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My pantry serves as our laundry room, storage room, cleaning closet, china hutch and tool shed. It can get a little crazy up in here. There’s lots going on.
We have two huge bookshelves (twice the width you see here) for holding everything, as well as the big filing cabinet, which holds all of our bigger tools.
A while back we installed two pegboard panels above the tool cabinet. I usually say that everything should be put away for a clean, uncluttered look. But sometimes, especially in a small space, things can get buried quickly. Making this pegboard has made my life so much more efficient.
Since the pantry door is usually open I wanted the pegboard wall to be as clean and simple-looking as possible. I thought about painting the pegboard a cool color at first, but I didn’t want it to stick out more than it already does, so I left the white. But I did spray paint all the organizational hardware the same rose gold color.
It’s subtle, but I like the little bit of shine.
I also use about a dozen clear tupperware bins. I bought them at Home Depot for a dollar each.
I have them labeled with these cute chalkboard labels from Martha Stewart’s label line for Avery.
Each bin holds something small and specific, like upholstery staples or tape or wall anchors.
Another thing that helps keep this room running smoothly is my little whiteboard. I jot down things on this board that we’re running out. They’re usually things I wouldn’t remember while making a shopping list (like laundry detergent or light bulbs).
Other things that make the room special to me- the persian rug I bought in Belgium for just a few euros (I think it was only three!) and the pair of porcelain animal hooks I got in Delaware at the Amish flea market. We usually hang aprons from these and the girls adore them.
The pantry is sort of like the command center of our home. It’s been surprisingly good to us these past two years (not that I won’t be excited for a little more space when we move!). I think this room was a great learning experience for me and reminded me how well a space can function when it is well-organized.
So, I’d love to hear about your best organizing tip. What do you do to keep your challenge spaces tidy and running smoothly? Share your tip in the comments section for a chance to win a whopping $500 in gift cards! $250 to Target AND $250 to the Container Store!
Contest ends June 24. Rules can be read in full here. Good luck!
i have to have a running grocery list that i can add to easily…i use a "white board" vinyl decal stuck to the side of my fridge. and plastic bins…can never have enough plastic bins to sort and separate. and labels!!! i hate digging through plastic bins to find what i'm looking for, so i make a list and place it on the outside of bins that aren't clear or are really full.
My number one rule is that everything has it's own place and everyone in the house (even my hubby and kids!) knows where it goes! It makes cleaning so much quicker and easier.
a small bin of sliding drawers for all of my "fasteners" (nails, screws, staples, picture hangers, etc)
I have been trying to plan specific menus and shop accordingly. I love to come home from the store and divide everything up into recipe "kits." It makes for a long shopping trip, but an easy week.
To keep challenging spaces clean and tidy, I go vertical with storage and hide everything I possibly can in labeled storage bins and baskets, using clear buckets only if the contents can't be summed up in one word on a label. Why? Because clear bins can look more cluttered than solid bins, but they do let you quickly see the contents. Keep lightweight items in woven baskets on the top shelf and heavy items on the bottom, with items most often used in the middle shelves. Use lighter-colored bins up higher and darker bins near the bottom to make it feel grounded but tall.
I try to clean as I go and purge every few months. I don't have a lot of storage space or large closets so purging is an absolute necessity.
I enjoy having a place for everything and everything in its place. Labels are also a very good thing!
We follow the one in, one out rule. Life is much simpler when you can keep the stuff to a minimum!
I enjoy having a place for everything and everything in its place. Labels are also a very good thing!
We follow the one in, one out rule. Life is much simpler when you can keep the stuff to a minimum!
It's a constant battle to stay organized, now isn't it??? (c: Especially with the wee ones around! I definitely subscribe to having places to put things away that are easily accessible…a drawer with compartments for pens/tape/markers, a bin for shoes that get taken off downstairs, and separate (and labeled!) places for the spaces that tend to be catch-alls! Fabulous giveaway!!!
lots of baskets and boxes! That way everything is out of site.
My best organizing tip would be to keep things pared down as much as possible.
Also…LOVE the painted pegboard hardware!!!
I am not the most organized/best cleaner but something that I have found helpful is to always make sure to use cleaners that multitask. Right now, for me that means a homemade solution that gets used on floors, counters, windows, everywhere! it makes it easier to just carry one bottle around with me
My best tip is to put things away right away and go through your house often giving away things that you haven't used or don't need anymore. This keeps your house clutter free!
Using cd holders for our DVDs helps save space and organizes our small entertainment center
Such a fun giveaway! Love your storage closet. My best tip right now is to make storage pretty – for example, I love corralling pens and pencils and markers on my desk in pretty julep cups. I'm always more likely to put things away if it looks good to do so!
Our current apartment has a great view, but it's lacking in storage space. Right now, the kitchen is kind of our hub for everything. To keep it organized, we are *trying to*:
-Purge unused items once every 6 months.
-Borrow instead of buy. {Thank you, awesome neighbors!}
-Invest in durable yet inexpensive storage furniture (Ikea, Goodwill, etc).
-Realize that it's never going to look like a Container Store or Ikea add. {Although with your help…} Sometimes you have to work with what you have and make that be functional. For example, a shoe box and a trash bag box currently keep all my cleaning supplies and plastic grocery bags organized!
Great Giveaway! I am another; put it away where it came from and clean up (as much as possible)as you go. Of course you need the containers large and small to do this!
Love to have a Clorox Wipes in each bath, laundry room, and the kitchen for the quick clean ups!
