13 Amazing Kitchen Organization Ideas! (Cheap and Easy)

Ideas on Organizing Kitchen Drawers and Cabinets

Organize Now: Organize Your Kitchen In 24 Hours

The kitchen is often a gathering place for friends and family to not only eat, but talk about current events and life in general. It’s a place to post notices on the refrigerator about chores and things to do during a busy day. It’s sometimes a place to feed pets and keep a collection of kid art, bills, assorted papers and magazines.

In fact, the kitchen can become a gathering place for lots of – junk.

Have you forgotten what your kitchen looks like?

Well, if you have, it’s time to dig through the clutter and get things organized so that you and your family can enjoy your kitchen again like it was meant to be enjoyed.

Before you can get organized, you need to decide what kinds of activities you want to use the kitchen for besides cooking and eating.

Do you pay bills sitting at the kitchen table?

Do you or any family members do craft projects in the kitchen?

Are the kids doing their homework in the kitchen?

Is it used for casual reading?

When you host parties, are guests allowed to roam freely in the kitchen?

These are all things to consider when deciding how your kitchen space will be used. Actually, your kitchen can accommodate all of the above activities, but you must organize things so that each activity doesn’t conflict with anything else you’re trying to do in there.

Grab some boxes or plastic bags and begin removing each item, section by section. You can label the boxes or bags i.e. appliances, bills, books, crafts, knick knacks, etc.

Now take a good look at the space and figure out how you want to arrange your kitchen into stations that can keep things neat and efficient. The first station, should be the cooking station. Appliances that you use frequently should be put within easy reach. Stuff you don’t use too much should be stored.

Utilize all of your storage space. Maybe you can purchase some dividers and racks to add to the space you already have in your cabinets. Figure out as many ways as possible to increase your storage space.

Next, if you pay bills in the kitchen, get a letter/bill organizer and place all of your current bills in there for safe keeping. This will help you keep track of what bill you owe and when you need to pay it. All older bill related paperwork should be filed away in a filing cabinet or thrown out if no longer relevant.

Likewise for crafts and things. Any loose craft items should be stored inside of a container or box. Pull items out and work at the kitchen table, then store them when you’re done.

If the kids normally do their homework at the kitchen table, keep supplies like pens, pencils, and paper handy in a separate container or box. Label it clearly so that the kids know where to find it. They should also put their supplies back when finished.

If you have a small place, the kitchen is often a gathering place for friends and party guests. You may want to invest in a rolling cart where you can easily store party beverages and utensils – that way you won’t have to clutter up your nice kitchen in order to entertain guests.

With the right organization, your kitchen can be a place to cook good meals, and also a multipurpose room that is warm and practical.

by Nikki LeRoi

Quick information on topics important to your health, well-being and happiness.http://www.1MinuteSolutions.com

Kitchen Organizers that Clear Cabinet Clutter

Are you tired of searching your kitchen cabinets and not being able to find anything? When you open a cabinet, are you flooded by an avalanche of cans, pans, or spices? These are some of the signs that tell you it’s time to organize your kitchen cabinets. The good news is that there are numerous solutions to help you address this problem.

Let’s start with the cabinets where you keep food, canned items, foils, wraps, and similar items. Get those cans out of the way with a three-tier can rack shelf that can hold up to 60 cans. It has an angled roll down rack — so when you remove one can, another rolls down to take its place.

Organize your plastic wrap, wax paper, aluminum foil, and freezer bags with an under shelf wrap wrack. This item clips to the underside of your cabinet shelf to keep all of these items in one place. You can also turn your shelf into a dual-level storage area with an additional kitchen cabinet drawer. With a drawer that slides out from underneath a wire shelf, this simple storage device doubles your cabinet space.

Okay, now it’s time to tackle the cabinets underneath your kitchen sink. You probably have sponges, cleaners, brushes, and other cleaning products scattered about in there. One thing that can help is a set of under sink sliding drawers, which are large enough to hold bottles, spray cans, and boxes as well as brushes and sponges.

If you want a storage system that perfectly fits your cabinet space, you should opt for an expandable under sink shelf. This shelving system has five removable rungs on each side, which allow you to customize the shelf to suit your specific storage area. You can also position the shelving trays to fit around your sink’s drainpipe if necessary.

You can’t forget about your pots and pans, which can swallow up cabinet space in a hurry. First, use a pot lid holder to organize the multiple lids you use to cover your pots and pans. This rack mounts to the inside of your cabinet door and holds up to five pot lids.

For more convenient access to your cookware, try an expandable chrome kitchen shelf. This product features a shelf that slides forward to make it easier to retrieve your pots and pans without digging through the back of a cabinet. If you want a storage system with flair, look for a Pan Tree (no, not a pantry)! This cylindrical plastic storage rack, which requires no tools for assembly, can organize up to 14 pieces of cookware so they are always within easy reach.

