Another vote for Alexa! (Amazon Echo) She is perfect for list making. No paper.

Would it help if you did away with some of the other stuff on your counter? Do you need a mug tree? It looks like you have plenty of upper cabinets for mugs. I can't tell what is near your sink, but is there somewhere to put some of that?

ML (who likes as little as possible on her counters)

It's more difficult when each person has a preferred style of dealing with papers and other clutter. I appreciate your understanding that this is just the way your husband prefers to handle his stuff. DH and I also are very different. He is generally pretty neat, but I have little-to-no tolerance for clutter. I have very few tchtokies or decorative items throughout the house, even. Like you, I can't change him. When he's got things he's doing or needs to do, they all go on one counter of the kitchen. Over the years, we (I) have tried different organizing systems, but he never has made use of any of them. Instead, I emptied out one drawer under his chosen area to put things. Every morning I put whatever is on the counter into the drawer---I resist the urge to organize it, label it, etc. Just put it in the drawer. When he would ask where something was, I'd say it's probably in his drawer. Now, when he wants something, he just searches through his drawer until he finds it. It also forces him to weed out things from time to time, as his drawer will start getting quite full.

We are getting ready to downsize and in our new home we will be sharing an office. Already telling myself that his desk is HIS desk, and I shouldn't try to tell him how to arrange things. I will offer some organizing ideas when we first move in, but I have to respect that we each have our own style. I had lots of practice with that when I was young because I shared a room with my sister until she graduated high school and moved out. I was the neat freak, and she was just the opposite. I learned to put on blinders to her "side" of the room for my own sanity. Although we got along in other ways, I have to say that I was very, very excited when she moved out and I had the room all to myself. I couldn't wait to get it all organized and neat and have it stay that way.

I'd take him shopping at an office supply store and see if he could find an organizer he likes that fits into the drawer below that section of counter to hold all of his lists, pens, post its and such. If he can just keep all his things on/in the organizer, you can pick the whole thing up and slide it in the drawer below. Also get him a calendar to hang on the wall facing that counter for dates and a place to stick his post it notes, Barnes & Noble (and other places I'm sure) sell some really nice calendars for 15.00 or so, nothing you'd cringe at having displayed on that wall (well, maybe except for post it notes stuck all over it lol). .

Is it possible to put up a cork board on the wall of the oven? Then he can have everything he needs 'in sight' but not on the counter. You can get small push pins that match your kitchen finishes.

Something like these - http://www.staples.com/Quartet-Natural-Cork-Tiles-Frameless-Modular-4-Pack-12-inch-x-12/product_457619?cid=PS:GooglePLAs:457619&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=457619&KPID=457619&gclid=Cj0KEQjwt-G8BRDktsvwpPTn1PkBEiQA-MRsBc1iOu0NPe0lOWm01XRGvHkmNb7cQpmVi_vmi98JWB8aAnbg8P8HAQ

We do already have a sectionalized organizer in the drawer directly below "his" countertop. There we keep things that we both use (scissors, tape measure, extra pens and pencils, etc.), but I'll bet I could weed through that and make room for the coupons that he uses and maybe some of his other junk - er, things - too. I don't mind so much having just the pad of paper where he makes the grocery list out on the counter, as he always seems to be making note of what we need and adding to it. It's all the other varied stuff that makes my eyes cross at times. He has been quite good - and adamant, along with me - about keeping our new home clean and well organized for the most part, so maybe he wouldn't object if I took the tack that alleviating the counter clutter as much as possible helps our home to stay looking newer longer. (Well, it's worth a shot.)

I had thought about putting a corkboard on the outside wall where the oven is. I don't much like the thought of hanging something on the woodwork, but it might be a good solution now that I think of it. I had also considered a calendar, and could easily hang one of those from a small Command hook. (Maybe I could hang a corkboard from a larger Command?)

Thanks to everyone who has commiserated and made suggestions. It's really helping me to think this through!

I think someone could make a fortune with a line of roll top desks to go with today's decor and open floor plans. Maybe with more contemporary modern lines.

I just can't do clutter on my kitchen countertops at all. There is also only one area almost in the dining area for a desk in my open plan. It's always a mess. On top of that my husband got a HUGE computer screen on QVC a few years ago. I can't wait till it dies off.

