10 Space-Saving Tips to Organize a Pantry for Small Kitchens

When you have a small kitchen, it can be challenging to maneuver your way around it. It can also be tough to keep things neat because there are many food items and tools you need to use in the kitchen.

The problem is that your small kitchen will only look smaller if you leave things disorganized.

If you're looking for organizing tips for your small kitchen, this article is for you. Read on to find ten helpful space-saving tips that can help make your kitchen pantry look spic and span.

Sort by category

You should organize or sort items together that fall under the same category so that you won't have a hard time looking for them when you need them. Grouping them also makes it a lot easier to know how you're supposed to organize your small kitchen and which cabinet should have which items.

To begin your kitchen organization journey, here are a few pantry organization categories that you can use to group your food items:

• Canned Goods

• Baking Items

• Condiments

• Spices

• Pasta/Noodles

• Breakfast Food

• Chips and Snacks

Label everything

It would help if you got into the habit of labeling everything in the kitchen. There's nothing more confusing than having unlabeled containers filled with white powders in them.

It could be flour or baking soda, but what kind of flour could it be? Almond Flour? Bread? Cake?

With a simple label, you could avoid all the confusion.

Aside from the name of whatever you're storing, don't forget to add a few more critical details. For example, if you are reusing leftover bread and have kept it in the freezer, don't forget to add a label to it to know what is in there.

It's also best that you add a date of when you stored them and an expiry date for these opened or used food items to know the viability of these products.

Stack it in style

The inside of pantry cabinets usually has plenty of vertical space that you aren't using as much as you could have. In this case, it would be ideal if you will learn how to get storage solutions and stack them inside.

You don't have to purchase plastic storage solutions that can increase your carbon footprint.

A great alternative would be dim sum steamer baskets which are excellent for storing smaller pantry items, like spices and the like. They're also lovely to look at and neat when you see them in your pantry cabinets.

If you don't have a spare dim sum steamer basket, a bamboo basket is acceptable and does the job well.

Make a built-in pantry

Instead of adding outside storage solutions to your kitchen shelves, why not get a built-in pantry with pre-made shelves. Instead of just being the standard shelves you would expect, you can get creative with it based on your kitchen needs. It's much more convenient, and it's an exciting way to build the inside of your pantry.

Install pull-out shelves and drawers

When you have a small kitchen, it can be much harder to move freely around it. You're likely to cause a mess or get injured when trying to reach items further back from your shelves or cupboard.

If this is an issue that you don't want to have, consider getting and installing pull-out shelves or drawers. Installing pull-out shelves and drawers is undeniably pricey.

However, if you use the kitchen often and use your kitchen shelves all the time, it will be a good idea to invest in these once you have the budget for them.

Hang a pegboard

Another creative way to organize tools and other things in your pantry if you have a small area to work with is to hang a pegboard somewhere. You can use a pegboard to hang all sorts of things.

For example, you can hang any kitchen tools you have. Even spices and nonperishables can stay on the pegboard.

A pegboard pantry can be a great way to store some of the kitchen items that you want to show off. Unlike when they're hidden away inside the pantry shelves and drawers, hanging them on the pegboard gets them the attention they deserve.

Install canned food dispenser

If you have many canned foods in the pantry, you might want to get can-dispensing storage in your pantry. It's a lot fancy, but it simply uses gravity so you can conveniently grab the canned food you need.

Aside from canned goods, you can also use them for canned drinks, and you can use them in the fridge.

Make use of a turntable

A turntable pantry tray is one of the most convenient things to install or add to your pantry. It's a great way of ensuring that you get any stored items and have easy access to them.

Lazy susans and turntables are two good items for having a variety of things. You can even get turntables that have multiple layers so that you make use of that vertical space.

Add some glass canisters

Glass canisters or mason jars are an attractive way of storing food. They're also excellent for storing all sorts of things, especially ones you want to show off. If you have a pantry with no doors on them, glass canisters are excellent. What's even better is that they're reusable, so you can use them wherever and whenever.

Stack plastic containers

If you are using plastic containers, try and take advantage of their durability by stacking them on top of one another.

Again, many concerns about storage issues can be solved by using the available vertical space. So, stacking plastic containers can help keep things organized.

With these ten space-saving tips, you should be able to keep your pantry organized even if you don't have a vast space to work with. From working with vertical space to using clever storage solutions, there is a bevy of kitchen organization tips that you can apply. So, try them in your kitchen today to get an organized kitchen.

Make Unpacking Easier When You Move

Planning a move? Moving involves a lot of work, and most people have a hard deadline to meet, which means that they must somehow get packed and organized in time for moving day.

However, not many people plan for the day after the big move. What happens when you reach your new home? It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when you’re surrounded by boxes. What do you unpack first? How do you get started?

Many people start unpacking but at some point, get distracted and put off completing the job. In fact, according to recent stats, it takes the average American nearly six months to finally unpack that last box when they move to a new home. (For some people, it can take even longer!) The good news is that having a plan can take some of the stress out of unpacking.

First, if you hire movers, be sure to check your moving inventory to ensure that everything has arrived safely. Next, move the boxes to their relevant rooms — if the movers didn’t do so already. (Clearly labeling your boxes with their contents and the room in which they belong is essential for this process.)