Wouldn’t it be nice to find the spice or seasoning you want quickly and easily? There are several spice storage solutions for you to choose from. Use a wire 3 tier spice rack to store seasoning containers on the inside wall of your cabinet. If you need something a bit less bulky, you can choose a spice clip set, featuring rows of plastic clips affixed to your cabinet wall to keep spices organized and uncluttered. Or you can select a more complete spice storage system like a spice stack. This three-tiered storage device holds up to sixty spices horizontally — but each shelf slides out and pivots downward for easy display and retrieval of all your seasonings.

Finally, let’s move over to the cabinets where you store your dishes and glassware. Again, there are lots of solutions that can help you get the most out of your storage space allotted for these items. Keep your wine, martini, and other drink glasses safe with either a stemware rack or a large stemware holder. Both of these racks are made of sturdy metal wiring with a chrome finish, and they mount easily to the top of the inside of any cabinet.

Instead of trying to stack your coffee mugs and risk breakage if the piles collapse, you should install a handy pull out mug caddy in your cabinet. This rack, which mounts to the underside of your cabinet shelf, has hooks for eight mugs and slides forward for easy access to all of them.

All of these creative, space-saving products will vastly improve your kitchen storage situation. Now you can save time by finding exactly what you need without rooting through all your cabinets looking for that can, pan, or spice. Not only will these organizers keep your items from falling out when you open cabinet doors, but they will also keep your kitchen looking clean and tidy.

Chris Martin is a freelance writer who writes about kitchen organizers.

How To Organize Your Inbox

As we all know our inboxes have turned into modern day filing systems – and just like in the ‘old’ days they can get chaotic and out of hand in no time. Attempts are made to control the unruly inboxes, but for the most part messages are swept into folders that act as catch alls for everything (unorganized amalgamations of incoherent mess – thank goodness for advanced find!).

Think of the benefits an organized, logical filing system would mean for you: referencing to emails that you’ve received, find and view attachments again, decrease your scrolling time, and if you ever need someone to go in and look for something, you will be able to point them in the right folder, rather than having them rummage through all your emails.

Now that you’re eager to change your unorganized inboxes, here are some tips to help you on your way.

Inbox: Your Inbox should be just that – an inbox, not a permanent storage folder by any means. Even if you have a ‘misc’ file off of your inbox, keep your inbox clean and tidy. If you receive emails on a subject that you’re in process of dealing with and you’re not ready to move them into a more permanent folder, create a ‘2do’ folder off of your inbox, from there group messages into subfolders.

This is a great way to keep organized and an easy reference to see what you have to do.

How to use it: When you receive an email for an ongoing or upcoming task, create a folder in your ‘2do’ folder with a name related to that task or client. Move the email into that folder, create a reminder or appointment if necessary, and —voilà!— you now have an organized inbox. When you receive more emails related to this task they can now go straight into the subfolder that you created. Once you have completed this task you can easily move all the contents to a permanent folder of your designation. The key is to keep on top of it and once you’re done with a subfolder in your ‘2do’ folder list, delete or move it. Keeping the folders after a task is over will hinder your organization and add to your electronic clutter.

This method will allow you to have an easy visual reference for work that has to be done, and even if some tasks are ‘back-shelved’ for the moment, you can still see them and keep them fresh in your mind. Once you are able to concentrate on the emails that are just coming in, you will be able to focus more on your business and less on your clutter.

Subfolders: Don’t be afraid to use subfolders, even subfolders in subfolders. Putting items into logical groups is a key to keeping your files organized.

How to use: For example – You may have a number of clients and a couple of different companies that you do work for, and each client/company will have multiple tasks, projects, instructions, etc. Under your Inbox, create a file for each company, under the company create a folder for each client, and under each client create folders for the number of different tasks that you perform.

Having a place to put messages as they come in is a key to staying on top of your tasks and messages. Inboxes have a way of getting large and overwhelming very quickly, putting these steps in place will help to control the unsightly messes and as a bonus keep you organized in the process.

To view a diagram of this method visit www.officeassit.ca/articles_OfficeAssistants_inbox.htm. Christina, owner of Online Office Assistants, offers professional administrative solutions to businesses and individuals. You can visit her website at http://www.officeassist.ca for more info.

Organize Life-tools You Need To Organize Your Home And Your Life Now

Many people today suffer from a lack of organization, both in their home and overall life. The truth is, you could probably instantly skyrocket your productivity at least 100% (likely more) by simply organizing your belongings around your home and office. Here are some tools to help you when first embarking on your goal to organize your life.

First of all, one of the most important things you can do is identify somebody that you know and has their life in order, and glean information from them. There is nothing more powerful than to find somebody that lives an effective and organized life and find out from the master themselves.

