Kitchen and Pantry:

Many of our clients have tried to get organized on their own before they call us. They’ve been inspired to make changes because of a Netflix show, their Instagram feed, or maybe a book they’ve heard about or read. So they make a list of what areas to tackle and head online or to a store for products. That’s when motivation wanes and overwhelm sets in.

There are SO many organizing products out there now. Every store seems to be expanding their product lines and upping the cool factor with colors, branding, and style. And don’t get me started about Amazon where the options are literally endless. If you don’t know exactly what you need the options can be too much to handle. Analysis paralysis sets in.

Even if you were lucky enough to make some selections it often doesn’t work out. That drawer organizer you selected turned out to be too big for the drawer. Or, the bins you chose are too deep for the pantry shelf and you can’t close the doors. Or, the opposite, the bins are too small so your items are overflowing and not giving you the aesthetically pleasing look you were aiming for. Don’t get fooled by the pictures online.

I’ve seen it happen over and over again in every area of the home. I hear the frustration in my clients’ voices as they share their organizing attempts with me and I want to tell them the one mistake they made. They didn’t measure. Simple as that. You can not make assumptions about your spaces – you can’t just eyeball it or hope for the best. It’s extremely difficult without some planning and measuring.

So here are our tips for measuring your spaces:

Always make sure to measure the usable space before you start shopping for solutions. Usable space is the actual space that you are able to occupy with products.

You must account for any hinges or other obstructions when you are measuring for products. We suggest you err on the conservative side of the measurement if there are products that you need to pull in and out on a regular basis or reach into (i.e. bins). For shelving, make note if they are all fully adjustable so shelves can be moved to accommodate the height of the bin.

We’ve outlined the steps below on how to measure. Notice in the photos that we aren’t bending the tape measure. On most tape measures the width of the actual tape measure is noted on the back. In our case, the body of the tape measure is 3 ⅛ inches wide. When measuring, take the measurement you see on the tape and add the size of the tape measure to get your total  measurement.

Drawers in a kitchen tend to be the same width (meaning they pull out the same amount) but the length and height could vary. It’s important to measure them all so you can avoid wasting time at the store or with returns later.

Also worth noting: length and width can be confusing. Length is typically measured as the longest side, while the width is the shorter side. Do whatever makes sense to you and be consistent.

1. Measure the height

The height is the usable space measured bottom to top.

2. Measure the width

The width (or depth) is the usable space measured back to front.

3. Measure the length

The length is the usable space measured side to side.

In our photo below the tape reads 13 ¼ inches. Adding the 3 ⅛ inches for the tape gives up a total length of 16 ⅜ inches long. For purposes of buying product make sure your drawer organizer isn’t more than 16 inches wide. Carefully read the measurements on the product label and look at the orientation of the item. Width and Length can be interchangeable.

*Tip: when it comes to drawers the most important measurement is the height (to make sure the drawer will close) and for shelves the most important measurement is the depth (so that the product is not hanging off of the shelf).

It’s nearly impossible to see but the measurement of the tape is under the metal clip. We can prove this by wrapping the tape around to show the 3 ⅛ inches.

Proof that the tape measure is, in fact, 3 ⅛ inches.

Measuring will save you a great deal of time – though if you still run into challenges don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re happy to help you achieve the kitchen, pantry, or closet of your dreams.