Countdown to More Counter Space

While some might argue with the adage that you can never be too rich or too thin, who could ever have too much counter space? "No matter how big the kitchen, people always want more," says Deb Lillard, the principle of Space to Share organization consultants in Philadelphia.

When you haven't built yet or are diving into a remodel, there are all kinds of nifty ways to extend the available counter space, like the Blancocosmo 5 S Circular Sink, which tucks into the corner of the counter and leaves one long, uninterrupted cutting surface open where the sink ordinarily takes up space.

But if you have a pre-existing lack of elbow room for food prep and no remodel in sight? That's when you look into products that add the equivalent of new counter space, and there are a lot of options out there.

Before you type in your credit card number, though, Lillard recommends making sure the problem is too little counter space, not too much junk on the counter. "You can gain at least a square foot of counter space just by getting the paper work out of the kitchen," she says.

"And you should only keep small appliances on the counter if you use them every day. The stuff you use once a week goes in the cabinets. The things you use once a year go in storage, like the punch bowl. And the things you haven't used in a year? Have a yard sale or donate them to Goodwill."