Guest Post: Eileen Kropf of The Orderly Lifestyle
We met Professional Organizer, Eileen Kropf (The Orderly Lifestyle) back in 2021 when one of our Edmonton based clients had hired her to manage the organization of his belongings while we took on the design of his condo. Her work was nothing short of amazing and we regularly recommend her to any of our clients who need assistance on the organization front. I wanted to share a bit of her brilliance with you all so asked her to be a guest on our blog to share her professional organizer insights with us. So I’ll let Eileen take it from here:
Note: affiliate links are used in this post which means we may receive a small commission for any purchase at no additional cost to you. <3
Five Favourite Tools to Organize Your Kitchen
I have always found the saying “the kitchen is the heart of the home” to be so accurate. The kitchen is where families and households gather, eat, do homework, entertain, work and play. Considering everything we use kitchens for, kitchens are the most used spaces in our homes, and therefore they can also get chaotic, messy and very unproductive at times. Having an orderly and high functioning kitchen makes days quicker and easier, and even makes it a relaxing place to be.
Setting up organized systems helps make this possible!
Ensuring that your kitchen is organized saves you time you would otherwise waste searching for things, and also saves you money you would spend on multiples or replacements when you regularly can’t find what you’re looking for. There is no one system that works for every home or every family, because everyone’s needs are unique. Think about your space, how you use it and how much time and effort you’re able to dedicate to the systems before getting started.
Before we dive in…
Let’s break down a few steps to help you start re-claiming your kitchen. A couple things to consider:
How big is your space? This really dictates how many or few objects you can have in the space. If you have eight cupboards, realistically this probably means you can’t accommodate 17 small appliances and expect to stay functional and organized.
What tools are you actually using on a regular basis? Look at your kitchen tools and ask yourself what you have actually used this year (if ever). The decision to let some of these items go will give you the space and freedom to see and access the items you actually use on a regular basis.
The items you use less frequently, every few months or annually, consider relocating to a closet or storage room. Set up a shelf dedicated to your kitchen supplies. Having this designated space and keeping like items together will make it easier to find things when you do need them.
Now let’s get started!
Once you have pared down your belongings to just the essentials, it’s time to start getting organized. Group similar items together and consider containing them. Also, store items where you will use them. For example, put the spices and oils by the stove for ease of use when you’re cooking. Select a drawer near the dishwasher for cutlery to make it easy to put things away when they’re clean. That sort of thing.
Here are my top 5 favourite tools to help organize your kitchen, just in time for the holidays!
1. Shelf Risers
While you only have so many cupboards in your kitchen, there is often a lot of wasted vertical space between the shelves inside. Shelf risers allow you utilize all of that space and essentially double your storage potential. When looking for the right riser for your cupboards, consider the dimensions and the weight of your storage (e.g. stone plates are much heavier than plastic cups/plates, etc.). You want to get something sufficiently sturdy to hold the weight of your items.
TIP: Remember, many kitchen cupboards come with adjustable shelving. They are so simple to move and this also allows you customize your kitchen to your needs.
2. Trays
Trays are a great way to organize your countertops. While you don’t want to have too many items laying out, trays are great for the frequently used items. For example, your salt and pepper, olive oil and a canister for cooking utensils. Having these items placed on a tray grounds the space together and keeps your kitchen organized and looking put together and beautiful! There are so many options to choose from, but I love a beautiful white marble tray. It’s classic and compliments almost any décor. Trays can also be used inside the cupboards or any other room in your home.
3. Lazy Susan
These things are anything but lazy! I recommend a Lazy Susan for many a problem space. They come in so many difference sizes, they work almost anywhere! In the kitchen, these are great for corner cupboards where things almost always get lost in the dreaded corner. With just one turn, things that were at the back are now right in front of you. It’s near impossible to lose things in your cupboards with these. Lazy Susans are also great under the sink for cleaners and detergents. I find the biggest mistake people make when choosing a Lazy Susan is selecting the wrong size (often much too small for the space). As always, remember to measure your cupboard and utilize the space to its fullest potential.
4. Water Bottle Organizers
Most kitchens today have so many reusable water bottles in the cupboards. Families have several for each member of the family and then more for different activities (sports, work, travel, etc.). Typically, these are stored just standing up in clusters in the cupboard. Almost every kitchen looks the same, and as soon as you open the door, bottles start to fall over and out of the cupboards. The water bottle organizer allows you to organize them, laying horizontally and individually. Not only does it look better, it’s also safer and so much easier to see and grab what you need. If you have larger bottles, or taller than the standard 10.5” cupboards, you can use a bin for these and keep them together and standing up.
5. Bakeware Organizers
One of the trickiest cupboards to organize contains the pots, pans, cookie sheets, muffin tins and cake pans. I always hear from clients how frustrated they are with this area of the kitchen. This is probably the easiest solution but many people don’t even know this tool exists! This bakeware organizer is expandable so it fits in almost any cupboard. It is also adjustable so allows you to use it for everything from bulky pots, to unshapely lids, skinny cutting boards and more. Things stay standing when you take a few items out, which makes the long term maintenance of this organized space a breeze!
I couldn’t leave you with just five, so my final tool for organizing the kitchen is …
6. Bins
When I go into clients’ kitchens, believe it or not, often times I don’t find any bins being used. For some reason, bins aren’t often seen as a natural storage solution for the kitchen. However, when you look around your kitchen cupboards, there are always accessories, small appliances and gadgets that are screaming to be grouped and added into a bin! A perfect example of using bins in the kitchen is in the food storage cupboard. These cabinets are almost always unruly and totally non-functional. The first step to organize this space is to pull everything out and match up bowls to lids and so on. If things don’t have a pair or are broken/stained beyond recognition, it’s time to purge these items. I find this step pares the space down substantially. When it comes to organizing this cupboard, I always like to store the bowls separate from the lids. When you are looking for these, it’s so easy to grab the two bins and match your pair, without having to crawl to the back of the cupboard.
If it’s within your budget, it’s always handy to buy one brand/set of food storage so that the individual pieces are designed to fit and work well together.
A bit about Eileen
My name is Eileen Kropf and I am the founder and owner of The Orderly Lifestyle.
I have always loved organizing and have been doing this “for fun” most of my life. I have been known to visit friends and family and organize their spaces (with our without their permission, haha!)
Approximately four years ago, I left my professional career in insurance and started my business full time.
As someone who has struggled with anxiety, I understand intimately the direct connection between one’s emotional state and the environment. Clutter can cause stress, anxiety, anger and depression. I think my favourite part of this business, other than everything, is the feeling of freedom I give my clients by giving them a space free of all their clutter. My ultimate goal is to help my clients love their homes again.
Thanks Eileen! As mentioned, we happily recommend The Orderly Lifestyle if you’re in need of assistance with all things organization in your home. Her services are a perfect complement to our design services. And we couldn’t agree more that having a beautiful, organized space that functions with the way you live can be truly freeing! Please reach out to her directly for more information.