Search Results for: organizing

Organizing Tips that Help Me Get Organized When Clutter Takes Over

February 3, 2014

Happy February!

I am typically a very organized person. But since packing up my Christmas and holiday décor I’ve struggled with keeping myself and my home organized. Being disorganized has left me feeling uneasy and scattered and because of that I am not working as efficiently as I can or should be. This week I’m setting aside some time in my schedule to get things around me organized and back on track. I’m going to be sorting, purging, consolidating and organizing each space that I’ve neglected.

To get the job done, I’m going to rely on the organizing habits I’ve used for years, tips that always work for me. I’d thought I’d share those tips with you today and come back later in the week and show the before and after of a some of the areas I’m organizing.

Organizing Tip #1–SORTING

The first step for me when I’m organizing is SORTING! When things are in a state of disorder it usually means piles and stacks. Sorting through the things you have will help you organize like items together, move items to the room and spaces they belong in and it will also help you decide what stays and what goes.

Organizing Tip #2–PURGING

PURGING something that you no longer need or that is no long useful to you is a great feeling. It takes discipline to sort through and get rid of items you once loved, but holding on to things that have gone unused for months or years is not doing you or your state of well-being any good. Letting go of unnecessary stuff will allow you to enjoy and appreciate those things that you keep and really use.

Organizing Tip #3–EVALUATE

Once you’ve sorted and purged its time to EVALUATE WHAT YOU HAVE. In my closets, kitchen and craft space I know that I function best when the items I use most often are organized in a way that makes accessing them quick and easy. Do a second sort of your items and put them into stacks labeled A, B, C and D. ‘A’ represents the things you use most and ‘D’ represents those things that are used less often. Now is also a good time to take a look at those items in the D pile and see if anything more needs to be purged. When it comes time to place things on shelves or racks, the things you use most will be front and forward.

***if you’re organizing your closet, this is also a good time to make a list of wardrobe essentials you need to shop for

Organizing Tip #4–MAKE IT VISIBLE

One of my keys to effective organizing is to MAKE IT VISIBLE. For me this means creating organization that allows me to see the things I have. Plastic containers, open baskets, hooks, racks and binders are a few of my favorite organizing tools. If I see it, I use it and if everything has a home its less likely to end up in a pile.

***plastic over-the-door shoe holders are great for holding all sorts of things

***I rotate my bath towels on the shelves after I’ve done laundry each week. This way all the towels we own get used and washed on a regular basis which helps keep the color consistent in all of them

Organizing Tip #5–CONTAIN YOUR STUFF

On the flip side of my wanting to have things visible is my desire to HAVE THINGS CONTAINED and orderly. This is where creativity comes into play. I use Command Hooks to hang all types of things around my house, my rolls of crafting washi tape are housed in a kitchen storage piece and I use hanging shoe storage to hold scarves. Think about how you ideally would want to store and organize items and then look for a solution that works for that function. It may not be an item that was originally meant for that purpose.

***baskets are one of your best organizing investments–they keep things contained and keep the space looking pretty

***this is a great idea for making plastic storage bins look more attractive–paper fronts

Organizing Tip #6–MAKE IT PRETTY

MAKING AN ORGANIZED SPACE LOOK PRETTY while it also functions well is one of the best parts of organizing to me. Incorporate pretty jars and containers into your desk top organization or create a fun display board using a pretty frame to hold your jewelry. When a space looks nice you’ll want to keep it organized.

***cover cardboard or poster board with wrapping paper to make inexpensive shelf liners

***incorporate decorative accessories into your organization

***I love the idea of covering paint cans in decorative paper for craft storage

***I often use vintage milk glass pieces for storing jewelry and cosmetics

Organizing Tip #7–LABEL IT

LABELS are your best friend when it comes to organizing. It helps identify the contents of a basket, helps when you are sorting items and labels let you add a personal touch to your organizational system. If you’re looking for unique and inexpensive label options, check the $1.00 section at Target and Michael’s for fun tags or chalkboard stickers.

***small picture frames also make stylish labels for boxes and baskets

So there you have it…my go-to organizing tips. Good organization really comes down to having a system in place that makes the task of keeping your world clutter free easy. Now that I’ve given myself a refresher course on the tips I use, I’m off to organize my world. Stay tuned for the results!

Organizing with Kitchen Accessories

April 4, 2012

I consider myself pretty creative and can think of multiple ways to use ordinary things beside their intended use. After discovering Pinterest and spending countless hours accumulating over 7,700 pins to date, I recognize that there are some incredibly creative people in this world that take the ideas of using things in new ways to a whole new level.

