First published on OrganizeEveryLittleThing.com, these 11 Organization Tips are perfect for any kitchen, but especially the tiny ones. Full article link here: organizeeverylittlething.com/11-tips-organize-tiny-kitchen/No matter what the rest of your house looks like, it always seems that friends and family tend to mingle in the kitchen. It is the default gathering place in our home, which means it is always the first place to catch clutter, and the last place to get picked up at the end of the day. Learn how to organize your kitchen. Of course we all wish for the beautiful kitchens that flock the Food Network, but in the meantime, here are some of the best hacks for organizing small kitchens that make even the tiniest spaces feel gourmet. If there is one rule for utilizing kitchen space it is to utilize the space above the cabinets. This shelf above the cabinets creates a hidden gold mine of storage possibilities.  Free up some cupboard space by using the giant magnet in the kitchen as a storage space for spice jars. This creates a cute, organized area for spices, and gives you back valuable cupboard space you can use for something else.  If you have little to no pantry space, add additional shelves around the corner, down the hall, or anywhere you have space. Open shelving adds a beautiful element as well as plenty of additional storage where you need it most.  If you’re looking for additional storage for your pots and pans, look up! A pot rack is a great way to bring in additional storage without using all your existing cupboard space.  This is a genius idea to use magazine holders for holding baking pans. They are the perfect size, and make a much more attractive addition than shoving all your pans in the bottom of a cupboard. Utilize that empty space next to the fridge with this roll-out pantry from Instructables that you can make in an afternoon.  To maximize space, be sure you are using every side of your cabinets, especially those outside edges that are normally left unattended. Martha Stewarts hangs her most commonly used utensils on the outside so they are always on hand.  I love this idea of using common bookshelves as additional storage as an open pantry. It is easy to see what you have, and (as long as they are kept organized), it looks neat and tidy in any space.  Make your drawers work overtime with this double-duty drawer organizer that gives you twice the space.   If you have a small kitchen, the last thing you need is more clutter covering up the front of the fridge. Keep your important papers, calendars, and to-do lists out of sight by using the inside of a cupboard door instead. Make use of the backsplash by adding additional basket storage, this is an adorable way to add storage space and style to your kitchen. 
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Ellen Delap CPO®, NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers) President has some great tips for staying organized on a vacation. First posted to NapoGetOrganized.com, view full article here: www.napogetorganized.com/2017/07/06/family-travel-tip-1-organize-organize-organize/ Blog Submitted by Ellen Delap CPO®, NAPO President This week, NAPO President, Ellen Delap CPO® shares how she applies her professional organizing techniques personally as she and her family travel. In keeping with the July theme of “building bridges and traveling” Delap and her family are able to maximize their experiences while minimizing their frustrations and maintaining their organization while on the road. Travelling with Children On a recent trip with my grandchildren, I knew that we had entered a new age of organizing for families. We love the opportunity to travel with our grandchildren and to take the fun on the road. However, it’s no longer just clothes and shoes to pack. Now, it’s multiple iPads, movies, chargers, medicines, hand sanitizer and more. Here’s some of my best “family travel tips” to make sure you are organized and ready for fun! Start With a List These days, there is simply too much to remember to pack for your family. There are a lot of lists available online or you can create your own checklist. Our family’s travel list includes every detail, no matter how small. When you travel with kids you want to be sure you are prepared for anything. To our list we added medicines and first aid supplies. You can be sure your list is complete by adding items and then reviewing it after your trip. NAPO Corporate Associate Member, The Container Store, offers a terrific Travel Check List to help assist you as you prepare for your next adventure. Create a Family Command Center When a family of 5 shares a hotel room, it can be chaotic. It’s easy to lose the most important of items like money or tickets. Create a “command center” with wallets, purses, and other important items. This can be near the television or by the mini refrigerator. Unload your pockets and/or purse each night and reset each morning before you leave your accommodations. Taking a few minutes to set this up and keep it orderly each day will make your travel more fun and less stressful. Travelling by car? Try using one of the many organizing products from NAPO Corporate Associate Member Remington Industries like the Rubbermaid large storage bin to keep all of the technology in one place as you go to and from the car! Create a Charging Station Just like at home, you want your devices ready to go in the morning. You also want a good night’s sleep without extra noise to keep you awake. We brought along 2 extra power strips to plug in all the devices and created a charging station for all of our devices. Each device had its own charger. I also brought a portable charger for my phone during the day that I would recharge each evening. Devices were plugged in each evening so everyone would get a good night’s rest too. Label each charger so you know who owns it and what device it belongs to. This summer, while you travel and expand your horizons, keep travel basics in mind as you pack. A little organizing goes a long way! Would you like to share your blog here? NAPO members can sign-up to become a NAPO blogger. Need help getting organized? Visit NAPO's Professional Organizer and Productivity Consultants Directory to search for professional organizers or productivity consultants in your area.
