How to Organize a Messy Kitchen Faster Than Binging Tiger King
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So you’re going on day 31,298 of the Stay-Home order, and you’re tired. Tired of not having a functional workspace (you’ve got back pain from sitting at the kitchen counter, amirite?), wishing there was a better play area to keep the kids occupied, and feeling frustrated that you can’t find what you’re looking for (where’s that stash of disinfecting wipes in the garage?). If you’re thinking, “I wish I could hire a professional organizer to come help me,” you still can! While one of my strengths is to come organize it all for you in your home, I’ve gone virtual so I can still support you while we’re all in quarantine from COVID-19. The process is very similar to our in-home organizing services, and I’ll walk you through the process of how I virtually organized a kitchen for another boss lady, AV Goodsell.
First, AV and I met for a video consult on Skype to discuss what she needed help with. In AV’s words,
“I really need help with reorganizing my kitchen cabinets. My kitchen is super awkward with tall, weird-shaped cabinets that don’t really work for a petite person like me.”
AV also wanted to tame her “hot spots,” or the places in her kitchen that she used and that frustrated her the most. This included the lazy susan cabinet, the spice rack, the awkward skinny cabinet where odds and ends lived, and the cabinet underneath the kitchen sink. AV showed me all of these spaces:
Photos by Goodsell Photos
After discussing AV’s goals and the scope of the project, we set up 2, two-hour Skype sessions to work on her kitchen. We first emptied the cabinets. Looking at these blank spaces with fresh eyes can help you reimagine how to use it. Then, we sorted everything we took out. We noted whether pantry items were expired and needed to be tossed, if she no longer needed the item and could donate it, and whether the item even belonged in the kitchen (and where it should be instead). We then put similar items together and prioritized what would remain.
The next step was to measure the empty cabinets so I could research the organizing products that would best compliment the items that would go in that space. Remember that most kitchen shelves can also be adjusted to fit your needs.
Then, we put all the items back where it would be the most functional. After the session, I sent over a list of recommended products for her kitchen. Since we’re under quarantine, it’s definitely harder to get products, but hot tip: The Container Store is open for contactless pick-up! Below are a few products I recommended for her space to tie it all together (each picture is linked to the product page):
We tackled her entire kitchen in four hours, faster than binging the entire season of Tiger King! AV and her husband cook a lot in their kitchen (and even more so during COVID-19), and I wanted to make sure the new organizational system worked for both of them. With any space, it takes time to develop new habits and adjust to where you’re now storing things. Because of this, I check in with the client up to two weeks after our last organizing session to make sure the system I put into place is running smoothly. And now, AV’s kitchen is organized!
Photos by Goodsell Photos
Will virtual organizing really work for me, you ask? I’ll let AV answer this question:
“JUST HIRE HER. Don’t waste your time trying to figure this stuff out yourself. Lilian will give you a good outsider perspective on your space with real recommendations on how to rethink and reorganize it...and make sure you actually do it.”
Ready to bring some calm into your home? Click here to schedule your complimentary video consultation!