This week, I’m joining 10 talented bloggers to help you get ready for the new school year. I’m sharing all the details about my art cart on wheels, and they will each be sharing their fabulous back to school organizing projects throughout the week, as well. I’ll continue adding links at the bottom of this blog post!

At this time last year, like many families, we were prepping for a semester of school from home. I shared our remote learning cart and showed you how we organized our school supplies, Chromebooks, headphones, and much more. I was blown away by how much you all loved our rolling school cart, and it reminded me that I should share the details of our rolling art cart.

This post contains some affiliate links. If you purchase something I recommend, you’ll pay the same price, but I may receive a small commission.

Both of my boys have always loved to color, draw, and create. It all happens at the kitchen table, so I needed to find a way to keep their art supplies close at hand without letting them take over the kitchen! I turned to one of my favorite organizing tools… a rolling cart!

I own quite a few rolling carts, and they all look and function just about the same. The Container Store rolling cart I used is nearly identical in size and style to the popular IKEA Raskog carts, but it was a bit easier to assemble by myself.

Whether you’re creating a Container Store art cart, an IKEA art cart, or a Michaels art cart, the most important thing is to organize kids’ art supplies in a way that will be easy for them to find what they need and to clean up after themselves!

This plastic caddy makes a perfect crayon and marker organizer! It provides eight sections to sort out lots of different art supplies, and the handle makes it so easy for kids to carry it to the table and put to back when they’re done. It even stacks (as I’ll show you below).

One of my favorite features of this crayon organizer caddy is the removable dividers. I removed the back center divider to make room for my boys favorite stencils – the ones they use most often.

After initially starting with just one art supply caddy on the top shelf of our kids’ art cart, I realized I could double our storage and create room for additional, smaller art supplies and accessories by purchasing a second, stacking caddy. In order to stack them together, the lower caddy can’t have anything talk in it, but it’s perfect for erasers, pencil sharpeners, tape, scissors, and more!

I bought these aqua art supply caddies from The Container Store, but unfortunately they’ve since been discontinued. I did, however, find a very similar stacking caddy that’s sold in sets of two.

These aqua file boxes make the perfect coloring book organizers. I could have definitely selected cheaper file boxes (these were a bit of a splurge), but since I knew from the start that this art supply cart would be on display in our kitchen for years to come, I decided it was worth it to select organizing supplies that fit my aesthetic.

Not only does the aqua color look good with our decor, I also like that these file boxes are very durable, and not translucent. Many of the alternatives I looked at were transparent or semi-transparent, but I didn’t want to feel like all of the coloring books were on display in the kitchen. Additionally, most of the non-transparent file box options were made of cardboard, and I knew that wouldn’t end up holding up over years of use from my boys. The investment paid off, because we’ve now had these file boxes for several years, and they look as good as new.

I use these same aqua file boxes to store drawing paper on the art cart as well. I used my Cricut machine to cut vinyl adhesive labels, which I added to the front and sides of each file box, making it easy for the kids to find exactly what they need. Labels are also a really effective way of making sure the kids put things away in the right place as well.

To save space on our art storage cart, I used zippered pouches, rather than file boxes to contain the boys stencils and stickers. If we had more stencils or stickers, the file boxes would have worked well, but for the size of our collection, the pouches easily held what we needed without taking up extra space. Of course, I also loved that the aqua zippers matched the file boxes. They no longer sell these in aqua, but the version with the black zippers is the same in every other way.

Purchased individually, the best deal I’ve found on these pouches is at The Container Store, but if you want to buy them in a larger quantity, you can get a great deal on sets of 16 or sets of 24 with a variety of rainbow colored zippers Amazon.

When it came to art cart organization, the one thing I didn’t label was the crayon organizer caddy. I knew that the art supplies in this caddy would change and evolve over time, and I didn’t want to have to change and update the labels. You’ll notice that the crayons, markers, and colored pencils in this photo (taken a few years ago) are different from the art supplies currently in our art supply caddies in the more recent photos. Now that the boys are older, for example, I give them access to more markers (although the Sharpies I still keep out of reach and only allow them to use with supervision, because… permanent!).

When the boys do use Sharpies, we always put a mat underneath to ensure that we don’t end up with their drawings bleeding through onto our white kitchen table. I simply cut two pieces of thick, plastic shelf liner for the boys to use under their drawings. When not in use, I store these shelf liner drawing mats in the drawer with all of our placemats. {Check out this post for lots more tips on creative uses for shelf liner.}

Our rolling art supply cart lives in our kitchen year round, throughout the school year and the summer alike. Of course, I do love that this art caddy on wheels can be rolled away into our pantry or coat closet if I want it out of sight for a party {remember the days when we used to actually entertain?!}, but since the cart is organized and looks nice, it stays on display in the kitchen nearly 365 days a year.

Our kitchen chalkboard wall gets lots of use throughout the year as well. We create large countdown calendars for Christmas and birthdays on this chalkboard, and of course the boys also have free reign to draw on it to their hearts’ content. Since we used magnetic primer under the chalkboard paint, this wall is also a fun place to display the art work that the boys bring home from school.

In all, our cart holds: 2 stacking art supply caddies, 5 file boxes, and multiple zippered pouches. I love having everything the boys need to get creative all in one place.

I hope our rolling art cart helps you with how to organize kids art supplies. If you’re also looking for tips on organizing additional school supplies, like laptops and iPads, headphones, school assignments, and more – check out organized rolling homework cart (which also lives in our kitchen throughout the school year).

GET MORE BACK TO SCHOOL ORGANIZING IDEAS

The Organized Mama :: SKG Designs and Style :: Kate Decorates :: Global Mindful Journey :: Small Stuff Counts
Simple Joy with Ann :: The Modern Minimalist :: Practically Perfect :: The Tidy Dad

The post Organizing Kids’ Art Supplies with a Rolling Art Cart appeared first on Blue i Style.

I like to make simple changes to our decor for each season and holiday, so I have quite a few pillar candles, tapers, votives, and tea lights in various colors. Over the years, as I acquired more candles, I added them to the boxes until they were overflowing. Each time I pulled a box out, I would get frustrated digging around for what I wanted, and then even more frustrated trying to tetris all the other candles back into the box so I could fit the lid on again.

Finally, enough was enough. After considering a few different candle storage ideas, I came up with one that’s working great for me. But, since everyone’s space is unique, I’ve also rounded up some other smart ideas for how to organize candles, which you’ll find at the end of this post.

My Candle Storage Cabinet

Earlier this year, we installed IKEA Billy bookcases that wrap around the corner of our living room. The bookcase doors are glass on top and solid on the bottom – creating lots of new, enclosed storage space. I knew right away that I wanted to use one section of enclosed shelves to create a dreamy candle storage cabinet.

The first challenge was finding the right storage containers. The bookcases aren’t particularly deep, so I took careful measurements and did quite a bit of looking to find storage bins that would fit well. I discovered that these iDesign Kitchen Binz (affiliate link) were the perfect solution. At 10 inches deep and 6 inches wide, five bins fit perfectly across each shelf.

