In the last week I’ve had multiple emails about organizing kitchen cupboards. From what to do with deep cupboards to what to do with shallow ones. My answer is the same for both….baskets! I’m pretty sure baskets, bins, containers, whichever word you use, they must have been sent from heaven as a gift to overwhelmed homemakers everywhere.
They make a difference.
They simplify.
They set limits and boundaries.
They contain.
Take for example my snack basket on my shallow cupboard shelf. I could pull out many different boxes of treats and pile them high in my hands or I can pull out one basket with ease.
Need to organize your Tassimo coffee discs? Use baskets.
Need to organize your tea? Use baskets.
Need to organize and contain your spices? Use baskets.
Need to organize and contain your baking supplies? Use baskets.
If you’ve got deep shelves, store infrequently used small appliances at the back and baskets in the front. Easy to pull out and grab what you need.
Plastic baskets.
Wicker baskets.
Cardboard baskets.
It doesn’t matter.
They are all lovely and functional to me.
Jolene Green says
OMG! I love the first basket…it is sooo cute! What a great idea! Thanks…Ill remember this when I get to declutter and organizing my pantry!
Ness at Drovers Run says
My hubby always *rolls* his eyes at me for buying baskets and containers – saying that it doesn’t help if you don’t keep things tidy. I always laugh and say, that if he made more of an effort – and if everything had it’s own place it would be easier. He’s slowly coming around.
Christy says
Hmmmm, I’m a basket girl too. I wonder if a shallow one might help that “plastic kid stuff” cupboard?
Camden@Mom Gifts says
Great idea – especially since bins and baskets seem to be on sale this time of year! I’ve organized my kitchen into stations – lunch-making station, snack station, etc. – but I haven’t put those items in baskets.
Martha(MM) says
I have a big snack basket but everything is all mixed together. I love how you’ve put containers within the basket, great idea! I think I’ll go reorganize mine when I get home from work this evening!
By the way, I read your book this weekend – EXCELLENT! 🙂
Lisa says
I have a wicker snack basket that looks exactly like yours except that it is always a disaster — never thought to put containers in it to keep it organized! LOVE IT!
Guess what I’m doing when I get home from work?!
Betty says
Baskets really are useful organizing tools. My husband made me a bunch of wooden crates in all sizes to organize with. I use the small ones for spices and large ones for canning jars. I love the look of them! Also, a lot of my messier foodstuffs are in closed bins on my shelves. Baking supplies are especially messy with open bags of chocolate chips, shredded coconut, dried fruit, and nuts. Bins and baskets are wonderful for keeping these things contained. And you’re right, sort by type of item so you only have to take out ONE bin or basket with EVERYTHING in it! I love this!
Shannon says
I LOVE “containing” my stuff! I use baskets EVERYWHERE! I have them in the nursery, the bathrooms, the closets, the pantry, on the counters! I even use them to organize my frozen foods. I made cute labels for the ones that hold the homemade babyfood! I am planning to buy some more today!
Kimi says
I LOVE my baskets!!
Gwenn says
I save a lot of those containers and boxes that food items come in. I wrap some of the boxes in packing tape so they’re a little more durable. I find some good sized plastic ones too. They’re really good for those little items like spices. Plus, it’s repurposing items I’d usually just throw away anyway and it doesn’t cost me anything to organize. Smaller cardboard shipping boxes are good too.
Now if something is going to get a ton of use or be used by the kids, I’ll use a “real” bin or basket.
Living the Balanced Life says
I am definitely not the greatest organized, and I have tended to be a piler in the past, but I love using baskets for all sorts of things. If it is contained, it *looks* neater, lol! I still have to be sure to go thru and organize the baskets every so often!
Bernice
Are you too busy to be yourself?
Sarah says
It’s clementine season! Our pantry is organized almost exclusively with old clementine boxes; the box we finished this weekend was immediately put to use holding unopened sauces and jams, replacing a battered amazon box.
Susan says
Great post!! This snack basket ends up creating a lot less “drama” around what kids can have for a snack – I wish more moms could see how their time and preparation in the beginning really helps a lot in the end. I love baskets too and just ordered 12 off amazon for a steal of a price. Can’t wait to fill ’em!
Jim says
Definitely not a great organizer, but when my wife introduce me with a cardboard basket, we became instant bestfriends. Endless possibility of organizing.
Corrie says
This is genius. I say this because as my young son was up on the counter getting a ‘nack’ last night from the ‘nack’ cupboard, a box of something feel and hit me in the head.
I am absorbing SO much in 2011. Thank you!
Carol says
Great ideas. I will remember this when I get to my pantry and cupboards.
JC says
Do you typically group your items first and then determine what size basket you need? Or do you just fill items in the various baskets you already have on hand?
Sinea Pies says
I just moved a medium sized basket into my refrigerator to hold my yogurt. Our 22 year old son has started to buy yogurt…sweetened. I use plain. All I could imagine is him grabbing mine, opening it without looking, and wasting it when he realized what he got. So, I have a basket for mine, which are now in the back where only I would look, and we have successful refrigerator co-habitation!
mary b says
We have a drawer that has a slide out bin & I did the same containerizing of the snacks. I like to keep them each in their own little bin so I can see at a glance which type needs refilling. The rest of my snack stockpile I keep in the pantry, and they are hands off, so we don’t have older items languishing in this drawer going uneaten.
Becky L says
Baskets are great. I am thinking about getting another sliding basket for another kitchen cupboard that’s just a big hole. it’s been that way for years. I need to put Tupperware in it so we don’t have to get on our knees to get the stuff then struggle to get back up. After 40 the knees seemed to be less resilient in up and down positions. No fun. I’ve got ideas in my head to do but only one room at a time. Thanks for the inspiration!
Laurie says
I am a basket container person myself. Pulling out a basket of goods is so much easier than everything falling out on you or simply not finding what you are looking for. Of course the baskets must be organized too.. We used to do the same with our medicine and first aid. We now use a cool product that stores everything in original containers. You can find it at rev-med.com.
ChantalMM says
I, too, like containers/baskets for organizing cupboards. I also really appreciate zip-top bags. I have a few sets of measuring cups, and I dump them into a large Ziploc bag that I never close. Also, I organized my plastic container lids into bags based on shape and size and stood them up in a large, shallow plastic container. These bags have made my life much easier!