Quite simply, there is a lot of garbage information being published about what it takes to achieve good organization today. Most of it comes from people who have no idea what it takes to accomplish maximum effectiveness in their homes and lives. Before listening to advice, pay attention to the source.

Make a plan. There is nothing that’s more powerful to achieving your goals than having a plan to start off. Many people set far too general goals when first embarking on any area of their life.

Examples of generalized goals could be, I want to get in shape, or I want to get organized. What does that mean?

In order for this plan to fly, you need to have clear, specific goals that are well-defined and written out. Very likely, you will find it most effective to set long and short term goals. For instance, your long term goal could be getting your home organized in a year’s time. Your short term goal could be getting one room in order within a month.

It’s amazing how many people embark on a mission to accomplish ‘a goal’ without really knowing what they are after. That’s akin to driving in your car without any idea of your final destination; it would be pointless.

After you have your goals in mind, write them down on paper and put that paper in a place you can view it often. Knowing a target in your head is not enough; it needs to be in a place where you can view it often and constantly motivate you to achieve your goals.

Finally, you need to determine why you want something. It’s not enough to simply want to get organized-you need to know why you have this desire.

For instance, you might want to achieve greater productivity at work, earn $25,000 more per year, have more free time to spend with your kids, etc. If you don’t know why you are after a goal, it won’t provide a very meaningful target.

While the above tips may seem simple, it’s amazing how many people set out to achieve a target without knowing what they want to accomplish. The simplest and yet most powerful forces to achieving your goals is knowing where you are going and why you are going in that direction. Follow these tips, and you will organize your life faster than you ever thought possible.

For more great organization tips, try visiting http://www.organizelifetips.com, a popular site that teaches closet organizing as well as home organization tips.

Basement Remodeling - Creating A Basement You'll Love

Most basements are dark, gloomy, and simply serve as a storage area for old toys, clothes, seasonal items, and anything else that is not used on a regular basis. Most of us rarely go down into the basement unless it is to unload more clutter that we don't want or need.

But, why not turn this gloomy storage room into something functional and useful? Remodeling your basement is a cost-effective way to significantly increase your home's living space. Suddenly you could have a nice, cozy guest room, a playroom for your children, a home office, a game room; the possibilities are endless!

Below are five simple steps to a brand new basement.

1. Repair any Basement Water Problems First

Even if your basement hardly ever has issues with flooding or dampness, it's best to take care of the problem completely before beginning any remodeling efforts.

Permanent solutions can take time to put into operation. A smart place to begin is to get in touch with a home inspector who specializes in waterproofing problems.

2. Decide What You Want to Use Your Basement For

This is where you can turn lemons into lemonade. Your Basement has poor lighting? Consider setting up a dark room or a home theater. Is your basement lonely and isolated? The isolation helps provide a nice sound cushion for noisy activities such as a teenager hangout, a game room, or a place for your kids to practice their musical instruments to their hearts content. Use your imagination and come up with something that will benefit your family’s lifestyle.

3. Consider Professional Advice with Your Basement Design

Even though your basement might not be much to look at now, you'll want to end up with quality living space when the project is finished. An interior designer or architect can help you get the most out of the space. A little forethought and careful planning now can help you design a space that is attractive, comfortable and practical.

4. Consider the Air Circulation

Something important to consider is the air circulation of your basement. When your home was originally built, chances are that there were very few if any registers or vents installed in the basement. When you remodel your basement, you need to think about the need for good air circulation, adding openings where necessary.

To be on the safe side, install a carbon monoxide detector in your basement so that you'll have an early warning of any problems with the venting of the furnace or any other major appliances.

5. Make the Most of Your Basement's Natural Light

Depending on what you are using your basement for, you may wish to add more natural lighting. This can be done by enlarging your basement’s windows. Another benefit of larger windows is that they provide additional escape routes in case of fire.
Some may be concerned that by having basement windows that is providing easier access into the home by thieves. One way to lessen that risk is to install glass bricks instead of conventional windows at any location that is high-risk.

Take full advantage of the effect of regular windows by mounting some windows in the interior walls between rooms that open pathways for natural light to reach interior rooms.

About the Author
Christine Griego is the owner of http://www.home-options.info, a website that provides home improvement information, tips, and ideas.

Tips For Closet Organization

Organization. That's the key to leading a leisurely life. If you have a place for everything and put everything in its place, then you won't have to waste time looking for such things as your car keys, matching shoes for your shirt or dress, or papers that you need for work. And if you don't have to waste time looking for misplaced items, then you won't have to deal with the feelings of frustration or aggravation that always result from such activity!

Today, it is possible to purchase all kinds of shelves, racks, drawers and cabinets for every room in your house. You could always cobble together something on your own, of course, but the quality and utility of it will probably be better from a store-bought item.

Do you have a laundry room, complete with washer and dryer? Is it arranged to your satisfaction? If not, here's a few items designed specially for the laundry room. It all depends on how much space you have, of course, but the right items can at least double your space.

