7 Accessories to Make Your Kitchen More Efficient (and Pretty)

Accessorize your kitchen! These 7 things will simplify your life AND give your kitchen a touch of personality and coziness!

Want to breathe new life into your kitchen–without spending much money? Just like you can wake up a mundane outfit with a few well-chosen accessories, your kitchen can benefit from quick, frugal additions.

Over my six years of marriage I’ve collected a few favourite kitchen accessories that not only simplify my life, but give my kitchen a touch of personality and coziness. When we lived in a series of apartments these items helped to make each new kitchen feel like home. They’re a small but worthwhile investment when you don’t have the time or budget for new paint or appliance upgrades!

7 Kitchen Accessories to Streamline and Beautify Your Kitchen:

Glass Spray Bottle

If you’re looking for ways to cut back on plastic, a glass spray bottle is a small investment that gets a lot of mileage. I got mine from Grove Collaborative. Not only is it beautiful, but it also doesn’t hang on to smells the way that a plastic bottle does. I can scent my homemade all-purpose cleaner with lemon one month and peppermint the next, and because the bottle is glass it won’t absorb or mix the odors from one batch to another.

Wall-Mounted Knife Strip

This slim, magnetic knife strip frees up counter and drawer space. I think it adds visual interest, too! My knives and scissors are easy to access, and the size of the knife strip sets a helpful limit on how many knives I keep.

Swedish Dishcloths

I’ve had a lifelong reversion to kitchen sponges because they get smelly so quickly. I wanted to find an effective (and pretty) alternative, and I finally have! Swedish dishcloths are my solution, and not only have they replaced kitchen sponges, but most of my paper towel usage, too! They’re made of natural materials and are super absorbent–they clean up food and drink spills like a charm, and don’t leave streaks on my glass cook top. Plus, they’re pretty and cheery!

My friends at MightyNest are currently offering a special where you get 2 Swedish dishcloths for just $1 when you join their MightyFix subscription program! Read my full review of Swedish dishcloths in this post, plus get the details on the MightyFix!

Bread Box

A bread box certainly isn’t a must-have kitchen item, but I gladly admit that I love mine! I found a nice, roomy wooden one at the thrift store. It fits a large loaf of bread, but there’s also room to corral tortillas, biscuits, and other baked odds and ends. Previously I stored these items on top of the fridge, but because they were out of sight I’d occasionally forget about them and something would mold before we had time to eat it.

Scrub Brush and Dish

I’ve washed dishes a lot of ways, and this is hands down my favourite way to get them clean! (Other than sliding them in the dishwasher, of course!) For hand washing, this little set from Full Circle is the best. The spring platform inside the dish creates plenty of suds and helps your soap go a longer way. The scrub brush is effective and doesn’t scratch any of my pans. Also, I love how this looks next to my sink!

Vintage Mason Jars

You can find these at antique stores in various sizes. I started asking for them for my birthday several years ago, and now I have five that I use to store beans, grits, lentils, and other dry grains and legumes.

Stove Top Tea Kettle

A traditional tea kettle adds a homey touch to any kitchen. The biggest downside, in my opinion, of electric tea kettles is that they take up precious counter space! I value clutter-free kitchen counters, so having a cheery tea kettle parked on my stove top is a double win. Note: If you want to invest in an heirloom-quality tea kettle, MightyNest carries a gorgeous copper tea kettle, as well as a stainless steel kettle! These are ones you would probably pass down to your children!

I love that it doesn’t take much money–or DIY skills–to spruce up your kitchen and add a bit of hardworking “pretty.”