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
I keep lots of baskets around my home. You can call me the basket lady but it makes my house a little cleaner :)
I make sure that everything has a place and there is a LOT of labeling. Once I have my closet organized, it is crazy for me how easy it is to find what I am looking for! Label, Label, Label!!!
My mantra is "OHIO" Only Handle it Once. I apply it to mail, kiddos stuff–everything really. Instead of setting something aside and saying, "I'll put it away later", I always find it more efficient to deal with it then and there.
My favorite organizing tools are 13 gallon bins, I love them! I have bins that come out seasonally like Christmas decorations, winter jackets, spring items. Its easier to have all the big bulky items put away, and stacked up neatly in bins. angelgenius27@yahoo.com
My best tip is for everything to have a home. That way, I always know where everything is and never spend time rummaging.
I love to use baskets and boxes to contain everything to prevent piles!
Our laundry/ pantry/ cleaning supplies/ dog center is all combined into one room like yours Jenny and I love seeing how you have organized it! I bought a single wide x 4 tall Expedit unit from Ikea about 6 months ago and set it on top of the children's toy drawer (also Ikea). It is set to the side and I have coat hooks beside the expedit. It makes a great mud room drop off point for shoes, book bags, and coats.
In my pantry i use plastic containers with lids to hold cereal. I have 3 kids and everyone likes a different kind, of course. This storing method eliminates the cumbersome cereal boxes and leaves room for other pantry items.
I have found that out of sight means out of mind, so slowly but surely everything has gotten transfered either into clear plastic or glass containers.
Fingers crossed.
I also am a huge fan of clear tupperware bins, esp for toys. That way my boys can see exactly what's in there and they know how to put it back away tidily. Love them!
Wow…your pantry is inspiring! It makes me movivated to do more with our tool area! One organizing tip I use is to keep a small bin on a counter right next to the basement stairs. When I'm cleaning up the first floor, I put things in there that need to go downstairs. That way, I can just take the whole bin down when it gets full and I don't have to make a million trips!
What a great giveaway. I hope I win!
I'm a work in progress when it comes to organizing. I'm trying very hard to work off the premise of a place for everything and to put items back where they go when I'm done using them.
I like for all of my containers/hangers to be uniform. If possible, I arrange everything from short to tall and/or light to dark. It helps make "stuff" looks neater, especially if they aren't contained. Thanks!
I like for all of my containers/hangers to be uniform. If possible, I arrange everything from short to tall and/or light to dark. It helps make "stuff" looks neater, especially if they aren't contained. Thanks!
I try to go to bed with a clean home. It makes the day go smoother to have everything put away, especially in the kitchen.
Over the years I've learned that clear bins, clear office drawer sets and my trusty Dymo labeler make life much easier. All the solid colored bins became garage sale items! Pegboard in the workshop area is also key to quickly finding items. Your Martha Stewart chalkboard tags sure are cuter than the Dymo though….
I am a fabric hoarder and had a lot of trouble keeping it organized and neat. I also wanted to be able to see what I have without going through piles. So I cut up foam core board and made my own fabric bolts just like at the store. I also measured and wrote how many yards I had on the board. Now I can see what I have on the shelf without making a mess.
What an amazing giveaway! I would love to be considered. :) My best organizing tip is to declutter and throw out/donate/sell what you don't love and what is not functional. Then, you are left with only the things you need and can neatly tuck those items away in labeled baskets and containers.
my best tip to cut down on paper clutter is to take pictures with your smart phone of the party/wedding invitations, school events, recipe ingredients, etc… this saves me so much time to have all the important information in one compact and portable place.
I cannot function with clutter. I love little baskets for things. They aren't always nicely organized but the clutter is minimalized especially an easy fix when you find out you have visitors coming in a few minutes.
Wow Jenny, that looks so clean and organized. It might even inspire me to do so pantry organizing myself.
Our locker room is a must have space in our home. Lucky to have bought a house with one but if NOT. Well making one in the garage is a good use of space. Box frame cabinets from Home depot work just fine. Add some shelves and hooks and wala.
I think prioritizing is really important. We downsized and couldn't keep our captain's bed so all of our winter clothes are now stored in our travel suitcases in the garage. It is so refreshing to not have to deal with corduroys and wool sweaters when it's 80 degrees out.
Organization is like a fine art. It really takes some planning and prep work, but ends out life changing. Small chores/cleaning on a daily basis help cut down on weekend tasks. Baskets, containers, binders and labels are amazing.
alliemurphy@yahoo.com
I admit that I am terrible at organizing, which is why I desperately need this giveaway! I just bought my first home and I want to start off on the right food with good organizing skills.
Keep things put away as soon as I am finished with them. chedeb5353@hotmail.com
My tip is constant decluttering and staying on top of getting rid of unwanted/outgrown stuff. Staying on top of that is the easiest way not to get so bogged down in "stuff"
Labels! I had some small rubber stamps made with the kids names, I also have two tiny bowls with a dozen or so label maker labels of their names at all times. This makes labeling things for school so much easier. All plastic storage bins are labeled, as is the pantry.
I keep a list of 30 or 31 things to do each month. Along with big important things, I always add annoying but important tasks like cleaning baseboards so that I'll feel guilty if they go undone.
I use an over-the-door canvas shoe rack to hold extra batteries, flashlights, tape measures, etc. Each pocket is labeled and it's easy to find all those odds and ends that someone is always looking for!
One tip I use is to keep the linens for each bed in the bedroom closet of the room the bed is in. That way everyone knows which sheets go to which bed. Saves time and the kids can change their own beds.