I would love a screen that folds and a roll top desk that can hide junk. Most roll tops styles would not work in my home. The very few out there that would work cost a fortune.

I fully commiserate. Although I don't have a problem with papers. My DH does home repair, and has taken over 3/4 of the kitchen table as his drop spot. This is an improvement over the past, 3/4 of the kitchen table AND part of the peninsula. Not too many papers, but every evening he comes home and empties his pockets of spare change, random nails and hardware, his notebook, tablet, keys, wallet, glasses. Right now I also see some fishing tackle, an Amazon box (empty), a squirt bottle of indeterminate nature, some light bulbs, a tube of caulk, and his hat.

I acknowledged long ago that I'm married to Messy Marvin. The rest of the place is reasonably tolerable, so as long as we can sit at the table and eat supper, I let it go.

I also "need" to have paper (even tho I have both iPhone and iPad) and have my own pile 'o crap on the kitchen counter. Here, you can see that I optimistically bought a cute vintage tray to contain it all. BWAAHAHAHAHA.

Lesson: be real and get a tray that's big enough.

"I don't mind so much having just the pad of paper where he makes the grocery list out on the counter, as he always seems to be making note of what we need and adding to it"

Des he have an iPhone? There are great apps for this kind of thing. DH and I actually use the built in "reminders" list function of iphone to have a shared grocery list we can both update.

We had the same problem. What works for us is a basket that is about 16" long and 4" deep. It's a wire egg basket type with a linen liner. All the paper stuff gets put in there for a week or so and then gets filed or tossed when I have time to deal with it. We're big list makers too. Best solution was a magnetic notepad on the side of the fridge. All keys are in a basket by the door most used. Simple things that really made a difference in clutter. Oh, and I do keep a large calendar on a small wall that you only notice if you are at the stove. It's in a nice wooden holder. It must be pretty and have plenty of room to make notes. Let us know how you compromise!

Sorry I just thought of one more thing. I found very pretty cloth bound file folders that snap closed. I found them at target in that $1 section. Use them for take out menus, one for all receipts for specific projects, etc. they fit in the above mentioned wire basket. :)

"The "out of sight" suggestions sound great to me, but that just won't fly with him. If things are out of sight, he's worried they'll go "out of mind" as well. "-sounds like my husband. Also sounds like my daughter))

The difference-he's highly organized at least in his mind, it just doesn't reflect on the surroundings. The girl, on the other hand..))

But since my husband really tries to make my life easier, even though to him it seems totally unnecessary, to have everything tidy and the bed made -he chose the garage as his kingdom, and most of the things he's afraid to let out of his sight are there. It looks pretty awful I must tell you. And he still can't find anything in there.. Well, documents and tools are organized. The rest..it's not in his sight anyway, because piles and boxes and stuff that he might need one day.

I am grateful for his efforts though, so I try not to tell him often how much it's dysfunctional, even for his own system of organizing things. Sometimes I do though. Recently I told him" You promised me to clean out the garage two years ago". He goes "actually, six"..and has this sad look on his face..))

I feel like there's not much to do. He has so many redeeming qualities I can think of when I open the door to the garage..)) or I can count to ten, or something))

So I can fully commiserate.

When my daughter (rarely) cleans her room she says "Mom look how nicely I cleaned my room for you!"

-What about for yourself?-I ask

-Oh. But for myself, I don't care at all!

So. What can I do, except appreciate the thought? Lol.

How important is it to you? I'm like your DH, outta sight is outta mind. My DH can't bear all the stuff. We compromised: I keep it off the counter, but I have a little spot for it in the kitchen. I won't show you, it's too cluttered. Also:

I ahem quit with the coupons. I realized that most coupons are for processed foods or for brands I don't buy anyway, and household items that have coupons are bought so rarely that it just wasn't worth it. No one around here doubles coupons, so I don't save them anymore.

The shopping list is on the side of the fridge. Almost nothing is on the front, much tidier that way.

You can pick your battles. A tray may be the best way to go: keeps things open as your DH likes, but corralled as you like. And if you need the space, you can move the tray without disturbing the papers.

