Organizing Your Home Made Simple - The Inspired Home Thu, 13 Apr 2023 16:19:35 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.1 https://theinspiredhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/favicon-60x60.png Organizing Your Home Made Simple - The Inspired Home 32 32 Store Your Dinnerware the Right Way https://theinspiredhome.com/articles/store-your-dinnerware-the-right-way/ Thu, 02 Sep 2021 19:38:24 +0000 https://theinspiredhome.flywheelsites.com/2021/09/02/store-your-dinnerware-the-right-way/ Hide those dishes you don't use every day.

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Looking for a way to store the dinnerware that you don’t use every day? Whether the dishes are extras used during a different season, the holidays, or just items that aren’t a part of our day-to-day rotation, we’ve got the storage piece you need.

How to Store Your Dinnerware

When looking for a storage solution, the most important thing to me is keeping my dishes protected from damage and these sturdy canvas boxes from Honey-Can-Do are perfect for the job. I especially love the clear windows that allow you to easily see what is stored inside!

To reduce the risk of damaging your dinnerware, use the protective inserts that come with the Honey-Can-Do Storage Boxes between each dish. You can also use felt dividers or even coffee filters as extra cushioning to provide protection from scratches to your dinnerware. If you’re storing super delicate dishes, you may even choose to wrap each individual piece!

  • 2-Pack Dishware or Closet Window Storage Boxes, Natural By Honey Can Do Shop Now

Storing Your Glassware

What I love about these storage containers is how simple and straightforward they are to use. Storing your glassware is made easy with the inserts provided to safeguard against chips or scratches.

Once you have placed all your glassware in the storage boxes, simply close the lid and the sturdy handles will help you carefully transport your boxes to the pantry or closet.

We ended up storing our iced tea glasses which are perfect for entertaining and aren’t necessarily used every day. So it goes to show that not everything stored needs to be fancy or expensive. These boxes are also just a really practical solution for items you don’t have room for in your cabinet.

There are so many ways to store your dishes but with these tips you’re off to a great start!

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Spring Clean Your Closet With These Quick Tips https://theinspiredhome.com/articles/spring-clean-your-closet-with-these-tips/ Tue, 06 Apr 2021 14:20:05 +0000 https://theinspiredhome.flywheelsites.com/2021/04/06/spring-clean-your-closet-with-these-tips/ Plus a few products that make the job easier.

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It’s officially spring! Before we head outdoors to enjoy the warmer weather, many of us are spring cleaning. Head over to your closet to start your cleaning journey. This might take you a whole weekend or you can whip through the process in a day!

Hang It Up

The first thing I like to do when cleaning my closets is to decide what clothing stays and what clothing goes. It feels so good to finally let go of that dress you haven’t worn in years! Next, I organize and hang up everything that made the cut.

Upgrading your hangers to wooden hangers, like these from Honey Can Do, will help to keep your clothes wrinkle-free. They also work great at keeping your pants in place with its no-slip vinyl-coated pants bar.

  • 24-Pack Wood No Slip Hangers By Honey Can Do Shop Now

Box Things Up

Now that the clothes are hung up, I like to use boxes to tidy up the shelves. Bigso has boxes for many different storage solutions. I’m loving the Wilma nesting boxes for my hats! The scalloped lids add an elegant decorative touch!

  • Wilma Round Box, Set of 2 By Bigso Shop Now

The Ludvig storage boxes are perfect for purses and anything else you need to hide in plain sight.

  • Ludvig Storage Box, Set of 2 By Bigso Shop Now

Add Some Luxury

The last thing I want to tackle is my accessories. WOLF’s Vault Tray System will finally get all of your jewelry and sunglasses in order. There are several different tray inserts you can add and stack as your accessory collection grows.

I am especially fond of the Sunglass Insert which fits neatly into the Vault Tray and holds up to five sunglasses. The most impressive feature is that the Vault Tray System includes an anti-tarnish fabric lining that will absorb gases known to cause tarnishing. It feels good to not only keep my accessories organized but to also protect my investments!

Your closet is going to look spring fresh and you’ll be able to enjoy the beautiful outdoors in no time!

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5 Simple Products That Will Bring More Order to Your Life https://theinspiredhome.com/articles/everyday-home-organization/ Thu, 07 Jan 2021 20:10:49 +0000 https://theinspiredhome.flywheelsites.com/2021/01/07/everyday-home-organization/ Stay on top of it.

