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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!
The best thing for me is to force myself to put things away even when I don't feel like it. Even as simple as putting my keys, sunglasses and purse all in one place right when I get home.. so I don't spent forever hunting things down when I need them. :)
I learned this from friends and have started to do it myself. Everyday, throw/give away one thing- magazines, old coat, whatever. That way, you are de-cluttering little by little and won't feel overwhelmed when the time comes to spring clean, move, etc.
In a 650-square-foot apartment, every space functions as storage space.
We have lots of tricky storage happening.
We use suitcases in the living room to stash our DVDs, old-school Nintendo and games (and gun controller for Duck Hunt, of course!), stackable baskets and containers in the pantry for everything, our side-tables and desk all have drawers, and as much as we can, we stack and hang things.
In other words, if it takes up space on the ground, it stores things, too!
My mom is the master of organization – I get her to design all my closets :). And we don't keep anything we don't really need or use.
The pantry is the space I find most challenging in my home. I recently invested in a set of OXO POP containers and use them for all of my baking ingredients. Now everything fits on the shelves and stacks neatly instead of falling all over the place. I made sure to label everything too (now I know which container holds baking powder vs baking soda).
I have a running list on my phone of the different stores I go to along with ingredient list for key recipes. That way if I forget what I need to buy, I can look at my list and see what might be missing.
I use old mason jars that we have collected and put pens, paper clips and loose office/desk materials in them so everything is kept together and easy to find.
Love this post! I use the same chalkboard labels (though mine are from Etsy, rather than Martha Stewart's collection) for things that are visible. And I try to use the smallest possible bin for everything. I've found that if my storage containers get too large, I end up stuffing things that don't belong in there!
Omg this pantry is amazeballs! I'm so inspired! My number one organization tip is to make it cute…if I have cute containers, labels, etc, then I'm excited to organize and I don't feel like I'm just storing a bunch of junk.
We live in a small house with limited storage, so organization really is important! I like to use wicker baskets for almost everything. I think they provide texture to the room and give a nice design element. I also love using trays. They make little things look more organized!
My house is small with little storage, so there's a couple of "operating rules" around here. We only let the mail touch our hands once, we think really hard about any purchase that will bring more stuff into the house, and we clean things out often. I have a basket that is specifically for stuff to donate as we come across it.
Side note: this is the most beautiful/practical storage space. Thanks for all the great ideas! I'm starting my own business so organization is at the top of my list of things to implement early. This post gives me so much inspiration! Thank you so much for sharing!!!
My house is small with little storage, so there's a couple of "operating rules" around here. We only let the mail touch our hands once, we think really hard about any purchase that will bring more stuff into the house, and we clean things out often. I have a basket that is specifically for stuff to donate as we come across it.
Side note: this is the most beautiful/practical storage space. Thanks for all the great ideas! I'm starting my own business so organization is at the top of my list of things to implement early. This post gives me so much inspiration! Thank you so much for sharing!!!
great tips all of them! I just moved in to a tiny house with zero bathroom storage- I keep bins under my bed but separate all the products into separate bins like hair, or skin or dental stuff. It sound obvious, but my first inclination was to throw it all together and separating it out has helped so much. Also I've stopped purchasing duplicates of so much!
thanks for the giveaway!
Kate
We have a shoe closet in our entry and it's great for keeping shoes off the floor.
I have a toy closet – with a combination lock on it (kids don't know the combination). The toys are stored in the closet in individual bins. They can have something from the closet to play with but it has to be returned when they want something else. This has saved my life :)
I keep my pony tail holders, all clips and bobby pins in a small mesh cube cup so that I can easily grab one before working out and I don't have to hunt around. I also believe in matching hangers for the closet. I have the velvet-like non-slip hangers and they all face the same way. This allows the clothes to stay on securely (especially after I spend time ironing) and it actually opened up more space to hang clothes.
I do a general amount of cleaning everyday. If you take 15 mins a day to make sure everything's tidy, you won't need to do massive cleaning/organizing projects
I am not nearly as organized as I need to be, but your suggestions give me hope! I usually try to keep things tidy as I put them away so that storage space doesn't get away from me- but these bins with each separate category seem really helpful- as does ordering the space to make it prettier.
Thank you!
My most used tip to keep organized is to have a place for everything. I recently bought an open hutch to put in my bedroom, painted it to match and now have MUCH more storage, when things have a place to go it is easier to see what you have, purchase less and use what you need.
I am not nearly as organized as I need to be, but your suggestions give me hope! I usually try to keep things tidy as I put them away so that storage space doesn't get away from me- but these bins with each separate category seem really helpful- as does ordering the space to make it prettier.
Thank you!
My organizing consists of using little plastic boxes or IKEA cardboard boxes. They are much cuter!
my only tip, and this applies to food in the freezer as well, is take things out of the box if you can. do you really need instruction to cook burgers, or do you really need to know the price you paid for that refill of reed diffuser? nope, and the boxes take up too much space.
My organizing tip- every piece of furniture should serve as storage when possible. Under the bed, seating in the kitchen, ottoman/coffee table….and throw anything out you haven't used in a year!
c.vickers(at)yahoo
I want so badly to be an "everything in its place" person. I've learned over the years that I'm not, and when I over organize, I lose (forget) things. So, each room has a basket or tray for catching the items that haven't quite made it to their home. My kitchen and office both have great magnet and pin boards for keeping current paper items that I could easily lose in eyesight. The tip, it has to work for you!
I love to play music when I clean/organize. Something so simple but it makes such a difference in my mood. Something I dread actually becomes fun.
p.s. love your pantry – the pegboard is rad.
