Rolanda L., Professional Organizer

Tools to Help You Organize Your Small Kitchen

Many New Yorkers know all too well what it’s like to be short on kitchen space. These kitchen products will those who struggle with having a small kitchen make the most of every inch.

These spice gripper strips can be mounted onto a wall or cabinet door for visibility and easy access. [Amazon affiliate link]

This holder for pans and cutting boards fits over a cabinet door.

Over the sink dish drying mat – simply roll it up and store it when your dishes are dry!

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Broom and mop holders work well in homes that are low on closet and pantry space.

The Definitive Guide to Purchasing Moving Supplies

It finally occurred to me to put this post together as a one-stop guide for readers who are seeking guidance on ordering moving supplies. If you like any of the items you see, simply click on the photo, and you will be transported directly to the product page on Amazon.com, where you can purchase it.

[Disclaimer: the following links are affiliate links; therefore, I will receive a commission from Amazon for all purchases that are made after clicking the following links to their site.]

Moving Boxes

Combo Value Pack – I would recommend this pack for a small office move or perhaps for an individual who is moving out of a shared room and has a small amount of clothing and relatively few books and other household items. The pack includes:

-2 Small Moving Boxes with dimension of 16in x 10in x 10in, ideal for CDs, book, albums, dishes, and glass items,

-6 Medium Moving Boxes at 18 x 14 x 12 for toys, kitchen appliances, or shoes, and

-2 Large Moving Boxes at Dimensions: 20 x 20 x 16 for bedding, cushions, and clothing

Value Pack with 30 Boxes – suitable for a studio or small one bedroom apartment, includes: 20 medium, 5 large, and 5 small boxes plus one roll of tape and one market. Note: I would also purchase an additional two rolls of tape to supplement this value pack.

Banker’s Boxes – for moving loose documents and folders; this 10-pack is suitable for a home office. Order more if you have a large home office with many booklets/folders/documents OR if you are moving a commercial office.

Banker’s Boxes 30 pack – for those who need a lot of banker’s boxes (i.e. commercial and large home officess)

Small Boxes – 25 pack – for medium to large households that have lots of very small items such as figurines, collector’s item, or mugs

Mirror Box – suitable for safely moving framed photos, artwork, and mirrors up to 48 x 4 x 33 in

Flat Screen TV Box – accommodates screens between 50 and 60 inches

Wardrobe boxes – I’m really not a fan of wardrobe boxes. Oftentimes, their construction is problematic, making using them way more complicated than it has to be. BUT I don’t fault my clients if they insist on using them for hanging clothing they wish to keep free of wrinkles and creases.

Plastic Storage Bins – if you’re moving to a place that has a little extra storage space, I highly recommend ditching the cardboard and investing in plastic containers for your move. You will thank yourself when you don’t have to buy boxes the next time you move…or when you need a plastic bin at a later date and realize you have plenty! This is a 4-pack of ~ 18 x 12 x 11-inch bins.

Plastic Bins in Assorted Sizes – This bin comes in packs of 5 of your single size of choice

Bubble Wrap – This stuff goes so quickly. If you have a moderate amount of fragile items, order two of these. If you have many fragile items and would also like to wrap art work and electronics (TVs, monitors), consider ordering 3.

Foam pouches for saucers – These are excellent. They expedite the process of packing a kitchen and allow you to save packing paper for serving dishes, vases, and other larger items.

Foam Pouches for larger plates and bowls

Foam pouches for glasses – get these and save time wrapping wine and cocktail glasses

Packing Paper – This actually a higher priority than bubble wrap because it’s a little more versatile, and one package lasts much longer than one roll of bubble wrap. Still, bubble wrap is useful for cushioning boxes.

Good Ole Scotch Packing tape – this 2 pack is appropriate for a studio or small one bedroom apartment

If you have many cothes, shoes, and/or household items or if your place is much larger than a one bedroom apartment, go ahead and spring for the 6 pack.

Room Labels – I usually inventory and label boxes by room manually. Tape labels make that process a little faster and easier for your movers to readily follow.

Room Stickers (Tape Alternative) – this pack includes Fragile sticers

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High-End Canisters Add Function and Style to Your Kitchen

[Disclosure: This post contains sponsored affiliate links; therefore, I receive a commission from the respective retailer for each click.]

