January brings the prospect of new possibilities, and getting organized is certainly one of them.
Sometimes the easiest way to start is with a space you use every day, like your kitchen. To maximize efficiency in food preparation, we spoke to Daniele Vieira, professional organizer and owner of Boca Raton-based Daniele Organizer, for quick tips to streamline your kitchen and pantry for smooth sailing in 2021.
Customize
Make sure that however you organize your kitchen and pantry, it’s most effective for your own daily use. The items you use most often should be most accessible. Items used less frequently can occupy harder to reach places. Additionally, items that are lighter and used less often, like paper or party goods, can go at the top of the pantry, and heavier items should go at the bottom so nobody gets hurt. For smaller items, Vieira also recommends a lazy Susan. “It’s so versatile... it keeps [you] organized, it’s great looking, and it’s easy to reach.”
Categorize
“You always need to categorize the products and group similar items like pasta, flours, canned goods,” Vieira says. “When you group things, it’s easier for you to reach [them], to find them, to keep track of them, and keep them in your eyesight.” If things get pushed too far back in a cabinet, you could lose track of what’s there and may purchase duplicates.
When grouping items, be sure to put the ones with the closest expiration date in the front so you use them first. “We need to pay attention because that’s where our money goes very often. We tend to waste a lot of things because it’s a place that gets messy quickly,” Vieira says. Additionally, push the biggest items to the back and the smallest to the front so you don’t lose track of anything. “We want things to go fast, we’re all so busy,” Vieira says. “Group things you use every day in the same place.”
Compartmentalize
When you have bulky boxes, seek out clear canisters instead, Vieira says. With boxes, you won’t know how much is inside, but with canisters you’re always prepared. Not only that, but products will keep much longer. Vieira recommends that if you place an item into a canister be sure to add a label with its expiration date.