The Problem and The Solution
This was my favorite project that I have worked on for this family. I was hired to clean and organize their home and thus far I have organized their pantry, kid’s bathroom, and an extra bedroom. This family was seeking organization assistance and guidance on decluttering and staying clutter free.Â
As I got to know them, I learned that fitness and exercise was important to the whole family (I also drew clues from the amount of sports supplements in the pantry), and that their daughter loves to bake. Initially there were no shelves in front of the window in order to let more light in, but since the blinds were not usually open, I added shelves to create a dedicated place for the sports supplements and the baking supplies.
Since this pantry area is one of the first things you see when you walk into the home it was important to keep aesthetics in mind when designing this solution. This client really liked the natural look of wood and baskets, so using storage baskets to conceal large items and place them towards the front helped create an inviting view when guests first enter the home.
To compliment the baskets and highlight the baking supplies, I used large jars with wood lids for the baking items and added smaller jars throughout the pantry to give a more cohesive look over all.
Overall this home has some amazing storage options! However, one of the challenges that I see in a home with so many places for storage, some of which are quite large, is preventing the growth of clutter collections. Having big storage areas makes it too easy to keep more items than we need since there is a perception that there will always be space to put things.
Tips and Tricks
Their pantry project is a great example of how to implement storage solutions and make the space tailored to you and your family for long term tidiness.Â
Baskets:Â
Remember that baskets can be helpful but they can also become a pile of random things.
A couple things to keep in mind:
It’s okay to allow a couple containers to be a catch all. (its unavoidable)
Use deep baskets for larger items, and consolidate by item type.Â
Use small baskets of smaller items, and consolidate by item type or regularity of use.Â
To prevent a pile of items collecting, consider taking a look in the baskets regularly, especially in the small items container to take inventory and get rid of things you haven’t used in a while or will not use anymore.
Jars:Â
Having handy jars for your baking supplies is not only cute but very functional when you go to restock you can easily see what is running low. Plus a wide mouth jar or container helps avoid a mess while getting an accurate measurement, since you can more easily fit your measuring cups inside the jar and then level it off.Â
A couple things to keep in mind:Â
Every ingredient doesn’t need a container so use containers for your favorite everyday pantry friends
Too many containers can feel overwhelming and may even take more space as ingredients run low. Â
For smaller baking supplies like your baking powder, baking soda and extracts, keep these in a small basket so that they don’t get lost in the back of the shelf or cabinet.Â