The Right Tools for the Right Space

Kitchen cupboards and drawers are like blank canvases. There is so much potential for storage and even the smallest kitchen can still hold quite a few items. However, if each drawer and cupboard isn’t set up correctly, you could not only be missing out on valuable storage space, but have a harder time keeping your items neat and organized.

 Modular bamboo organizers are the most efficient and cost effective solution to common kitchen organizing problems. These organizers provide not only a stylish and upscale look to any ordinary looking drawer, but also a versatile method of organizing a range of items. From everyday kitchen utensils to smaller gadgets like can openers, you can easily keep loose items from getting lost or misplaced in any drawer.

This centre island holds a variety of kitchen items in its drawers.

Many of the drawers looked like this one, with kitchen items stored loosely without order.

The modular bamboo organizers make it easy to find and store any kitchen item.

Modular bamboo organizers come in a variety of sizes. You can purchase individual inserts or larger inserts with multiple compartments, which means these organizers can be used for so much more than just your cutlery. There is no limit to how you can use these to organizer your drawer!

The different sizes and shapes mean these organizers can create a customize look – without the price tag that often accompanies fully customized kitchen drawers and organizers. Use them anyway you want them and mix them around as your kitchen items and needs changed. Moving or renovating your kitchen? No need to worry, as these inserts are not permanently attached to your drawer. When you purchase these organizers, you are making a one-time investment that can be used for years in any space you may end up with in the future.

Recently, Calm Order used the modular bamboo inserts in a kitchen organization project. Previously, the homeowner’s utensils like the knives pictured above, were stored loosely in a drawer in the centre island. While they look nice and ordered in the picture, this wasn’t always the case. As the drawer is opened and closed, and items are used and put away again, nothing ever stays perfectly in place. Using the modular bamboo inserts, Calm Order was able to transform the completely open kitchen drawer by filling it with organizers of various sizes. Not only can more items be stored in the one drawer, but everything is kept neat and in order, and is organized by like object. When the drawer is opened and closed, nothing will shift or move out of place, and when items are put away, they will always be put back in an organized way. No kitchen item will get lost again in this drawer!

These inserts aren’t only limited to the kitchen – you can use them in bathroom vanities, office drawers or closet drawers. Add some organization to your drawers and cupboards with the completely customizable modular bamboo inserts. These inserts can be purchased here in over six different sizes. The options are endless!

Decluttering Goals: The Closet

Bedroom closets are often some of the most cluttered areas in a home. It is inevitable that after a while, the clothes, shoes and accessories we accumulate can start to overcrowd and clutter up the closet.

It isn’t easy to go through clothes either. Whether for practicality or sentimentality, it can be easy to justify hanging onto items that you really don’t wear that much or may not even fit so well anymore. Often, there is the thought that you might need it for a special occasion, or that you might fit into it again one day. While you don’t want to complete eliminate your entire wardrobe, a good organizing session and reset is important to do on a regular basis – especially after a major shopping trip.

When you’re going through your closet, go through everything – pants, shirts, dresses, coats, sweaters, scarves, shoes, bags – whatever you have stored in there. Try clothes on that you may not have worn in a long time. Do you still like the item? Does it fit? Is it worn, faded or torn? Be realistic with yourself – fashion and personal tastes can change, so don’t feel bad about adding it to the donate pile or the clothes recycle pile if it isn’t in good shape. If a button is missing or the zipper needs fixing but the clothes still fit and you like them, see if you can fix it yourself or if it needs to be done by a professional. Instead of adding it back into your closet so it can be forgotten again, put it in a place you will see it often so you remember to fix it. 

For clothes that don’t quite fit, it can be a difficult decision on whether or not you should keep them. Think about the item of clothing and be honest with yourself. If you are actively losing weight, and the item is only a size or two smaller, then it may be worth hanging onto. If it is a few sizes too big or too small, then consider giving it to away for someone else to use. It is not worth hanging onto items that you are more likely not to wear especially if you have no real intention of actually wearing them again. Anything that won’t be used is just adding clutter from your closet and preventing you from buying clothing that looks and feels good. It isn’t giving up but moving on and making the clothes available to someone who might need them more.

Placing the clothing and accessories you have decided to keep is also an essential part to maintaining an organized closet. It may be worth investing in proper hangers, shoe racks, and accessories holders to keep your items not always looking fresh and ready to wear, but easy to find. Consider sorting your closet into sections and sort items based on whether they are casual or more formal wear, what season you wear them in, or what colour they are. Having these items separated into different groups can make styling and putting an outfit together easier. For more tips on sorting clothes, check out this previous post on the blog.

Having an organized closet is an achievable and sustainable goal for the year. When you take the time to do an initial declutter and reset of the closet, you are making it much easier to maintain moving forward. Don’t let your hard-earned and stylish purchases languish in the back of your closet – make organization your goal this year!

Decluttering Goals: The Toy Room

Start the New Year by setting a goal to get your home organized and clutter-free. While this may seem like a monumental task, it can be achieved by breaking down your goal by focusing on one room at a time. Choosing the first room to start with can also be a complicated decision – why not start with one of the rooms that always collects clutter: the toy room!

The first step is to gather all the toys in (and out) of the toy room. Go through everything and immediately take out anything that is broken. Decide if it can be fixed (does it just need new batteries?) or if it needs to be recycled or discarded. Anything that is old or unused but still in good shape can be set aside and donated when it is possible to do so.

Make sure there is enough storage space for what toys remain. Do more bins or shelves need to be purchased to make sure everything has a home? Using open shelving with see-through or clear bins and baskets means toys are easier to find during play time to avoid the need to empty out the entire toy chest to access one item. Try to use storage that is also easy for your children to grab and open – something lower to the ground and with drawers or bins that aren’t too heavy if they need to be moved.

Larger items like playhouses and sets can be harder to store, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have a designated spot in the room or closet where they can be placed after they are used.

However, it is important to keep the number of toys you have manageable. While some extra storage may be needed to get everything organized, you don’t want to keep accumulating more and more toys and taking up more and more space.

Set a goal to regularly go through the toys and organize the room with your family to make sure the space stays manageable. This shouldn’t be a job just for one person. Everyone should be involved in the activity – especially the children! Make cleaning up after play time a new routine now so it continues throughout the rest of the year.

All toys should always go back to their designated spot after they are done being used. By making clean-up time a routine, you are already doing a lot to keep the space organized and maintained long-term.

Focusing on small and achievable goals not only makes you more successful but creates consistency. If we decide to accomplish something that is over-the-top and unrealistic, it becomes more difficult to maintain in the long run and likely won’t be successful. If an issue occurs and we fall off the plan, a smaller goal is easier to pick up again and keep going.

Persistence and consistency are key, because anything unattainable is difficult to pick up again. Realistic goals, like getting the toy room organized instead of the entire house, is a goal that you can easily achieve.