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We hate to say this, but this time of year we have to put away our swimsuits and sandals. In addition to that, sand toys, beach umbrellas and all other summer items are piled up near the door. The whole process of returning to the real world in September can be quite a puzzle, especially if you don't have closet space or a basement to throw everything in. So this week, I'm sharing home organization essentials to make the transition a little easier.the Let's clean up space week About strategists.
Organizing your kitchen cabinets can be really difficult. Colin Morahan, professional organizer and founder of Grid + Glam, says he stores everything from dishes and utensils to food and electronics, so “organizing can be one of the most complex and time-consuming tasks.” It takes a lot of space for him to be one. However, it is important to keep your kitchen cabinets organized. As any chef knows, being able to find what you need, whether it's seasonings or utensils, at the exact moment you need it can make or break a meal.
When thinking about how to organize your cabinets, Joanna Willick, founder of Joanna Organize, says you should divide your kitchen into three zones: prep, cooking, and cleanup. From there, organize items by function, such as plates and silverware near the dishwasher, cups near the water dispenser, and pots and pans next to the stove. It’s a kitchen conflict,” says Faith Roberson, owner of Organize With Faith.
Once you know where everything is, it's time to put things away. This is where kitchen cabinet organizers come in handy. “It's very convenient because it allows you to maximize the height and depth of your cabinets,” says Michele Vig, founder and chief organizer of Neat Little Nest. You can spend a lot or a little on them, depending on what you store (light vs. heavy) and the look you like. For example, when it comes to storage bins, you'll pay a premium for wicker bins or knit bins. Plastic is a more affordable option. It's also worth noting that you don't have to buy everything from the Container Store. “Target, Walmart, and Amazon all sell very good knock-offs of many of the products they sell,” Vig says. From storage bins to lazy Susans, here are the products that organization experts rely on.
The experts I interviewed recommended the same three organization products over and over again. Bins (to sort snacks, cleaning supplies, etc.), risers (to increase vertical storage space), and Lazy He Susans (to make deep cabinets easier to access). This was set up by Home Edit (the expert organizer behind Netflix). Organize with home editing) has all this and more.
“It's a great starter kit as it has everything you need to organize your kitchen cabinets,” says Vig from Neat Little Nest. The 11-piece set includes four large bins for larger items like cereal boxes, two narrow bins for smaller products like pasta, two snack bins, and two 10-inch turntables perfect for spices and condiments. , and a 3-tier shelf for food. canning. At $63 for 11 items, you can't beat it anywhere else.
According to Zoe Katz of Twice As Organized, a great way to maximize vertical space in your kitchen cabinets is to use risers (aka shelving). Since you're essentially creating small shelves (within existing shelves), “they help break up the space and make things easier to find,” she says.She is a fan of this model of her affordable Songmics and I'm glad I watched it. It adjusts to fit your space and can hold up to 33 pounds, making it easy to support stacks of plates and the heaviest cookware.
Bins are a professional organizer's best friend. “You can use it to corral everything from snacks to cleaning supplies,” says Morahan of Grid + Glam. She loves these trash cans from mDesign. Because they come in different sizes (from 10 x 4 x 3 for small snacks to 16 x 6 x 5 for larger items). Clear plastic allows you to easily see everything inside. Before purchasing a trash can, be sure to measure your cabinets to make sure there is enough space to pull it out easily. Then label your bins so everyone knows where to find things and where to put them back.
Corner cabinets and deep cupboards offer plenty of storage but are difficult to access and require a lazy Susan to get the most out of, says Willick of Joanna Organize. Perfect for storing everything from cooking oil to canned goods, you can quickly find what you're looking for with just a quick turn. Wirick says he is a fan of this product from OXO. Because it's durable and easy to turn. “They're great for storing food and cooking supplies, as well as cleaning supplies under the sink,” she says.
Another great way to access hard-to-reach areas of your kitchen cabinets is to install pull-out shelves. “It's easy to see what you have, especially what you forgot in the back,” says Roberson of Organize With Faith. He recommends his Container Store retractable shelves. Made of solid steel, it can hold up to 55 pounds and is strong enough for even the heaviest pots and pans. Plus, it comes in four different sizes (from 11 inches to 20 inches wide), so you're sure to find the right one for your cabinets.
There are many ways to store spices. You can also arrange them on a lazy susan or on shelf risers. These methods are fine if you only have a few spices, but if you have more, we recommend this organizer that holds 24 spices. “It adjusts to fit any size spice bottle and comes with pre-made blank labels for easy organization,” she says. She suggests categorizing spices by cuisine (Italian, Mexican, Asian, etc.) or alphabetically. Before sorting, be sure to get rid of any duplicates or expired spices.
Pots and pans (and their lids) tend to get cluttered and frustrating in your cupboard. That's why Vig recommends this rack that can be adjusted to suit your cookware and can hold up to 8 pieces. Made of stainless steel, it's strong enough to hold heavy items like cast iron pots and grills. “You can also use it to organize baking sheets and cutting boards,” she says.
If you're short on space, organizers that hang behind cabinet doors are a great solution, notes Katz of Twice As Organized. She loves these lid holders. It's easy to install (just stick it on the inside of your cabinet) and can be customized to fit your lid size.
There's a reason we have 12 cans of black beans. I can't see the black beans in the back of the cupboard, so I keep thinking I have to buy them. This 3-tier riser recommended by Morahan solves that problem by arranging the cans neatly and making them easier to see and grab. “It’s a great way to make the most of your space, and I love that you can also store large cans,” she says. Bonus: If you need even more storage, it expands from 10 inches to 19 inches wide.
“I put this rack in almost every house I work in,” Morahan says. Why: Utilize the vertical space of your cabinets to store everything from water bottles to travel mugs to sippy cups. “You can see everything at once, so you can pull out just what you need without crowding out everything else,” she says. The set comes with 2 racks that can hold a total of 6 bottles.
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