Organizing Kitchen Utensils

The kitchen can be one of the most hazardous areas of the home if not properly organized and kitchen utensils can make or break the deal when it comes to keeping things under control.

Now, it is no secret that college students live highly economical and often times dis-organized lives. I can personally attest to the 'all-hours' schedule and resulting havoc that a young single life can emit.

So, if the average college student were to come home to garbage strewn counters, a sink overflowing with dirty dishes, three bags of garbage blocking entry to the pantry door and a veritable smorgasbord of other such clutter horrors, they'd probably think nothing of it.

I, however, would go into convulsions.

Therefore, as I present a few examples from my own apartment, please be aware that you are in the presence of one of the select few college students who do obsess over an tidy kitchen.

Exhibit A:

This turntable container was, at first, sufficient when it came to containing my kitchen utensils. But all too soon my love for cooking and propensity towards buying every imaginable tool for doing so evolved into a mass of objects that would no longer happily fit.

And thus, the dilemma.

Would I have to:
A) Teach my roommates how to pack them more efficiently into their proper place?
B) Avert my eyes and try to forget the mess entirely when entering the kitchen?
-OR-, heaven forbid,
C) Prune down my collection?

Of course, option C is just silly.
So I took a different approach.

Exhibit B:

I found these little beauties at my local Deseret Industries (commonly known as the DI to Utahns) which is a local donation based thrift store. I recognized them immediately as a product I have often seen in IKEA catalogs from time to time. I bought all five on the spot for $.75 a piece.

When I got home, I did a little research and found that the exact same pails sold for over $4.00 online. WIN.
I made a quick trip to buy the accompanying wall mounted rod for $1.50 and WAH-LAH.

Instant difference.

I absolutely LOVE the extra counter space I can now utilize. Not to mention that my kitchen utensils are pleasantly spaced along the wall for convenient placement and easy access.

I deem this an organizational success.

Rule Number One.

Everything has a home.
I repeat.
Everything MUST have a home.

Here's what I mean:
Just as you and I have homes that we return to each day, the objects we allow into our lives must also be given somewhere to 'live'.

I'll give you some quick examples:
A) Milk cartons go in the fridge.
B) Dirty clothes go in a hamper.
C) Garbage goes in the trash can.

See what I mean? Easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy.

Granted, just as humans move from time to time, objects may also find themselves re-located to a new home occasionally.

But by no means am I endorsing homeless, vagabond junk. Left strewn across every surface.

So here's what you need to do:
Go home, find items that are 'home'sick and then, well...

You know what to do.

Salutations

Welcome to the beginnings of my small business blog:

'Corinner-Elly: Clean, Clear & Clutter-Free'.

As I draw closer to my imminent graduation from Brigham Young University in April 2011, I have come to the conclusion that I was born to do one thing and one thing only: I will organize the world!

And the good news is: I start today!

Here I will post photos of my most recent projects while documenting my journey in the process of becoming a Professional Organizer.

I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.