The Countertop Rule: What to Clear Off Before Your Listing Photos

by Amanda Zito

What is the countertop rule when selling your home?

Start by clearing everything off your kitchen counters. Then add back only a few simple items — ideally no more than three items in each section of counter space.

The goal is simple: make the kitchen look clean, open, and like it has plenty of storage.

Most buyers will see your kitchen online before they ever walk through the front door. And usually, they’re looking at those photos on their phone while scrolling through several other homes.

That means your kitchen has to make a good first impression quickly.

A counter covered with a toaster, knife block, mail, paper towels, small appliances, and everyday items can make the kitchen feel smaller and busier than it really is.

Clearing the counters helps buyers focus on the space itself.

Here’s what I recommend removing, what can stay, and whether you should consider replacing your countertops before putting your home on the market.

The Simple Countertop Rule

First, take everything off the counters.

Yes, everything.

Wipe everything down and look at the kitchen with completely clear counters.

Then slowly add a few things back.

Try to keep it to no more than three items in each section of counter space. And keep the area around the stove or cooktop as clear as possible.

You might add:

A small plant
A bowl of fruit
A simple cutting board
A clean coffee maker
One decorative item

You don’t need to make the kitchen look empty. You just want it to feel clean and open.

The fewer distractions there are, the easier it is for buyers to notice the countertops, cabinets, backsplash, and overall size of the kitchen.

Why Clear Counters Make the Kitchen Feel Bigger

When buyers see crowded counters, they may not consciously think, “There isn’t enough storage here.”

But that can still be the impression they get.

If every counter is covered, buyers may assume the cabinets and pantry are already full.

Clear counters give the opposite impression. They make the kitchen feel like it has more room, more storage, and more usable workspace.

And storage matters to buyers.

The 2025 Remodeling Impact Report from the National Association of REALTORS® and NARI found that storage-related improvements can provide strong value.

But buyers can’t appreciate your storage if the kitchen looks crowded before they even open a cabinet.

What Should Stay and What Should Go?

What Can Stay

Keep it simple.

A few things that usually photograph well include:

One small plant
A bowl of fruit
A cutting board against the backsplash
A clean coffee maker
One simple decorative piece

If you keep the coffee maker out, put away the pods, filters, mugs, sugar containers, and anything else around it.

What Should Go

I recommend putting away:

Knife blocks
Paper towel holders
Dish soap and sponges
Drying racks
Toasters
Blenders
Air fryers
Canister sets
Spice racks
Extra bottles
Mail and paperwork

Also clear off the refrigerator.

Take down magnets, calendars, family photos, school papers, takeout menus, and anything else attached to the doors.

These are normal things to have in a kitchen. But in listing photos, they create visual clutter and pull attention away from the home.

Put Away Personal Information Too

There are also a few things you should remove for privacy and security.

Put away:

Prescription medications
Mail with your name or address
Spare keys
Checkbooks
Financial paperwork
Anything showing account information

Once your home is listed, buyers and agents will be walking through it during showings. Personal and sensitive items should always be stored somewhere secure.

A Tip for Inland Empire and High Desert Homes

Some kitchens need even less on the counters because the countertops themselves already have a lot of color or pattern.

Many homes throughout the Inland Empire and High Desert have granite or tile countertops with noticeable patterns.

There’s nothing wrong with that.

But if the countertop already has movement and color, adding several appliances and decorative items can make listing photos feel very busy.

In those kitchens, I usually recommend keeping the counters especially simple.

Lighting matters too.

If your kitchen gets strong afternoon sunlight, glossy counters can reflect a lot of light into the camera.

For example, a west-facing kitchen in Victorville, Apple Valley, or other parts of the High Desert may photograph better earlier in the day.

Your photographer can usually help determine the best time.

Should You Replace Your Countertops Before Selling?

Usually, I would say no.

If the counters are in decent condition, replacing them right before selling often isn’t necessary.

Instead, focus on repairing obvious damage.

This is where sellers sometimes spend money they may not get back.

A brand-new countertop can look great, but if the cabinets, flooring, and appliances are older, the new countertop can actually make those older features stand out more.

And you may end up paying for an upgrade your buyer gets to enjoy.

There are situations where replacing the countertops may make sense.

The Countertops Are Damaged

Cracked tile, burn marks, badly damaged laminate, or swelling around the sink are worth addressing.

Visible damage gives buyers something to focus on and may lead to repair requests later.

Everything Else in the Kitchen Has Already Been Updated

If the cabinets, appliances, flooring, and lighting are updated but the countertops are the one thing making the kitchen feel dated, replacement may be worth considering.

Your Kitchen Is Far Behind Comparable Homes

Sometimes competing homes in the same neighborhood and price range have much more updated kitchens.

In that case, countertops may affect how buyers compare your home to the competition.

But this should be based on your local market and comparable sales — not simply because you saw a countertop you liked at the store.

Before spending thousands of dollars, get an opinion.

I would rather tell a seller, “Leave it alone,” than have them spend money on a project that probably won’t help their sale.

Costs and returns vary depending on the home, market, materials, and timing. Any renovation should be looked at as a financial decision before you move forward.

How Long Does It Take to Prep the Kitchen?

For most homes, this can be done in one afternoon.

Grab a few bins or laundry baskets and clear everything off the counters.

Then sort everything into three groups:

Things that will go back on the counter
Things that can go inside a cabinet
Things you can pack away until you move

And try not to solve the problem by stuffing everything into the cabinets.

Buyers do open cabinets and pantries during showings.

If the cabinets are packed from top to bottom, it can create the same impression you were trying to avoid on the counters.

If you don’t use something regularly, consider packing it now. You’re going to have to pack it eventually anyway.

Then keep the kitchen looking this way while the home is on the market.

The listing photos are important, but buyers should see the same clean, open kitchen when they come through for a showing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many items should be on the kitchen counter when selling?

Try to keep it to no more than three items in each section of counter space. Group them together instead of spreading them across the entire counter.

For a kitchen island, one small arrangement is usually enough.

When in doubt, take a photo with your phone. If the counter looks busy on your screen, remove a few more things.

Do buyers really notice countertop clutter?

They may not specifically say the counters were cluttered.

Instead, they may say the kitchen felt small, crowded, or like it didn’t have enough storage.

Clearing the counters helps buyers see the actual space instead of everything sitting on top of it.

Does countertop clutter affect the appraisal?

No. An appraiser is not going to lower the value of your home because there is a toaster on the counter.

But buyers make decisions based on how the home feels and how it compares to other properties.

That first impression matters before you ever get to the appraisal.

Thinking About Selling in the Inland Empire or High Desert?

Before you start spending money on your kitchen, let’s figure out what is actually worth doing.

Sometimes the answer is simply clearing the counters and doing a deep clean.

Sometimes there is one repair worth taking care of.

And occasionally, a bigger update makes sense.

I can walk through the home with you, look at the competition, and help you decide where your money will make the biggest difference — and where you can leave things alone.

Amanda Zito, REALTOR®
Real Brokerage
CA DRE #01740063 | TX TREC #840088
SoldByZito.com