Items You Should Keep on Your Kitchen Counter

Although much of the advice out there is about avoiding clutter, there are certain things you SHOULD keep out on your kitchen counters.  About.com covers those items that are best kept out in the open and easily accessible.

Canisters are not only a great way to store kitchen basics like flour, sugar, coffee, etc, but they are a fantastic way to add color to the decor in your kitchen.

If you're a coffee drinker, then having your coffee pot out on the counter is a must.  Make your mornings easier by setting up everything you need to make coffee in easy reach:  mugs, to-go cups, coffee, coffee filters and cream and sugar.

If you don't have a dishwasher or have items that can only be washed by hand, a dish rack is another must for the counter.  

Love to bake?  Odds are your stand mixer won't fit in your cabinets, so go ahead and display it proudly.

Paper towels are something you want to be able to get to quickly.  Use a paper towel holder mounted on the wall by the sink for easy access.

Kitchen tools like spatulas, spoons, ladles and tongs are all good candidates for storage in a container on the counter.  This keeps those often used items within reach and allows you yet another opportunity to inject some color and style into your kitchen by choosing the right container.

Salt and paper shakers get used frequently in cooking, so keep them right out on the counter.  Choose a cute, off-beat vintage set to give yourself a smile every time you reach for some seasoning.

Finally, a fruit and vegetable basket is a great item to keep on the counter.  You'll be more likely to make a healthy choice when you're hungry if you can see that apple or orange easily.  Bonus:  fruits and vegetables are brightly colored and look fantastic!

Full of ideas of how to decorate your kitchen, but can't stand the one you've got?  Give Apartment Experts South a call today at 512-416-8100 for help finding a great new #apartment with a dream kitchen!

Tips for Organizing Your Kitchen Cabinets

Moving into a new apartment and not sure how to organize your kitchen cabinets?  Check out Apartment Therapy's tips (gleaned from the author's often-moving parents), and get a fully organized, easy to use kitchen in no time!

Keep like items with like items.  This can either mean that all the cereal bowls are together and all the wine glasses are together, or it can mean that your entire set of Fiestaware is together and your entire set of china is together.  Think about how you use your kitchen and organize it accordingly.

One exception to this rule is that it's a good idea to group items by function.  For example, if the only time of day that your cereal bowls and coffee mugs see any use is first thing in the morning, it might be a better idea to keep them near the coffeemaker, along with all the supplies you'll need for a good cup of joe.

Open shelving has become much more popular lately, and with good reason: if you can see things, you are much more 

likely to use them.  Even if you don't want to go as far as open shelving, keeping things that otherwise you'd only use occasionally, such as serving bowls, platters, and cake stands, out on the counter means they'll get more use and you can enjoy them more.  Display fruit in a pretty serving bowl on a cake stand and your once a year items can bring you joy everyday!

Looking for an apartment with a kitchen you can keep organized?  Give Apartment Experts North a call today at 512-339-4411.