Organized Flatware Drawer (A Place for Everything)
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Organized Flatware Drawer (A Place for Everything)
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organized flatware drawer inserts
My goal this year was to continue making progress on finding a “place for everything.” It’s been slow going at times, but I’ve tried to at least tackle one drawer or small space every month or so.
This drawer was previously full of tea which didn’t really feel like the best use of space. It’s a shallow drawer which is ideal for flatware, so I decided to make a switch! We had a couple of sets of pretty stainless flatware (with bamboo detail!) that I like to use for holidays and entertaining that didn’t have a convenient or organized spot, so this location made a lot more sense. It’s right across from the table!
I was able to maximize the space in the drawer with a couple of bamboo organizers.
It only took a few minutes to set this up, but now every time I see it, I’m happier!
Click here for sources for above (espresso machine, canisters, bunny wallpaper and more)
I know I showed this cabinet in another post, but I recently had also reorganized this coffee cabinet which is above the flatware drawer. I needed to fit in the new espresso maker, so I changed a few things around.
There’s definitely more I could do to pare down organize it but it’s good enough for now! I make my coffee at this cabinet almost every day so it functions well.
Sometimes I find a roadblock to progress in decluttering or organizing is thinking it is going to take too much time so I procrastinate on starting. Then you just feel really behind in a lot of areas, so it’s even more overwhelming. So I’ve been trying to just get a few things done in small pockets of time, even when it has to be done imperfectly.
Are you working on any decluttering or re-organizing projects this fall? We love to set manageable goals to make progress at home in every season in our HomeBody Community. We’d love to have you there, you can even post photos of your progress to keep yourself accountable or inspire the rest of us! I’ve also been working on adding some other helpful new resources for HomeBodies there, inspiration galleries for ideas and home tour videos that are fun to watch! Learn more here.
Happy fall!
More of my “A Place for Everything” Posts:
About My Phrase of the Year (A Phrase to Inspire You and Your Home in the New Year)
Decorating & Organizing with Baskets
Baskets in the Dining Room (a place for everything!)
A Pretty Solution for Hiding Power Strips and Cords
My Coffee Cabinet Makeover (Removable Wallpaper, Berkey Water Filter Storage and Organization)
How to Organize Under the Sink in the Kitchen (6 tips to create a place for everything!)
My Organized Closet with Containers for Family Photos, Mementos and more! More - in Organization
Sherwin Williams “Dress Blues” Painted Kitchen Island
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If you have a small kitchen that could benefit from having an extra work surface in it or a place for kitchen storage, then you may like the portable kitchen island I found and how I painted and styled it to fit the decorating style of my kitchen.
Last week I shared a post with you about the new kitchen island I bought to replace a metal one I previously had.
I told you as soon as I finished customizing it in my own style I would show you what I did to it. I finished it and I couldn’t be happier with how it came out.
This is what the very solid and sturdy wood island looked like before I added my style.
There are many ways to customize this wood work table/island from simply rubbing wood conditioner on it, sealing it with a clear poly to staining it a wood tone or painting it a color.
After looking at all these options, I decided to paint the base using Sherwin Williams Dress Blues paint.
How I Painted the Table/Island Wood Base
Normally I would have chosen to use Sherwin Williams ProClassic formula of paint, since I used it to paint the kitchen cabinets, but the guy at the paint counter told me the color couldn’t be made using ProClassic in a quart and recommended I try their Emerald formula.
I decided to get it made up in a semi-gloss finish so the base would be easy to wipe clean.
Here is what the back of the island looks like. This side is parallel to the sink.
How I Sealed the Wood Top
To seal the wood top, I went back and forth on how I wanted to finish it. Two readers mentioned they liked Waterlox for sealing Butcher Block and wood. A few others liked using food safe mineral spirits that is used mostly for wood cutting boards. Both are great options.
Since I am not going to use the surface as a cutting board as I have a Boos Board Cutting Block to cut on, I decided to try a new product from Minwax called Polycrylic Max in an Ultra Flat finish.
I love Polycrylic and have shared all the projects I have used it on over the years with you on the blog so I went for it.
