Phase 4: Use the right organizing products!

No organizing project is complete without a little help of some useful tools to make sure the job is done right. While many so-called organizing tools can add to your clutter instead of helping eliminate it, there are a few simple but effective products we like to use for our clients to ensure their calm and ordered space lasts. Below are a couple of our favourites!

Clear plastic bins

This product may seem very straightforward, but clear plastic bins can be an effective tool for a variety of organizing projects, from coordinating moves to storing items that are not used as often. When you’re moving, clear plastic bins can help you determine what items you have packed in each box – this way, you don’t have to dig through each bin to figure out what boxes go in what rooms. This can also make finding your essential items (everything you need for the first night in your new home) a lot easier. 

For storage, clear plastic bins work in the same way. They allow you to see what you have in storage and where without having to tear apart your entire storage room or closet. Christmas decorations, seasonal clothing, camping gear, and other less-used items can easily be found without having to make detailed labels or plans of where they are kept. Knowing there your items are stored can help you keep your clutter down and prevent you from buying duplicates. Instead of not finding an item you need and going out to buy a new one, you will always know what you have stored and where.  

Drawer and cupboard organizers

As we talked about in our last post, drawer and cupboard organizers can be used to make odd shaped cupboards and long drawers into useable space. Different size organizers can be purchased for any kind of space you may have in your kitchen or bathroom. However, when you are picking out an organizer, be sure to keep in mind the items that you have in your kitchen. Some organizers have different sized slots for specific utensils or objects, but if you don’t have them, those slots can be unusable. It is best to buy multi-use drawer organizers that aren’t specific to one gadget to another. This way, you can store any item you may have now or in the future.

Cupboard organizers work the same way  but may need to be purchased to fit with the specific shape and size of your cupboard. For deep cupboards, a pull out shelving unit can work to have easy access to the supplies you need while also keeping items stacked neatly in the cupboard. When you can easily see what you have stored in your kitchen, you are less likely to lose items or add more clutter to your kitchen. Organizers can help make spices, pots, pans, and pantry items easy to grab when you need them. They can also prevent your pots, pans and lids from getting scratched when you’re pulling them in and out of the cupboard.

Non-slip huggable hangers

 When hanging clothes in your closet, these hangers work well to maximize your storage space and make sure your clothes stay on their hangers. The thin, non-slip huggable hangers usually come with a velvet finish, which prevents slippery fabrics from slipping off the hanger and falling on the floor. The slim design means you can fit more clothing in your closet, so your items are easier to see and take out. Folded clothing can become cluttered and messy, especially if they aren’t folded properly or the clothing is packed too tightly in a cupboard or drawer. By using these hangers, you can organize your clothing so it is easy to put together outfits each morning.

Natural wood hangers with rounded bases work best for heavier items like jackets, blazers and garment bags. The rounded bases help to prevent the shoulders from getting pointed marks. For hall closets it is a good practice to stock them with these heavier-duty style hangers so you can properly store coats and jackets for your family and any guests throughout the year.

Wall panels

Calm Order has used wall panels in a number of projects for garage, shed and basement storage because they are versatile and easy to use. Wall panels allow people to add hooks, baskets, racks, and any kind of storage container or solution they want to store a wide range of items. From hardware items like tools and screws to skis and other sporting equipment, wall panels can be customized to each individual’s storage needs, in any area of your home.

Wall panels are easy to install and durable, so they can hold heavier tools and items like ladders, kayaks, and bikes. Their versatility is also a bonus because you can easily adapt your storage to work with items you may purchase or accumulate in the future. In the same way as the other organizing products we’ve highlighted, the wall panels also increase the visibility and access of your items. They will be easy to grab and easy to find to prevent people from searching for items or buying more than they need.

Phase 3: Finding the right organizing products

Moving is a multiple-step process that requires a lot of work and planning. On the blog, we’ve been going through each step in the moving journey of one of our clients. The move was prepared in their current home, a walk-through was conducted of the new space, and their belongings were unpacked and carefully sorted. Now, it is time to plan how their belongings will fit into the new space with the right organizing products.

It isn’t as simple as going to the nearest department store and buying some bins – there are a lot of products available that are created to assist people in maintaining an organized space. In a way, there are almost too many different products, to the point that people can run into the problem of accumulating too many baskets or specialty organizers for their items that they don’t really need.  

