Kitchen Cabinet Before and Afters (plus you can link up yours!)
Remember how last week I vowed to clean up/organize my kitchen cabinets? Well, I probably wouldn't have gotten around to it otherwise, but because I told you I was going to, I managed to make the time.
Telling you guys my to-do plans is just so helpful.
I don't have before pictures of all my cabinets because I ended up cleaning more of them than I planned to. The, "Woo! Look at how clean that cabinet is!" feeling was getting kinda addicting.
I didn't take a before picture of this cabinet, but it was a mess. You know how spice cabinets can be.
I've cleaned it up quite a few times before, but it gets screwed up again awfully fast. This time, though, something is different. See those plastic containers?
They've got grouped spices in them...the small one has sweet spices and the other has Italian-type seasonings.
So, when I need to bake something sweet, I can just pull out that container, and the rest of the shelf stays neat. Marvy-fab.
If I could have scrounged up another container, I'd have put my chili powder/cumin/cayenne type spices together too.
I read about this idea in a Cook's Illustrated magazine, and I think it's brilliant. I have real hope for my spice shelf now! And I'm happy to have a use for my old plastic leftover containers (I'm a Pyrex girl now.)
Ooh! And do you see what that is up there on the top shelf??
Empty space. Oh yes. I love it when I declutter so well that there's empty space.
I organized the cabinets above my sink too, so that my baking tools are easier to access. I do own more Pyrex measuring cups than that, just so you know...there were a bunch in the dishwasher when I took the photo.
My cookbook cabinet is often a cluttery mess because that space on top of my cookbooks is a very handy place to shove papers of various sorts. No more, though!
The snack-food cabinet was in a things-fall-out-when-you-open it state before. And my chocolate covered marshamallow snowmen were just getting buried in the mess. Mustn't have that.
I'm so happy with this cabinet...there's plenty of room for my granola container now. Yay!
(can you tell the sun went down before I finished taking pictures??)
This under-the-counter cabinet wasn't in super bad shape.
But I did neaten it up a bit. Plus, since I used some of my plastic containers to organize the spice cabinet, that freed up a bit of space here.
The cabinet I most dreaded cleaning is the one that holds the majority of our food.
I can't be the only one who gets to this point in the organizing process and then wants to give up.
Yeah. Dear heavens.
I did manage to carry on, though, and I got everything sorted and put back properly. I'm most pleased about the tea section...before, I had it all on the very top shelf and it was such a pain to get to. So of course, when it was time to put the tea boxes away, I just kind of threw them up there haphazardly. Now that I can reach the tea shelf more easily, I think I'll be better able to maintain order.
Ok! So, I've gone through all my cabinets now except for two...the one under the sink (yuck) and the one above my fridge. I'll probably try to tackle those this week.
I know some of you were planning on cleaning up your cabinets with me this week, so if you blogged your before and after photos, share your link below so we can ooh and aah over your work!
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Today's 365 post: Baking With Lisey
Joshua's 365 post: I'm not sure why....
Looking Good Kristen! Well Done! I only photographed two cupboards, which are my main ones - it took me ten minutes to complete, because I don't carry much stock and I do tend to keep on top of them (along with my fridge). I didn't photograph my spices or cereal cupboard because they haven't changed and I posted about that back last year when I let readers have a sneak peek in my pantry. It was 10 mins well worth spending - set me up for the afternoon and I'm about to make a start on under the stairs where we keep coats and shoes as decluttering fever is soaring through my veins. Thanking you as always for the inspiration and motivation!
(ps - I did try and link specifically to the actual post but it wouldn't allow links over 50 characters)
ps - I keep the kids treats on the top shelf rather than tea! Not only does it make it harder for them to access it also is slightly more out of my reach as well. Maybe I ought to look at getting a tin with a timed lock on it - accessible twice a day for 2 mins?
This job is on my list for this week. Must do tonight 🙂
I only did my pantry because it was what needed it in my kitchen, but good heavens, it took FOREVER. I didn't realize quite how bad I'd let it get. Thanks for the inspiration!
The cabinets look great!