To someone who does all the grocery shopping I would afford a little space and leeway. :)

I have a space about 18" square on my peninsula that has pads of paper, post-its, a jar of pens and small screwdrivers. I tried to put it away and make everything look pretty and perfect but I need that stuff and I'm not fooling anyone.

There aren't a lot of people more tech-savvy than I am. But. Nothing quite compares to a list written on paper.

I feel your pain. My DH would never use any drawer or other organizational device. He likes piles of clutter on whatever flat surface is most convenient. When we remodeled the kitchen in our last house there was a landing place for his stuff on the counter next to the TV. I didn't fight it. Just let it pile up until the house cleaner came in two weeks then I shoved it in the drawer under the counter. When that got full I'd either go through and throw junk or he'd finally realize he couldn't find anything and he'd clean it out.

Fortunately in our new place he has a landing counter by the back door in the laundry room. He has another counter/shelf in our office, also conveniently located. So it's all kind of out of my sight for the most part and nothing stacks up in the kitchen anymore.

Would a cork board to pin the lists to help?

Do you have a coat or linen closet near the kitchen that could be converted to a small office? We've installed countertop in a closet in the past and outfitted the space with a slender folding chair that fit inside, folded up, so that we could have everything out where we needed it, but could close the door when we didn't want to look at it. We used this back in the days of desktop computers, and put shelves above the bulky monitor. A calendar could have been hung in there as well. I'm sure Pinterest and houzz are full of closet office inspiration pictures.

My first thought was a clipboard on the side of the gable by the micro/oven. Use a command strip hook and see if that works.

Same problem here. Since DH is main cook, he considers it "his" kitchen. Use a pretty tray on the end of the counter where stuff tends to pile up. I try to keep it neat. neverending..... I have learned that I have to pick my battles!

I can see why it gets to you - there are a lot of things already on your counters and I'm guessing that adding just a few more small items probably puts you over the edge.

Since you can't see your mixer from this angle why not hang something from that side of the microwave. It's a handy spot for his grocery list and it won't take up precious counter space. And as you mentioned you can clean out the drawer beneath for his other necessities.

I had a related problem. My solution was to buy a small console and tuck it round the corner, in a main thoroughfare. (They have it staged with a pin board, which is another option) I have a multi-compartment tray on top to collect keys, glasses, and other small items. The first drawer holds chargers, phones and i-everythings. I still need solution for the larger stuff (like the grey organizer you showed), but I'm searching for some type of hutch with drawers where I could put that organizer to catch the new mail/opened mail.

Thanks for the continued input! I'm surprised to see that so many others have "endured this struggle" (;-)) and either found a workable solution or just decided not to let it be an issue. Last night I did notice that the stack o'stuff had been sorted through and some of it had been thrown out. Later I put away a couple of items that absolutely didn't have any reason to be sitting out, and it actually looked so much better - even with what was remaining.

I'll probably work on sorting out the drawer beneath this counter over the weekend, and will keep considering hanging a calendar or corkboard on the small "sliver" of wall to the left of the counter.

I have to correct my statement that DH would never use an organizational device. When we moved to our new place he quickly settled into setting his stuff on the counter by the back door and actually asked that I get him some kind of basket for his stuff. I have to say that simple request warmed my heart and brought a smile to my face. He uses it faithfully - though it does accumulate stuff that needs to be thrown away. I just "process" whatever is accumulating in there and toss the trash.

No suggestions but it reminds me of what a co-worker told me years ago about her husband. Anything he took out of the cupboards he never put back in and the counters would be full. She'd finally get fed up, put things back in place, sure enough the next day he would have it all out again. I think he did it on purpose just to upset her.

I was inspired by the thread and went out and bought some organizing tools at Home Goods.... a holder for all the large size magazines and mailers, and a matching mail/bill/coupon organization box sort of like the one shown (which I saw also at the store, btw)

The original post could have been written by my husband about me. And this as well...

The "out of sight" suggestions sound great to me, but that just won't fly with him. If things are out of sight, he's worried they'll go "out of mind" as well. (He has been known to leave certain food ingredients sitting out on the counter, so he'll be "reminded" of a meal he intends to make later in the week. ;-)

It's a constant challenge, and I have gotten better out of respect for my husband, but we are definitely wired very differently. With kids and pets and household chores, I do need visual reminders of what needs to be done when I have a free moment or a few minutes on the computer, so I too have a small "to do" pile in one corner of the kitchen... and often other piles here and there in other areas of the house depending on what projects or tasks I'm working on.

