Save Time, Money-and Your Sanity
These clever organizational tools will keep your stuff streamlined so that you can focus on what's really important this holiday season: Family, fun, and food.
Lea Schneider, author of Growing Up Organized and member of The National Association of Professional Organizers says getting organized won't just save you time; it'll save you cash, too. Knowing what you have means you're not spending unneccessarily, and making the most of storage means you can invest in economical family sizes. "Take advantage of every square inch," Schneider advises.
Here are some great storage tools and products that can help.
Slide-Out Storage Rack
You file papers to get them organized; why not file pot lids, cutting boards, and baking sheets away, too? "Things are so much easier to grab in a hurry when they're in an upright rack," Schneider says. This durable easy-to-install gliding chrome-steel rack can hold up to 18 lids securely. All hardware is included for quick installation. It measures 7¼ inches wide by 21 inches deep by 9 inches high.
About $40; Lynk Incorporated
Holiday time means overflowing pantries, so take advantage of every spare bit of space. Take that gap between the fridge and your cabinetry, for instance. This 10-inch-wide rolling caddy with casters and an easy-pull handle slides right into dead space. The 6 shelves are lipped to ensure nothing falls while the unit is in motion. You can also try squeezing this into the laundry room, garage, or any place you have 10 inches to spare. It measures 9 ½ inches wide by 24 inches deep by 56 inches tall.
About $100; Home Marketplace
"The pro of this option is that it puts to use an otherwise unused space," says Schneider. With the help of this rack, you can create a home for your spices and clear shelf space for other goods. Three trim-to-fit wood and chrome shelves offer full visibility to labels and accommodate a range of standard bottle sizes. The rack measures 13 3/8 inches wide by 4 inches deep by 25 inches high.
About $90; Rev-A-Shelf, LLC
Pro Tip: "Follow the 'next-to' rule and keep spices stored near the stove, but putting them over the stove isn't ideal," advises Schneider. Heat and humidity can degrade flavors and shorten the life spans of your favorite flavor-boosters.
Holiday entertaining and cleaning up go hand in hand. Keep your soaps, sprays, and everything else in that awkward space under your sink organized with this customizable shelving unit. Cleaning supplies keep company with sink plumbing under there; this plastic and metal unit features segmented shelves that you can slide into position to accommodate pipes. Now you can make use of the upper part of the cabinet and not just the base. The rack measures 18¼ to 33 inches long by 11 inches deep by 17¼ inches high.
About $15; Made Smart
For even more clever storage products go to thisoldhouse.com