I'm just curious why you don't use the wire shelves that attach to the inside of the cabinet doors for your spices. I have two sets of them and have my spices organized in a similar fashion to yours: sweet baking spices and savory spices. When I open the cabinet door, I can see the spices without having to pull out a box. I do use a plastic bin to group bottles of stuff like rice vinegar, tabasco, soy sauce, etc. and find that really handy also.
I love when my cupboards are freshly-organized! I just did mine a couple weeks ago so they don't need it right now, but our fridge could really use a good cleaning. Not an organizing...but a CLEANING. Lots of sticky, dirty messes in there.
Very inspiring! I just went through a similar cleaning in my big pantry, but the truth is I need to have a run at my spice cabinet after seeing yours. I don't know how/why it becomes such a mess but once I cook one meal it's practically like I never cleaned it. So frustrating but totally my own fault, haha 🙂
Looks great! I also put my spices into plastic containers a while back. It makes a huge difference in finding things and keeping things neat!
Just linked up a post I did on my pantry yesterday. 🙂
I did the fridge this weekend...wowza! Sadly, a lot of wasted food (including the blasted cilantro...seriously...smaller packages needed). But it looks really nice now, and I instituted a new "leftovers spot" so they don't get lost.
I've never though about putting spice containers in larger containers, but I do have them in different spots on the shelf divided by sweet/spicy/savory/Italian, etc. It does make things easier to find. My mom alphabetizes 🙂
I did get to my spice cupboard as well am in the midst of a laundry room cabinet that holds craft/art supplies. Holey moley!! Not a 10 min. job. But I know how I'll feel when it's done.
Very inspiring! I never thought of grouping like spices together - will have to consider this. Would welcome suggestions for categories. I tried alphabetizing them, but our current spice cabinet has shelves of different heights, so I ended up just going by size...not terribly intuitive, or efficient. I also really need to get a handle on our cookbooks. Don't like having them shut up in a cabinet...but they take up so much room on the counter and I seldom actually open them.
I am in the process of moving so my kitchen is a little messier than usual. But I can't wait for my kitchen to be organized again! When your kitchen is a mess, it makes finding everything you need that much more difficult.
Separating spices by sweet or savory is brilliant! Mine are currently alphabetized on riser shelves, but I'm definitely going to switch my system next time I organize.
My incipient OCD notwithstanding, alphabetizing spices never made sense to me. I use a spice rack (two, actually) and group spices by use: Italian, baking, hot or sharp, other.
The downside to having them out in a rack is they're exposed to sunlight and temp variation, both of which deteriorate the spices faster, and the jars get dirty. Worth it to me - I put just a little out and keep the rest in the freezer - but not for everyone.
A few years back I bought 2 inexpensive plastic turntables (we always called them lazy susans--sorry to any Sue's out there!) that fit perfectly into my baking cupboard. I keep salt, baking powder, soda, corn starch, etc. on one and spices, flavorings, and odds and ends on the other. All I have to do to get to the things in back is turn the lazy susan, and voila! It has made things so much easier. Enjoy your nice, neat cabinets! The problem at my house is keeping them that way...
I have a couple of those as well and love them. They are YEARS old.
Okay, you've inspired me to do this next week! Or maybe today?!
I only managed to get my 'before' picture posted yesterday. Although, last night I did make a sizable dent in the project. Like you, I was on a roll. And of the things I found. To give you a preview: Spilled Agave Nectar. Nuff said.
No pictures but I cleaned out my pantry and my fridge. There will be some resulting waste for FWF! We have a walk-in pantry so that's the spot for all our food storage except for a drawer for tea and a drawer for spices. I love having everything in one space instead of the more typical American kitchen style with smaller cabinets. The top drawer in my island is only a couple of inches high so I have utensils in half of it, and my spices in the other half. The most commonly used ones are in large bottles lying flat, less common in small bottles with the name written on the top. So much easier than all those
bottles trying to stand up in a cabinet! We added on to our house and designed it ourselves--took a number of years to afford it but it's very nice to have the kitchen just the way we wanted it.
The fridge was a little scarier--we have your basic old fridge with the deep shelves so things tend to get pushed to the back and ignored if we don't stay on it. Would love one of the new ones with the freezer on the bottom but my old one works fine so I can't justify the expense or the consumption.
