We totally agree.
Grungy sponges. Dirty refrigerator handles. Crumbs by the toaster. Oh, let us count the ways the kitchen can make us feel a little crazy.
Above all the grime, the chores, and even the outdated appliances, though, there is one kitchen challenge that tops them all: Cluttered countertops. According to a new kitchen trends survey from Houzz, the popular home remodeling site, messy work surfaces lead the pack in the "kitchen obsessions" category among the 1,700 Americans polled.
The results found that 75% of homeowners—all of whom are either planning a kitchen project, recently finished one, or are in the middle of renovations—are "obsessed with decluttering their counters."
Other high-scoring kitchen obsessions? A close cousin to decluttering, "putting things away" was cited by 66% of people as a matter of utmost importance. And third in line among survey takers is a passion for recycling—music to our ears.
As more people look to simplify everything from their closets and desks to their morning routines, it's not surprising that the organization bug is extending into the kitchen, too.
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In that vein, Houzz's survey also revealed that some of the most popular kitchen upgrades include ways to conquer crowded countertops (and cabinets and floors). Among the top items on the respondents' kitchen renovation wish lists were pull-out waste or recycling baskets (67%), cookie sheet/tray organizers (58%), revolving corner trays (44%), deep drawer organizers (42%), and pull- or swing-out trays and shelves (42%).
While all these smart kitchen additions can hide clutter from your countertops, remember they're worthless without, you know, cleaning, too. Sigh.