In addition to these clear bins fitting nicely on my shelves, they have several other benefits that make them ideal storage containers for candles:

• Not Too Big – My old, lidded boxes were large enough that lots of candles got stacked on top of each other and I often found myself digging around looking for what I needed. These smaller bins, with fewer candles in each bin, will be much easier for me to keep organized.
• Clear – Whether it’s a specific color of style of candle I need, the clear bins allow me to quickly find exactly what I’m looking for.
• Stacking – These bins are stackable, allowing my to make the most of my shelf space.

How to Organize Candles

1. Gather. As is the case with any organizing project, it’s best to start by completely emptying your space and then sorting everything out. In this case, that meant emptying out my old candle storage boxes. I already had all of my candles in one place (it just happened to be one messy place), but if you have candles hidden here and there in various spots around the house, gather them all into one spot.
   
2. Purge. Next, it’s time to decide what stays and what goes. Storage space is precious, and there’s no point in organizing something that you’re never going to use again. I tossed any candles that were damaged, nearly used up, or in a color that no longer matched my decor.
   
3. Sort. Then I was ready to start sorting. Initially I thought I might organize my candles by type – pillar candles in one bin, tapers in another, etc. But once I had everything spread out in front of me, I realized that – for my purposes – it would be better to sort them by color.

Since I use different colors in my decor for each season, it’s very convenient to grab the bin with all of my orange and yellow candles in the fall, or the bin with all of my red candles at Christmas.

When deciding how to organize your candles, think about how you use them throughout the year, and create a system that will make it easy to find what you need, and equally easy to put them away when you’re done!

After sorting all of my colorful candles, I moved on to my large collection of white candles. Since I had more than would fit in one bin, I decided that for these it did make sense to sort them by type.

These clear stacking bins turned out to be perfect for votive and tea light candle storage. I filled one bin with my battery-operated votives, and stacked a second bin on top with all of my wax votives. Then I filled a third bin with all of my white pillar candles and tapers.

Finally, I used a few more clear bins to store my small candle holders, my jar candles, and my scented wax cubes.

Since I primarily use candles in candle holders for my decor, I don’t actually have that many jar candles – just a few from Bath and Body Works in my favorite seasonal scents that I replace as soon as they run out. But if you have a lot of jar candles, my friend Melissa has the perfect candle storage solution for you!

Leave Room to Store Candle Holders

I always go back to my 10 key steps for organizing any space – and #4 on the list is to consider how your needs change throughout the year. As I swap out my seasonal decor, one of the biggest problems I always run into is where to store some of my larger items when they aren’t in use – like the candle holders from my dining room table.

I really love these chunky black candle holders, and I leave them on our dining table most of the time. But at Christmas time I swap the candle holders for Christmas trees, and when we’re hosting a party, I often move the candle holders to make room for trays of food or other decor.

I’ve learned the hard way that it’s not that easy to find a spot to tuck 11 large candles holders out the way for a night (or a month). So when I planned out our candle storage cabinet, I opted to leave the bottom shelf empty to provide a convenient spot to store my oversized candle holders when they aren’t on my dining table.

There’s no best way to store candles, and no right way to organize them. What works best for you depends on the type of candles you have, the quantity, and what space you have available for your candle storage.

More Candle Storage Ideas

How to Store Candles When Your Shelf and Drawer Space is Limited

My biggest piece of advice for organizing when you’re short on space is to take advantage of every available nook and cranny, and one of the most commonly overlooked storage spaces is on the back of your closet doors.

I have a hall closet that I use to store most of our holiday and seasonal decor. A shoe bag hanging on the back of the door holds some of my faux flowers, but the pockets are also the perfect size for holding pillar candles!

Click Read More to see 15 other unique ideas for back of door storage throughout the house!

Read More

How to Store Jar Candles

If you love scented jar candles, then you've probably discovered that they present a unique storage challenge. Ideally you want to be able to see the labels on each candle to know what scent it is. On a shelf, you'll only be able to see the labels for the front row of jars, and in a drawer, you'll only see the lids rather than the labels.

Add to that the fact the glass jars are fragile... Candles aren't cheap, so you want to both store and protect them. My friend Melissa, over at Polished Habitat, came up with a perfect solution!

Continue Reading

Store Birthday Candles in Your Baking Drawer

Birthday candles are one of those items that seems to multiply around our house. Each time we buy a package, we never end up using all of them (you don't need 12 candles when you're celebrating an 8th birthday). But none the less you wind up buying more when the next birthday rolls around.

A few years back, I created an organized baking drawer to keep everything we need for cupcake baking and cake decorating all in one convenient spot. I used three ceramic ramekins {from the Michael's dollar section} to corral all of my birthday candles into one spot.

Now I can quickly take inventory to see if I have enough candles of a particular color or size before buying more.

This quick little organization solution also encourages us to use up our extras. What kid doesn't love to blow out candles? Use them to celebrate the last day of school before winter break, a great test score, or just because!

Click read more to get all the details of this organized baking drawer.

Read More

The post Candle Storage Ideas appeared first on Blue i Style.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Duck Brand Easy Liner. All opinions are 100% mine.

If you’ve ever asked if it’s really necessary or worth the time to use shelf or drawer liners, you’re not alone. I’ve wondered the same over the years, and I’ve sometimes skipped this important step, only to go back and redo it later. Since it’s a common question, I thought it would be helpful to share why you need shelf and drawer liner. And since we all love cleaning and organizing hacks, I’ll also show you some other creative ways to use it.

I love to organize and I’m a firm believer that when you take a little extra time up front, you end up with far better results in the long run. In my guide, 10 Steps to Get Organized and Stay Organized, I talk about the importance of completely clearing out a space before you organize. Not only is it helpful to start with a clean, blank slate before organizing a space – it’s also important to take a few extra minutes to line your cabinets, shelves, and drawers to keep them clean and nice for the long haul.

Do You Really Need Shelf & Drawer Liner?

1. Protect Cabinets and Shelves from Moisture and Stains – Shelf liner is designed to keep surfaces clean and dry, protecting them from moisture and stains.
2. Make Clean Up Easier – Dust, crumbs, leaks, and spills are inevitable, especially under the sink, in the pantry, and in the fridge. A removable and wipeable shelf liner makes clean up quicker and easier.
3. Give Shelves and Drawers a Fresh Start – It’s smart to protect your shelves and drawers with liner right from the start, but when you’re not the first to own your home, there may already be years of yuck left behind. Adding shelf and drawer liner can cover up anything that can’t be cleaned, giving you a fresh start in the space.
4. Keep Drawer Organizers In Place – In addition to protecting the bottom or your drawers, a textured drawer liner also helps to keep drawer organizers in place so they don’t slide around each time you open and close the drawer.
5. Protect Painted Furniture – Whether it’s a piece you spent hours DIYing, or a special piece you purchased, painted furniture deserves a little extra care to prevent any chips or scratches. Lining the shelves and drawers will protect your investment of time and/or money.
6. Protect Shelves From Scratches – I always recommend using baskets and bins to keep shelves organized all throughout the house, but both plastic bins and baskets made from natural materials can scratch your shelves over time. Lining each shelf before you get organized will protect your shelves for years to come.
7. Add Style to Dresser Drawers – Lining dresser drawers provides a nice, clean surface for your clothes while a little dash of style. I prefer a cushioned, non-adhesive grip drawer liner, like Fabric Topped Easy Liner^® that can removed and washed in the washing machine.
8. Add a solid surface to wire shelving – Wire shelving is economical and durable, but they also allow dirt and dust to fall through, and in the bedroom and linen closets they can snag fabrics or leave unsightly bumps. Lining wire shelving keeps things cleaner and provides a nice solid surface to protect clothes.
9. Protect Your Security Deposit – If you’re a renter, adding non-adhesive shelf liner is a great way to protect your security deposit by ensuring you’ll leave the kitchen and bathroom cabinets in great shape.