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It feels like we are constantly in a sprint to get things done. Our every day is consumed by the mountainous checklist that never seems to stop growing! This year I’m trying to stay organized amongst the chaos to keep some order in my life, with the help of a few simple products all found in my home!

When things get busy around the house, it’s hard to keep up with the pace of all the growing chores, which is why I love products that do the thinking for you! The TOWNEW automatic trash can is a sleek and modern trash can that has self-sealing and self-changing technology that keeps your hands clean! Who wouldn’t love a garbage can that does the “dirty” work! This way I can keep on with chores in the house without the constant urgency of having to take the trash out!

  • T1 Automatic Trash Can By TOWNEW Shop Now

On the trend of making things easy for yourself, I love a good product that makes a process more efficient and gets the job done! This Joseph Joseph scrubber is one of my FAVORITE and go-to cleaning items in the kitchen. It’s stiff bristles make for effective cleaning and safe on non-stick cookware. It dries quickly and flexible for cleaning all the nooks and crannies! For someone like me, I can be a messy cook and sometimes let my cookware get past the point of no-return — the course bristles help with the tougher spots and restoring my cookware to new!

  • CleanTech Washing Up Brush & Scrubber Set By Joseph Joseph Shop Now

One of my favorite products I use throughout the week to my life easy is this perfect Honey-Can-Do garment rack! I find that my closet can feel overwhelming at times, especially when I’m in a time crunch — I use the garment rack to lay out all my clothes/outfits that I plan to wear during the week. This way I have easy access to the items I know I’m going to wear and quick access to all my pre-planning looks!

  • Bamboo & Canvas Garment Rack By Honey-Can-Do Shop Now

Each Sunday I spent the week pulling pieces, adding them to the rack, and building out my looks for the shoes with shoes included! This frees me of so much time in the morning that I wasted just staring into the abyss that is my closet! It makes me so much more efficient in the morning so that I can grab what I need and go! Then, at the end of the day, I can throw the clothes into the cute hamper.

  • Bamboo & Canvas Hamper By Honey-Can-Do Shop Now

I also love these Acrylic Stackable Shelves for organizing accessories like sunglasses. It makes them easy to display in a visually organized way so that you can see and get use out of your accessories.

  • Acrylic Stackable Shelf By The Better House Shop Now

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Utilize Your Vertical Space with This Clever Over the Door Storage https://theinspiredhome.com/articles/clever-over-the-door-storage/ Mon, 02 Nov 2020 18:47:03 +0000 https://theinspiredhome.flywheelsites.com/2020/11/02/clever-over-the-door-storage/ Accessible and easy to reach.

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When space is tight, you immediately look for clever ways to store items around your home. I personally think using the door as a storage place is GENIUS! One, because everyone has a door. Even the smallest of places has a door. Two, it accessible and easy to reach.

Check out these clever over the door storage options for your next organizing project.

Over the Door Hooks

I love hooks. They’re perfect for blankets and even towels. Hooks over the door are pretty convent too. Just hang this over a bathroom door and you have a place for extra towels. Especially if you share a bathroom with another person. But you can also hang other things as well! Purses for an entry door or hooks can be a great place for gym equipment like ropes and bands. The possibilities are endless.

  • Over the Door Hook Rack By Yamazaki Shop Now

There’s also this great rack for caps and hats!

  • Cap Rack Pro™ By Perfect Curve Shop Now

Over the Door Basket Organizers

This multi-pocket organizer is perfect for organizing toys or books. If you’re running out of space in the playroom or game room use this over the door organizer for just about anything. The canvas material makes it heavy duty and great for all types of products.

  • Over-the-Door Hanging Organizer By Honey-Can-Do Shop Now

This is another clever over the door basket storage system. This can be used in multiple spaces as well. Goes great on a pantry door for extra storage but also can be used in a craft area or even for school supplies for back to school. We used it to store some extra supplies for our new quarantine life.

  • 6-Basket Over-the-Door Organizer By Household Essentials Shop Now

Over the Door Bathroom Caddy

This hanging bathroom caddy comes with hooks and removable baskets. Perfect for dorm rooms or small bathrooms. Simply remove the baskets and hang them back up to dry when you are done in the shower.

  • Hanging Door Caddy System By Madesmart Shop Now

Over the Door Ironing Board Holder

If you don’t have space for your iron or ironing board then using the door for storage is a great idea. This ironing board holder is a great solution for a medium-size ironing board and iron. Keeps everything out of the way but still gives you easy access.