I LOVE how well it went on and best of all how it sealed the wood with no sheen so it looks like bare wood. I followed the directions on the label. I wanted to make sure it was properly sealed and used two coats – sanding in between the coats to make sure the second coat adhered well.
How I Styled The Wood Island
The wood worktable/island has a drawer and two shelves under the drawer. The shelves can be screwed in at a few different heights depending on what you want to store on them.
The drawer had a plain wood drawer knob. I didn’t care for that so I replaced it with a brushed chrome bin-style pull that I bought at Home Depot.
How I Organized the Drawer
If you have followed my blog for a long time then you know I like to line drawers with pretty paper. I have used everything from fabric, wallpaper, book pages and even gift wrap to add a surprise pop of color where you normally don’t expect it.
For the my new kitchen island drawer I used gift wrap and then sealed it with Mod Podge in a matte sheen that I had in my decor supply stash.
I took my time to get this new island project done. First it took me quite a few months to find a ready-made one that would fit in the small space. Next I didn’t rush into choosing the color and styling.
I made it a point to look over the images and clippings I have taken from Pinterest and magazines to make sure what I ended up doing, would be just right for my kitchen as well as my own decorating style.
More Kitchen Project and Decor You May Like
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My Organized Closet with Containers for Family Photos, Mementos and more!
My organizing mission continues! This closet makeover is still in progress so no pretty pictures, but I thought I’d show you what I’ve been working on behind the scenes. More
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My Organized Closet with Containers for Family Photos, Mementos and more!
This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. Please Read Our Disclosure Policy here
Operation: A Place for Everything (and Everything in Its Place)
My organizing mission continues! This closet makeover is still in progress so no pretty pictures, but I thought I’d show you what I’ve been working on behind the scenes.
The Closet That Drove Me Nuts
(can you blame me?)
This closet in the Snug was one of those closets.
The “we just moved in” (…almost four years ago 😂) so let’s just stuff it in here for now kind of closet.
It became the delayed decision zone—overflowing with the things I wasn’t quite sure what to do with. Family photos, mementos, files, extra pillow covers… all important, all without a clear home.
At one point it was filled with fluffy pillows, and they would all come tumbling out when I opened the door. I don’t think I took a photo of that.
Guest Bed Details
Why We Chose a Compact Home
We live in what I call a compact home, by choice. It has smaller rooms, a smaller lot, a one car garage, no storage shed, no basement and smallish closets. After years of having more space—extra garages, basements, closets, outbuildings—I realized “extra storage space” just made it too easy to collect too much stuff.
And for someone like me (a person who likes to decorate, can be sentimental, and a recovering procrastinator 😏), fewer storage options actually “forces me” to stay on top of things. Otherwise clutter is multiplying “out of sight, out of mind” (or taunting me every time I open the door).
White photo boxes // Blue stackable bins // Navy linen file boxes // Wall-mounted essential oil organizer // Blue magazine holders
That said, even after years of decluttering and downsizing, I’m still learning important truths, such as:
Small spaces obviously need fewer things—but they also need better systems.
When we had a 5,000 square foot house, we didn’t actually need many systems. People always say a bigger house is harder to keep clean, but it is far easier to stash stuff where no one has to see it.
We had a lot of storage in that house so you could toss in just about anything to “deal with later” and forget you even owned it. Until it was time for us to move. Same situation happened at the next house. It was a smaller home but 1,000 square feet of storage under the house. I had no idea we still had canoes under the house until the day we were trying to load the Uhaul.
By the way, you can read more of my misadventures and solutions found through all of my homes in my books Love the Home You Have and Make Room for What You Love — maybe you’ll relate or just get a good laugh at my struggles ha!On a related note, I have no idea why I still have this album. I mean, I did like Donny and Marie and had a lot of their albums, but this would not be the one I would choose to keep. Yet here it is.
And why have I moved about 13 times with this album? I have a lot of questions. Ha! Happily, these random finds are becoming more rare. I still have too much stuff, but I’m making steady progress. Let me show you what I’ve been working on!
Wall-mounted essential oil organizer
The Closet Problem (and My Simple Solution)
This closet in the snug, under the eaves, is actually one of the biggest we have, so I knew it had potential. But without stackable bins or a usable structure, it wasn’t going to work for what I needed.
