Clean Up Your Home’s Catchall Areas

Office & Pantry

written by alexa bricker

When looking to organize the inside of your home, most people turn to the rooms they spend the most time in. However, there are often other areas that have so much to offer in terms of underused space. The office and pantry are just two of them, and once they’re tidied up, you’d be surprised how much more organized you’ll feel.


Office

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  • If your space is limited, keep furniture to a minimum. Instead of a large, clunky desk with a ton of drawers, consider purchasing a smaller corner desk or a standing desk that won’t take up as much room. You could also consider folding chairs that can slide under the desk or be kept along the wall.

  • Think vertical, not horizonal. Taller pieces of furniture, including filing cabinets or bookshelves, will always save space as opposed to wider items.

  • Use in-drawer dividers to separate paperwork by date and category. You can also color coordinate documents by folder so they are easier to find should you need them. Place all important documents, such as birth certificates and Social Security cards, in a fireproof box.

  • Big on electronics? Keep pesky cords organized by bundling and labeling them with different-colored ties; that way you’ll never have to guess what charger or plug belongs to what.


Pantry

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  • Store dry items like pastas, beans, and cereals in tall, clear containers—just be sure to label the containers with what’s inside. This can help you locate what you’re looking for quickly, and it can help keep items fresher for longer.

  • Keep the items you use most frequently at eye level, if possible. If you have taller or shorter shelves in your pantry, you’ll find yourself searching high and low every time you need a little salt.

  • Try not to purchase items in excess before you’ve used what you already have. However, if you do find yourself with multiples of the same item, bring items that expire first to the front of the shelf.

  • Keep cans and jars in baskets organized by category (e.g., fruits, vegetables, beans). That way, if you need a can of peaches, you aren’t pulling out dozens of cans of green beans that are in its way.

Posted in June 2020 on Apr 12, 2020