Q. I’m in the planning process to remodel my kitchen. As I get older, I am less limber and getting down on my hands and knees to pull things from my cabinets is becoming more of a challenge. A kitchen designer I am working with was singing the praises of incorporating custom slide-out shelves to gain easy access to pots, pans and appliances stored inside my new cabinets. I have always had sturdy fixed shelves inside my cabinets. Would a pull-out shelf be able to handle nearly 100 pounds of heavy pots and pans? And, are there other products that might make storing and accessing household items easier and more convenient?  A. You’re going to thank your lucky stars that you crossed paths with this kitchen designer. Short answer: Yes. In your new kitchen, you should install as many made-to-fit slide-out shelf products as your budget permits — and not only in your kitchen, but also your pantry, bathrooms, linen cabinets and laundry. And to address any concern regarding strength and durability, simply make sure the manufacturer and brand of cabinet organizers you purchase utilize heavy-duty steel ball-bearing glides rated for 100 lbs. or more.
The Slide-A-Shelf brand of slide-out organizers are ergonomically designed using (high) quality cabinet drawer glides and premium wood materials. They glide extremely easily and are built to last. Don't confuse the custom fitted cabinet organizers I'm talking about with the “off-the-shelf” fixed dimension products available at the major home improvement retailers. You want to maximize your storage space with slide-out organizers that fit your cabinets perfectly. Also, two popular alternative cabinet organizers is a multi-level system with retractable upper level, or an adjustable two or three tier tower system. In some cases these models can increase storage capacity or be perfect to maximize space in very narrow cabinets…as is the case with the tower models. If you do remodel your existing cabinets, retrofit as many as possible with good quality made-to-fit made cabinet organizers; you will never again have to get on your hands and knees to store and access items in your cabinets. Once you have made up your mind that a new custom kitchen or remodeled existing one is in your future, it is time to decide how to design your kitchen cabinets so that they can help you have the organized and efficient kitchen you have always imagined. Maybe your ideal kitchen will require solutions to problems with clutter or storage. You may even have special requirements that will accommodate physical challenges.  There are many revolutions in kitchen cabinetry that you may not have heard about, and they offer great fixes for organization issues. The best way to deal with a kitchen that feels disorganized and chaotic is through the installation of functional slide-out shelving and cabinet organizers and accessories. Custom made-to-fit cabinet organizers solve those annoying little problems that have always plagued you. It is those “little” things that you need to think through from the start.  Let’s look at some signs that signal you have functional needs and problems to solve with storage or organizational solutions.