19 Ways to Use Shelf & Drawer Liner All Around the House

Shelf and drawer liner – as the name implies – is great for lining shelves and drawers. But that’s not all! In fact, I’ve created a list of 19 different ways I use it all around my house, from cleaning and organizing hacks to simple DIY decor.

#1 Cabinet & Pantry Shelves

Lining cabinet shelves keeps them clean and dry. In your dish cabinets, shelf liner protects the shelves from nicks and scratches, and in the pantry shelf liner keeps shelves free of stains from food leaks and spills. [More kitchen and pantry organizing ideas]

I prefer to store my glasses upside down to keep them dust free, but once in a while they have a little bit of moisture in them after they’ve been washed. The texture of the Clear Classic^® Easy Liner^® not only protects my shelves from moisture, it also allows air to circulate so the glasses dry properly.

#2 Under the Sink

Adding shelf liner below bathroom and kitchen sinks protects your cabinets from water drips as well as spills from cleaners. [More Tips: organize under the kitchen sink | organize a small powder room cabinet | organize under a master bathroom sink]

#3 Fridge And Freezer Shelves

The fridge and freezer get messy – and the spills always seem to be sticky! Lining the shelves, drawers, and bins on the doors make clean up much easier. You can simply lift out the liner, wipe it clean, and put it back in place for a fresh start. As an added bonus – the Clear Classic Easy Liner is dishwasher safe!

#4 Beneath Drawer Dividers

Adding drawer liner in the kitchen keeps drawers clean and protects them from nicks and scratches. I used to think that drawer liners weren’t necessary when using drawer dividers, but I recently discovered that a textured liner – like the Clear Classic – actually prevents drawer dividers from sliding around as you open and close the drawers. [More drawer organizing tips]

#5 Protect Dishes & Pans

Our every day dinner dishes are pretty durable and inexpensive, but I have a few sets of nicer dishes that we use when we entertain. Rather than purchasing expensive plate protectors, I prefer to cut squares of Select Grip Easy Liner to create DIY plate dividers to keep my nicer dishware from chipping and scratching.

This Select Grip Easy Liner also provides a great layer of protection between you non-stick pots and pans.

#6 Under Garbage and Recycling Cans

I love my pull out trash and recycling bins that keep the garbage tucked out of site, but when things inevitably get messy, it’s really hard to reach to the back of the cabinet to clean it up {as you can see in the left photo}. To make clean up easier in the future, I cut a piece of Clear Classic liner to fit the base of this cabinet. Next time something gets spilled, it will be much easier to slide the liner out, clean it, and slide it back in place.

#7 Protect the Table From Kids Art

My kids every type of crayon and colored pencil under the sun, yet they still prefer drawing with markers. They are pretty responsible, and know that they can’t use markers without putting something under their paper to protect the kitchen table – but usually that just means stacking up more paper below, which can be wasteful.

For a reusable alternative, I cut a few pieces of Clear Classic Easy Liner for the kids to use under their art projects. With the smooth side up, the clear liner creates a perfect drawing surface that protects my table from marker bleed-through.

#8 Easy to Clean Place Mats

The pieces of clear plastic liner that I cut for the kids to use under their art fit perfectly in the kitchen drawer with my fabric place mats – which made me realize that these could also be sued as easy to clean place mats.

#9 Under Dog Bowls

A piece of Clear Classic Easy Liner under pet food and water bowls protects wood floors and makes cleaning up spills quick and easy. The texture of this liner also keeps the bowls securely in place so they don’t slide around as your furry friend eats.

#10 Shoe and Boot Shelves

When we redesigned our coat closet a few years ago, I added a couple of shelves where we keep our snow boots tucked out of the way below our coats. Lining the shelves with Clear Classic shelf liner keeps the them clean and dry, even when our boots aren’t. [More tips: how to organize a small coat closet | ideas for organizing a larger coat closet]

#11 Protect Painted Furniture

Whether it’s a piece you spent hours DIYing, or a special piece you purchased, painted furniture deserves a little extra care.

Lining the drawers and shelves will protect the paint and prevent any nicks and scratches. Be sure to choose a non-adhesive liner, like the Clear Classic, as adhesive liners may end up doing more damage to your painted furniture.

#12 Protect Shelves from Scratches Caused by Bins & Baskets

I always recommend using baskets and bins to organize on shelves, but sliding those bins on and off the shelves over and over can cause scratches. Spending just a few extra minutes to line each shelf before you start organizing will protect your shelves and keep you furniture looking nice for years to come.

#13 Cover Wire Shelves

Wire shelving is popular in the garage, pantry, and closet because it’s durable and economical, but it also has it’s downsides. Wire shelving allows dirt, dust and small items to fall through from one shelf to the next, and it’s very hard to clean, especially if you’re dealing with a sticky or greasy substance like food, detergent, or motor oil.

[More Tips: How to Install Garage Shelves & Drawers | Brilliant Garage Organizing Ideas]

In bedroom and linen closets, wire shelves also provide additional challenges, including potentially snagging clothes and blankets, as well as leaving ridges in the clothes folded at the bottom on the stack.

Adding plastic liner – like Clear Classic Easy Liner – gives your wire shelving a clean, solid surface that prevents small items from falling through and is easy to clean. Or for an even more upgraded look, line the wire shelves in your closets with the fabric topped shelf liner shown in #14, below.

#14 Style & Function in Dresser Drawers

Adding shelf liner to your dresser drawers provides a nice, clean surface for your clothes, and it also provides an opportunity to add a little dash of style. As I talk about in 10 Steps to Get Organized and Stay Organized, adding pretty touches can provide great motivation to keep your space organized.

This striped Fabric Topped Easy Liner® {which also comes in other patterns} is perfect for lining dresser drawers because it provides a clean, cushioned surface for you clothes and it’s machine washable! It’s very easy to cut to the exact size you need, and the gripper back keeps it securely in place until you’re ready to remove it.

#15 Custom Jewelry Tray

I love the striped, cushiony Fabric Topped liner so much that I found a few other places to use it as well. I cut a piece to fit in my acrylic tray, and it makes the perfect place to put my jewelry at the end of the night.

#16 Coffee Table Tray Instead of Coasters

The fact that this Fabric Topped liner is washable makes it so versatile. The same acrylic tray, lined with the premium cushion striped liner makes a super stylish and functional tray for the coffee table that replaces the need for coasters.

#17 Stop Things From Sliding

Any time you need to stop something from slipping, Select Grip Easy Liner is a great solution.