MC Med Floral Canister

Mackenzie-Childs Medium Floral Canisters – 48 oz

Parchment Check Canisters

Mackenzie-Childs Large Parchment Check Cannisters – 64 Oz

GG Small Canister

G G Collection Small Canister

formasetti canisters

Wax Candle Canisters – Thyme, Lavender, Cedarwood, and Incense Blend

Portable Wall Storage Cabinet

[Disclosure: This post contains a sponsored affiliate link. Therefore, I receive a small commission from Amazon for all purchases made through the following linked image. Clicking the product photo will take you directly to Amazon’s site, where you can make read product specs and make a secure purchase.]

This piece is a steal at $39.99. Whether you need to stash children’s toys discretely and seamlessly, or if you simply need a little extra storage for linens or clothes, the Kousi Portable Clothes Closet Wardrobe can help you create additional storage in practically any room.

Got Shoes? Get This Shoe Rack!

For my clients who have tons and tons of shoes, I am a fan of larger shoe racks. This wheeled rack is one I recommended to a client who wished to create a shoe closet and had the space to position a rack on three of her closet walls. Wheels make it easy to bring out a selection of shoes simultaneously when cleaning, taking personal inventory, or even comparing several shoe options with an outfit.

Bring Order to an Unruly Underwear Drawer

I am a huge proponent of drawer dividers and organizers. This set will help you tame your underwear, socks, and hosiery. At four inches in height, some drawers may be deep enough to accommodate one set of dividers stacked on top of another.

Innovative Spice Rack Design

The Spicy Shelf spice rack can be used in a stacked configuration or as two individual racks. Its design allows you to store spices around the perimeter of your cabinet, allowing or improved visibility while also leaving the center space open for taller items like bottles of oil, vinegars, and cooking wines.

Organize Under Sink Storage Cabinets with Mesh Stacking Baskets

Mesh stacking baskets can be used to make the most of under sink storage in bathrooms and kitchens. These baskets provide bi-level storage capacity in cabinets that lack shelves.

Entertain in Your Home Without Last-Minute”Cleaning Anxiety”

Most people can relate to making a mad dash around their home before people come over. But not only is this frantic routine avoidable in a properly organized home, it ultimately becomes completely unnecessary. Remaining ready for guest drop-ins is not always indicative of a need to clean more frequently, but it is often a matter that simply calls for more planning and deliberation when it comes to home organization.

Addressing the Issue at its Root Cause

It’s pretty easy to assume that the need to scramble to tidy before entertaining guests comes from simply not getting around to cleaning up. While this may be true in part, the underlying issue runs much deeper. A home in which every object has a designated resting place is less likely to require frantic cleaning. In the case of the person who says he or she struggles to put things back in place, I would even go one step further and say the problem lies in the fact that the current system of organization simply doesn’t suit the individual or household.

Working Smarter, Not Harder

I often encounter clients who say they tried purchasing various containers and organizing tools and read books on organizing, but still find themselves struggling with their spaces. Upon evaluating the client’s lifestyle and home, I typically observe glaring incompatibility in the way they are attempting to organize their home and their current needs and behavioral habits. The easiest way to combat this incompatibility is to spend a day observing your routine and arrange the home accordingly. For example, people who like to change immediately after work, but find that their clothes tend to accumulate on chairs and furniture should consider placing a clothes bin or hamper near the entrance of the bedroom, in the bathroom, or in close proximity to the furniture that seems to attract the discarded clothing. Those who find that their bedroom requires more storage space for shoes, should consider keeping the shoes they wear most often on a rack in a common coat closet or on a shelf near the entry of the home. Sometimes departing from tradition can lead to a more functional approach that makes the task of keeping a home neat and guest-ready much easier.

The Bottom Line

Being more intentional in choosing storage containers and organizing tools–and even in planning room layout–can save time that would otherwise be spent gathering loose items and returning them to their rightful place. Therefore, it is okay to think about what “feels” right in terms of organizing as long as you achieve your ultimate end goals for your home and lifestyle.

Dual Workstation Bookshelf

Got kids? Need two separate work desks, but are running a little low on space? This DIY Dual Workstation Bookshelf might be your solution.

To create this piece, you will need to be somewhat handy. Simply cut a wooden table in half. Then secure each half to opposite sides of a wooden bookshelf. One side of the bookshelf can be used to office or art supplies while the other side can be used to display a cork board. If you have a little more space and would like to create storage on both sides, simply position two book shelves back-to-back. Then secure the table halves to each side.

doubledesktopbookshelf

(photo courtesy of Apartment Therapy)