You’re only half awake as you enter the kitchen to brew your coffee. It’s hard to think straight – especially if you have to open 3 or 4 cabinets to gather the items for making it. And finding your favorite mug amidst the sea of unused coffee cups and mugs, is not easy either. Every minute counts when you are trying to make it out the door on time. If you are a coffee drinker, it’s time to simplify the process by creating a coffee station.

Step 1: Choose the perfect space. Pick a small upper cabinet that has a plug nearby. You will want the coffee maker to be plugged in directly below this cabinet.

Step 2: Purge the cups and mugs. You have your favorites. We all do. It might be the size, the color, the feel of the handle or something else that you love so much. Whatever it is, it is always the mug you grab first. Most people have way too many mugs in their cabinets taking up valuable real estate. Donate the cups and mugs you don’t use and pare down to the number that fit in your cabinet. A dozen or less should be adequate.

Step 3: Gather supplies and containerize. I generally use two containers. The first is for coffee and the supplies needed to make it. I love these baskets because they are easy to wipe out and they fit in most cabinets. The second one can be used for tea and/or other warm drinks.

Step 4: Adjust the shelves. Most shelves are adjustable but it’s easy to forget that they are. If yours are adjustable, adjust them to the size needed. If you require additional shelves, take one with you to your local hardware store. They can have one or more cut for you. Shelf pins (the things that hold the shelves) are sold there as well. These come in several sizes so it is a good idea to take one of those with you too. If you don’t have adjustable shelves, you can use a helper shelf. The baskets I recommend fit perfectly underneath them.

Step 5: Place your items and label. Place the mugs and baskets in a way that is easy for you to access and label them. I’m big on the labeling thing. It helps everyone in the house know where things belong and it will keep you from randomly shoving things in them.