When we created an inexpensive, DIY countertop in our laundry room, we added a layer of non-slip, grip shelf liner between the machines and the counter. This allows the countertop board to shift and move as the washer and dryer wiggle and jiggle their way through the cycles, without ever sliding out of place.

When our boys were babies, I used a changing tray on top of a chest of drawers, rather than buying a dedicated changing table. A layer of Select Grip Easy Liner kept the changing tray firmly in place {even with a wiggly baby}, and when our boys outgrew diapers, it allowed us to easily move the changing tray with no damage to the dresser.

A Couple More Creative Uses…

Over time, I’ve come to prefer non-adhesive shelf liners – like the Clear Classic Easy Liner and the Fabric Topped Easy Liner – for my shelves and drawers, but adhesive liners come in lots of pretty patterns and can be used in a variety of creative ways. Here are two examples:

#18 Line the Walls Instead of the Shelves

In my pantry, I used adhesive shelf liner in a fun pattern to line the back wall between the shelves. Used as faux-wallpaper, the adhesive shelf liner was easy to measure, cut and install, but can also be swapped out quickly if I want a different look in the future. [Tips: How to Organize a Small Reach-In Pantry | Creative Pantry Organizing Hacks]

#19 Upgrade Open Shelving

When I added open shelving above the toiled in our master bathroom water closet, I gave the shelves a quick style upgrade by wrapping them in adhesive contact paper. This is an easy and inexpensive way to add a custom look to any space with open shelving. [Easy DIY Shelf Tutorial.]

I’d love to hear what other ways you use shelf liner around your house and beyond. Leave a comment with your tips and ideas!

The post Why You Need Shelf Liner + Cleaning & Organizing Hacks appeared first on Blue i Style.

Cricut has long been established as the ultimate crafting tool! And while I get my craft on from time to time, I’ve always used my Cricut cutting machine primarily for organizing.

While I love my Cricut Explore Air (and am coveting a Cricut Maker for it’s ability to cut even more materials), the truth is that both machines are much more powerful than what I need for the majority of my projects. I love showing you all the ways that I create labels with my Cricut, but I know that for my organizing-loving readers, the idea of buying a large Cricut machine just to make pretty labels is both a bit intimidating, as well as potentially cost prohibitive.

That’s why I’m so excited about the newest addition to the Cricut family! Cricut sent me the new machine to check out, and it was love at first sight! The adorably mini Cricut Joy is perfect for organizing, and so much more!

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase something I recommend, you’ll pay the same price, but I may receive a small commission.

This machine is the perfect mix of function and practicality! It’s powerful enough to create all of organizing and labeling projects that I’ve shared on the blog over the years, but it’s small enough to store anywhere (no craft room required) and the learning curve is almost non-existent!

Especially for organizing-lovers and moms, Cricut Joy is the perfect machine:

• Cut adhesive vinyl labels
• Write and cut labels for basket and bin label holders
• Create custom birthday and greeting cards in minutes
• Make custom t-shirts, tote bags, and backpacks with iron-on and infusible ink

Ok, so what if you already own a Cricut Explore or Maker – do you also need a Cricut Joy? That really depends on the types of projects you make, but for me, the answer is a resounding yes! Because of it’s small size and ease of use, it’s the perfect companion machine that I can move around the house as I work on my organizing projects. But it’s more than just that – Cricut Joy also has some great benefits over my large Explore Air machine:

• Cut vinyl without a mat
• Cut unique phrases up to 4 feet long (no longer limited by a 24″ mat)
• Cut repeating patterns or letters up to 20 feet long!

I do a lot of organizing for clients, and many request pretty, custom labels like those I make for my own home. Now I can tuck my little Cricut Joy into its carry case and take it with me to my clients’ houses. It’s small size, the ability to design and cut via Bluetooth connection, create long cuts without a mat makes the Cricut Joy a must have for professional organizers!

Five Creative Ways to Make Labels With Cricut Joy

As soon as I unboxed my Cricut Joy, the first thing I wanted to do to test it out was make some labels!

Last fall, I installed a new closet system in my craft room, and it’s pretty much all my organized dreams come true! But I hadn’t yet completed the very important final step in the organizing process – adding labels! I knew the closet would be the perfect spot to test out my Cricut Joy by creating a few different styles of labels for each of the bins, drawers, and containers.

I used adhesive vinyl to cut out words to label the bins on the top shelf, I created cardstock labels to perfectly fit the label holders I purchased for each of the drawers, and I designed custom stickers to label all of my small craft supplies. I’ll show you, step-by-step, how to design and make each type of label, and I’ll share a few more ideas to organize your home using Cricut Joy.

1. How to Label Bins Using Smart Vinyl

Cutting words out of adhesive vinyl is one of my favorite ways to label all around my house – including on the drawers under my kitchen sink and in my travel closet, and on the lazy Susans under my bathroom sink. Thanks to Cricut’s new Smart Vinyl designed exclusively for use with Cricut Joy, I can now create these impactful vinyl labels by feeding a roll of vinyl directly into the machine without using a mat.

Start by opening Cricut Design Space and use the text tool to type in the words that you want to cut. All you need to do is choose a font, and then set the size. You can set the font size, just like you would in any other program, but I prefer to set the size using the width and height measurements.

The bins on the top shelf of my craft closet are 13″ wide, so I set my longest label (“Infusible Ink”) to about 8.75″ long. I then noted the corresponding font size and used that same font size for my remaining labels.

It took me less than a minute in Design Space to type in the words I wanted to cut. After designing your labels, click “Make It,” and select “Without Mat” to cut using a roll of Cricut Smart Vinyl.

Of course, if you already own regular vinyl that you want to use, you could cut it to fit the Cricut Joy mat and load the machine that way instead.

Here are the simple, step-by-step instructions:

1. Click “Make It” in Cricut Design Space.
2. Select “Without Mat” and choose “Smart Vinyl” as the material type.
3. Load a roll of Smart Vinyl into the Cricut Joy by feeding the end of the roll into the machine with both hands until the rollers grip the material. The machine will pull the vinyl through the machine to measure that the material is long enough for the selected design.
4. If it’s not already in place, insert your blade into the machine housing.
5. Select “Go” to begin your cut.
6. When the cut is complete, click “Unload Mat” in Design Space.
7. Use scissors or a paper cutter to cut each word apart, then peel off the excess vinyl around the words. Use a weeding tool to remove the vinyl pieces from the inside of letters.
8. Apply a layer of Cricut Joy Transfer Tape over each of the vinyl labels and burnish (rub) with a scraper tool to ensure the transfer tape sticks to the vinyl.
9. Turn the labels over, and carefully remove the vinyl backing sheet, leaving the letters stuck to the transfer tape.
10. Center a label on your bin, and use a scraping tool to apply pressure to ensure the label is firmly adhered to the bin.
11. Carefully peel off the transfer tape at a 45 degree angle.

These bold, graphic labels are perfect for the bins at the top of my craft closet, making it easy for me to know the contents of each bin at a glance!

2. How to Create Custom Stickers Using Smart Label Writable Vinyl

As much as I love creating simple, cut out word labels using adhesive vinyl, I was intrigued by the new Cricut Joy Smart Label Writable Vinyl and was excited to try it out.