We didn’t need to keep everything, so I started—as a necessity—with a ruthless edit. I’ve come a long way when it comes to letting go, and having limited space definitely helps me be more decisive.
Once the clutter was pared down, I got to the fun part: organizing.What I Used:
White photo boxes: These hold all our loose photos until we can scan, frame, or sort them.
Blue stackable bins: These are soft-sided but sturdy with handles and spots for labels. Some are file boxes, some are just open bins. I’m not sure how these ended up being two shades of blue (I ordered one set a bit later) but that’s okay. It doesn’t have to be perfect to feel organized.
Navy linen file boxes: These are really sturdy, well-built, and a great size. They came with hanging file folders that are helping me feel so organized!
Blue magazine holders
Wall-mounted essential oil organizer: I added two of these wall shelves months ago and love how they maximize vertical space without cluttering the closet. I definitely need to pare down my oils, but I love all of them. Ha! I still need to tidy those shelves up, though. Baby steps! Side note, this closet smells LIKE A DREAM! I get my oils here.Everything I needed now stacks neatly into the closet, and there’s still enough floor space to walk in and out comfortably. YAY!
It’s just what I wanted. An easy fix. No need to install shelves or find furniture. No permanent installations. Just a fast and functional solution that works for us now, and is flexible for the future, too.
And most importantly? I can open the door without anxiety. I keep opening the door just to remind myself of how far I’ve come!Buy bins in larger sets if you know you’ll use them—it’s more affordable.
Look for bins with handles and label slots for easy future organizing.
Don’t buy containers for clutter. Declutter before you organize.
Simple solutions can make a big impact—especially in small spaces.Voila! This little system saved the day…and my sanity.
One more thing….
Stay tuned for my next installment of A Place for Everything and Everything in Its Place—you won’t even believe this one! I came up with a clever idea for the closet door that solved a whole different organizing dilemma. It was a tricky one! I can’t wait to show you.See more of my recent organizing projects here!
My Phrase Of The Year: A Place for Everything
10 Organizers We Use in Our Home
My Quick & Easy Organized Gift Wrapping Closet
My Coffee Cabinet Makeover (Removable Wallpaper, Berkey Water Filter Storage and Organization)
A Pretty Solution for Hiding Power Strips and Cords
How to Organize Under the Sink in the Kitchen (6 tips to create a place for everything!)
My Coffee Cabinet Makeover (Removable Wallpaper, Berkey Water Filter Storage and Organization)
Baskets in the Dining Room (a place for everything!)
Decorating & Organizing with Baskets (A Place for Everything!)
See a whole gallery full of organization inspiration posts on the blog here! More - in Organization
How to Organize Under the Sink in the Kitchen (6 tips to create a place for everything!)
Today I will share six tips for how to organize under the sink and create a place for everything! One of the areas that was on my “a place for everything and everything in its place” list for a really long time was to organize under the sink, so I am thrilled that I finally […] More
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How to Organize Under the Sink in the Kitchen (6 tips to create a place for everything!)
This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. Please Read Our Disclosure Policy here
Today I will share six tips for how to organize under the sink and create a place for everything!
One of the areas that was on my “a place for everything and everything in its place” list for a really long time was to organize under the sink, so I am thrilled that I finally tackled it.
Empty the cabinet and declutter.
Begin by taking everything out of the cabinet and tossing trash or things you know you don’t use. It helps to consider what would actually be convenient to keep in that cabinet and what is just unnecessarily cluttering the available space. Once you’ve pared down to only what you use regularly, move any items that you know can be relocated.
Determine what will need a home.
Everything will need a home, so assess what you want to keep and what you will organize under the sink. We wanted a roll of trash bags, a small supply of the dish brushes we use, our smiling sponges, steel wool for cleaning pans, magic erasers and the dishwasher detergents and cleaning supplies.
Measure the space you have to work with and order organizers.
Before I ordered containers, I measured the cabinet space I had to work with in the cabinet (height, depth and width of the cabinet and factored in the limitations of pipes).