Before we even started shopping, we carefully examined the client’s new space to see what kind of products would work and where, keeping in mind the actual items and belongings we had to work with. For example, the master bedroom had a large walk in closet that was empty except for a rod for hangers. However, the client had a wide variety of clothing and accessories that wouldn’t work with hangers. This necessitated the purchase of a closet organizer that provided hanging room for dress clothes and coats, as well as shelves and racks for shirts, pants, shoes, ties and bags. 

The new kitchen had large cupboards and drawers, some with deep angles that made the spaces difficult to store items. Although the space was large enough for pots, pans, and mixing bowls, they were almost impossible to reach and would require the clients to take out items to reach other items. The drawers had plenty of space for a large number of utensils, but they would easily become cluttered and lost if they were left loose in the drawer. For the cupboards, the team was able to find innovative cupboard organizers with moveable shelves, so the clients could pull them out to reach the items they needed without emptying the cupboard. As for the utensils, an organizer that fit the dimensions of the drawer were added to keep the cutlery and utensils in their place. The organizer had a mix of large and small spaces so a variety of different-sized utensils could be placed in the drawer, making the space adaptable and customizable.    

In the client’s new home, we were able to find organizing products that worked with their items and would actually provide a benefit to their home. Instead of buying unnecessary products that would only add to their clutter, the Calm Order team focused only on adding pieces that would contribute to the organization of the new space. In some cases, it may not be beneficial to add in an organizer – the space and function of your home or room may not require any specialty products. You might also already own an organizer or a cabinet that can be used to store items that you may not have thought of previously using.

When it comes to finding the right products, remember that while there are a lot of different organizing products on the market, finding the right product – if you need them – requires you to consider the space you are working with, the items you own, and how you use them.

Keep an eye on the blog for our next post, where we will take a look at some of our favourite organizing products and storage solutions!

Five ways to organize your summer meals

Summer is a busy season for everyone – between summer camps, trips, and day-long activities, there is usually little time to prepare and cook a meal. However, with these tips, you can ensure that you will have a meal ready to eat without the stress or cost of ordering out:

Pre-purchase ready to eat protein options

When the weather is hot, the last thing people want to do is heat up their homes by turning on the oven. Instead, stock up on pre-cooked protein options, like rotisserie chicken or shredded pork from your local grocery store. Canned tuna and hard-boiled eggs can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for recipes like these. You could also pre-cook your meat early in the morning or at the beginning of the week, so you can avoid using the oven during the heat of the day.

Take advantage of the fresh vegetables

Summer is prime time for fresh vegetables, so why not take advantage of them? Stock up on your family’s favourites and incorporate them into easy meals, like stir-fry, salad and sandwiches. Vegetables can be washed and cut up at the beginning of the week or earlier in the day, so you don’t have to worry about doing all of your preparations right before the meal. To save time and avoid your oven, you can also use your vegetables raw instead of cooking them. Most vegetables taste even better when they are fresh during the summer, so incorporate them into your meals like this recipe for Shaved Squash Salad with Tomatoes and Ricotta.

Utilize your kitchen appliances

Instead of always using your oven, utilize your other kitchen appliances to plan your meals in advance, like a slow cooker. Your meat, vegetables and grains can all be prepared the night before and turned on in the morning so they are ready for you to eat in the evening. You can even use a rice cooker to cook up rice at the beginning of the week, so you have a side dish ready to go for multiple meals. Get creative and use your other kitchen appliances to put together stress-free and tasty meals like these over the summer.

Use your leftovers!

Don’t feel bad about having a “leftovers” meal night when you are out at the lake or park all day! Save any leftovers from your meals throughout the week, and plan on having one meal made up of all your leftovers. If you don’t quite have enough food, supplement your meal with a quick side salad or fresh fruit.

Stay simple

Most importantly, don’t feel the need to plan large, complicated meals. They take a lot of time, ingredients, and energy that could be better spent on outdoor activities or gatherings with friends and family. When the weather is hot, many people don’t feel like eating multiple courses or rich dishes, so it’s okay to stick to simple meals with simple ingredients. During the summer months, there are plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to purchase at the store or grow in your own garden that are full of flavour. It’s easy to organize meals for the week because they are so readily available and quick to prepare.

This summer, don’t stress about making meals when you’re busy soaking up the sun, or break the bank because you’re always ordering out. Cook simple meals with ingredients that are ready to go and don’t require using your oven, so you can avoid heating up your home. By following these tips to organize your meals, you can relax and enjoy your summer without the stress at mealtime!