If I complain about one more flipping thing when it comes to mobile home living, someone might come after me with a knife or something. Yeah, I know – we chose this house, but sometimes making the most of it will drive me bonkers. See: No pantry. We built some upper cabinets in our laundry room, but it was never enough space, always cluttered so much I could never find anything and forget about even trying to be organized. But I found a solution. It may not be beautifully, completely organized, but at least I can find what I need to make dinner without killing someone in the process.
When I shared this photo during my kitchen reveal, the most asked question was about those blue lockers. And today I’m spilling: they’re $99 per set at Ikea, go together in about five minutes, and was one of the best buys in the whole kitchen. I went from no pantry space to tons of it in ten minutes. I love those kinds of solutions. {And, let’s face it – we would have spent hours upon hours and almost as much money building something from scratch – and it wouldn’t have been nearly as cute, huh?}
But ya see those shelves? That can be a recipe for disaster around here. I’m not striving for magazine perfection, but a little organized chaos would be nice. Enter some easy vinyl labels.
My friends at Happy Crafters sent me some white adhesive vinyl, and it was all I needed to create some quick and easy labels to try and create some order in there. So I divided it up into 16 categories (I have 16 shelves total), plotted out all the words, the cut them out of the vinyl.
Next I picked off the negative space and put them on pieces of transfer paper, then applied them right to the front of the shelves (or the bottoms on some of them.
And now I can pretend that my family will put stuff where it goes. It won’t happen, but at least I know where stuff goes when I have to return it to the proper place.
If I could only train my kiddos to put it there, I’d be good to go. But that’s a DIY project I don’t think I’ll ever have the energy to tackle. Sigh.
*Thanks to my friends at Happy Crafters for partnering with me on this post. All ideas, photos, words & opinions are 100% my own.
I love it, I just acquired 3 large sets of lockers from the school and I am also putting the to good use. Yours is perfect in the kitchen.
I have never been to Ikea but after seeing those lockers it’s on my list. I love your style!!
I was wondering when you were going to talk about the lockers. Love them.
I found a set along the road last year and they are now in my laundry room. I love them. I took the laundry room door off for a couple of reasons but the main one is so when I walk by I get a glimpse of them. My husband thinks I’m a big goof but that is OK they make me happy.
Love your kitchen
WOW – love the color of those lockers!! and what a great price…we are looking at purchasing a home that doesn’t have much kitchen storage…I’m going to file this away for future use – thanks for the inspiration!!
I seriously could not find them when I went to Ikea, and didn’t see them in the showroom either. Can you tell me where to look?
I can’t believe that is a mobile home. It’s beautiful!
Gina!! I love those lockers…except I was just on the Ikea website and can’t find them!! What department were they in??? I think they would be great in my kitchen also…might have to paint them, though…lol. Love the color, buy not in my color scheme for my kitchen.
I don’t know why I didn’t include the link – doh! Here ya go: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60250798/
I have tried using the link but still can’t find them on the Ikea website. Can you please tell me exactly what they are called or what the item number is?
Thanks
It looks like they are not currently available. I’m sorry.
I think they look great. I am in great need a pantry. The little cupboard that I do have for a pantry is way to tiny to hold much of anything. I am checking Ikea out for other storage solutions. 🙂
Hi Gina I love it! Wish I would have seen this sooner. I hit the Habitat Restore for our storage issue in our Mobile Home…and it’s been a lot of work. Could have used something easy and adorable. Great Job!
Thanks for the inspiration and for sharing!
Lisa
I have coveted those Ikea lockers for a while. No room for them in our current house, though:( I’m happy you got them, and they look great in your kitchen! xoKathleen
Gina, I LOVE those lockers! I don’t have a pantry either but I hope to solve that problem soon!
Those lockers are so darned cute – I love IKEA. I need to find a home for some of these lockers over here. Wonder if it would help the disaster that is my boys room… 🙂
Too cute! I have a perfect space just waiting for those lockers.
I love your blog!! I too live in a mobile home. A 2 bedroom, 2 bath with 2 children (a boy and a girl) that have to share a room and a big German Sheppard. There is NO extra room in our home. And when I’m surfing the internet and see all those beautiful houses with all the extra space it makes me feel depressed. I am extremely happy to find a blog that I can actually relate to. Thank you for sharing your home with us. I also love your pantry. When we installed a new heating and cooling system, my husband bought us a package unit (where the whole thing is outside) and when he pulled the furnace out I thought it was the perfect space for a pantry. So he installed 5 shelves for me. It’s not perfect by any means and it always seems like there is way to much stuff in it, but I love it. Just wanted to share that in case it can help anyone else.
love the lockers……we too live in a mobile…….i’d love to rip out the entire kitchen but that won’t be happening anytime soon…..our biggest issue is our island….whoever designed the inside wasn’t thinking about storage…..it’s like mining when you are trying to find something in there………..i’d love to read more tips about living in mobiles……we aren’t going anywhere……love to make it the best affordable place ever…the thrifty way 🙂
Beautiful, what kind of floors did you put on this beautiful kitchen?
We DIY them – here’s the info on it: http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/2013/06/diy-wood-floors-and-upcoming-project.html