If you’ve been following along on Instagram, you might have seen that my husband and I recently finished building a new home. From the very beginning, I was determined to fill it only with items we truly need and love. In our previous house, even though we lived there just a year and a half, we accumulated far more than necessary in a surprisingly short time.
Clutter has a way of making you avoid a space, and I noticed that most in the kitchen of our apartment. As someone who places value on the food I prepare and eat, having a warm, functional kitchen that I actually enjoy spending time in was essential.
For this move I partnered with Happy Lark Home Organizing. They helped us purge a lot of items from our apartment before the move and offered guidance throughout the process. Working with a local Pittsburgh organizing company that assists with purging, packing, and unpacking made the transition so much easier. When we purged, I committed to donating anything I hadn’t used in a full year. Letting go of so many unnecessary items felt freeing and significantly eased the stress of moving.
On move-in day, Amber and Kara from Happy Lark Home Organizing arrived to help unpack. Our builder unexpectedly got us into the house three weeks early, right before Thanksgiving, and my husband had an unavoidable work meeting the day we moved. Without their help, I honestly don’t know how I would have managed. By the time my husband returned that evening, the whole house was unpacked — which surprised both of us.
Because we had already purged a great deal, unpacking items from the apartment was straightforward. The real challenge was unpacking stuff from storage that had been there for two years. We had accumulated so much that I’d forgotten even existed. We donated a large amount, but rediscovering a few old favorites was a nice surprise. We carefully reviewed each item as we unpacked, keeping only what felt useful or meaningful.
As we put things away, we were intentional about placement. I designed the kitchen so that everything would have a logical, accessible spot. Items we use daily are stored lower and within easy reach; things used less often or seasonally were placed on higher shelves.
Two main areas I focused on with Happy Lark were the pantry and utensil drawers. I was tired of the utensil drawer jamming every time it opened. We chose clear, cleanable drawer dividers to organize utensils. These dividers are simple to remove and wash, and because they’re clear, they give a clean, streamlined appearance. Unlike traditional fixed separators that trap crumbs, these removable dividers let you take everything out and wipe the drawer clean easily. They come in many sizes, so you can customize the layout to fit your needs.
Designing a pantry that’s both attractive and functional was important to me. Large woven baskets on the lower shelves help conceal items while keeping them grouped and easy to access. We use these baskets for paper goods, pasta, chips, nuts, and other snacks.
On the pantry counter, we keep our essential small appliances. I love my 11-in-1 Instant Pot because it combines many functions—like slow cooking and air frying—into a single appliance, saving counter space. We also keep a microwave for occasional tasks like warming a heating pad, and a Ninja food processor that we use for smoothies and chopping vegetables. These tools make everyday cooking much easier.
For the upper shelves, we used clear glass jars with wooden lids that complement the wood tones in our home. They add warmth and make it easy to identify contents at a glance. Kara labeled each jar in a pretty font so everything is immediately recognizable.
Having an organized, labeled pantry has already changed how we shop and cook. With everything visible and in its place, we’re spending less on groceries and avoid duplicate purchases. In the past, I might have ordered more items impulsively when I couldn’t find something. Now, the clean, organized space makes me want to use the kitchen and cook more often.
XO
Allianna