  • Over the Door Iron & Ironing Board Holder By Spectrum Diversified Shop Now

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How to Organize Your 1000-Square-Foot Apartment https://theinspiredhome.com/articles/how-to-organize-your-1000-square-foot-apartment/ Tue, 28 Jul 2020 16:43:49 +0000 https://theinspiredhome.flywheelsites.com/2020/07/28/how-to-organize-your-1000-square-foot-apartment/ You need space for living and space for storage.

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Apartment and city living has its perks, but not without its disadvantages. For the last 18 years of my life, I have lived in apartments ranging from 650-square-feet to 1100-square-feet. If you can relate, the number one thing an apartment renter wants is SPACE – space for living and space for storage.

Over the years, I have finetuned my craft of maximizing the space in my apartment to prevent me from feeling cramp and overwhelmed by all the things I have accumulated over the years. From storage hacks to storage savers, this post will share the details of how I manage to keep order and space in my 1000-square-foot Seattle apartment.

Only Keep What You Need

Over time, I’ve learned to become less emotionally attached to the items within my home. I’d love to make up irrational excuses as to why I need to keep the item, only to allow it to accumulate dust for another 5+ years.

Organization Tool: Dresser Drawer Organizers

Drawer organizers have truly allowed me to move forward with the clean mindset of keeping only what I need! The beauty of drawer organizers is that they visibly show you exactly what you have so that nothing gets left behind and everything gets used.

  • 3-Compartment Accessory Organizer Tray By Household Essentials Shop Now

Take my workout drawer for example. This drawer has always been a constant black hole of leggings and sports bras and truth be told, I was grabbing and wearing the same few things over and over again. This level of organization allows me to see all my bras and pants — it also gave me the opportunity to donate everything I wasn’t using! Win, win!

  • 9-Compartment Drawer Organizer Tray By Household Essentials Shop Now
  • Narrow Accessory Organizer Tray By Household Essentials Shop Now

Organization Tool: Shoe Rack

Accessibility to seasonal shoes is also important to me – all my shoes are currently boxed and stored throughout my closet. Every month, I refresh this rack with shoes I plan to wear that month for easy grab-n-go access. By rotating out my shoes I’m able to remember all the gorgeous shoes I have and get some great use out of them!

  • Expandable 2-Tier Shoe Rack By Euro-Ware Shop Now

Organization Tool: Drawer Organization Tray

In our kitchen, I did the same with our drawers. It seems that in every house there is that ONE drawer that becomes the catch-all. Using these organizers gives me clear visibility into the drawer with no rummaging necessary! Everything is visible and easy to grab! Life-changing!

  • Office Supplies Drawer Organizer Trays By Welaxy Shop Now

Maximize Your Space

Typically when it comes to organizing in my home, I’ve always focused on my closet. But, with limited cabinet space, I needed to create a plan on keeping my cabinets clean and organized so that nothing falls in the abyss of my cupboards.

Organization Tool: Food Storage System

These organizing containers not only keep everything fresh but also allow for maximum organization. Before I would have never been able to have stacked the sugar and brown sugar, but now I can with ease! Not only does it make me more efficient in the kitchen, but I’m also prevented from purchasing something extra at the store that I think might not be there!

  • Flip-Tite Stackable Storage Collection By Felli Shop Now

Now, organizing can be a very daunting task, but it’s manageable. If you start with the areas you might be frustrated with the most, you can work your way down the list of other areas in your home a little at a time to help create a space that you love and doesn’t stress you out!

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8 Things Every Bathroom Needs https://theinspiredhome.com/articles/8-things-every-bathroom-needs/ Tue, 07 Jul 2020 18:00:36 +0000 https://theinspiredhome.flywheelsites.com/2020/07/07/8-things-every-bathroom-needs/ A list of essentials to get you started.

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If you are moving into your first apartment, first home, or just need a fresh start, I have the perfect list for you when it comes to setting up your bathroom! There are a ton of things you can do to make your bathroom look and feel special but here is a list of bathroom essentials to get you started.

1. Bath Towels

Every bathroom needs a set of bath towels. A set of 6-10 towels is a perfect start. This should include bath towels/sheets, hand towels, and washcloths. Fast-drying towels are great for reducing odor and mildew and Everplush towels do just that. They feel like cotton, but perform like microfiber and dry quickly. Plus, they last longer than regular cotton towels. I’ve had mine for almost two years and they still look and feel great.

