An organizatized home makes this mama’s heart happy and also helps keep me sane. 😉 Today, I’m going to share some simple tips and tools that help us know where things are when we need them and keeps our home free from clutter.
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Kitchen Storage
I’ve always been a clean-fridge and organized-pantry kind of gal who loves forward facing labels and shelf space that’s only taken up by items we know we’ll use again and aren’t past their expiration. I get a weird satisfaction out of using up items and clearing out space for the next week’s groceries.
Because we eliminated our walk-in pantry when we renovated our kitchen, I now organize the top shelves of our cabinet pantry with Oxo containers and labels that I write on with a chalk marker, and then reserve the drawers on the bottom for the extra items and snacks bags. I like having the Oxo containers in the front for a clean look when I open the cabinets and will sometimes tuck extra items behind that go with the same category. So our gluten-free flour container may have a bag or two behind it ready to go inside.
I also like to use clear bins to stack canned goods and sauces, or to organize categories of food in the fridge like smoothie cups, fruit, yogurt, etc. When certain food items are grouped together, it makes it easier to find when we need it and also helps us use what we have before it expires.
I shop week-to-week for groceries, and with the exception of stocking up on sale items that have a longer expiration date, I typically try to use up what we purchase each week and then clear out the fridge and pantry before reloading with the following week’s groceries. Once the system is in place, it really doesn’t take long at all to do a quick clean before restocking! In the fridge, I like to spray down the shelves with rubbing alcohol and then I’ll just take a wet paper towel the pantry shelves as needed.
When we renovated our kitchen, I requested 3 items that help minimize clutter and maximize space: a spice cabinet drawer, a double-tier utensil drawer, and a hidden command center where I keep items we use in the kitchen that aren’t kitchen related but get used in the kitchen- school supplies for homework, and hair stuff (such as: hair ties, brush, detangling spray, water spritzer, gel and straightening brush) since I finish getting the kids ready during breakfast each day.
I am SO glad we have these 3 spaces in our kitchen!
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- Oxo Containers
- Chalk Marker
- Oxo Refrigerator Storage Bins
- Home Edit Clear Pantry Storage System
- Lazy Susan
- Hair Supplies:
As seen on LTK…
School Gear Storage
Another area we asked to be added during our renovation was a place for backpacks and lunch boxes. I LOVE this space because each kid gets their own hook and spot for their lunches. It is clean, organized, and makes it easy for the kids to be in charge of their own bags. Then each morning, I line up their lunch boxes and bags so I can add in lunches and last-minute notes before the kids grab their own bags and head out the door.
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As seen on LTK…
Toy Storage
If you saw my highlight on Instagram last week, you know that we like to spread toys out to different spaces in our home and rotate them to keep different toys in use. We love to use simple, clear storage bins with the same chalk marker + label system that we use in the kitchen. We have also repurposed old shelves to store toys as well as purchased simple shelf systems with bins to hide certain collections of toys. My favorite toy organization systems are ones that either organize toys by categories with bins or hide collections of toys behind cabinets. Below is a list of toy organizational systems at various price points and styles to help you organize your space!
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As seen on LTK…
Whether you are like me and a tad on the extreme side when it comes to getting rid of old items and organizing your spaces, or you’re someone who likes to hold on to all the things and needs a system for it all, I hope this post has given you some ideas for how you can manage your home in a way that suits your personality!
Happy organizing, friends!
