How to make a kitchen look organized, even when it's not – 5 quick tricks to create the illusion of order

There is no underestimating the power of a fully organized, decluttered kitchen. However, when you’re juggling other commitments, or guests are on the way, sometimes we just need a quick temporary fix to make a kitchen look organized, even when it’s not.

Professionals have several tricks up their sleeves for organizing a kitchen to make it look a little more put-together

These are the five quick superficial tricks you can use to fake clean a house and ‘organize’ a kitchen in a pinch.

How to make a kitchen look organized, even when it's not

Experts warn that these quick home organizing ideas should never fully replace a complete kitchen organization process. While they are handy to make a space look tidy quickly, they are not entirely compatible with a stress-free cooking experience.

With that in mind, here’s how to create the illusion of order in a kitchen.

1. Keep the counters as clear as possible

Organizing kitchen countertops is the number one way to make any kitchen look more organized in an instant.

Diane Quintana, certified professional home organizer and owner at DNQ Solutions says, ‘Keep the counters as clear as possible. Have only things out that you use all the time – like a coffee maker, toaster oven, and a crockery full of cooking utensils.' We like this best-selling ceramic utensil pot set from Amazon, as it comes in a range of colors to suit any kitchen scheme.

Diane continues, ‘Use a small tray or basket to hold mail to keep it contained in one specific area. If the condiments are creating clutter on the kitchen counter consider buying a single or multi-tiered lazy susan. This will contain the condiments and make them look organized.’

All prices are correct at the time of publication.

2. Focus on items you can declutter quickly

Once you have decluttered countertops, look around to see what else you can declutter quickly. It doesn’t have to be anything excessive. There are plenty of things you can declutter in under an hour – small trash items or lingering utensils are perfect candidates, says Barbara Brock, professional organizer, home stager, and founder of Barbara Brock Inc.

She continues, ‘If time is of the essence, and it’s necessary to declutter quickly, you don’t have time to edit. It’s important to remove items quickly and to do that there are several ways to do this.

'You could have an empty tub handy to put unnecessary items in [such as a folding laundry basket, from Amazon]. Then simply remove items and put them in a closet to be edited later. Just remember to go back to them.

‘Alternatively, grab clear trash bags (at Walmart) and dark bags (also at Walmart),’ Barbara continues. ‘Trash bags over bins are lighter in weight and can be carried around more easily. The theory applies that in the clear trash bag or bin will be items that you will keep but don't have time to sort and put away. In dark trash bags, these are items that can be thrown away.'

3. Clear the front of your fridge

If you are in a time crunch, you likely do not have time to fully declutter a fridge – but you can address the exterior of it, reminds Kimberly Corey, professional organizer and owner of Finely Sorted.

She suggests, ‘Take a look at the outside of your refrigerator and evaluate what actually needs to be stuck on there. Coupons, reminders, tickets, and many other things could be better stored elsewhere keeping this display space for cherished family, friends, school or travel photos, or children's art instead.’ It all works towards making a fridge look better and helps your kitchen to appear more organized.

Don’t forget to address the area on top of the fridge too. There are several items you should never store on top of a fridge for safety reasons – such as heavy books or appliances – but they can also make a kitchen look more untidy and chaotic.

4. Clean as you go

If you are struggling to clean your house when you’re too busy but still want your kitchen to look organized, try cleaning as you go.

Diane Quintana, a professional home organizer says, ‘Always, when preparing a meal, clean as you go. This includes washing, drying, and putting away things as you are finished with them. This prevents stuff from piling up on the counters which creates an even more disorganized look.'

Having a good-sized dish drying rack, such as this best-selling option on Amazon, makes it easier to hand wash dishes as small piles collect up, so you don't have to wait to build up a full dishwasher load every time.

5. Hide clutter in decorative baskets

There will never be enough praise for the power of decorative storage baskets. When your kitchen is messy and you need it to look put together quickly but effortlessly, they are the ideal solution says Nitya Seth, interior designer and owner of NITYANAMYA

She recommends that you ‘Place less frequently used items in decorative baskets and keep them on shelves or make use of the space above kitchen cabinets. Baskets create order amidst the chaos while enhancing the overall appearance of the kitchen.'

These last-minute tidying tips are a great way to get a kitchen ready for hosting – especially as we head towards peak hosting season. If you have a little extra time on your hands, however, we recommend working on how to organize a kitchen in readiness for entertaining for a more permanent solution to kitchen clutter problems.