 These are just some examples of functional cabinet solutions, there are many more designs and features available that will easily solve your storage and organizational problems. For more ideas visit our product gallery. Contact us today and we will go to work to find the perfect solutions to give you the organized and beautiful custom kitchen of your dreams.  Today’s well designed kitchen should be user friendly, very functional and make life easier for all family members. After all, the kitchen is the heart of the home. When space is sparse, families can become overwhelmed in terms of organizing cookware, housewares, appliances, and food items. Are you ready for a change? If you're ready for a custom solution, this article can point you in the right direction. These common kitchen problems can be fixed by adding made-to-fit shelves and cabinet organizers to make your life easier and your kitchen more organized. PROBLEM: YOU CAN'T EASILY REACH YOUR POTS AND PANS. SOLUTION: SLIDE-OUT SHELVES THAT CAN HOLD UP TO 100 LB.Are pots and pans constantly being shifted around in your cabinets in an attempt to maximize space? Maybe you are tired of pulling out half of your cookware to find the ones you want. Why not give pull-out shelves a go? Made-to-fit type cabinet organizers over off-the-shelf fixed dimension versions work perfectly to help you get and stay organized and maximize storage space. They will give you convenient access to easily find and reach what you need. Multi-level models are also available and could provide even more cabinet storage. Even basic made-to-fit slide-out shelves keep you from getting on your hands and knees as all the items stored on the shelf can extend 75% or 100% out into the open.  Made-to-fit type cabinet organizers over off-the-shelf fixed dimension versions work perfectly to help you get and stay organized and maximize storage space PROBLEM: YOU HAVE SMALL OR NARROW CABINETS THAT ARE INCONVENIENT SO GO UNUSED. SOLUTION: INSTALL MADE-TO-FIT SLIDE OUT SHELVES.Cabinet space is precious for any cook, experienced or not. When it is too narrow or small for a clear use, not only does it start to look cluttered, but you are also not using all of your space effectively, if at all. We suggest installing slide-out shelves or better yet a multi-tier tower into your base cabinetry so that you can maximize every useable inch. Whether they are for food items or kitchen supplies, sliding shelves can be installed to extend your stored housewares to within easy reach.  Whether they are for food items or kitchen supplies, sliding shelves can be installed to extend your stored housewares to within easily reach when needed. PROBLEM: YOU CAN'T SEE ALL OF THE ITEMS IN YOUR FOOD PANTRY. SOLUTION: RETROFIT YOUR ENTIRE PANTRY WITH SLIDE-OUT SHELVES.People often think their pantries are cluttered, when in reality they are just not completely maximizing every square inch they do have in an organized manner. Take advantage of all the storage space available in your pantry cabinets installing made-to-fit pull out shelves. Not only will these keep you more organized, but you can potentially increase the amount of items stored in your pantry. This works best with a pantry like this one where you will be able to see and reach everything on each level.  You can potentially increase the amount of items stored in your pantry with Slide-A-Shelf shelving solutions PROBLEM: YOUR COUNTER SPACE IS LIMITED. SOLUTION: INSTALL ROLL-OUT SHELVES TO CONVENIENTLY STORE SMALL APPLIANCES.Is your valuable counter space overwhelmed and looking cluttered with a dozen popular small appliances? They are convenient gadgets for sure, but you are also left with hardly any room to create culinary masterpieces. We suggest storing appliances like Kitchenaids, blenders or toaster ovens etc. on slide out shelving so that they are hidden and off countertops entirely, but easy to access. This can free up at least a couple square feet for you to use your precious countertop space for food prep. For other countertop items like spices or utensils, slide-out shelves with a variety of accessories can be installed to get them out of the way, but never far from reach.  We suggest storing appliances like Kitchenaids, blenders or toaster ovens etc. on slide out shelving so that they are hidden and off countertops entirely, but easy to access Made-to-fit slide-out shelves and cabinet organizers are now trending. Join thousands of fellow homeowners and retrofit all the cabinets in your home to help you get and stay organized for life!  