Fall's arrival also marks the beginning of hosting season. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and all the cocktail parties and laid-back brunches in between – these holidays and celebrations mean your kitchen has to work even harder, functionally and aesthetically.

And as the hub of hosting, ensuring your cooking space is ready for the seasonal preparations is key. For interior designers, that means removing a few items that make your kitchen feel chaotic and cluttered – the opposite of a calming hosting setup.

So whether you're hosting for the first time and need some trusted advice or simply need help to ensure your kitchen doesn't descend into chaos, here are the three things designers always remove from their kitchen before hosting, and what they replace them with instead.

1. Countertop Storage and Appliances

Those small countertop storage solutions and appliances that live out throughout the year are usually handy to have within reach, but when you're hosting, they create a more cluttered look and take up valuable surface space. Small appliances you are using can, of course, stay out, but everything else, like utensil crocks, should be removed.

'I love the ease of countertop utensil storage for everyday cooking, but a jar overflowing with cooking tools pulls the eye right to the stove. Moving it off the counter also frees up valuable space for setting out drinks, serving platters, and all the trimmings of a party. When you’re hosting, every inch of counter space counts,' explains interior designer Kathy Kuo.

'I’d get rid of the countertop clutter, especially items like utensil crocks, paper towel holders, and any small appliances,' adds interior designer Jennifer Hunter. 'When you’re hosting, the kitchen is already a hub of activity, and having every surface filled can make it feel chaotic before the party even begins. I’m a big believer that a kitchen should feel lived-in and layered, but there’s a difference between collected and cluttered.'

Once you've removed the small items and appliances that can easily read as clutter amid the hosting chaos, be intentional about what you add instead. For interior designers, it's usually one beautiful decor piece that elevates the kitchen without taking up lots of valuable surface space. 'I typically style a kitchen with a vintage bowl filled with seasonal fruit or a beautiful wooden cutting board leaned against the backsplash,' says Jennifer.

If you have space, decorative displays are equally beautiful. 'A good rule of thumb for hosting is that everything on the counter needs to add to the occasion. That could mean it’s functional or aesthetically pleasing, but it still needs a purpose,' Kathy advises. 'Tuck the everyday tools into a drawer and set out one beautiful vessel instead. A stoneware pitcher filled with fresh blooms or a few seasonal branches is always a welcome addition to the kitchen.'

2. Kitchen Island Clutter

If a kitchen island sits at the center of your space, it's probably the one place that requires the most attention. When you're hosting, it's the last place you want covered in clutter – it makes the whole room feel messier and hosting duties infinitely more difficult and disorganized.

'I recommend people remove all the clutter from their kitchen island when hosting to create a more calming environment. As we all now gather in the kitchen, I prefer to move the hosting setup to the perimeter when space allows,' says interior designer Shani Core.

Instead, utilize your perimeter countertops and create zones where hosting essentials naturally live in your kitchen for ease of access as well as a more visually harmonious space. 'In this kitchen, I used the area beneath a built-in China cabinet as a bar. Wine glasses sit atop a rattan tray, and an ice bucket is close by. A large vase with branches cut from the outside trees is all the kitchen island needs to welcome guests.'

3. Heavily Scented Candles

Hosting tips always include scent in one way or another, and a kitchen feels like the natural place to light a candle. But designers actually advise against any strong scents while you are cooking or while guests are dining.

'I love a candle, but a strong fragrance competes with the smell of the food and can even impact how dishes taste. Whenever you’re hosting, limit scented candles to bathrooms and living spaces separate from the food,' Kathy suggests. If you're set on scented candles, save them for after dinner, rather than before or during.

'Switch to unscented tapers in sculptural holders. You still get that warm, flickering glow that makes everyone want to linger, minus the aroma. Plus, tall tapers add varying heights to your kitchen display, which makes the whole spread look more dynamic and layered!'

Sometimes, it's the simplest swaps that make your kitchen a far calmer space for hosting. Consider the pieces in your kitchen that take up counter space or can easily read as clutter – they're usually the things that are best swapped out.

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