Caroline Mullen – FoodWatcher

How to Organize Your Kitchen So It Works for You

Even if you’re not big on home cooking, the kitchen is one of the most important places in your home to keep organized—especially if there are other people in the house. It’s inevitably a hub of activity, because our lives at home tend to revolve around eating. Says organizing expert of 13+ years, Rachel Rosenthal: “It’s not about pretty bins—it’s about saving time grabbing breakfast in the morning, cutting down on food waste, and aiding in accurate grocery shopping.”

The pictures on Pinterest and Instagram are always staged, she stresses, so it’s important not to get hung up on getting your own space to look just like the ultra-minimalist photos you see, and instead focus on what works for you and your family. Here, Rachel walks us through the best way to organize your kitchen, whether you’ve just moved into a new home, or want to take a fresh approach in a long-time residence—minus the pressures of perfection.

A Clever Trick for Shiplap-ing Your Walls

I look back fondly on the first days of the Fixer Upper craze—recording the episodes with my parents to replay later when we were in need of a feel-good family show; reveling in the complete overhauls they accomplished; and gushing about Chip and Jo Ga…

I look back fondly on the first days of the Fixer Upper craze—recording the episodes with my parents to replay later when we were in need of a feel-good family show; reveling in the complete overhauls they accomplished; and gushing about Chip and Jo Gaines with anyone who listened.

After all, in 2014, it felt like all anyone (with the remotest interest in home design) could talk about: “Aren’t they just the most talented? Don’t you love the modern farmhouse look?” Four years later, I even weaseled my way into a chance to interview them—and as it turned out, the couple were just as charming in person as they were in my clung-to fantasies.

11 Clever Storage Ideas for Your Strewn-All-Over Shoes

Let’s face it—revamping your shoe storage isn’t nearly as exciting as overhauling the pantry. Restacking your spices is an instantly gratifying, Instagram-worthy project, but the shoes you hide in the back of your closet just don’t seem as pressing.

I…

In my case, I have a run-of-the-mill shoe rack that often stands partially barren, because of course, I leave my shoes everywhere but their specific place. I haven’t addressed the issue, either, because it’s always been just functional enough to ignore. I’m upgrading to a bigger closet though, and I’m officially in the market for a new solution.

13 Cozy Fall Centerpieces to Warm Up Your Table

Centerpieces—be they at a wedding or just a static, steady feature on your dining table—have a reputation for being rather fussy. Many of them are also very obviously seasonal: sunflowers and cacti for summer, red berries and coniferous branches in win…

They don’t have to be so boxed in, though, and they don’t have to be floral. And they certainly needn’t be fussy, because, quite frankly, who needs that right now. I’m quite partial to centerpieces that just use what’s available, like a variety of produce or a collection of vintage items you have lying around used as vases—the more unexpected, the better. Below, we’ve collected 13 unique centerpiece ideas that will scratch your creative itch and feel 100 percent autumnal, but can easily be modified for any theme or season.

A Reusable Food Wrap You Can DIY in 5 Minutes

I try my hardest to reduce my single-use waste. Some switches are easier than others: I always carry shopping totes while running errands; I have an impressive stockpile of reusable straws; and I bring a water bottle or travel cup with me whenever I can. I’m not perfect by any means, though, and when it comes to being environmentally conscious, there are a lot of areas I still need to work on.

One of these was food storage. I grew up in a household where plastic baggies and cling wrap reigned supreme. Lunchtime snacks, baked goods, and dinner leftovers all found themselves enrobed in some manner of single-use plastic, but for my family and lots of others, this was totally par for the course. In 2020, we’re more educated consumers; plus, living on my own has allowed me to adopt more thoughtful habits. While I once readily reached for a roll of plastic wrap, now I haven’t bought a new one in months.

How to Upcycle Old Vases With This DIY Terracotta Paint Hack

If you asked me six months ago where my DIY project inspiration came from, the answer would be pretty obvious: Pinterest, YouTube, and DIYers I follow on Instagram. Now, with the uncertainty of a global pandemic, an unexpected chunk of time at home, an…

I’ve found a ton of inventive ideas on the app. While my roommate or teenage brother likely have a completely different looking feed, mine is loaded with home decor tips, cleaning hacks, and all things organization. It is, of course, also how I found the magical little appliance that is the Bissell Little Green Upholstery Cleaner.

How to Get Your Kitchen Sink Zone in Order

Sure, this extended (and unprecedented) period at home might have inspired you to fold up all your plastic bags and rearrange your pantry—these are relatively mess-free projects with large payoffs. But what about the areas in your home, more specifical…

Not a day goes by that I don’t use my kitchen sink for something—washing my nice knives, rinsing a plate to load into the dishwasher, watering a plant—but I rarely give it the love it deserves. Perhaps this is because I have a physical reaction every time I have to fish out engorged pasta and pieces of a long-gone salad from the drain, discouraging me from returning to the scene until ~~days~~ hours later. Or perhaps it’s because doing the dishes is simply my least favorite chore ever. I’ll clean the bathroom to procrastinate doing the dishes—that’s how bad it is.

A Perfectly Patterned Wall—No Wallpaper Necessary

With help from our sponsor BEHR® Paint—makers of high-quality paints in every shade—we’re sharing color-filled paint projects anyone can pull off, whether you’re a first-time DIY-er or a seasoned pro. Here, we’re showing you how to turn any blank wall …

With help from our sponsor BEHR® Paint—makers of high-quality paints in every shade—we're sharing color-filled paint projects anyone can pull off, whether you're a first-time DIY-er or a seasoned pro. Here, we're showing you how to turn any blank wall into a stenciled wonder.

I’m always looking for ways to liven up the lackluster white walls in my apartment, so I’ve tried a little bit of everything when it comes to covering them—some have been more successful than others.

Why I Can Never Have Enough IKEA Kallax Shelves

If anyone asks me how I keep my apartment tidy, my answer is always the same: baskets, baskets, baskets. I firmly believe that the neatest homes are the ones that simply hide clutter the most effectively. To that end, I keep things tucked away in just …

That’s where the IKEA Kallax shelving unit comes in, because it is, what I call, the ultimate in "basket storage"—its iconic cube-struction is designed for managing all kinds of chaos. My own 2x2 unit has been with me since college, and through three moves, and has at various points functioned as: craft supply storage, T-shirt drawer, TV stand, and a hiding place for all kinds of odds and ends. It’s also been through multiple iterations; I’ve since added wooden legs to the base to transition it from dorm staple to adult decor.

How to Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets Like a Pro

I absolutely adore my apartment, and often joke that I’d like to live there for the rest of my life. The bathroom used to be my one big bone of contention upon moving in, but I’ve since updated it to be much less visually arresting. I have, of course, …

I absolutely adore my apartment, and often joke that I’d like to live there for the rest of my life. The bathroom used to be my one big bone of contention upon moving in, but I've since updated it to be much less visually arresting. I have, of course, begun fixating on smaller, less offensive features in my home, because why be content when you can drive yourself delirious with projects, right?

Currently, my never-satisfied gaze has settled upon my kitchen cabinets, which are a perfectly serviceable Colonial-style (raised center panels with a cathedral arch) oak, finished with a warm stain and shiny varnish. I’d rather them be closer to Shaker style—which is not really within the realm of rental possibility—but would settle for a nice coat of matte paint, should my landlord allow it.