Dishes Done Right: An Organization Story

I spend a lot of time in the kitchen whipping up tasty treats.  I also love to entertain and want to have nice table setting for my guests.  Combine this with my love of picking up cute, low cost plates at the local thrift store to create mix & match table settings and, you guessed it, I have a problem.

Organizing the Kitchen with the Epson Label Works
Nicely organized after shot. Sorry, no messy before shots!

When I had my kitchen cabinets redesigned a few years ago, I wanted an open, inviting look on the top where I could store seldom used dishes. This worked out well for quite some time. I added a piece here and a piece there from the thrift store. Gradually I noticed, “Hey, wait! The top of my cabinet is filled with dishes!”   The downside (or maybe the upside?) was I found myself using them more and more often.  I needed a way to organize the dishes into categories.  What? You mean you don’t organize your dishes by the seasons?  I know. I know. I am weird.   Thankfully, I have found a way to organize my supply with the  Epson LabelWorks LW-600P Portable Label Printer.   This handy dandy printer allows me to print labels from a smartphone, tablet, PC or Mac.
Epson LabelWorks Label Printer

Here’s how I transformed my kitchen from messy to magic or ,at the very least, more organized.  I started by purchasing some  clear $1 bins at the dollar store. They have lids but I packed them away to use later, if needed.
organizing with bins

I divided the plates into different seasons, summer, winter, fall and spring.  I also did the same with my bowls and cups I had stored on the shelves.  I turned the plates on their side to conserve space and to be able to pack more into each bin.
Epson Labelworks

When I finished I used my Espon Label Printer to mark each season and added notes, such as 12 white plates, so I know how many dishes I had to play around with for each table setting.   My kitchen is now less cluttered and I no longer have to dig through stacks of dishes to find the ones I want.  I’m loving this Label Printer as it can be used either hooked to my computer or wireless and it cuts the labels as I go, making them easy as 1, 2, 3 to peel and stick.  Next up, I plan to tackle my closets. Soon, I’ll be an organizing expert!

How do you stay organized?

24 Comments

  1. I am about to start a huge organizing project at our house. I could really use this to help me get things together.

  2. This looks like a great label maker. I love having everything in order.

  3. great organizing tips. I so need to work on organizing my house.

  4. You shelves look so organized and neat. I definitely could use that label maker.

  5. I love labeling things! It’s a little obsession of mine! I need to get some more labeling done when I go to organize my son’s room!

  6. What a fabulous idea! Great way to keep everything organized and labeled.

  7. I am addicted to labeling things. I definitely love the many uses of the Epson!

  8. What a great idea. I only have one set but wish I had more. I don’t have the space in my new house.

  9. Labels make life so much easier! I need one of those label makers though…writing it out by hand is no fun!

  10. Labels are the best! I’m planning to re-organize and label my pantry items!

  11. I totally need one of those for all of my scrapbooking supplies. Right now I just print labels and cut them out by hand.

  12. Nice! Good idea to label it. I’m a HUGE fan of label makers so this is right up my alley!

  13. I love label makers! I could easily label everything in my house. Maybe I should get started organizing so I can do that.

  14. Great idea, I keep looking at my kitchen cabinets and having anxiety about how unorganized they are.

  15. Organization is key to success. I need to buy a label maker soon.

  16. Oh my goodness, I need this label maker! I have a craft room that is in desperate need of organization.

  17. We have a label maker that my MIL gave us when we got married in the hopes that I would become more organized. My husband loves it and labels EVERYTHING. It is great being organized.

  18. our cabinets are open up top too but I store decorative things up there for now. this is a great idea for storage though

  19. Oh the power of labeling. It really is a wonder why more people don’t do it. It helps keep things organized, and looking neat. Not to mention things are so much easier to find that way too.

  20. So smart that you labeled them. You made me take a look- I have plenty of room on top of my cabinets. I need to make use of it!

  21. Our kitchen is small with the storage being minimal, our stuff gets crammed in wherever it fits! I need to be more organized though.

  22. We are still in the process of organizing and unpacking since our move this summer. I have been using a lot of baskets to arrange our closets and cupboards. Labels would help me know whats in the baskets.

  23. I would love to have one of those printers to print out labels with. I’d label everything if I could.

  24. You are so smart! I love that you did this. I need to do something similar.