertop material of your choice. Should you leave it bare or decorate it? If you love a decorated kitchen, decorating your countertops can be tricky as you have to ensure the decorative accessories don’t get in the way of cooking.

If you are wondering what to put on the kitchen countertop for decoration, there are plenty of things you can use. Here are some of them:

Cooking books

Love trying out different recipes and have several cookbooks on your bookshelf? Why not bring them to your countertops? The books give your surfaces an elegant appeal, and you can place them on any countertop surface. If you want to amp up the look, use bookends.

Everyday appliances

If you are like other homeowners, there are several appliances you use every day. These include a blender, mixer, coffee maker, rice cooker, tea kettle, and others. If you use these appliances every day, there is no need to add any other decorative items on your surfaces as you risk giving it a disorganized look.

Strategically place these appliances in your kitchen surfaces, giving the surfaces an elegant appeal and a sense of space.

You should get rid of appliances that you rarely use. For example, put away the blender that you use only once a week.

Cutting boards

Did you know you can improve the appeal of your kitchen with cutting boards? Get several boards of different types, shapes, and colors, then strategically lean them against your kitchen backsplash.

To make the cutting boards the center of attention, ensure there aren’t many appliances on the countertops.

Fruits

Since most fruits don’t require refrigeration and can last for a few days under the room temperature, they make excellent decorative accessories for your kitchen surfaces. Collect a few of your favorite fruits of different colors, place them on a large plate, and then place them at your counters’ strategic areas.

Great fruits you can go for are: lemons, limes, oranges, and apples. Oh…ensure the fruits are fresh. There is no way dry, decaying fruits will do good to your surfaces.

Plants

It’s amazing how a single potted plant gives your space a refreshing touch. In addition to transforming your home’s look, plants also give your surfaces an appealing, organic feel.

To transform your home, find a few of your favorite indoor plants and display them in a stylish pot or planter. If you are out of the house for extended periods, choose low maintenance plants.

If you aren’t sure about the right plants and planters to use, get a professional’s input.

Fresh flowers

Do you love flowers? Why not find a few and use them to decorate your countertops? Well done flowers bring in an organic and refreshing touch to your surfaces. Unlike plants, flowers tend to wilt faster, so you will need to replace them more often.

Art pieces

If you ask many homeowners, they will tell you that you can’t display art in the kitchen, but nothing is as further from the truth as this. When well displayed, art pieces can magically transform your surfaces.

Some of the great options you can go with include: dainty sculptures, decorative jars, framed canvases, paintings, and many others.

For best results, be strategic in how you display the art. For example, lean small paintings against the wall or at the end of the counter. You can display the paintings as a single piece or as a series.

When it comes to vases or sculptures, you can layer them into other types of décor, making them serve as the counters’ counters’ focal point.

Soaps

Although, popularly displayed in the bathroom, you can also use soaps as a charming décor on the kitchen counter. Place a few handmade soaps in a big jar, then place them near the kitchen sink or anywhere else.

Parting shot

These are some of the items you can use to decorate your kitchen countertops Durham. For a uniform look, stick to a theme. You can do most of the decorations by yourself but if you feel you can’t, get a professional designer to help you out.