When I partnered with The Container Store over on Instagram recently (you can see my organizing video HERE!) I was introduced to the Everything Organizers! I love this system.
These organizers are clear which I think is so smart under the sink plus they are really simple to use as well as to clean. They are also very flexible in how you can use and arrange them so I was able to order options and then decide on the best configuration once they arrived.Arrange organizers to maximize space.
Once you have your containers you’ll want to organize them efficiently in the cabinet to maximize space.
I only used containers across the front of the cabinet, leaving open space behind ours for any surplus or rarely used items.
This system is designed so you can stack shorter drawers on top of each other or pair short with tall to maximize the height as well as the width of the space. I stacked a couple of sizes of the clear drawers and added the Lazy Susan to create an efficient system that fit well in our space.
Since some of the items we keep under the sink were taller so we also left open space to one side. To create a tidy spot for them, we placed a tray style container on one side to hold spray bottles and handy roll of paper towels. I like that the container can be taken out to set up on the counter when in use and is easy to clean, too.
The Lazy Susan also has removable sections so you can also customize how you arrange items in it.
Group like items together.
The simplest way to decide how to organize each of your containers is to group like items together. Depending on your cabinet and organizer sizes, you may realize after grouping like items together that you still have too many items to fit comfortably. You might need to relocate a few more items or if you buy in bulk you could have backup supplies elsewhere such as a garage or pantry.
A place for everything and everything in its place.
No organizing system will stay organized for long if you cram too many items in or can’t easily maintain order in them. The key is to keep it simple, don’t make the system too complicated.
This is why I love the clear organizers as a dedicated spot for each type of item — it makes it easy to maintain a place for everything.
You may also need to pare down on the number of products you use in order to maximize efficiency and space.
For example, we use just our one toxin-free all purpose cleaner and a scrub for most things, so we don’t need to keep a lot of bottles under the sink.
Having a designated place for everything also helps us to easily see what you have on hand and when you need to replenish!Ta da! A place for everything and everything in its place! Organizing is fun and rewarding once you get started! In fact, organizing this cabinet was so fun that I went on to organize my fridge and set up a cart for our dog supplies (which I’ll share with you in a separate post).
Shop the Everything Organizers here.
* Watch my under sink organizing video HERE! *
My home organizing books:
Make Room for What You Love Simply Home (two in one book for organizing and decorating) More - in Organization
My Coffee Cabinet Makeover (Removable Wallpaper, Berkey Water Filter Storage and Organization)
This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. Please Read Our Disclosure Policy here
A place for everything and everything in its place is my mission for this year, but the truth is I really got inspired for it last year with a few simple projects that I haven’t shared on the blog yet!
I started getting these cabinets organized last fall as a part of a fun cozy home challenge HomeBodies did in HomeBody Gathering Place.
In our renovation we had cabinetry designated in our dining area for our coffee making area and our Berkey Water filter. While we don’t have a fancy coffee station or water filtration system, what we have works great for us so I wanted to make it as functional and organized as I could.
I put up this adorable peel and stick wallpaper on the back of the cabinet, just for fun — it makes the whole experience of preparing coffee more charming. It was so simple to do!
Before I explain the organization, here is a list of some cabinet and organizing supplies I used:
This cabinet organizer shelf
This wood lazy Susan
This plastic tray under the coffee gadgets
Milk frother/steamer (love this one, it’s stainless steel instead of toxic nonstick coating!)
These blue and white buffalo check lidded canisters
Coffee grinder
Botanical coffee mugs
Blue and white geometric pattern coffee mug
Click here for above sources
This whole organization project took me less than 30 minutes to make the additions and improvements, so I wish I had done this ages ago! But I’m glad I finally did it. Now that this cabinet is extra cute, I am inspired to keep the cabinet more organized, too!
Organizing the Coffee Cabinet (a place for everything!)
I decided we should use the two upper shelves only for serving platters. I have no other cabinet for them so this made sense! Our shelves are adjustable so I can rearrange later if desired.
To make better use of the rest of the cabinet space, without making it feeling too cluttered, I added some tiered accessory shelves to elevate some of the mugs and organize supplies.
