Pandemic Organizing: Getting Creative with Storage Space

Last spring, after a few months of lockdown, I wrote about pandemic storage - and storage dilemmas I never thought I’d have, like how to store your face masks.

Today, 10 months into the pandemic, we’re definitely buying more in bulk than ever before. I used to have space in my pantry or basement storage, but those areas are really full. This calls for more creative storage. For example, check out these mudroom essentials: bags, gear, exercise stuff...and the Costco-sized box of popcorn.

I also finally decided I need to purchase more bins for my pantry to corral the bulk baking supplies, so they don’t topple down every time I take something off the top shelf. More posts to come on that project.

#saturdayorganizing #pandemicpurchase

It's Not About the Containers

Have you been watching a certain show that is making you want to redo your pantry, garage, and every closet with clear bins?

While I’ve been using containers and labels for years, lately I’ve found myself considering reorganizing my entire pantry and kitchen with new bins. Maybe after 7 months of living and working at home all.the.time I’m seeing my kitchen in a new way. Or maybe it’s the relentless ads from certain stores attempting to convince me to buy containers and watch a new home organizing show. Or it could be my ongoing need to be able to control something during this time when so much seems out of control.

Containers can work:

• Clear and labelled containers are very helpful for finding things and putting them away.

• Sometimes there is a specialized container that solves a particular problem.

• I agree that when our space looks great and we use containers we like to look at, we are more likely to be motivated to keep up the organizing system.

But I also know that organizing is not about the containers.

Organizing is about how we interact with our stuff. Containers don’t solve the underlying issues. You still need to deal with the stuff.

That’s why any sustainable organizing strategy has to start not with the containers, but with the harder work of making decisions: keep, toss, recycle, donate? And that’s how I work with clients. We go through the items and I support clients as they make the decisions. Only then will they know how many mugs or books or LEGOs they have, and can determine if a new or specialized container is needed. Clients often have some bins, baskets or other containers already, or we can get creative to repurpose other things already in the space. (See how I used a shoe shelf in my dining room, for example.)

While I’m not anti-container by any means, remember that buying 20 new clear containers probably won’t solve your organizing issue in the long term. Don’t forget to first consider the stuff you are putting in the container.

Organize Your Freezer

During the stay at home orders, I heard from several friends that they were buying larger amounts than usual, and had to clean out the freezer. Here’s how to keep your freezer organized in a few easy steps:

• Take everything out, even food in the way back, and throw out anything that has been around for a year, or has a layer of permafrost.

• If you have food in containers, label each one before you put it back. Get into the habit of writing a description and the date on everything before it goes in the freezer.

  • Bonus tip: to make labeling easier, I keep masking tape and a sharpie in a drawer next to my fridge so I can quickly write out a label.

• Keep similar sized items together; for example, stack up prepared foods - and turn the labels facing out so you can easily see what you have.

• Consider using clear bins to store similar items, such as frozen veggies.

• Need more space? Plan meals using up foods in the freezer.

• Don’t know what’s in your freezer? Make a list/use a whiteboard.

Easy labels with making tape and a sharpie