  • Diamond Jacquard 10-Piece Bath Towel Set By Everplush Shop Now

2. Shower Curtain

When choosing your shower curtain, make sure you choose something that goes with your style and something that is functional. Every shower curtain should have a liner. The liner sits on the inside of your shower so that no water leaks out; the other side gives you privacy while you take a shower. Use shower curtain hooks to add even more detail to your curtains.

  • Waffle Fabric Shower Curtain By Moda At Home Shop Now

3. Hand Soap

On your bathroom counter, you will need to have soap for washing your hands. You can use a dispenser to match your décor, your favorite seasonal scent, or even a battery-operated or rechargeable soap dispenser. If you’re sharing your bathroom with guests instead of having one guest towel, use disposable guest towels you can throw in the trash.

  • Rechargeable Sensor Pump Soap Dispenser By simplehuman Shop Now

4. Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Whether you choose to store it under the sink or behind the toilet, the toilet bowl cleaner is another essential you can’t live without. This toilet brush from Joseph Joseph is both stylish and functional. You can store your cleaner right below your sink for even more convenience. Along with a toilet bowl cleaner, you should also store a plunger.

  • Flex Brush Toilet Brush with Caddy By Joseph Joseph Shop Now

5. Storage

If this is your first bathroom, odds are that it is going to be on the small side, so storage is very important. Use wall space, rolling bins, or the space under the sink to store makeup, shampoo, etc. Keeping things stored away helps the bathroom remain uncluttered.

6. Poo-Pourri

Poo-Pourri is becoming more and more of a genius essential for every bathroom. Help guests hide embarrassing moments by leaving out a bottle or two of Poo-Pourri. This stuff REALLY works, friends. Just spray it in the toilet before you go and the essential oils make a barrier so that the smell is canceled. Keep it right next to or behind the toilet for easy access.

  • Tried-and-True Set By Poo-Pourri Shop Now

7. Trash Can

Every bathroom should have a trash can as well. This trash from TOWNEW changes and seals itself. Once it’s full, you simply press a button to have it self-seal the bag and then auto-line the bin with a new one. Pretty cool and pretty sanitary! It fits perfectly in a small bathroom.

  • Automatic Trash Can By TOWNEW Shop Now

8. Something You Love

Lastly, make sure your bathroom has something you love. Whether it’s a bath mat in your favorite color, a funny piece of art, or a vase full of fresh flowers. Having something you love in your bathroom will always give it that personal touch.

  • Microfiber Non-Slip Bath Mat By iDesign Shop Now

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Overhaul Your Kitchen with These Remodel and Organization Tips https://theinspiredhome.com/articles/overhaul-your-kitchen-with-these-remodel-and-organization-tips/ Tue, 09 Jun 2020 16:34:43 +0000 https://theinspiredhome.flywheelsites.com/2020/06/09/overhaul-your-kitchen-with-these-remodel-and-organization-tips/ Now's the time.

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Raise your hand if your kitchen is filled with a hodgepodge of things you acquired over the course of your 20s. There are a million ways this happens: from college room shares to first apartments, Ikea budget items to Anthropologie splurges, from Grandma’s hand-me-downs to things you’ve taken from your parents’ kitchen, from your wedding registry to blending your partner’s kitchen with yours. Raise your hand if your style has evolved since those early days and you’re ready to hone it in and make it your own.

I get it. My style has evolved drastically over the last decade. And honestly, it’s even changed since I registered everything for my wedding (facepalm). It was only with my kitchen renovation that I finally had to look deep inside my cabinets and drawers and come face-to-face with the realization that it was time for an overhaul. I spend the majority of my time in my kitchen, and I wanted it to be a true reflection of me. Plus, it was time to get rid of the things I was holding onto for, honestly, no good reason.

The beauty of a kitchen renovation, outside of the obvious finished product, is that you are forced to empty absolutely everything out of the space. From old spices in dark corners that you’ve forgotten about to weird gadgets you were gifted one holiday from your quirky aunt. It’s an opportunity to cleanse and purge and bring back only things you love. It’s also okay to leave space for the things you know you want but need to wait to buy or find.

Our kitchen is an odd shape. I think the best way to describe it is an L or Z-shape. It’s not quite a galley kitchen, but it’s certainly not an open square or rectangle. When we moved into our home, the kitchen was filled with banks of cabinets, which in theory is great because of the storage space. But it instead left the kitchen feeling dark and overwhelming. When we renovated, we had a small budget to work off of so we decided to update what was there, rather than gut and start from scratch.

In order to help fix the overwhelming cabinet problem, we left half of the cabinets and painted them, and replaced the other half with open shelving or nothing at all. We picked areas that could use opening up to put open shelves and it worked perfectly. The room feels so much bigger and gets better light.

