Stop wasting space in your kitchen: The trending sink accessory that will free up your countertops

The way we dry our dishes is changing, and although many of us will have one of the best dishwashers to handle the majority of our dishes, there are still many items that need washing by hand.

This means we need a dish drying rack in our kitchens, but it can crowd our countertops and take up precious space. What's more, if you’ve gone for the sleek look of an undermounted sink, the last thing you want spoiling the clean line is a dish rack that causes eye clutter.

It appears that homeowners are increasingly moving away from the traditional dish rack, thinking outside the box and using space more wisely. So instead of placing a dish rack alongside the sink, the new shift is to go up and over.

The benefits of an over-the-sink dish drainer rack

Apart from freeing up countertop space, particularly handy if you have a small kitchen, the dishes will drip straight into the sink, leaving less mess.

It’s one trend that is reported in Homes and Gardens, with Chiana Dickson, Kitchen Appliance Editor, saying, “Traditional dish racks might seem harmless, but they often dominate the counter, trap water, and make even the tidiest kitchens feel cluttered. Moving your dish rack to a more functional position — like over the sink or onto a sleek draining board — instantly frees up space and creates a calmer, more considered environment.”

Although an over-the-sink drainer isn’t something you would necessarily consider, or even know about, once you start looking, there are plenty of options available. I particularly like the Over the Sink Dish Drying Rack, $19 from Amazon. The two-tier unit has plenty of space for cutlery, plates, glasses and more.

If you’re not so sure about blocking the light if your sink is by a window, or you have a cupboard above, you could try a neat roll-up rack, such as Tomorotec’s Roll Up Dish Drying Rack, $13 from Amazon. When not in use, it can be stored away.

I’m currently planning a kitchen redesign, and this new trend has got me thinking about how I, too, can save countertop space in my own kitchen with an over-the-sink dish rack.

Over-the-sink dish drainer racks we love

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