I teased about this post several weekends ago and then got side tracked. Sorry. Can I make it up to you now? If there is one thing that makes me giddy with excitement, it is organization. Just ask my husband about my mood the evening he came home after this project. I was over the moon the entire weekend. In fact, when I look at this finished project I still get giddy with excitement. When I am having a bad day? I just open up this cupboard and breath in its organization. I kid not. Some of you are thinking, “Are you kidding me, YOU? Unorganized? You pull off these crazy menus each month and get US organized.” But that is menus. When it comes to actual implementation of organization, I am usually paralyzed by the task. I am just uncertain where to start. And when other people are in my space? (Sans children, husband, etc) Forget about it. My super organization powers are useless.
My cupboard BEFORE.
Case in point: this cupboard. Have I ever mentioned to you that I have a SMALL kitchen. I mean, REALLY small. As in when friends know that I am Once A Month Mom and THEN see my kitchen they usually say something like, “How in the WORLD do you do once a month cooking in here?” I just do. I had the kitchen before I was Once A Month Mom. So we deal. So this cupboard is one of only three (yes, I said three) cupboards that are in my kitchen. The other two house dishes and pots/pans. Most everything else is in our basement. So that leaves this cupboard as the only spot for food or pantry items. And thus, it is a mess. I mean really, who has cupboards like this? It drives. me. crazy. That is until I saw this Pinterest Post:
Source: maillardvillemanor.com via Tricia on Pinterest
(Let’s all have a good *sigh* and raise up a “Praise the Lord” for the sanity that Pinterest has brought to our lives.) And my friends, this is proof that Pinterest can be used to the good of man. I am now a believer and can mark something off my to-do list.
My cupboard AFTER!
We have an Ikea nearby so I planned a trip. I looked at this poor excuse for a pantry cupboard and took inventory of how many different size containers I thought I would need. I took some measurements, and headed to the store. When I got there I got the indicated number plus a couple extra “in case”. When I returned home I dumped out the contents of the cupboard onto the counters. I threw away old items and condensed others. I cleaned out the shelves and proceeded to repackage the cupboard. The actual cleaning/reogranizing only took me an hour or so and as you can see; amazing results. I could not be happier. I am STILL happy with this set up and weeks later have still managed to keep it organized. And for a total of about $71 my sanity was saved. I can now go into my kitchen and work a bit without having a coronary about what a disaster it is. And yes, I went back to Ikea the next week and purchased double the amount of containers I did the first time because I have every intention of doing the same thing to my basement stairwell pantry and the basement pantry. You’ll have to let me know if you want to see those results too. But go ahead, reorganize your “hated” cabinet. You know you want to. And you will feel so much better after you do! {This is NOT a sponsored post. Ikea did not ask me to write for them or provide me with free product. However, I would gladly accept it if they did. :)} Breakdown of Items Purchased:
- 3 baskets from Dollar Tree – $3
- 4 Ikea 365+ 2 qt Containers – $3.99 each (on sale) – $15.96
- 5 Ikea 365+ 44 oz Containers – $2.99 each – $14.95
- 8 Ikea 365+ 10 oz Containers – $1.99 each – $15.92
- 3 Ikea Raritet Containers – $6.99 each – $20.97 (LOVE that they have a built in measuring cup)
- Grant Total = $70.80
I know some of you are thinking that $71 is NOT cheap! I am going to have to beg to differ though. If you research the price of these types of containers through Amazon or Wal-Mart you will find in most cases they run more expensive. You can occasionally find them at the dollar store, but it is rare. And this is CHEAP therapy because it makes me feel so good to open that cupboard every morning!
21 Comments
Join the discussionGreat ideas! Cam you help with my biggest problem? The corner turn still!!! Any ideas?
I don’t have one of those but I will ask the writers if they have any brilliant ideas.
Are those containers air tight? I worry about little bugs getting into my pantry and contaminating my food.
Yes, they are airtight. 🙂
LOVE the organization! Great job! I noticed a comment asking if the containers are air tight. They look like it but really are not. I have had a pantry pest problem for YEARS and got these same containers from Ikea to repackage dry goods. The little pantry pests found their way into almost every single one. *Sigh* They do look lovely and organized though if you don’t have a pantry pest problem.
Good to know.
Hmmmm….. I’m definitely thinking I have to make a trip to Ikea!! I bought those same baskets from the Dollar Tree for my daughter’s luau birthday party. They were great to throw candy into. They look like they work will in your pantry too. Might have to try that!! You did a great job!! Total worth the money for the therapeutic results!
Yes, much cheaper than therapy sessions over time. 🙂
I’m so glad to hear of success in a small kitchen! We have a whopping five cabinets, three on bottom and two tiny ones on top, and very limited countertop space. It can be so frustrating looking for inspiration and only finding giant, never ending kitchens. Once a month cooking works for me and my tiny kitchen because it means I get to be in there less! 🙂
I love IKEA and you did such an amazing job!! Good work. In fact, I wasn’t sure at first that you didn’t use a picture from the catalog:)In fact, now I’m getting ideas. How about a follow up post in a month to let us know how you like the new set up?
Ha ha ha, thanks for the compliment! Sadly it has taken me nearly a month to write this post and I can tell you without a doubt I am as happy with the set up today as I was then. I’m getting ready to tackle the basement pantry next! Yippee!
I’ve been needing to plan a trip to Ikea sometime soon and I think this is the final motivation I needed. I’ve been stalking ideas on pinterest too and researching prices and after finding almost no options at the thrift store after many, many trips I think I’ll have to suck it up and just head to Ikea. Looks like I know what’s on the schedule for one day next week. I can’t wait to have a more organized pantry!!! Oh and I’m going to organize my pots, pans and tupperware too while I’m at it 🙂
THANK YOU sooo very much for this…. I recently tried to organize my cuboards with those “a seen on TV” spice racks. They do their job wonderfully but it is the rest of that cabinet now that I am bothered by. I am now going to take a trip to Ikea and finish that mess I have behind closed doors…. 🙂
Fantastic! I remember cleaning my pantry out and make it look beautiful. Everything had its spot & every shelf was neat & tidy. I wish I still had that big walk in pantry.
Your before and after pictures look like they’re from a professional organizing magazine! Thanks so much for sharing!
Why thank you!
Great job! I, too, don’t know what to do with those corner turnstiles and hope someone has some good ideas. I have two of them and they are the bane of my kitchen!!!
If it’s not too nosey, could you let us know what items are in the containers? So inspiring!
Not too nosey at all, in fact, I plan to take my labeler to those I just haven’t gotten around to it. In the various storage larger and medium storage containers there are several varieties of rice: jasmine, wild, basamati white and basamati brown. Flour, sugar, brown sugar, raisins, Cheez-It’s, Cheerios, Rice Krispies and tea bags. On the top shelf little containers are various nuts and leftover chocolate chips. On the bottom in the baskets is cereal bars, boxed raisins, some chocolate. And to the side, fruit cups and peanut butter. 🙂
I did something similar, but used canning jars (1 L, 1.9 L, and one huge one for flour). Those are air tight and also incredibly inexpensive.
So I live out in the middle of nowhere and the closest Ikea is a 9 hour drive…So for those of you in my situation, Wal-Mart has Rubbermaid versions and I did this too…love it! :^)