I have all of my small craft supplies and office supplies organized into small, square, lidded boxes. To label the lid of each of these clear containers, I designed round stickers in Design Space and used Cricut Joy to write the words and draw the icons, and then cut a circle around each label.

Design Sticker Labels In Design Space

1. Begin by using the shape tool to draw a circle and set the size to the desired sticker size. Set the “Linetype” to Cut.
2. Add text inside the circle, selecting the desired font, and setting “Linetype” to Draw.
3. Click “Image” and use the search tool to find an icon to match the label. {I subscribe to Cricut Access for use of all these images.} Set the image “Linetype” to Draw.
4. Check the Layers panel on the right to ensure that each layer is properly set to Cut (for the circle) and Draw (for the text and image). Then select all three layers and select “Duplicate.” Now you can quickly change the text and image for your next sticker. Duplicate and repeat as many times as needed to create all of your stickers.
5. After completing each sticker, select the three layers (circle, text, and image) and click “Attach.” This will ensure that these layers stay together, positioned exactly as you want them.

After completing the design of my sticker labels, I was ready to draw and cut with Cricut Joy. In Design Space, I clicked “Make It,” and select “Without Mat,” and selected Smart Label Writable Vinyl as the material.

Step-by-step sticker drawing and cutting instructions:

1. Click “Make It” in Cricut Design Space.
2. Select “Without Mat” and choose “Smart Label Writable Vinyl” as the material type.
3. Load a roll of Smart Label Vinyl into the Cricut Joy by feeding the end of the roll into the machine with both hands until the rollers grip the material. The machine will pull the vinyl through the machine to measure that the material is long enough for the selected design.
4. Design Space will prompt you to insert a Cricut Joy Pen into the machine housing.
5. Select “Go” to begin writing/drawing.
6. When the drawing is complete, Design Space will prompt you to remove the pen and insert the blade. Once the blade is inserted, click to proceed with the cut.
7. Once the cut around each sticker is complete, click “Unload Mat” in Design Space.
8. You stickers are now complete, and can be peeled off of the backing and applied.

I was worried that the written labels would smear or scratch, but the writing felt dry immediately and seems like it will be extremely durable. I just love the way these sticker labels look on my small craft containers!

3. How to Write & Cut Cardstock Labels Using Cricut Joy Mat

A couple of months ago, I purchased some adhesive metal label holders that I planned to affix to the front of each of the drawers in my craft closet. Using Cricut Design Space, I was able to quickly design perfectly sized inserts for these label holders.

Design Label Holder Inserts In Design Space

I started by measuring the label holders to determine the exact size for my finished labels.

1. Begin by using the shape tool to draw a rectangle and set the size to the desired label size.
2. Add text inside the rectangle, selecting the desired font.
3. Select the rectangle layer and set the “Linetype” to Cut; select the text layer and set the “Linetype” to Draw.
4. Then select both layers and select “Attach.” This will ensure that these layers stay together, positioned exactly as you want them.
5. Next, select “Duplicate” to create more identical labels. Duplicate as many times as the number of labels you want to make. One by one, “Detach” the a rectangle/text pair – change the text for your next label, and reattach. Continue this process until you have the right text on each label.

Unlike the prior two labels that I created using adhesive vinyl, I wanted to write and cut these labels on cardstock to insert into the label holders. As a result, I needed to use a mat for this Cricut Joy project. I cut a 12×12 piece of cardstock down to two pieces to fit the mat.

In Design Space, I clicked “Make It,” and selected “On Mat.”

I then selected Medium Cardstock as the material. Since this was my first time cutting cardstock with my Cricut Joy, I was concerned about whether the pressure would be enough for a clean cut of the paper, but it came out perfectly.

Step-by-step label drawing and cutting instructions:

1. Click “Make It” in Cricut Design Space.
2. Select “On Mat” and choose “Medium Cardstock” as the material type.
3. Place a piece of cardstock on the Cricut Joy mat.
4. Load the mat into the Cricut Joy by feeding it into the machine with both hands until the rollers grip the mat.
5. Design Space will prompt you to insert a Cricut Joy Pen into the machine housing.
6. Select “Go” to begin writing.
7. When the drawing is complete, Design Space will prompt you to remove the pen and insert the blade. Once the blade is inserted, click to proceed with the cut.
8. Once the labels are cut, click “Unload Mat” in Design Space.
9. Use a spatula tool to carefully remove each label from the mat.

Writing and cutting these labels with the Cricut Joy made this project so quick and easy. They look much nicer than if I hand wrote them, and it was so much easier than printing the labels on my home printer and then trying to measure and cut them to just the right size.

The labels slid perfectly into my label holders!

I know that over time, the contents of my craft drawers will probably change as I use up certain supplies and purchase new supplies for different projects. As a result, it was important that I could easily update these labels over time.

Now that I have the size of these labels saved in my Design Space projects, I can update the labels quickly and easily in the future.

I used these same adhesive holders to add labels the bins filled with all of my papers and rolls of vinyl.

4. Create Vinyl Icon Labels for Small Drawers

A few years ago, I purchased a box with small drawers to organize all of my family’s tech chargers and cords on the corner of the kitchen counter. In this blog post, I shared the step-by-step instructions for designing these icon labels in Cricut Design Space.

My husband now wants some similar labels for the drawers in his office, so I plan to take my Cricut Joy and iPad with me to his office this weekend. It will be so convenient to design, cut, and apply them as soon as I finish organizing his drawers. In the past, I would have had to make notes, come home to cut the labels on my larger machine, and then go back to his office the next day to put them in place.

5. Custom Vinyl Labels for Computers and iPads

My boys each received a Chromebook for Christmas last year, and while we’ve been doing school-at-home during these recent months, they are using them daily. Since their computers are identical, it leads to frequent arguments about whether little brother has picked up big brother’s computer and vice versa.

Recently I used my Cricut to create some custom backpacks and t-shirts for a fabulous charity that benefits foster kids. My boys loved the geometric rhino and barcode guitar that I used for this project, and begged me to make something for them with the same designs.

I plan to cut both designs on my Cricut Joy using black adhesive vinyl – I’ll apply the rhino to the corner of my older son’s Chromebook, and the guitar to my younger son’s computer. Arguments solved!

Cricut Joy is Perfect for Organizing & So Much More!

If you’ve been thinking about purchasing a Cricut for labeling and home organization, Cricut Joy is the perfect machine! It’s small enough to store anywhere and so easy to use! I especially love the ability to design and cut from my iPad, connect via bluetooth, and cut the Smart Vinyl without a mat. It’s perfectly portable around the house, and I’m excited to take it with me when organizing for clients as well!

The post Five Ways to Get Your Home Organized With Cricut Joy appeared first on Blue i Style.

My kids have aged into more challenging puzzles, so we donated most of their “little kid” puzzles. They recently got quite a few new puzzles for Christmas and birthdays, so I decided it was the perfect time for me to show you my favorite storage solution for kids’ puzzles.

This is the stack of puzzles that I started with. That black box actually had five separate puzzles in it, and I knew it was going to be a mess with the pieces all mixed up if I didn’t do something about it soon!