The downside to open shelving is that it is definitely a trend, and all trends come and go. Additionally, this meant that I wanted to decorate the shelves in such a way that looked aesthetically pleasing but also served some serious function for the overall flow of our high-traffic kitchen. In fact, my husband insisted that our shelves didn’t just serve as my styling board, but served the needs of our family, too. I laugh at this because he was not wrong, and I was happy to honor his requests.

Other updates we made were in the appliances, switching from textured white appliances to stainless steel. We switched our countertops, backsplash, and floors, too. We decided to put in a budget-friendly Carrera marble countertop (yes, in the kitchen counter world, this is the marble budget option in comparison to the trendy quartz!). We did the backsplash ourselves and put in classic white subway tile. For the floors, we splurged a bit and did a stone tile from an artisan company.

There were times throughout my kitchen overhaul that I felt guilty about getting rid of things. Donating feels good up until you realize you’re getting rid of too many items with monetary value. My advice is to donate the things that are mismatched, incomplete, or well-used. If you need to get some money back from your goods, try setting up an Instagram sale. Create a new handle dedicated just to your goods, or set up an Instagram stories sale over one day. I’ve done this before and completely sold out of everything I listed. You could even donate a portion of your sales to a cause near and dear to your heart.

One of my passions is to blend funky vintage wares with new, purposeful equipment. Some examples are that I love to find funky brass trivets and pitchers, barware, and antique ironstone serving plates, and mix them with their modern counterparts and new cookware. I specifically love brands like Dansk and Staub and make an effort to stock my kitchen with their goods.

  • Kobenstyle Pink 4-Qt. Casserole By Dansk Shop Now
  • 6-Pc Copper Bar Tools Set By Old Dutch International Shop Now

I’ll share a few examples of the things I parted ways with, to make room for things I love. One of the most obvious to me is scratched and damaged pots and pans. Don’t be afraid to make this change. Not only does this change make for a more aesthetically pleasing collection, it will also improve your cooking.

  • Copper & Stainless Steel Rondeau By Mauviel Shop Now
  • Duratux Open Frypan By Tuxton Home Shop Now

Another thing to replace is mismatched storage containers. Get rid of the broken, stained, or missing parts and replace them with a full set that will actually serve you without taking up unnecessary space.

I also replaced odd mixing bowls with a uniform set. I brought in a bamboo set for everyday use, and a beautiful hammered copper set for overall beauty and serving. The general idea in all of this is, if you can be more intentional with how you buy for your kitchen, you’ll wind up not only being more organized but much more satisfied with everything, too. Here are a few other items that I brought in, that you might like, too:

  • Thistle Nesting Bowls By Bamboozle Home Shop Now
  • Stone Hammered Solid Copper Mixing Bowls By Old Dutch International Shop Now

The beauty of a kitchen overhaul is you get to set the tone for how you want your kitchen to be when you are done. Your kitchen is meant to serve and inspire you. It’s the heart of the home and you get to decide the beat. Make it beautiful, make it functional, but whatever you do, make it yours.

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Give Your Pantry a Japandi-Style Minimalist Makeover https://theinspiredhome.com/articles/this-japandi-style-minimalist-pantry-is-perfect/ Tue, 02 Jun 2020 22:14:15 +0000 https://theinspiredhome.flywheelsites.com/2020/06/02/this-japandi-style-minimalist-pantry-is-perfect/ Scandinavian design meets Japanese aesthetics.

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Two of my favorite countries I’ve visited are Denmark and Japan. My spirit city is Copenhagen. Both countries give attention to aesthetics and how they play a role in daily life that resonates with me. There’s a focus on quality and detail that blankets an acceptance of leaving space in a design. It’s being comfortable with just enough, not too much… because leaving space exposes potential design problem areas. And what that means is everything simply must be well-designed.

Without knowing it, our home’s design is pretty “Japandi”. The term Japandi is a blending of Scandinavian design and Japanese aesthetics. The minimalist design that creates calm and clean and low stress is a big part of why Japandi style might be right for you right now. The “Japandi” aesthetic has gained traction in the US recently (pre-COVID-19) because it also has a hint of environmental consciousness and sustainability (using natural, reusable materials and buying for quality).

Because our home was built in the late 1800s, that means storage space is minimal (absent). And when we renovated, we made very strategic decisions about storage in our kitchen. The space had to be a beautiful workhorse of a room to function like we wanted since we cook constantly and photograph.

