“Where in the world did I put that blender?” you ask no one in particular, releasing a frustrated sigh as pots and pans tumble from the cupboard. It’s just another day in your kitchen, and you swear up and down the clutter has had its last run of things.

You donate or gift those extra appliances and dishes to others who may need them. You sell the bulky furniture taking up precious square footage. When you finally break up with the kitchen clutter, it’s relieving, but at the same time, you don’t want to re-clutter when you redecorate. How do you accessorize the kitchen without inviting clutter back in?

1. Take the Cabinet Doors Off

That’s right. Let your lack of clutter be visible for all to see. Open cabinets allow you to display dishes in a colorful, organized and attractive way, and you’ll be less likely to leave the space cluttered. You could also paint the cabinet shelving in different colors for various uses.

More fragile items may be stored in a china cabinet or in a few cabinets that you leave with their doors on. Encourage the simple look of an open pantry and cabinet space, where ingredients and appliances are easily found. Live hinge free!

2. Hang Items You Use Frequently

Imagine it — easy access and style working together in your kitchen. Copper pots hang rustically over the stove or kitchen island. Knives are stored in their wooden block, or on a magnetic rack for those without little ones.

Dried herbs dangle from hemp string over your kitchen window, near the test tube spice rack you built yourself. Olive oil and other frequently used cooking ingredients are displayed in refillable glass bottles or jars, clearly labeled.

By hanging items you use frequently, you gain more open counter and cabinet space. The items are quickly accessible and add a rustic charm to a clearly loved and well-used kitchen.

3. Add a Rug for Comfort and Color

Barefoot wanderings into the kitchen late at night leave you with cold feet and stubbed pinky toes. Add an area rug to your kitchen to avoid late night scrapes and let you enjoy your guilty pleasure snacks in peace.

Humor aside, an area rug contributes comfort and style to your kitchen, blending in well with modern and minimalist design. It won’t add clutter or take up space in the home. A rug adds a pop of color and pattern to a typically tiled space with metallic kitchen appliances.

4. Include a Decorative Tile Backsplash

While you’re wondering if those potatoes will ever boil in your lifetime, why not look at something more interesting than a blank wall or calendar?

A tile backsplash is another way to add a geometric pop of color to your kitchen. Work with a contractor for this easy remodeling project. A colorful mosaic made from old plates and other items in the home is another creative idea for a tile backsplash. Many people place these over their stove, but tile backsplashes work well nearly anywhere.

5. Work Off a Clean Canvas and Color Palette

Think of your kitchen as a blank canvas. Many artists add a neutral, cool or warm tone to their canvas to set in the mood and get a sense of the color range to be used. What tone will you choose for your kitchen to work off of when it comes to accessorizing the rest of the space?

Keep your initial color palette clean. Many minimalist kitchens are painted in gray and white tones, and add in the romance of the silver screen later when it comes to appliances, tile choices and other decor. This creates a neutral and yet instantly chic space to decorate.

6. Go Without Blinds or Curtains

Blinds keep out strong light and maintain privacy, while curtains add personality and flair. What if you did without the blinds or curtains, at least in one window? Bare windows keeps with the idea of minimalism and make the space more inviting.

Imagine walking into the kitchen to enjoy a beautiful view or the morning sun streaming in unfiltered, or as the light creates patterns on the countertop through white lace.

Now that you’ve gotten rid of the clutter, you want to keep it that way when accessorizing. Focus on function at first, hanging pots, displaying knives on a magnetic rack or building a creative spice rack to place nearby as you cook. Rugs, decorative tile and classically clean paint choices maintain a minimalist kitchen without the clutter, while including just enough color.

To stay clutter-free, consider this additional tip: For every new appliance you introduce to the kitchen, take one out. As you accessorize your kitchen, focus on how to display your use and love of the space, as meals are prepared and shared with loved ones.

Author Bio:

Kacey is a lifestyle blogger for The Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Kacey graduated with a degree in Communications while working for a lifestyle magazine. She has been able to fully embrace herself with the knowledge of nature, the power of exploring other locations and cultures, all while portraying her love for the world around her through her visually pleasing, culturally embracing and inspiring posts.

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