Keep your countertop looking pretty.

Whether you have a lot of workspace in your kitchen, or just a little, keeping your countertop neat and organized is paramount. It's just too easy to leave a jar of peanut butter or a bottle of honey out, push it back into the corner, stack up a few cans for a meal you're going to make tomorrow — and before you know it counter creep leaves you with nowhere to work.

I've lived with tiny countertops and large ones, and no matter what, I always corral the things that stay out on the countertop, so it's easy to see what belongs and what should be put away.

What lives out on your countertop all the time? For me, it's salt, pepper, olive oil, sugar, garlic and shallots. I use corral and elevate those ingredients with a footed board and a vintage pastry stand. They keep things out of the way, and make cleaning the counter easier (just nudge the board over a bit to wipe underneath).