Now that more of us than ever are home… and some cooking for the first time… I thought I would share what I’ve learned about keeping an aesthetically pleasing but highly functional kitchen space.

How to bring the Japandi look to your kitchen pantry:

Remove visual clutter like original packaging:

If you’ve ever looked at styled pantry spaces you’ll notice most of the packaging is gone. Everything is decanted into alternative vessels. That’s because packages are loud, busy, and compete for attention. Instead, consider buying in bulk and refilling reusable containers. It’s less expensive and more environmentally-conscious (but only if you’ll actually use that quantity of the product).

  • 10-Piece POP Container Set By OXO Shop Now

Clear containers and labels:

You’ll use what you see. Use jars, OXO POP Containers for airtight needs (especially for grains and pasta), and standing Stasher bags which are also great for the fridge, freezer and are dishwasher safe. Consider a label maker in drawers if you can’t see the sides of containers. This goes for your spice cupboard or drawer too!

  • Reusable Silicone Stand-Up Bag By Stasher Shop Now

Keep packages space-conscious with clips:

If you have bags that aren’t worth decanting into other containers (like chips), use clips to fasten excess bags to fit more into a small space. This also keeps products from spilling and at their optimal freshness.

  • Gold Bag Clip By three by three seattle Shop Now
  • Black Alligator Clip By three by three seattle Shop Now

Use containers to corral like with like:

A highly underrated tactic in the pantry is to use dividers and bins in cupboards and drawers. We put all of our honey (yes, we have that much) together, all of our teas together, and even smoothie mix in packets in bins with like items.

  • Ashland Drawer Organizers By Design Ideas Shop Now

Make deep cupboards usable with a Lazy Susan:

If you don’t want to constantly reach behind containers, you need a Lazy Susan. You will automatically feel so much better about the space since it becomes much less frustrating to use.

  • Lazy Susan Turntable Organizer By iDesign Shop Now

Now that you have a handle on helpful tools and hacks for making the most of a smaller space and making it look good, let’s talk about what to have on hand.

Pantry Staples:

  • Pulses: dried or canned
  • Rice, quinoa or other grains
  • Dry pasta
  • Olive oil
  • Vinegars: start with apple cider vinegar and distilled white (great for cleaning)
  • Honey
  • 1-2 snacks (dried fruit, nuts, chips, etc)
  • Baking basics: flour, sugar, yeast, baking soda, baking powder
  • Spice drawer/other ingredient overflow (put overflow items for decanting in an upper cupboard)

As you cook more and more, you’ll be able to make adjustments to your pantry staples to make your space work even better for YOU.

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These Are the Things You Should Be Cleaning in Your Kitchen Every Day https://theinspiredhome.com/articles/what-to-clean-in-your-kitchen-every-day/ Tue, 31 Mar 2020 18:31:11 +0000 https://theinspiredhome.flywheelsites.com/2020/03/31/what-to-clean-in-your-kitchen-every-day/ Keep your kitchen looking (and smelling) clean throughout the day.

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There are a few areas in our home that I clean EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Our powder room (guest bath) and our kitchen. These are the most used spots in our home, so they need my attention daily. Wiping down the counters, doing dishes, and rinsing the sink are minimum chores even on our lightest cleaning days. If we skip even one day the kitchen can become a disaster and it leaves us with a BIG mess.

I have three active, messy kids and a hubby. Plus I cook at least once a day… ha! But even when we “eat out,” we eat at home and there is always a mess to clean up. Our kitchen is a pretty big size so there is a lot to do. But as long as I do these things daily, I feel like I’m always ahead of the game the next day.

Here are some tips on how I keep my kitchen looking and smelling clean throughout the day.

Start with a clean slate and keep it simple.

Basically, what does your kitchen look like when it’s clean. Is it uncluttered, is it free from drying dishes, are appliances wiped down, floor swept? You really must decide what your clean kitchen will look like. Here is mine!

I keep the counter clutter to a minimum but I can’t help to display some of my pretty housewares!

My clean kitchen has clean appliances, a clean and empty sink, and the counters are wiped down. The floors don’t get done every day but they do get done weekly.

Wash the dishes.

No matter if it’s a big meal, a small meal, or even a snack, you must wash as you go to be on top of your dishes. I usually empty my dishwasher in the morning and then throughout the day I fill her up and turn it on at night. It really is the most effective way to keep everything in check.

  • Kind Bottle Brush By Casabella Shop Now

Also, dry the dishes and put it away if it’s not going in the dishwasher or if you don’t have one. This will help with the clutter.