Cabinet organizer shelf // Botanical coffee mugs // Similar Homebody Mug (my mug is from here)
This cabinet now holds only the mugs we’ll be using often this season (this is key, we cannot keep EVERY mug in this cabinet!) We put the mugs on the Lazy Susan and a few others that will sit next to it on the tiered shelves. No more cluttered cabinet! Our extra mugs are stored in the cabinet below.
I also got a set of cute checkered canisters to hold coffee beans and spoons.
We keep this tray under our coffee grinder and the milk steamer/frother to make it easier to clean up the cabinet from the inevitable messes made while grinding coffee and steaming milk.
We still use this stovetop espresso brewer (someday we’ll get a fancier machine, but we’ve used this for years and it is so simple and makes good coffee)!.Organizing Our Berkey Water Filter Cabinet
We used to have the Berkey sitting on a bench in our mudroom, but this was always my intended spot for it. It’s safe from little hands and puppies and so convenient for grown people to use. The drawer underneath the Berkey pulls out so we can easily fill it and we put a tray and mat under it to catch any drips or overflow.
We put our Berkey on this stand so we can easily get a glass under it to fill. Works great!
Someday we may get a whole house filter (or a new one at the kitchen sink like we had in the past) but we’re perfectly happy with this arrangement.
The cabinet shelves above and below the Berkey hold our pretty blue and green drinking glasses, electric hot water kettles (I have this copper and this blue kettle) and other handy items.A Place for Everything
Even though it’s always been nice to have all of these cabinets to store stuff, having a place for everything and everything in its place means that now I really enjoy using these spaces as they are intended (and enjoy keeping them organized!) every day.Small Space Tip
The doors on the coffee cabinet slide back in so they don’t stick out into the room — this is a handy small space hack if you are getting new cabinets :).
Now that it’s so cute I can even leave the coffee station open whenever I want to!
Our home may not be huge, but I wanted to make every space count. I pictured a cozy, comfortable, orderly place right here in the dining room where family and friends could gather around and chat while making coffee or tea. I’m happy to have created a pleasant experience for everyone!
Sources for above
Related Posts:
Our Coastal Cottage Kitchen Reveal
Our Kitchen Before and After (with photos of the kitchen and dining room swap!) More - in Organization
A Pretty Solution for Hiding Power Strips and Cords
I don’t know about you, but a tangled mess of cords on the floor definitely doesn’t spark joy for me! Since I’m on a roll finding a place for everything in my house, hiding power strips has been at the top of my list. I wanted a solution that would not only hide cords but also look attractive in the room—and I found the perfect tools for the job!
I got two different styles of these cable management baskets. The first one I ordered (THIS ONE) is made of imitation rattan. While it’s not my favorite finish, it looks great at a distance and does the job of concealing cords and a power strip.
Since I really liked how functional this basket is I ordered a different set for other spaces in the house (like our kitchen and Snug).
These other cable management baskets (below) just arrived and came in a set of two sizes, and the finish is natural and lovely in our home! I would buy these again (and probably will!).
Cable management baskets
These baskets are an attractive and practical way to hide cords and power strips to keep everything looking neat. You can also tuck in a couple of extra phone chargers to keep them organized or have on hand for guests!
The basket is naturally ventilated, so it prevents overheating of power strips and chargers. You don’t want to put power strips in closed in or tight spaces without ventilation or overload them (we never plug in heaters or anything powerful like that on a power strip just to be safe).
We will use our new baskets for charging phones (which we can set on top of the basket with the cord coming out one side), hiding a lamp cord on the kitchen counter.
Be sure to measure whatever power strip you want to use (I got these surge protectors for our new baskets) to make sure it will fit.
These power strip baskets are so handy for hiding a power strip and corralling all your cords in one neat place, I’m so glad I found them.
Here’s to simple, pretty solutions for a more peaceful home!Decorating & Organizing with Baskets (A Place for Everything!)
New Baskets in the Dining Room: A Place for Everything!
10 Organizers We Use In Our Home
Our Tiny Mudroom (Pantry + Dog Feeding Station) Makeover
Little Updates Around Our House Lately
Browse all organization inspiration posts on The Inspired Room More
