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Spring cleaning and decoration

With the arrival of spring this weekend, thoughts turn to refreshing, renewed, and new beginnings. How can you maximize this feeling in your home where you spend so much time? One of the best ways to achieve this feeling is with the little things, sometimes the invisible things in your life. At home, for this exercise, consider the pantry. How many of us have a messy pantry? If you are not organized, it is difficult to prepare daily meals for the family.

First things first: go through the pantry and discard anything that is out of date; make your list of what you need and check the sizes of the packages you buy; adjust shelves to fit your supplies. A well-organized pantry depends on space, so keep an up-to-date list of what you need so you don’t overstock unless you have adequate storage elsewhere. The pantry can be a great place to put a chalkboard, or you can create one with chalkboard paint on one of the panels on the inside of the door. Have all family members indicate on the board (or on a list) when they have used the last of an item, so it won’t be overlooked when you make your shopping list.

Next, evaluate what you have that could be stored in clear containers with vacuum-sealed lids. These containers are great for keeping food fresh and making it easy to see what’s on and what’s in supply so you can add it to your shopping list. Pasta, crackers, and cereals stored in clear containers are easier to recognize and will appear less messy than a multitude of manufacturer’s boxes. If you buy in bulk, containers are an easier way to store more manageable portions.

Staggered shelves are available for smaller cans, such as soups, so you can see the labels more easily and store more cans in a small space. Smaller snacks are easily accessible when stored in low “kid” level baskets. It’s always easier to train kids to keep things tidy when there’s a clear place for items – at least that’s the theory.

The pantry doesn’t have to be a boring storage area; paint the backs of the walls a fun, vivid color or be brave and add a fun wallcovering. Baskets for loose items can also be a source of color; just get color coordinated baskets or buckets to match your kitchen. Like anywhere in your home, keep the pantry colors consistent.

Interestingly, lighting is an important factor in keeping a well-organized pantry; There are many battery operated self adhesive lights on the market.

Making the suggested small investments will improve your lifestyle and how you will feel each time you open your pantry; it’s almost like spring every day.