  • Pure Comfort Vinyl Gloves By Clean Ones Shop Now
  • Tenacious C Cast Iron Brush By Full Circle Shop Now

Dinner can be overwhelming (if you aren’t cleaning as you go) so I usually have my kids or hubby help with the dishes. I think if you’re cooking, it’s not too much to ask the ones who are enjoying to meal to help out!

Wipe down surfaces.

Whenever you are in the kitchen, wipe down the area that you are using as you go. If you spill something, clean it up right away. This goes for countertops, floors, appliances, cabinets, and anything with a surface. You can always schedule a deeper clean for these areas later in the week or month depending on how often you need it.

I like to use an all-purpose cleaner for these areas. hōm offers an amazing line of products to help out.

For appliances, I like to use these appliance wipes. The key to making sure there are no streaks is to wipe in the same direction as the grain of the appliance.

Clean the sink.

Making sure the kitchen sink is clean at the end of the day is oddly satisfying for anyone who makes it a habit. I sure do try my best to, and each time I wake up to a shining kitchen sink my day seems to start off just a little bit better.

Cleaning your sink is definitely a necessary daily chore but thankfully it’s also pretty easy. I like to start off by using Bar Keeper’s Friend and a little water to make a paste. Then I scrub generously with a mildly abrasive sponge, like these from Skoy, and work in circles to make it shine!

Disinfect.

Trash, cabinet knobs, appliance pulls, sinks and faucets all get a good disinfecting each time I clean the kitchen. After handing any type of meat for meals, it’s always important for me to wipe everything down with the intention of killing 99.9% of any germs or bacteria that may be lingering.

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Use a spray disinfect or disinfecting wipes for an easy way to get the job done. Within about 2 minutes you can have all your hot traffic surfaces cleaned and ready for the next day.

This is also a great time to put rags or dishtowels into a bucket for a good washing in the washing machine.

High Traffic Surfaces to Clean and Disinfect Each Day in the Kitchen:

  • Trash
  • Trash Handles
  • Faucets
  • Appliance Handles
  • Cabinet Knobs
  • Countertops
  • Door Knobs
  • Kitchen Sink
  • Cutting Boards
  • Rag and Sponges

Happy cleaning!

The post These Are the Things You Should Be Cleaning in Your Kitchen Every Day appeared first on The Inspired Home.

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Small Space Organization: Kids’ Craft Closet https://theinspiredhome.com/articles/small-space-organization-kids-craft-closet/ Fri, 06 Mar 2020 19:22:50 +0000 https://theinspiredhome.flywheelsites.com/2020/03/06/small-space-organization-kids-craft-closet/ Simple solutions to help you keep your sanity.

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It’s not lost on me that with the age of Pinterest comes the age of perfect dwellings. I see kids’ rooms, play spaces, kitchens, and yards that look fresh out of magazines. I see professionally organized drawers and cabinets that sing, “I’ve never been used.” I see gardens by mother nature herself. I’m amazed and slightly envious of course, but honestly, I feel mostly… well, indifferent.

Not because these spaces don’t register as beautiful and aspirational, they sure do. But it’s because I cannot see the way I live my life and parent my kids translate into these spaces. I want so badly for that to happen, but the reality will not let this dream materialize.

Instead, this blog post is about offering real-life organizational solutions that will help you keep your sanity when it comes to the crazy world of kids’ crafts.

The Value of Organization

In this post, I’m offering up real, raw images of what our craft closet looked like before I implemented any type of organization. This closet is on the ground in our living room/playroom, and because of this accessibility, my toddler will come and go as she pleases. More often than not she leaves a wake of destruction in her place. And even on the instances when I’m involved in a full-fledged craft project, my stamina is zapped by the end of it.

Sure enough, the crafts get put back, stacked haphazardly into no man’s land, without creating any rhyme or reason.

So, in an attempt to combat this post-playtime fatigue, I’m offering simple solutions that keep things in a place, with the flexibility to be imperfect.

1. Get Real

Donate. The first step in creating a truly functional, imperfectly organized space is to get rid of the odds and ends that have passed their peak. I’m donating miscellaneous and mismatched items that pile up and never get used anymore. I hate throwing them out because it makes me feel wasteful, so I try to organize a few boxes of crafts that can make sense together in order to successfully donate them to the next family.

Recycle what you can. Donating broken or potentially dangerous leftover crafts don’t help anyone and put an undue burden on the volunteers and employees. Try to recycle what you can (and more on using recyclables as craft supplies later on!).

