I’m an interior designer – 12 things you HAVE to ditch from your kitchen & why signs saying ‘eat’ need to go in the bin

YOUR KITCHEN can often be filled with clutter that you don't really need.

Not only does it take up space but it can also make your kitchen look cheap - luckily, interior design experts reveal what bits you need to ditch.

Jill Jarvis, interior designer and owner of Ehrlich Interiors said the first thing you should do is get rid of the clutter on your kitchen countertops.

She told Insider: "Nothing makes a kitchen look messier than countertop clutter.

"It also makes counters more difficult to wipe down and keep clean."

So start by throwing out unneeded mail and finding cupboard space for small appliances.

While open shelves may look pleasing to the eye, they are almost never practical.

Rebecca Langman, interior designer and owner of Revision Custom Home Design said they often create visual clutter and constantly need cleaning to look good.

Instead, opt for glass-front cabinets to reduce dust.

One of the interior expert's pet peeves is signs with common phrases and she recommends ditching them.

She said: "Your guests will know it's a kitchen even if there's no oversized fork and spoon on the wall or a sign telling them to 'gather' or 'eat.'"

While it might feel nice having lots of different wine glasses in your collection, it really isn't necessary.

Interior designer Joe Cangelosi said: "Unless you have a giant butler's pantry that can house all that stuff, most people only need some all-purpose wine glasses and a set of Champagne flutes."

He suggests investing in a fancy set for formal occasions and cheap ones for everyday use.

Another kitchen item cluttering up space is knives, unless you're a chef you don't need to have 20 sitting in a drawer.

Joe said you only need three, a large chef knife, a bread knife and a small paring knife - the rest you can donate or sell.

We all like to think we'll get through the cookbooks we have - but the reality is we probably won't.

And they're taking up so much room in your kitchen - instead, Jill recommends keeping two you use often.

The interior expert also recommends going through each book and putting your favourite recipes in a binder to save space.

Instead of trying to decorate your kitchen cabinets with lots of decor, opt for a plant that won't need dusting or take up too much space, said Rebecca.

You may want to hold onto your old tea towels but if they don't go with your kitchen then it's time to throw them away, said Jill.

If you're not quite ready to part with them, Jill recommends turning them into cleaning rags.

And we bet you've got plenty of herbs and spices lying in your cupboard that are past their expiry date and taking up space.

Jill suggests taking some time to go through them to reduce clutter.

We've all had a phase of thinking we'll make fresh bread and purchase a bread maker only for it to collect dust on our counter.

But unless you are actually making fresh bread all the time - it's just taking up space, instead find somewhere to store it or make bread the old-fashioned way - by hand.

Everyone has the dreaded junk drawer in their kitchen, but Jill recommends turning it into a catch-all space for utensils you use regularly but don't have a designated spot.

Finally, to make your kitchen feel less cluttered go through your cleaning supplies to see which ones you actually use and which ones to ditch.