John R. Wood Properties
Barry Dunleavy, John R. Wood PropertiesPhone: (239) 877-6445
Email: [email protected]

Resolve to De-Clutter the Kitchen

by Barry Dunleavy 07/21/2019

Resolutions are well on their way with the New Year. If organizing your kitchen is one of yours here are some tips to help get it going. 

Getting started

Figure out how you want the space you do have to work, enabling you to measure out the type of organization you need. For instance, if it is a pantry shelf that you put baking odds and ends on then deep, thin trays could be ideal. No need to make a fuss over its label in the store either: if the shelf is tall enough then a magazine holder can do the job while also giving you more design options from which to choose. 

If there is something bigger that you replenish frequently, it is probably a good idea to get large, reusable containers to fit your space for holding your flour, rice, cereal, beans, sugar, etc. These are more easily organized and moved around when you are using your kitchen. 

Do spices leave you searching the cabinet for the right one to do the job? 

Get matching spice bottles. Label each container and stick it to the bottom of your cabinets over the kitchen counter space with Velcro. Or, affix magnets to them and utilize a metal surface such as the side of the refrigerator to organize them on. They will always be easy to find and leave that extra cabinet open for other storage needs.

Is your under-sink cabinet a mess?

Under the sink can become a nightmare if not kept in order through some system. There are many tools designed to combat clutter in the battle for organization in this spot. Attach cabinet door organizers to the inside or hang them over the edge of the door. These are great for anything from cleaning bottles to small items like sponges and such. Adhesive hooks work well for lightweight items designed for hanging like brushes or cloths. A bonus—these hooks can also be used to hang brooms, mops, and dusters on the wall alongside the refrigerator or inside the pantry. 

Re-purpose organizing tools for your needs.

Items such as towel racks, dish drying racks, and even letter holders accomplish any purpose that you need. Towel racks, for example, can also be mounted to help store and organize pan lids. Desktop-style letter holders can hold pans and baking sheets upright or hung on the sides to use wall space for smaller items. 

Use what you can to keep your mind calm.

Let your imagination work for you and don’t allow clutter to keep you from enjoying your kitchen to its fullest this year. Be on the lookout for organization hacks that work for you and your kitchen but most importantly don’t forget to use them!

About the Author
Author

Barry Dunleavy

Over 25 Years in the Real Estate Industry. Former Senior Managing Director with responsibility for oversight of real estate businesses in Canada and Latin America including CEO of Canadian-based bank; prior to that Sr. Managing Director Construction Financing to large residential builders throughout the USA. He has a BA and MBA in Finance. Memberships include the Naples Board of Realtors, Graduate Realtors Institute, Institute for Luxury Home Marketing, Florida Realtors, and the National Association of Realtors. Community activities include New Horizons of Southwest Florida volunteer teaching math and reading to at-risk 3rd to 5th graders while being Chair of their 2016-2018 Golf Event and also involved with the Christian Businessmen's Connection. 2014 Awarded the Distinguished Volunteer for Collier County. He was a former Board of Governors of Hazeltine National Golf Club, host of the upcoming 2016 Ryder Cup Championship.