Wire shelving is one way to add that space to your laundry room. If the walls are of tile or for some reason you don't want to attach the shelving to them, you can get shelving designed to fit over the top of your washer. You can also find folding tables, specially designed for the laundry, on which you can sort and fold your clothes, and then fold and put away until next time. A laundry sorter with divisions for colors, darks and whites is also helpful. And of course the laundry room is probably where you store your mops and other cleaning material. Get a wall organizer from you can suspend all these items, and it will improve the look of your laundry.

Once you've finished washing your clothes, it's time to put them away in the appropriate closet. Alas, there's no way yet to teleport the clothing directly, so you do have to make the time for that. If there's enough room in your laundry so that you can fold the clothing into appropriate piles, that makes things easier, of course.

How's your closet? Are your shoes jumbled on the floor in an unattractive mass, and more often than not buried underneath clothing or bags or other items? For the guys out there, are your silk ties and belts mashed together in a single drawer?

Many systems exist to help you take care of your shoe collection, no matter how extensive it may be, from over-the-wall hangers that fit on the back of your closet door, to tilted floor shelves. You can even get a rolling shoe rack that you can slide underneath your bed, which will leave your closet floor completely empty.

Tie and belt racks, designed specifically for the purpose, will ensure that these items stay where you put them, and will make it easier than ever for you to choose the appropriate one. There are swing-out racks so that the ties or belts will nestle against the wall or door, swing out to give you easy movement while you make your choice for the day, and then swing back to give you room once more to look at your shirts or dresses.

Some people don't like to lay their slacks out in drawers. For these people, they can suspend their slacks on hangers of course, in amongst the dresses or shirts, or you can purchase a pants trolley which will roll right into and out of your closet for ease of use. Make sure you purchase a trolley made out of a sturdy metal or wood.

If you've organized your closet and still don't have room, it's time to move some of your clothing to storage. If you live in a location with clearly defined seasons, you can store away your winter clothing until it's needed again, for example. Airtight storage bags are the ticket here.

And finally, don't forget the little things. You don't want moths getting into your clothing! Moth balls, cedar blocks or herbal sachets are of use here, and of course the cedar blocks or sachets will give off a pleasant aroma. If you live in an area subject to damp, you'll want a closet moisture absorber to take care of that problem.

About the Author
Andrew Caxton contributes adding content to http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com. Find more publications about closet organizers at his website.

Kitchen Organization Tips

The American kitchen is busier than ever. We prepare our meals, eat and clean up in a hurry. In such a busy place, organization is key to keeping everything running smoothly.

Just like the office, your kitchen should be organized. If you've never organized a kitchen, it can seem like a daunting process. In such chaos, knowing where to start might even look impossible. Thankfully, there are some simple procedures that you can follow to keep your kitchen clean, tidy, and well arranged.

The first thing you can do to subdue chaos in your kitchen is to identify zones within the space. A kitchen zone is an area where you perform the same task over and over, such as preparation of food before cooking, baking, serving, storage, or cleaning. Once you have designated these zones, it's easy to optimize that part of the kitchen for the activities it plays host to most often.

When you embark on a major organization project, be sure to plan ahead. Don't take everything out of the drawers and cabinets unless you know that you have a block of time to be devoted to the project. Invest time in deciding what appliances and supplies will end up in what location. If you have a plan for your kitchen ahead of time, you won't be as likely to feel lost in the middle of your reorganization project. Consider your habits, the flow of traffic through your kitchen, and what appliances you use most often when planning your new kitchen. Then systematically remove everything from the kitchen and sort all items into categories.

You can then go through each category and choose items you want to keep and ones you want to discard. Items that you do not use often should be stored towards the back of the cabinet, or on top, to allow easy access to ones you use more frequently. If you have a hard time remembering what you keep in your drawers and cabinets, consider posting an inventory list on the inside of the doors. Another handy tip is to keep a grocery list on the inside of a cabinet door or on the refrigerator, where you can add to it easily when you think of something that needs to be purchased.

If you have trouble with forgotten items clustering at the back of your cabinet, try installing a Lazy Susan. These turntables will help you easily bring items at the back of the cabinet into view. Specialty organizational tools such as paper bag storage, turntable spice racks, and racks to hold plastic wrap and aluminum foil are available. These can help to save space and alleviate mess, but too many of them or ones purchased without forethought will contribute to clutter. Planning and careful consideration are of the utmost importance when organizing your kitchen. In addition, routine maintenance of the kitchen will lessen the need for major reorganizations. If you keep the amount of clutter in the kitchen low, your job will be easier in the long run.

About the Author
Hunter Pyle wrote this article to give some tips and ideas for organizing your kitchen. Check out Kitchen and Much More for more storage and organization ideas.