This post is sponsored by ShelfGenie; however, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that help make this blog possible. 💛

Thought you couldn’t customize spaces like closets and cabinets when you live in an apartment? I did too. But ever since Lew and I decided to start doing more with less, I’ve found ways to make our rented home work for our exact life.

If you’re on the fence about custom storage solutions for your kitchen, I can’t recommend it enough! We worked with Shelf Genie and they have a simple three-step process that makes the whole thing easy. 

Our rep came by for a free consultation and we talked about some of the challenges of our space. I picked our finishes, and she even showed me a 3D rendering (yes just like on HGTV). I was shocked to see that they could take out that center panel that gets in the way of literally everything.

And since everything was measured and custom-crafted, there were no surprises when the team came back for the installation. I’m already loving it, and it’s saving me so much time throughout the day. Here’s how:

Faster mornings. Raise your hand if you’re often making breakfast and lunch at the same time. (Actually, don’t. You need all the hands you can get.) Keeping things labeled or in clear containers, in easy reach for the boys, means I’m not a frazzled mess by the time we leave the house. And it shows them just how much they can do for themselves.  

Smoother mid-days. I try to avoid counter clutter, but who wants to sit on the floor or balance on a step-stool while fighting with a pile of cords and heavy metal? it’s so much faster to just pull out a drawer and grab what I need. Plus, it cuts down on spontaneous “frustration reorgs.” See? It’s not just you. 

Delightful dinners. Dinnertime is so important for our fam. It doesn’t matter what we’re eating but convenient prep makes all the difference in the world. When we sit down to eat, I want to be silly and chat about the day, not rushed because I couldn’t find a clean cutting board. The things these kids say, I swear…

Easier cleanup. With our new cabinets, everything that makes preparing meals faster also makes cleanup lowkey easy. Honestly, I’m putting away as I go, and when I know there’s a space waiting for that three-quart pot, I’m more likely to scrub it and be done with it. Otherwise, see my next book, “Letting it Soak: The Struggle is Real.”

Evening laughs. It sounded like a small thing, didn’t it? Some new pull-out shelves and dividers… but it’s freed up so much time, and removed a bunch of those little aggravations that can make you want to hide away in a bath. Instead, I’m relaxed, happy, and ready to enjoy the night.

Anyway, it was definitely worth a small investment. We may be renting, but that’s all the more reason to do another little thing that makes a big difference.