Doing daily chores (such as organizing the mail or bills / keeping up with laundry / etc) so that keeping my home clean and organized never becomes an overwhelming task.
courtney.allisunfair (at) yahoo (dot) com
I'm also a huge fan of those clear boxes, for all kinds of things. Stackable, easy to see what's in each one, big enough to hold plenty but not so big things get lost within the box.
My tip is to reassess your house often. I look to see what can be discarded, donated, and reorganized. Your pantry is awesome!
I have always wondered how you keep all your supplies at hand. We have a closet that we keep paint cans (how we have accumulated so many, I don't understand) and tools under our basement stairs. We need to add some Elfa shelves to get some of the paint off the floor. We have an Elfa rolling drawer unit in there with paint supplies, caulk, brushes, tools, etc organized in each drawer. In our laundry room we have a Craftsman rolling drawer cart with all of our tools. It is very well organized 99% of the time BUT it is not cute AT ALL!! I dream of having space for a craft room – right now it is a closet with a roll out desk for my sewing machine but since it is in my kids playroom, I can't leave it out during a project and I have to be extra careful that pins aren't left on the ground for my 10 month old!
Purge. Every. Single. Day.
I use the morning to put things away, clean up counters, do dishes, etc. I find in the afternoon/evening I'm tired and can't be bothered with being neat. I'm much more productive in the mornings than I am after a long work day! I try to do a little each morning so things don't get too overwhelming, and use the weekends to get to whatever I couldn't during the week.
The best organization tip that has been helpful for me in a small space is to have bookshelves. I have them in the kids closets and in our kitchen for added pantry space. They work great!
I love pretty toy baskets for cleanup. Magnetic wire baskets for p ens, scissors, and invitations on the side of my fridge, magnetic white board on my fridge, and my cute ikea hook board that I hang all my keys and purse on that I painted blue!
I want so badly to be an "everything in its place" person, but sadly, I am not. I've learned over the years to create little catching points with trays or baskets in each room. This is me buying more time until I really get things put away. I also have made pin boards for paper dropping rooms to have a place for those documents (invitations, permission forms) that I really need in eyesight. Basically, learn what works for you and make it beautiful.
Wow! The things I could make if I were that organized!
My tip: use what scraps you have to make storage containers! I've been weaving paper bag handles into baskets to hold all my odds and ends. Makes things much more organized and adds a nice handmade touch to all my storing of bits and pieces :)
I bought an old-style punch label maker that I use to label everything I can get my hands on! One of my favorite projects was to create a tea-shelf with uniform black tea tins and black punch labels.
my favorite organization idea i have had was from Target! In the dollar bins one day they had these huge green clothes pins. I hot glued them to a brick wall in the kid's play room and now I have all their dress up clothes hanging from them. Gets them off the ground and they look so cute!
My best tip is to acquire some semi-destructive pets. I can't leave anything out on a surface, or it will be knocked onto the floor, batted around, chewed on, and ultimately hidden by two naughty cats. So I put everything away all the time, even though that runs counter to my every tendency.
I have a lovely tufted storage bench in my entry. It's the perfect spot for keeping our shoes out of sight and a great place to sit and take shoes on and off. No more piles and piles of shoes cluttering up the doorway.
Multipurpose is the way to go. Try and find furniture or storage that functions as two things, that way you have less furniture and less clutter everywhere.
I love bins – especially ones from the dollar store or entry spot at Target. Having a home for everything is always helpful but often an elusive goal!
What a great space. You've packed so much function into one small room. As for how I keep organized, I find it's about the small things: hang up my coat when I get home, fluff up the pillows on the couch before I leave in the morning, put the dishes in the dishwasher at night so that I can wake up to a clean kitchen. Being organized in my home calms my brain and gives me energy to take on the rest of life!
My organizational tip for those of you who live in small spaces like my fiance and I used to (550 sq ft) is to look UP for storage, and to keep shelves, etc behind fabric or contained so the clutter doesn't distract the eye.
caseywilliams at g mail!
we rent a lot, so we invested in a large, expandable, stainless steel rack from Sams Club. We have used it differently in different houses, such as a wardrobe, basement storage, linen closet, garage organization, etc!
A place for everything and everything in its place! I have to say that it's the only way for me – and a 15 minute family pick up each evening.
My tip is to involve the kids in organizing that way they will take ownership and (hopefully!) keep things where they belong!
Great giveaway!
The best tip I have is to have a Communications Center in a central location of the house. I made a wall in the laundry room a bulletin board with an inexpensive monthly desk mounted on the wall. I color coded appointments for each of 4 family members as well as a color for all family events. Even with the girls off to college, my husband and I still look to it for organization.
A (biggish) cork board in the kitchen. It helps clear off the stuff that would be taking over our fridge and for some reason, having to pin things on a cork board makes me do it more neatly than I would if using a magnet on the fridge and I also really evaluate if it can go up or not.
My organizational tip is to use baskets…lots and lots of baskets…pretty ones! We have one for shoes by the front door, one on the end of our bar for keys, wallets, etc., one in the foyer for items that need to go upstairs, one on the landing for items that need to go downstairs, my girls each have a series of baskets under their beds to organize their treasures, and I could go on! Every time I see an area of clutter or disorganization starting to form that decluttering can't solve, a basket usually does the trick.;)
I've collected muffin tins from yard sales and use these to organize my drawers. In the kitchen I use a plate drying rack to sort and separate container lids, and bread tins to store spices, sprinkles, and teas.