This post contains some affiliate links. If you purchase something I recommend, you’ll pay the same price, but I may receive a small commission.

Years ago, I saw someone suggest storing puzzles in gallon-sized Ziploc bags and it sounded like a great idea, until I tried it. I liked that I could see easily see the puzzle pieces inside, but the bags were floppy and slippery, making it really hard to efficiently store them in a basket or bin without them just ending up in a pile.

Additionally my kids had a hard time securely closing the bags, so puzzle pieces would end up spilling out and I’d find myself reorganizing them over and over again.

After this experience, I went on the hunt for a similar – but better – way to organize my kids’ puzzles. I purchased and returned a few different options before I finally found these pouches that work perfectly because you can still see through them, but they are stiff enough to hold their shape, making them much easier to store and organize!

Purchased individually, the best deal I’ve found on these pouches is at The Container Store, but if you want to buy them in a larger quantity, you can get a great deal on sets of 16 or sets of 24 with a variety of rainbow colored zippers Amazon.

I’ve found that the Letter Size pouches are perfect for storing all of our jigsaw puzzles. The ones I’ve shown here are between 100 and 500 piece puzzles, but 1000 piece puzzles fit in these puzzles just as well because the pieces are smaller.

The larger legal size pouches work great for storing wooden kids’ puzzles and some larger preschool puzzles.

This is a quick and easy organizing project. Start by cutting the picture off of the front of the boxes.

Place the puzzle photo in the front of the pouch so that you can see which puzzle is inside at a glance, and then store the puzzle pieces behind the photo.

It’s easy to see how much space it saves to store jigsaw puzzles in these pouches. So much thinner than in the box!

Once you’ve transferred all of your puzzles from their boxes to the zippered pouches, you can file them into a basket or bin.

I love a good before and after, so here’s a side by side comparison to prove why this is the best way to store kids’ puzzles!

The puzzles fit perfectly in a basket, but let me show you where we are actually storing ours. The kids have a play table in the basement with a storage space built in under the table that’s the perfect size for our bags of puzzles. We’ve had this table for ages, and it’s no longer available where we bought it, but here’s a similar table.

Even though the sides of the storage bin under the table aren’t very high, you can see that the bags stay upright on their own – no flopping over like you’d have with Ziploc storage bags. This makes it so easy for my kids to flip through the puzzles to find the one they want to work on. And the zippers make it easy for them to put the puzzle away when they are done.

Here’s another fun side by side, space saving comparison…

This is a really quick and easy organizing project. It only takes about five minutes to transfer a stack of puzzles into the zippered pouches.

Looking for more tips to organize kids’ stuff? Check out these posts!

The post How to Store Jigsaw Puzzles In Less Space appeared first on Blue i Style.

Over the years, I purchased a few options – but each time I broke my own cardinal rule and didn’t measure first, so not surprisingly, none of them fit.

As a result, the cabinet ended up looking like this for far too long…

I know I’m not the only one with a very small cabinet in the powder room, so I’m excited to share some tiny bathroom storage ideas with you!

Have a larger cabinet that you need to organize? Then you’ll want to check out my tips for organizing under the master bathroom sink.

My friends at iDesign sent me the products that I used in this post, but as always, all opinions are my own. This post also contains affiliate links. If you purchase something I recommend, you’ll pay the same price, but I may receive a small commission.

How to Organize Under the Bathroom Sink

When I finally got serious about organizing our small bathroom storage cabinet, I took careful measurements. I knew that in order to make the most of this small space, I needed to figure out how to add a shelf under the bathroom sink.

After doing some research, I found a flexible under bathroom sink storage solution that would actually fit my small, modern powder room vanity.

Before I started organizing, I emptied everything out of the cabinet and wiped it down so I could start with a clean, blank slate.

I assembled the frame of the shelving unit outside of the cabinet first, but when I went to put it in place, I realized the top, back bar needed to be assembled in place in order to fit behind the pipe. Fortunately, it was a quick fix.

With the shelf frame in place, I was able to start placing the adjustable shelves. They come in two different widths, allowing the flexibility to fit them around your unique pipe configuration.

My careful measurements paid off this time around, and the clear handled bins I chose fit just right on the top shelf in our powder room cabinet!

A clear, divided bin was perfect for storing feminine products and organizing tampons and pads.

I’m always a proponent of adding labels to make it easier to keep things organized, but labels are especially important in shared spaces. It can be awkward for guests to ask for what they need when it comes to matters of the bathroom, so adding labels can make it easier for them to find what they need and feel comfortable helping themselves.

After filling up the bin full of feminine products, I added a cute label using my Cricut.

Another, deeper clear handled bins provides the perfect hand towel storage for this small bathroom cabinet.

I had a few things – like my toilet cleaner and air freshener) that were too tall for the bottom shelf, but I realized they fit perfectly in front of the pipes where there was no shelf top shelf. Tucking them right behind that front bar still makes them easy to take on and off the shelf.

After organizing the cabinet and creating a dedicated space for everything, I wanted to add a little something extra.

Each morning when I open the cabinet in my master bathroom, it makes me smile {see why!}, so I wanted to add a little surprise behind the cabinet door in our powder room to make our guests smile as well.

I cut the text on my Cricut using removable, adhesive vinyl, and then used transfer tape to apply it to the cabinet face where it’s hidden when the door is closed.

Small Space Bathroom Storage

Our powder room storage cabinet may be tiny, but with some smart organizing we’ve been able to make the most of this space. Thanks to the adjustable under sink organizer shelf and some clear handled bins, I was able to fit all of the powder room essentials into this cabinet.

Under Bathroom Sink Cabinet Storage Tips for Powder Rooms

I hope that these small bathroom storage ideas have been helpful. To summarize, keep these key tips in mind:

• Make a list of the essentials for the powder room cabinet, keeping guests in mind. Consider including: extra toilet paper, air freshener, extra hand towels, and feminine products. Store non-essential items elsewhere when space is limited.
  
• Take careful measurements, including the location of pipes, height, width, and depth before purchasing any organizers. Look for solutions that are adjustable and expandable. Consider also using the space on the back of the door for extra storage (as illustrated here).
  
• Use appropriately sized bins to keep smaller items contained and organized. Smaller bins for specific items typically work better than larger baskets. It’s easier to find things, and easier to keep the cabinet organized when everything has a dedicated space.
  
• Add Labels. Adding labels is always a good idea, but especially in shared spaces. In the powder room cabinet, labels make it easier for guests to find what they need and feel comfortable helping themselves.

The post Under Bathroom Sink Organization Ideas for Small Powder Room Cabinets appeared first on Blue i Style.

A while back, I gave my laundry closet a major makeover, and while some of the big DIY projects are the first to catch you eye – like the green cabinets above the washer and dryer – this space is actually full of quick and easy organizing hacks that you can complete in about five minutes each.

This post contains some affiliate links. If you buy something that I recommend, you pay the same price, but I may receive a small commission.

1. TRANSFER DETERGENT INTO CLEAR LAUNDRY ROOM CANISTERS

I transferred my laundry detergent pods and my OxiClean powder into two large, glass canisters {and added washi tape detail to each}. Not only do these canisters add a little style to the laundry room, they also allow me to see when I am running low and need to add these laundry necessities to my shopping list.