It used to drive me crazy how he'd put my piles away somewhere without telling me (or remembering where he shoved them) or put kitchen items away before I'd used them. Now he asks me before putting away things, such as my bread tub (reminder to make dough) or crock pot (reminder to soak beans overnight) instead of assuming I just forgot to put them away myself. In exchange, I try harder to keep the clutter in check, and he tries harder to be tolerant and realize I'll take care of things in a reasonable time frame. We seem to have found a balance in the 13 years since we got married.

We have a in out box for exactly the same reason. We do have a proper desk but current bills just seem to be better in the in out box

Rereading this thread yesterday actually inspired me to declutter the decorative stuff on the counters a bit. I moved the Cornishware mugs to my china cabinet, where most of the rest of my collection is stored, and since I was then left holding a mug tree, I took it to my closet and repurposed it to hold necklaces. Win-win!

To be honest, there is quite a bit of stuff on your kitchen counters that don't necessarily need to be there. I would let him have his area to pile his items.

I found that a decorative plate or tray helps immensely with the detritus of daily life.

You have your items, he has his.

Maybe you could take over the bill-paying and do that someplace other than the kitchen. I keep coupons and shopping related things like grocery store member cards in a clear plastic zip lock bag in my car along with cloth shopping bags.

My husband would have every horizontal surface in our house covered with papers and junk if I would let him. He leaves things "where he can see them" but eventually they just become part of the scenery and he can't find anything. He has an office which is also a mess. I made a junk drawer in the laundry room for car keys, etc. and the counter above works for things when leaving/entering the house like library books, etc. I have a container there for loose change.

Why does it always have to be the kitchen where we leave stuff - drives me crazy. My kitchen counter is never completely free of some sort of crap - cell phones, watch, mail, water glasses, crumbs :-).

It would be nice if you had a space for something like this small secretary desk out of kitchen near the route to the garage. Desk Without a chair or drop front. Or a tall one like this one

Hi - just a small (not intended to be mean-spirited) comment here - you have all of that expansive countertop space to display decorative (and occasionally useful) things that are important to you. He has that little tiny area to use. Is it really that important that his little slice be kept the way you want it to be rather than the way he's fine with it?

I tend to agree with Suzieque. After all, he does do the shopping (and I assume the list-making) and pays the bills, so that should confer some kitchen rights. You do have lots of space on the counter and above the cabinets where you can display decorative and utilitarian stuff.

But I can't figure out why DH has chosen that particular corner of the kitchen to create his workspace/clutter. Does he think it's innocuous and out of the way because it's not right in the main prep zones?

I have my own clutter corner, but it's where my peninsula meets the wall. It's adjacent to the calendar, pens, phone, etc. It's accessible from outside the kitchen (other side of the peninsula) and never in the way of cooking, eating or food prep. I think my clutter space is a lot like your DH's. Esthetically a cluttered look, but vital for my sanity.

I think you're lucky he hasn't chosen one end of the island for his work space.

I haven't read all of the above but I contain small countertop clutter within a pretty tray. Pottery Barn has lacquered trays with holes for handles, the turquoise would look great I think on your counter, it's not too deep.

Yes, that's a good idea.. PB Tray

I walk my bills into my den where I have a roll top desk that I can

shut. I have a wicker tray on my counter that keep miscellaneous junk,

coupons, recipes, supermarket flyers etc...On top I just have a throw

pillow cover ( unstuffed) to hide the junk clutter.

I would like to find a wicker basket that has a hinged top to hold the

junk, or we could make a wood one with a hinged top to fit the area where my

basket currently sits.

i know what you mean Ida, I have a lot of stuff and like to keep

it neat. I feel your annoyance with the clutter on the counter.

Love those cabinets Cliff and Joann

Thanks rgs, they're home made like everything else around here.

Mitchdesj!

i wanted to ask you something off topic. I know you used to live in Montreal and was wondering if you have any good recommendations for a good hair stylist or colorist.

Thanks

I have an off-topic question too Ida -- what did you ever decided to use to store your TV remotes?