The first thing I noticed, before I even started reading, was the spices in the containers. I'm definitely going to do that...great idea. I'm using more spices than ever now that I've been cooking almost entirely from real foods and find that I always use the same groups of spices together, so that will make it easier. BTW, just found your blog a few weeks ago and really enjoy it!
Looks great! I'm working on my spice cabinet today! I love the container idea, but I have A LOT more spices than you do. When I'm organized, I have them alphabetized, but they don't tend to stay that way very well, so I might see if I can get containers to work. We'll see what happens - I hope to link up later!
I'm almost done, but I won't be able to do the blog post until tomorrow. I'll link up then if I still can!
Love it! I am for sure "stealing" at least the spice idea! I have the same problem.
Kudos to you, Kristen! That's always a huge job - but you stuck with it! I, too, sometimes want to give up at that same point - but perseverance really pays off in a big way! Looks great!
Have found one of the most helpful ideas that has worked for me, is to label the shelves of the cabinet ... especially the base cabinets ... then I don't have to get on my hands and knees to find things stored in the back ...
OT Just wanted to tell you I like your style as a frugal blogger... You never act superior, always have the sweetest tone to your readers, don't close comments just because you don't like the reactions to your posts... and sure you don't DELETE them.
Sorry for venting.
Aww, thank you. I appreciate the kind words. Just so you know, though, occasionally I delete comments if they are spam, are trying to sell something, or contain inappropriate language. Fortunately, that rarely happens, so my comment moderating job is pretty easy. 🙂
Thank You so much for this! And thanks to everyone that showed their cupboards too. I love to see how other people get through their day and this is a nice little window into other's lives. Thanks!
I have mine sorted into herbs and spices and that works well for me. I've been decluttering my kitchen over the past two weeks (starting with under the sink!!) and have posted photos on my blog in several different entries, if anyone's interested. I *think* you just click on my name to get there, but I'm not sure. :0)
J x
I just love watching these, you inspire me to clean my own shelves.
I'm giving a presentation on organization tonight, and I have pictures of Before & After, and a bunch of Inspiration pictures. Funny how so many of them are pantries and kitchen cupboards...
I don't do much cooking from scratch, so I just alphabetize my spices. I was always unsure of where to place "Cream of Tartar", so I just decided to go with "T". It doesn't really matter, as long as I can find it when I want it.
Containing smaller items is one of the best ideas I've found for keeping things tidy.
We currently split our spices into two plastic containers for baking spices in one and cooking spices in the other. I really love the idea of splitting out my cayenne/hot spices from my italian spices from my meat prep spices. I might have to investigate whether or not I have some smaller containers around.
Seriously though, our current plastic containers have been a total God-send. Actually, a Mary-send perhaps. She was a mother and likely had a messy spice cabinet right???
we recently moved so my cabinets aren't too bad. I have empty ones too mainly because they are really tall cabinets and I can't reach them and/or I don't have enough stuff to fill them up (I want to keep it that way too).
Kristen, I'm a Pyrex girl now because of your blog! I can't use tupperware anymore!
Love your organization! Great job.
I would love it if you shared this post with my readers on my organizing link party. I think they'll enjoy it too: http://thriftmeblog.com/lets-organize-2012-kitchen-cabinets-recap-link-party/
well done! This is a daunting task, and would you believe, kitchen cupboard chaos travels across the Atlantic to the shores of South Africa! My worst is the tupperware cupboard (or in my case drawer.... we call all types of plasticware "tupperware", even though it is a brand on it's own - funny that!!). No matter how I stack and straighten, it's always reduced to a right mess in a few days with me trying to find the lid somewhere.....
I have been reading up quite a bit on de-cluttering and organising, and constantly am in flux between organsing (i.e. sorting and neatening of that which we already have) and de-cluttering (i.e. the need to reduce, pare down and get rid of the excess)..... I sometimes wonder to myself that if I am constantly having to neaten and sort out, that maybe I just have too much stuff - simple??
I used to have the same problem until I started putting the lids on ... takes up more space this when stacking ... but I am able to have what I need when I want it ...