I made sure to place these canisters in the far back corner of the deep countertop, far out of reach of little hands!

2. Use a Pretty Basket as a Laundry Room Lint Bin

Since our laundry closet doesn’t allow space for a garbage can on the floor, I used to pile lint up on the counter before finally carrying it all to a trash can elsewhere in the house. When planning our laundry room makeover last fall, I came up with a more function {and more stylish} solution.

I found a black and white striped, lidded jute basket that I was totally smitten with, and I realized it would be a perfect as a lint collector. Now I just fill up the basket each time I do a load of laundry, and then empty the lint to the bathroom trash down the hall when the basket fills up.

3. ADD A TOWEL RAIL FOR HANGING CLOTHES

Before our recent laundry closet makeover, I had a clothing rod high up in the back, left corner of the closet, but I’m short and I couldn’t easy reach that rod, so it rarely got used. I wanted to find a better solution {one that my short self could reach}, so I opted to add four bar towel holder to the inside of one of the closet doors.   

Not only does this towel rack on the door work great for hanging up clothes as I take them out of the dryer, and the four bars also work well for items that need to hang to dry. I was able to get rid of my bulky, folding drying rack, and now when I have a shirt that needs to line dry, I can just drape it over one of the rods of the towel rack.

4. KEEP EXTRA HANGERS IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM

This one isn’t so much an organizing “hack” – but it’s one of my favorite laundry room organizing products, nonetheless, and it’s so inexpensive! I keep a plastic hanger stacker on the laundry room countertop and fill it up with the empty hangers out of our closet so that I always have plenty of hangers on hand for clothes coming out of the dryer.  

5. USE LIDDED JARS FOR SPARE BUTTONS & MENDING

All of those spare buttons and little packets of thread that come with new clothes can be hard to keep track of. I like to use inexpensive lidded glass jars to corral these small items, as well as other mending related supplies, like scissors, thread, needles, and pins.

I also use four more of these same lidded glass jars to contain small laundry supplies. You can read all about what I keep in the other jars in this detailed laundry closet organizing post, and you can get the DIY details of the black and white stripes that I added to the jar lids in this post. 

To maximize storage space in our small laundry closet, I installed an Elfa mounting rail from to the back of one of the doors, and attached three Elfa Utility Large/Deep Baskets. Four of the lidded jars fit perfect in each basket, and I use the top basket {out of reach of the kids} for bottles of stain removers and sprays. 

6. USE A BABY WIPES CASE TO STORE DRYER SHEETS

The baskets on the back of the laundry room door have plenty of room for most of my laundry/cleaning products, but I had to get creative when it came to my dryer sheets. The box that they come in was too big to fit in the baskets, so I searched around the house for a smaller container that I could transfer some of the dryer sheets into for easy access. I came up with a travel sized Huggies baby wipes case from the nursery that is perfect for the job!

This case holds quite a few dryer sheets at a time, and I can just flip open the lid and pull them out one at a time.  I keep the larger box of fabric softener sheets in the linen closet, and just refill this handy plastic case as needed. Here are some similar refillable cases…only prettier. 

7. COLLAPSIBLE LAUNDRY BASKETS TAKE UP LESS SPACE

Laundry baskets can take up so much room between use, so I got rid of all of my bulky plastic baskets, and replaced them all with the collapsible mesh laundry baskets. I keep a couple of these baskets in our master bedroom closet {tucked behind our hamper} to make it quick and easy to carry clothes down to the laundry closet, and I stash another couple in the space between the washer and the wall in the laundry closet, ready for use to carry clean clothes to the appropriate rooms.

These collapsible laundry baskets are plenty to big to hold an entire large load of laundry, and they pack a whole lot of function into very little storage space!

The post Five Minute Laundry Closet Organizing Hacks appeared first on Blue i Style.

BACK TO SCHOOL ORGANIZATION IN THE KITCHEN

1. Plastic wine racks work perfectly for organizing water bottles on cabinet shelves

These stacking wine bottles holders are the perfect size for both kids’ and adults’ water bottles. They keep the bottles neatly organized and prevent that domino effect of bottles falling out when you open the cabinet door. Get more cabinet organizing tips.

2. Use baskets or drawers to create dedicated spaces for kids’ breakfasts, school lunch foods, and after school snacks

Organizing categories of food into labeled baskets makes it easier for every member of the family to find what they need. The floor space of a pantry is often under utilized, but stacking drawers can allow you to take full advantage of this precious real estate. 

The contents of the stacking drawers on the floor of my pantry change from year to year as my kids’ tastes change, but they are always the perfect spot for storing items that we buy in bulk for packing school lunches and mom approved after school snacks. 

Want more pantry organizing tips? Read my full post on our organized pantry with a 5 step organizing process.

3. Keep reusable lunch packing containers in a dedicated space

To make lunch packing quick and easy, I keep all the small reusable containers that we use for school lunches contained in one drawer. It saves time to keep all of the lunch packing containers that are already labeled with the kids’ names separate from the tupperware that we use for leftovers. 

I’ve used these same square containers for lunches since the boys were in preschool, but I also recently fell in love with some containers with ice packs that snap right into the lids which work perfectly for keeping fruits and other foods fresh until lunch.

4. Use a freezer basket to keep lunch box ice packs together

I place ice packs in my kids’ lunch boxes each day, and also usecontainers with smaller ice packs that snap into the lids for the snacks that the kids take to school and soccer practice. Until recently, all of these ice packs were just floating around in my freezer drawers and I was always searching for the size I needed.

I recently reorganized my freezer, and these

divided freezer bins are prefect for keeping our ice packs all in one place so that I can quickly grab what I need as I pack lunches and snacks.

If you don’t have wall space in the pantry to hang lunch bags, give lunch boxes a dedicated basket or drawer in the pantry or another kitchen cabinet so that everyone knows right where to find them.

 

12. Give each kid their own drawer in the coat closet

We used to be dig through the coat closet each morning trying to find a matching pair of gloves for each kid, or searching for a lost snow boot on the way out the door. It was stressful and frustrating – not a great way to start the day! When we designed a new closet system in the coat closet, my number one requirement was a drawer for each member of the family, and now everyone can always find their own hats and gloves. We also added two shelves on the side to keep boots in place.

If your coat closet is smaller, or you don’t want to install a custom closet system, plastic stacking drawers on the bottom of the closet are a great alternative. And adding a hanging shoe bag to the back of the coat closet door provides lots of extra space perfect for storing hats, scarves, and gloves. Get more small coat closet organizing tips.

13. Use clips to keep name labels in easy reach

I label all of my boys’ water bottles, snack containers, jackets, and other winter gear. I am not a big fan of writing on their things with a permanent black marker. I prefer to order waterproof/washable name labels from Label Daddy. It seems like nearly every day something new needs to be labeled, so I always keep a few clipped to the mini clipboards on our pantry. The mudroom or coat closet would be another great place to clip up name labels for easy access before you head out the door

See how I customized these clipboards with my boys’ art and also turned them into chalkboards for school notes and reminders.