Too late maybe, but when I built my kitchen in 2011, I built two file drawers in a floor to ceiling cabinet stack. There is a pull out tray above the file drawers for office supply stuff. I keep coupons in an envelope which is standing up, in my appliance garage. I do have an ugly stack of photocopied recipes, umm, on the counter.

i think you are not being fair. You have 'miles' of space above the counters for purely decorative stuff. You have miles of countertop for pretties. He wants a little bit of space for his shopping and cooking? Perhaps you need to respect his kitchen work, which is truly the work of a kitchen. Clear the counters of your pretties, rotate them with the stuff above the counters, and put the excess in a storage area.. Then get appealing organizers and file folders for his kitchen. Since he does the majority of kitchen tasks, -cooking and shopping, and the details of that work are ever changing, -new menus, weekly sales, restocking, etc., he needs space. You want space.

He may be more amenable to using folders, in the kitchen, when he sees that you have moved your pretties. Talk about it. I don't mean to sound harsh, but his work is typically a woman's which, historically, has been disrespected.

Linelle, I think I can answer why DH (in the OP's case) has chosen that particular corner instead of the more obvious dumping ground of the island. If the OP is anything like my DH, he's probably been asked or just learned through experience to use that inconspicuous corner because it's more discreet and hidden from the living area ;) My DH hates coming home to the island covered with stuff, so I've learned (and taught my kids) to clear the island of clutter before he comes home from work. Anything else I still want visible goes to my designated corner. During the day when DH is at work, I do use the kitchen island as my "desk" ;)

What if you paid the bills and did the grocery shopping? Would you be able to keep it more orderly? That might be the answer. It seems as though you like neat organization and he does it but perhaps is not organized. I hated when my husband got the mail and paid the bills. Not very tidy. He did not want to give it up as he felt he was losing control but I don't like the madness which appeared without method.

I definitely feel your pain. I've learned to live with it, and almost always choose to let it go since he has so many good qualities. I'm not perfect, either.

How clever to use a soup tureen for your remotes! We would certainly break something like that for sure, LOL.

Well, my big kitty Pip likes to move it around with his butt (the coffee table is one of his favorite lounging places), but so far so good! ;-)

For grocery lists I text myself. For daily visits to clients I have to write down whom I'm seeing when. It's supposed to stick in the brain better to hand write things but not sure if that applies here.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-learning-secret-don-t-take-notes-with-a-laptop/

What about a couple of hard cover art type portfolios with pockets and elastic to hold things in place. It's a bit out there but it might contain and yet be visually there for him. They open right up and they're easy enough to make yourself and personalize.

Good thing neither DH nor I are neat people as our office area and kitchen work zones tend to be very cluttered. My daughter says it's because we're both creative and visually oriented people. We both need to see everything. She's very neat and tidy. Go figure. (Poor girl was very challenged when living with us, but survived and still loves us. ;))

Knowing that this would be a problem, we built a desk area into our kitchen that is away from the wet and the cooking. It does get rather cluttered and needs straightening on a regular basis. I cut wine corks in half and covered the backsplash area with the corks which we use as a bulletin board.

My suggestion is, since the function is clearly necessary and a space is needed to accommodate that function, you can't eliminate it. So your only option is to move it. If you gave him a spot that is even more convenient, he'd be happy to use it. So I'd consider designing a special area for that purpose, near the kitchen if not in it.

Jen, I had to laught while reading your thread! I want to reassure you it isn't a DH ' thing', but possibly a man 'thing'. Lol My almost 50 yo son is a perfectionist about his house, but he has one countertop which is constantly 'in flux'. Mail, keys, newspaper, magazines, anything which can be thrown and not placed gently, goes on that one countertop. I bought him one of those countertop organizers which works perfectly for myself, but maybe he can't figure out how to organize *it*! I'm of the opinion this might be something ingrained in the male species. Lol

We use decorative boxes big enough to comfortably hold reams and reams of legal size paper. The boxes have lids and close completely. Anything not thrown out by the end of the day goes into a box. I have a box, he has a box. My only decision is whether it goes in my box or his box. When we clean out our respective boxes is an individual problem. Once we understood that this is the way it was going to work we have bad absolutely no issues with our "system." We both dislike clutter but it's hard to actually deal with and this seems to be a really great solution.