Rotate. Another trick my husband and I use is the rotating craft bin. Box away toys, games, coloring books, and so on, that get exhausted from too much play. We tuck them away and bring out a new box of toys and games. Then, when you’re ready to rotate the first box back in, the excitement has been reinvigorated. It’s almost like a birthday or holiday lived out all over again, but without spending a dime.

2. Supplies

A part of our craft organizational woes was that I never really spent the time or energy planning out functional supplies. I simply threw in a hodgepodge of items we’d been gifted or randomly accumulated over time. I’d hope I could piece together some arts-n-crafts project when inspiration struck.

But mainly, I’d just pull out a coloring page and plop Lila down with watercolors, markers, or crayons depending on what she felt like using. While I still will likely do this, it’s much easier to find inspiration when you have the baseline requirements for a crafts project ready.

Here’s my list of foundational supplies. Pick and choose a few for your budget, or check off the whole list:

  • Crayons – I like jumbo crayons for my toddler
  • Markers – there are so many fun kinds of markers out there!
  • Watercolors — my advice is to get the real deal set from the crafts store. So many amazing colors!
  • Washable finger paints — washable is the keyword here
  • Brushes and Stamps
  • Construction paper
  • Glue sticks
  • Safety scissors
  • Pipe cleaners & Pom Poms
  • Recycled paper goods — let inspiration be your guide!

3. Organizational Solutions

I find that my biggest hang-up for keeping our small home organized is implementing the appropriate organizational solutions. I’m not talking about label makers and Marie Kondo, although awesome, I’m simply talking about setting realistic organizational goals that set me up for success. You see, I know myself, and no matter how hard I try, I cannot keep everything in its perfect place.

Imperfect organization is more my jam. And when it comes to the kids, I need an easy-to-find and easy-to-put-away situation. The harder it is for my toddler to decode, the less likely things will find a place, and the more work I have to do. Plus, I want to leave some room for normal life to find its way into our space and dare I even say, welcome it with open arms.

Here’s what I suggest. Measure your shelves so you know generally what sizes work, and then order or recycle 2-4 of the following:

Vessels & Jars

Glass Jars. I put things that are easier to first see, then grab in big glass (or plastic!) jars. This could be big items like stamps or Play-Doh supplies, or small things like pom-poms or beads. These items get used, but much more strategically than say, crayons, and can get tucked away nicely.

Fabric Baskets. I like fabric bins for high-traffic items like markers, crayons and paintbrushes. It keeps the supplies contained, but they don’t necessarily have to look pretty. The crayons can get broken and smudged, the markers can have bite marks or just get thrown in there, and the aesthetically pleasing bin keeps it all a nice big secret. Plus, they’re easy to transport and can take a bit of a beating.

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Boxes & Bins

Clear Boxes. I love the clear box by Design Ideas that I use for our paints. Paints can get stacked back in their place relatively neatly and just need a container to hold their place on the shelf. The clear ones provide a more discrete profile while giving the child an easy view of what they want to grab.

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A Few Concepts to Try:

A Transport Box. Make little travel stations for your child’s most used crafts so they know exactly where to go and grab. I love the wood box that I use here for our coloring pages and crayons. It’s a neat little stack that can be easily transported to our craft table.

The crayons live in this beautiful pen holder that can be easily gripped by tiny hands and isn’t an eyesore if it gets left out.

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Recycle Pile. I’ve learned over time to create a space for the disarray. I think a lot of people neglect to create designated space for the mess when they’re organizing because it’s pretty counter-intuitive. You’re organizing to avoid the mess, after all. But the truth of the matter is, there needs to be a space for the things you don’t anticipate.

The recycle pile is my solution for the miscellaneous craft items. This could be random coloring pages that come home from school, toilet paper rolls, construction paper scraps, etc. Anything that needs to be used again, but has no home, can find its way to this pile.

Grab a cute bin like the white wood-handled fruit bowl I use here and, voila! You have a solution. I even suggest getting an extra cloth bin to hide the mismatched tools and pencils. This way you know exactly where to put the items that have no real home.

As you can see from my pictures, our craft closet is perfectly imperfect. It’s stocked and ready to go, but with solutions that are flexible and can change with our children’s needs. There’s wiggle room, and space to throw and hide the mess, while still having rhyme and reason. Don’t be afraid to test out whatever you come up with, and change it if it’s not working.

Organizing is meant to make your life easier, and some trial and error isn’t a bad thing. I hope you have fun creating with your kids!

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