CONTROLLING THE CHAOS
Nicole Anzia is a freelance writer who founded Neatnik in Washington in 2007 to share her organizing abilities and help people simplify their lives. She believes that when people feel in control of their surroundings, they are better able to reach their p
Q My house has reached a level of domestic chaos that I didn’t think was possible. We have plenty of storage space, but we cannot seem to put things away. Add to this the fact that my father recently died and we are clearing out his house. I’m not keeping all of his things, but I am keeping some of them. The thought of integrating a slew of new possessions into our current mess is sending me into panic mode. Any thoughts on how to manage the mess?
A Inheriting things from parents can be a blessing and a curse. Often, when clients tell me that things don’t get put away, it’s because things don’t have a designated space or there’s no room. Does everyone in your household know where office supplies should be, for example, or where to put hats and gloves, shoes, and incoming mail? I would start by designating spaces for things and then making sure there is ample room within that space to put things away. Involve your whole family to see what makes sense to them.
For your father’s things, I would sort out and organize your home first and then deal with that. Don’t try to do it all at once. Also, set small, achievable goals. Don’t plan to spend a whole weekend organizing your house. Spend one hour Saturday cleaning out the pantry or the coat closet. Getting started is the hardest part.
Q Is there a solution to organizing those pesky plastic containers and lids? It is the one cabinet that gives me anxiety every time I open it.
A I use bins inside my deep drawers to organize plastic containers and lids. I keep all the lids in one container and then another bin for small containers. The remaining space has a few of the larger containers.
Q What if you don’t have a lot of drawer or cabinet space in your kitchen? What are the main items you should keep on the counter?
A The things on your countertop should be those you use most often, such as a coffee maker, a toaster and the cooking utensils you use frequently. If you’re short on cabinet and drawer space, get creative. Can pots and pans be hung from a wallmounted or ceiling-mounted pot rack? Can knives be hung on a magnetic strip? Can wine glasses be hung on under-the-cabinet racks?
Q What’s your best advice on organizing spices in a very small kitchen?
A Risers inside cabinets help maximize space and allow you to see your spices. Measure your cabinets before you buy one. If you’re really tight on storage space, it’s OK to keep your most frequently used spices out near the stove. Lastly, go through your spices a couple of times a year and toss those that are expired or that you never use.
Q I’m moving, and my new kitchen is larger than the old one and includes a pantry. Any advice on how to set up a kitchen for the most functionality?
A Put things where you’ll use them. I know that sounds obvious, but your spices should be near the stove. Your glasses should be near the sink and refrigerator. Plates and silverware should be easy to access and close to the space where you’ll be eating. As a rule, like things should be put with like things (i.e., plates with plates, mugs with mugs, glasses with glasses).
There are exceptions. Martini glasses you use only a couple of times a year don’t need to be placed with other glasses.
Q My husband and I are moving soon and plan to get rid of things as we pack. I want to come up with an organizational system that I can stick to. Most of my plans (especially in the kitchen and pantry) end up falling by the wayside within a few weeks.
A One major tip is to not put things away for the sake of putting them somewhere. Of course, it’s great to get things off the floor and into storage spaces, but once you put things away, they may not ever get truly organized — as they say, “Out of sight, out of mind.”
Q I haven’t found a good place to store summer and outdoor supplies in my small kitchen. I have the smaller grill tools shoved in a drawer, but there is so much stuff that will be used often, starting in a couple of months. Any ideas are appreciated.
A Are you talking about kitchen items only? If so, I wonder whether you could use some clear plastic bins with tops (and labels, if possible) to corral all your summer entertaining supplies and store them elsewhere for six to eight months of the year. Maybe on a shelf in your basement or in a guest closet?
Q Papers are my kitchen organization nemesis. It seems to be everyone’s drop spot, and I feel as if I’ve tried everything.
A In my house, I have a rule that our kitchen “peninsula” needs to be cleared off at the end of each night. My kids and husband know that, in general, this is not their dumping ground. But if you know that family members will continually put their things there — and if their things are getting in the way of making your countertops useful — think about using wall pockets and giving one slot to each family member. That way, there is an alternative, easy-to-access place for people to put their things. Make a rule that they be emptied at the end of each month.