The order you unpack your boxes may depend on when they arrive in your new home. If they arrive earlier in the day, you may want to unpack your kitchen first. If the boxes arrive later, however, you may want to start unpacking a bathroom and your bedroom, so that you have what you need for a good night’s sleep.

Start with the essentials, such as soap, shampoo, towels, toothbrushes and toothpaste, toilet paper, and other toiletries. That way, you can use the bathroom and shower before bed. Then you can tackle unpacking after a good night’s sleep.

Next, focus on the kitchen. If you’ve moved a refrigerator, position it and let it sit a few hours before plugging it in. Hook up other large appliances, and then unpack smaller appliances such as the microwave, coffee maker, blender and toaster. Unpack your dishes, cutlery, glassware and other cooking tools next.

After the kitchen and bathroom are unpacked, you can tackle your bedroom. Labeling a box with your bed’s linens will make it easier to find and unpack these first. If your bed needs to be assembled, you may want to wait and assemble it the next day. You can always sleep on a mattress on the floor and leave furniture construction for another time.

After you handle these high-traffic rooms, move on to the living room. Arrange furniture first, then set up your television, stereo, gaming system and other devices. If you have one, tackle your home office next, and leave the garage/storage area for last.

For more details about unpacking, check out the accompanying resource by Moving of America.

This infographic was created by Moving of America, a provider of moving services in NJ

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Closet Space

Having more clothes than you know what to do with is a problem that can build up slowly over time. Sometimes, you may not realize it’s happened until it’s too late. When your closet can’t really fit anything else without bursting open, it’s time to think about how to utilize that space better. Using these tips for getting the most out of your closet space will help you be more organized and prevent your clothes from ending up all over your home.

Be Brutal With Purging

If you want more closet space, one of the best things you can do is purge all those garments you never wear anymore. A good time to do this is when you’ve moved somewhere new or are setting up your new house. You’ll have to be a little harsh with yourself. If you haven’t worn something in the past six months, you probably won’t need it in the future. Don’t hang onto clothes you “might” need one day, as these often just end up taking more space than they need to.

Utilize Vertical Space

There’s more space in most closets than is first apparent. Make sure to look all the way up and down to find all the nooks and crannies where you can put more clothes and accessories. Collapsible hanging shelves can multiply the space you have to work with. Shoe racks below hanging clothes are another great space-saving idea. Don’t feel beholden to the space you see at first glance; use everything available to you.

Reduce Bulky Hangers

A great tip for getting the most out of your closet is to reduce the amount of space you use for things that aren’t clothes. Many people keep their clothes on large, bulky hangers, and these hangers serve very little purpose. You can find smaller and thinner hangers that work just as well as the bulky ones—and they’re usually cheaper as well. You’ll be surprised at how much space you wasted on the hangers alone once you swap them out.

Create an Organizational System

If you aren’t an organized person by nature, you may have to put in a little work for this one. Grouping things together in a way that makes sense to you will almost always provide you with more space than simply throwing items into your closet without thinking about it. Not only does an organization system create more space in your closet, but it also makes dressing every day much faster and more efficient.

Ways to Maximize Your Minimal Space

When you live in a small house or an apartment, it can be a bit frustrating trying to find room for everything. You may feel like you don't have enough space for your belongings, or even yourself. Fortunately, there are things that you can do in order to make the most out of what you do have.

Declutter

You may just simply have too many belongings for the amount of space that you have. That is why one of the best things that you can do to maximize minimal space is deciding what’s worth keeping, and what’s worth getting rid of. You should get rid of everything in your home that you no longer have a use for. Not only will you be able to move around, but it will be easier for you to get organized.

Choose Multiuse Furnishings

You may not have enough room to furnish the way that you would like. However, you can choose furnishings that have multiple purposes. For example, you can buy a piece of furniture that transforms into a table, couch, or desk. This is the ideal choice for people who live in apartments.

Use Small Shelves

Whether they’re attached to the wall or assembled as free-standing units, shelves are great for storage, though the bigger ones may not fit if you’re working with a small space. Fortunately, that means you’ll just have to break up your storage space into as many small shelves as reasonably possible. Shelves, no matter the size, can be used to maximize your space in a variety of ways. For example, you can use them in your bathroom to store your toiletries or your towels (or both). You can also use them for books or knick-knacks in your living room or bedroom. Shelves anywhere can be a useful thing to have on hand.

Conceal

If everything in an area can be seen, then that will make it appear smaller. There are several ways that you can conceal things. For example, you can use baskets and curtains to store things. You may also want to buy furniture that has built-in storage that can be tucked away.

Use Mirrors

A trick that can be used to make a space appear bigger is to use mirrors. You can use mirrors in just about any place in your home, including the bedroom, living room, entryway, or bathroom. The size of the mirror doesn't matter. Even if you only have enough room for a small mirror, you can still make the space appear bigger by finding the right place for it. Plus, there are other benefits you can reap from having a mirror. For example, it can increase the appeal of the room. It can also help you maximize the lighting in the room.

Even if you do not have a lot of space, you can still make the most of it. You can declutter, use mirrors and conceal things. You can also use small shelves. Additionally, you can buy furniture that can be used for multiple things.