The post The 13 Best Back to School Organizing Ideas appeared first on Blue i Style.

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase something I recommend, you’ll pay the same price, but I may receive a small commission.

• under your bed, if the bed frame is tall enough
• on a high shelf in the garage of basement storage room
• in a short storage closet under a staircase
• in your closet, laying down under you hanging clothes or tucked in that hard to use corner
• on the floor of a linen closet with adjustable shelving

After packing all of my suitcases inside each other, I stacked everything up on the floor of the closet, and positioned the bottom shelf high enough that I can easily roll the luggage in and out.

HOW TO ORGANIZE TRAVEL GEAR AT HOME

HOW TO STORE BACKPACKS & LARGE TOTE BAGS

SHOP THIS ORGANIZED CLOSET

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SHOP MY FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR

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The post How to Store Luggage and Organize Travel Gear At Home appeared first on Blue i Style.

Trying to organize a pantry can feel overwhelming and frustrating because its contents change so frequently. It’s easy enough to line things up neatly on the shelves, but the real challenge is creating an organized pantry system that your whole family can keep up with so you won’t find yourself rearranging things again and again.

Recently, I got a call from a family that was struggling with their disorganized pantry. I stopped by to see the space for myself. At more than 6 feet wide, with deep, adjustable shelves, this pantry had lots of space for everything… but finding anything on all those shelves was another story altogether.

The family already intended to swap out their frosted glass double doors for solid wood doors, and I helped them create a plan to utilize the space on the back of the doors for additional storage. After relocating all of their spices, as well as many bottles, jars, and even some snacks to the back of the new pantry doors, I was ready to tackle the shelves.

Initially, the family thought they wanted to replace the shelving with a custom pantry system. The quote came back at $5,000 and proposed mostly new adjustable shelves with the addition of a few drawers. A few other optional bells and whistles would have increased the price further.

We determined there was no reason to rip out the existing shelving just to replace it with more shelving, and I assured the family that bins on the shelves could easily provide the same function as built in drawers for a fraction of the cost.

HOW TO ORGANIZE PANTRY SHELVES

In order to best utilize all the shelf space in this pantry, and to create a system that will be easy for the family to maintain, I followed the same five step pantry organizing process that I used in my own pantry:

1. Start with a Blank Slate
2. Sort, Categorize, and Form a Plan
3. Choose Appropriate Containers
4. Use Every Available Space
5. Add Labels, But Keep it Durable and Flexible

You can read all the details of this five step pantry organizing process, and gets lots of tips for organizing a small reach-in pantry in my prior post. I won’t restate all of that detail here – instead I want to share some specific pantry organizing hacks that helped me create efficient systems in this pantry. 

This post contains some affiliate links. If you purchase something I recommend, you’ll pay the same price, but I may receive a small commission.

SHOP THIS ORGANIZED PANTRY

BINS ON SHELVES CAN PROVIDE THE SAME FUNCTION AS DRAWERS

The homeowner really liked the idea of a custom pantry system with some drawers, but since the price was not right, I assured her that we could get the same function by using bins on the existing shelves. In fact, I’d argue that in many ways bins are superior to drawers.

Like drawers, bins make it easy to corral like items, but bins actually more flexible because they aren’t height constrained. Some items might be too tall for drawers, but bins allow you to contain taller items because they can sit above the top of the bin.

For this pantry, I used a combination of three different sizes of translucent plastic storage bins with handles, which are really affordable, and can be purchased in cases of 12 at a discounted price.

With custom pantry systems, you typically have to choose between solid drawers or wire basket-style drawers. Solid drawers don’t give you a good view of what’s inside, and wire basket drawers allow smaller items to fall through. With bins, you can choose a solid or translucent style, depending on the look you prefer, but no matter the style bins are always easy to lift off of the shelves to see all of the contents {ensuring that nothing gets lost and forgotten}.

Honestly, if I could design my own custom pantry, I’d opt for pull out shelves with bins over drawers any day of the week.

TRANSFER FOOD ITEMS FROM BAGS TO STACKING CANISTERS

ADD DURABLE, ERASABLE LABELS IN THE PANTRY

Once I had all the bins and canisters filled up, I need to label them. I know this isn’t news to any of you – but I love to label! Labeling is so important, especially in spaces – like the pantry – that are used by more than one person. Labels ensure that everyone can quickly find what they need and that things get put back in the right place.

As important as labels are, it’s also important that you keep them both durable and flexibility. The contents of any of these bins or canisters may change over time. Dry erase or chalk maker labels are popular for the flexibility they provide, and I’ve used them myself many times. But I’ve discovered their downfall – they wipe off far to easily, leaving you guessing about the contents.

I recently discovered an alternative that sounded to good to be true, but after testing them for the past couple of months, I’m in love!

Unlike dry erase markers or chalk markers, these permanent marker labels won’t smear or wipe away no matter how many times they are handled. These erasable labels from come in numerous sizes and the package includes a permanent marker and a white eraser. When you’re ready, you can erase them clean and then write again.

Although these erasable labels come with a marker, they claim to work with any permanent marker.  I wanted to test them with a Sharpie, but I was very skeptical that you could ever erase a Sharpie. Sure enough, that little eraser is like magic. After the first pass with the eraser you can see a faint shadow of the writing, but after a second pass, the labels look like new and are ready to be written on again and again.

CHALKBOARD LABELS ON PANTRY SHELVES

How fun are these chalkboard labeled shelves?! The homeowner had previously painted the front of the shelves with chalkboard paint, so all I had to do was relabel them correspond with the new organization.

HOW TO ORGANIZE ZIPLOC BAGS, WRAPS, AND FOIL ON PANTRY SHELVES

For the taller boxes of bags – including Ziploc storage bags, sandwich bags, and trash bags, I used a medium multi-purpose bin. By placing some inside the bin, and others on top of the bin, I was again able to create two convenient rows of storage on this shelf.

ADJUSTABLE, 3-TIERED SHELVES FOR CANNED FOOD

There are lots of options for organizing canned food, and which solution is right really depends on the quantities you keep in your pantry. Since we have a fairly small pantry, gravity-feed can racks work great for my family. 

USE DIVIDED TURNTABLES

I’ve been singing the praises of divided turntables a lot lately, especially after using them to organize under my bathroom sink. It turns out they are also perfect for the pantry. The 4.5″ high sides on these turntables are tall enough to keep things neatly contained, but perfectly in view. 

SPICE RACKS CAN DOUBLE AS SNACK STORAGE

The new spice racks on the inside of the wood French doors provide tons of extra storage. I designed the the back-of-door shelves in various depths to accommodate a wide range of spices and condiments. It turns out that these back of door spice racks are also ideal for storing grab-and-go items for quick lunch packing and after school snacking.

PANTRY FILE BOX FOR APPLIANCE INSTRUCTIONS

Finally, as I was organizing this pantry, I came across lots of instruction manuals and a few recipe clippings here and there on the shelves. I collected them together in a simple multi-purpose bin.

The finished, organized pantry sure is prettier than when I started. But more importantly, all of these pantry organizing hacks helped me create an organizing system that will make this space easy to maintain and keep organized!

SHOP THIS ORGANIZED PANTRY

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