This is the “catch all” section of our kitchen counter-organize ti

following.... I have a similar "clean" spot.

Make a dump drawer for items that do not belong there and need to be moved, like tools, jewelry, actually get rid of the plate and bowls and use the drawer instead. Make an organized charging station that can hold all the cords and phones. Use a drawer for the pens, papers, scissors, glue etc. Hang a place for incoming mail to go.

Turn one of the drawers under the area into a junk drawer for all but the mail. Put in some containers for small stuff, or a silver ware organizer. Other than the office supply stuff, tell everyone if it doesn't get put away in their room within a short period of time it will be removed from the drawer or counter and tossed and not replaced. Take care of the mail right away. Use the tray for an area to put todays mail and for charging cell phones, etc. There should be room for the pencils, glue, scissors, stuff in the containers in the junk drawer, get rid of the things that you will probably never use again. Put chargers in the drawer when not being used. Everything will still be in close to use, but will be out of sight. I have a junk drawer in my kitchen, and a junk drawer for the small stuff like measuring spoons, banana cutter, the stuff that usually is left on the counter by everyone, but not used every day, I even keep my hand mixer and beaters, as well as my electric knife and blades in the drawer.

First of all take everything off but do it in some order. i.e. put all the pens and pencils together, glasses together etc. Then clean off the counter and ask yourself it it looks empty or just right? It is possible to keep lots of things but keep them in order and weed out. You probably only need 4 or 5 lead pencils, not 19 or 20. I like closed containers of storage (actually I am a pack rat) My kitchen has not one built in drawer. The first pic is the end of a fairly long counter. I have several plastic tool containers hung here, the one shown holds teabags, pencils/pens, scrap paper, recipes, salt/pepper, business cards etc. The other ones hold small kitchen utensils like peelers, reamers, can openers etc. If I weren't lazy it would be possible to make nice labels to hide the contents and add a little class to the act!

The second picture is of a 24 drawer cabinet which was once a mail sorter. My husband built the drawers and this holds my silverware, nail care, junk drawer, food covers etc. Contained and neat can be a goal (that actually some of us will strive for all our lives!)

Doesn't everybody have a junk drawer.😊

find another charging area a slim down and proper area to extra items

• Decide how you want to organize: mail, tools, pens/pencils/scissors
• Buy bins at Dollar Tree to accommodate your needs
• Get rid of anything you don't use or need anymore
• Where do you write checks or notes? Put mail there; open it there and keep a recycling basket next to or under it
• DO NOT have a junk drawer because once you start it spills over onto or into everything else
• Move charging area elsewhere. I don't have one because I don't have all the "gadgets" we absolutely must have nowadays
• Have one drawer for a small tool kit, nails, picture hangers, and all the little things we need at hand instead of running to the basement or garage every time we need them. Organize items in bins or plastic bags.
• Once you get started you will see a myriad of ways to keep the "crap" off the counters.
• If we went out in public looking like the picture you showed, we would look like something from an alien movie. Make your surroundings as neat as you want yourself to look, and you will feel better. I am not a hard line neatnik but I do try and it's difficult, believe me.

What fun for a fauxOCD woman like me. I see you already have some large and small trays and bowls, and a charging station. Move everything off to a nearby counter or table, and fill the sink with warm sudsy water and a little vinegar. wash everything possible and dry it carefully.

The largest piece I see is the apple ceramic organizer. I would guess it is made for wooden spoons in the top left corner, and other specific designations. After all the holders have been cleaned and dried, maybe you can put the apple organizer under the right hand outlet. Use the back right for your new charging station. The phone and other similar devices need to be there. Use the back left for the two pairs of scissors, tall paint brushes, and similarly tall objects. Use one section for white glue, tape, stapler, and other fasteners.

Use the gold vase for a pencil holder, along with pens, including the pack of colored ink pens. Test each out before putting in the vase. If it doesn't write immediately, toss it out Immediately. Off with their heads!

The white tray with gold leaves may need to be stored in a drawer, or mounted on the wall. If you are going to use it on your counter, push the tray to the back, next to the rose organizer. Make a rule: If it doesn't fit on the tray or in the organizer, it cannot rest on the counter. Use the little white bowl to hold any personal items like jewelry and sunglasses, and the slightly taller brown cup for paper clips, rubber bands, and other small necessities.

Stacked on the right is some mail and other papers. Go through the mail as you did the other things. You have two batches. On the wall above the white tray, mount a small bulletin board, perhaps vertically. It needs to have room for one small open envelope to hold stamps and coupons. One large pin needs to hold bills to be paid and mail to be asnswered. Another large pin needs to hold invitations and reminders of things to come. Answered mail and paid bills need to either be filed away, or shredded. You should have plenty of counter room to write letters, do small projects, or prepare food.

Best wishes 😇

How about a hanging shelf?

I also had this problem, I was able to reassign my stuff to other parts of the house that made sense to me, tools went to garage, jewelry to my bedroom, pens, bills to my home office, kitchen stuff I found places in the kitchen for them, etc, I came up with a working system, every evening I pick up the stray items on the counter & take back to their designated places, for things that go upstairs, I have a basket on the stairs I set things in, next time I go upstairs, the basket goes with me, when I come downstairs the empty basket comes with me, if your system is easy it will work for you. Best of luck !

It looks like you have a lot of office supplies, mail, scissors, etc. there. I would take those to another room or area and make an office area (small desk, file cabinet, etc.) if you don't have one. I also see a phone and phone charger. I would not want to store that on a kitchen counter where it could get splashed on. I would put the candy away in a cupboard or a candy bowl elsewhere. Once you get everything organized, I would put some kind of bins or baskets near a landing zone for your family (front door, maybe?). When you find stuff in places it should not be like this, take the stuff to those bins and put those family members in charge of putting away their own stuff.

I have several organizing posts that might help you https://chascrazycreations.com/diys/how-tos/organizing/

I know it isn't easy but put things away.

We had a "junk drawer" when I was growing up and it was a mess and a headache so much easier to put things in their place.