Is your kitchen functional or just pleasing to the eye? Or neither? Well, kitchen design requires both for maximum enjoyment and use. Your kitchen should look inviting (good cabinetry, paint, tile and countertops) and be very functional to make your life easier and efficient. To pinpoint how functional your current kitchen is - think about a few things. How long does it take to you find the items you need? Is it difficult to get into the back of your cabinets? Do you find food products in the pantry that have spoiled and/or expired before you had the chance to use them? Do you ever double or triple purchase items because existing ones are in the back of deep dark cabinets and you do not realize they are there? Is it easy to clean, organize and reach all areas of your cabinets? Do you often feel like you're out of space? All kitchens should have functional cabinetry with slide-out drawer and shelf solutions for storing all modern kitchen appliances, cookware, utensils/tools, sauces, spices, beverages and food. You may already have kitchen drawers, but have you considered retrofitting your existing traditional cabinets and pantry with made-to-fit pull-out shelving or cabinet organizers? Here are 15 photos of ideas that show how you can organize the household items you need to store and have them all within easy reach. You will see some of the best made-to-fit cabinet organizer solutions for almost every application. Check out the ideas below:  This Double Dek cabinet slide-out system adds space with a retractable upper level  Make the most of narrow and deep base cabinets  Separate your lids from your pans - to maximize your space  Wow! Now the whole cabinet is accessible.  The variety of configurations and accessories gives you many options  Made-to-fit organizers gives you ultimate flexibility  These are 8" units and should be ideal for most applications. The ergonomic tapered front allows easy identification of items stored without having to lift and review labels.  Ideal for those very narrow cabinets where it is almost impossible to reach the items you store.  Cook faster, clean faster  Easy to use, even easier to see where everything is  Tall bottles now have a place in the home  Adjustable tower organizers can provide more storage space  Everything exactly where you need it when you want it  If it's easier to access, there are greater chances that it's easier to use it  Expand your usable space  Are your cabinets structurally sound but you don’t like the color or finish? Perhaps they just need to be renewed? Many homeowners have older style solid wood cabinets that are in great shape, they are not interested in replacing; they just want to update the look and maximize available storage space.  Image courtesy of Home Depot A great way to deal with the cosmetic aspect is to either have your cabinets refinished or refaced adding new doors, hinges and hardware. If this is the case, click here for information on a program at The Home Depot that offers both re-finishing or re-facing for existing cabinets.  Slide-A-Shelf is so easy to order and install Also, below in this article we’ll show you how you can improve the functionality you get with brand new kitchen cabinets today for thousands of dollars less than it would cost to replace them. You can upgrade the interior and function of your kitchen, pantry and bathroom cabinets in just a few simple steps using the made-to-fit brand of Slide-A-Shelf products. By renewing the look of your cabinets and/or by retrofitting the existing fixed shelves to pull-out shelves, your kitchen will seem as if it has been transformed. We particularly like the fact that retrofitting your existing cabinets is easy to do for most homeowners using just a battery operated screwdriver for installation. In fact, you can see here how slide-out shelves can bring you ease and convenience in only 3 steps which are outlined below. MEASURE: GATHER YOUR MATERIALS 1. TAPE MEASURE - Use one that is accurate and sturdy. (Ensure it isn't damaged or overused). We recommend a stiff metal tape that is 1/2” or 3/4” wide with at least 1/8” marked increments.) 2. A FLASHLIGHT - This will be invaluable to look for hidden obstacles in the back of a dark and deep cabinet. 3. MOVING ITEMS - Getting accurate measurements of your cabinet’s clear opening and clear interior depth usually doesn't require removing all items inside the cabinets, but you may need to shift items around a bit. 4. CHECK FOR OBSTACLES - Check your cabinetry for any obstacles such as gas and/or water lines, valves, electrical conduits, shelf braces, etc. 5. NOW YOU'RE READY TO MEASURE - Print out the measuring guide and write down each measurement for each shelf location using the measuring log sheet. ORDER: START WITH THE MEASUREMENTS SUBMISSION FORM1. Slide-A-Shelf’s order process is in 2 steps. Once this form is complete, which provides our factory with your product preferences and cabinet opening dimensions, you will be routed to our order page(s) for the final step, where you will add your items to a shopping cart, finalize, 2. We estimate it will take you 3 to 5 minutes to complete this form. Data entry is accomplished using quick and easy text fill boxes and drop down menus in 2 sections; contact information (to match to your paid order) and your measurements. INSTALL: TWO OPTIONSOne of the unique features about made-to-fit Slide-A-Shelf products are it they are designed to be easy to install yourself. If you would prefer to have it installed professionally, we can help you with that too. 1. See our list of national organizations and qualified installers here. 2. Installing it yourself? Included with your delivered Slide-A-Shelf products will be a pictorial installation guide that walks you through the easy process step-by-step. And, each slide-out shelf or cabinet organizer comes with an easy to use installation and alignment template.  3 Easy Steps |
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