Today I thought I’d share more of the creative organizing ideas I’ve found on Pinterest. All of these ideas are quick to implement, inexpensive and all involve the use of ordinary kitchen accessories.

familyhandyman.com via ConfettiStyle on Pinterest

MUFFIN TINS–How clever is this to use muffin tins to store nails, screws and all those bits and baubles in the garage!

scrapbooksetc.com via ConfettiStyle on Pinterest

WINE BOTTLE HOLDER–Although I’m not a big wine drinker, I somehow have accumulated several wine racks. This is a super idea for storing loose sheets of wrapping and tissue paper.

crate.typepad.com via ConfettiStyle on Pinterest

COOKIE SHEETS–The perfect magnet baord…and I love the idea of painting them to match your decor.

craftystorage.blogspot.com via ConfettiStyle on Pinterest

SALT & PEPPER HOLDERS–I am forever looking for ways to store my craft glitter and sprinkles and this would certainly solve the problem. So clever!

athomekimvallee.com via ConfettiStyle on Pinterest

LOAF PANS–Hanging loaf pans…a bit industrial and totally practical. I love this idea to hold fruit and veggies and think it would also be great in a bathroom closet to hold hair brushes and accessories.

bhg.com via ConfettiStyle on Pinterest

PAPER TOWEL HOLDER–Simply Brilliant! Beats rummaging through drawers to find all those cookie cutters (which I love to collect but never use).

realsimple.com via ConfettiStyle on Pinterest

PAPER TOWEL HOLDER–I have too many ribbons to use this idea for all my spools but, I love it for holding the ribbons I’m currently working with or use a lot.

original source unknown via ConfettiStyle on Pinterest

PAPER TOWEL HOLDER–So this is my favorite organizing idea using a paper towel holder! What a great way to store scrapbook paper, stickers and labels. I’ll be putting this idea in place this weekend.

storageandglee.blogspot.com via ConfettiStyle on Pinterest

TOWEL BARS & TP HOLDERS–Even though the TP holder does not fall into the kitchen accessory category, this is a great idea for storing and organizing scarves and belts. The beauty is that these bars can be hung just about anywhere.

bhg.com via ConfettiStyle on Pinterest

PAPER TOWEL HOLDER–Pretty cool idea for organizing and displaying jewelry. Several of these hung together would look awesome.

3.bp.blogspot.com via ConfettiStyle on Pinterest

UTENSIL CADDY–I’ve shown this idea before in this post, but since it’s one of my favorite “out of the box” organizing idea I thought I’d share it again! The next time you’re in GW look for these caddies, ’cause I see them there all the time and they cost little to nothing.

bhg.com via ConfettiStyle on Pinterest

SILVERWARE CADDY–I see these types of caddies at Homegoods on a regular basis and never really thought about putting them to use to hold office supplies. Stylish and practical.

media-cache8.pinterest.com via ConfettiStyle on Pinterest

SPICE JARS–This idea wins the award for most creative organizing idea to hold the pesky itty bitty craft supplies. I love that you can see each item and that this entire unit doesn’t take up much space. This idea would be pretty cool to hold buttons for someone who sews a lot too!

bhg.com via ConfettiStyle on Pinterest

PASTRY STAND–Another chic way to organizing and store jewelry without taking up a lot of space. I’d also use this idea in a bathroom to hold soaps and small toiletries.

So there you have it, some really great ideas for organizing in style! I hope you were inspired to get organized in a stylish way.

Have a great day!

To see more amazing organizing ideas, check out my Organization Board on Pinterest.

5 Organizing Ideas I’m Loving

March 7, 2012

I’ve done a bit of organizing and de-cluttering around my place lately and am working to create storage that is pretty to look at and easy to manage.

I’m looking for ways to maximize every square inch of closet storage and bring some order to my kitchen cabinets. Of course I turned to Pinterest for some organizing inspiration and found 5 really easy and stylish ways to bring some order to the chaos.

I love the idea of hanging bars on the inside of a closet door, creating more storage for rarely used items or in my case for my ever-expanding handbag “collection”.

I use a variety of storage containers in my bathroom linen closets, but love the idea of making them a bit more decorative with ribbons and tags. Tags are very practical for storage in a guest bathroom, letting your guest know where needed toiletries are kept.

Not only do I love this idea for storing measuring cups, making them readily accessible, but the conversion chart is brilliant. No more flipping through cookbooks trying to find out how many ounces are in a pint.

Lid organization is one of my biggest kitchen storage issues. Currently they are all stacked on top of each other, but this idea of bars on the door gives me hope.

As a self-proclaimed gift wrap hoarder, I’ve tried plastic garbage bins and those under-the-bed plastic storage bins and nothing has really worked well. I’m really liking this idea of a metal container on wheels. Not only can you see the paper easily, but moving the bin around would be a breeze.

Aren’t these ideas great? They are all pretty easy to implement and really elevate everyday organizing to a new level.

Since I’m in the middle of my organizing binge, I can’t show you the finished results of the spaces I’ve been working on, but I will show you a few highlights.

My dollar store shoe bins are getting prettied with decorative photo tags.

I’m putting Command Hooks to work on the inside of closet doors to hold handbags.

And, I’m adding decorative storage bins to my closet and laundry area.

I’ll show you the finished areas once they are all done. Stay tuned!

Do you have any good organizing tips? Please do share.

Chez Renee–Making Organizing Fun

February 22, 2012

I love for my work and home environment to be organized and at the same time stylish. One of my go to sources for unique items to organize and decorate with is Chez Renee.

Chez Renee is an online boutique filled with vintage and reproduction items. Each piece is selected by Renee and Connie, a mother, daughter duo with the idea to help you turn your house into a unique and personal style statement!

Here are a few of my favorite items:

Rotating Counter Carousel $156.00. While a bit on the expensive side, I love the versatility of this item for holding craft supplies or office supplies like paperclips or push pins.

Metal Chalk Boards– $3.00-$12.00. What a stylish and functional way to label storage baskets in a play room, laundry area or linen closet. I can think of a thousand ways I’d use these darling chalkboards!

Set of 2 Glass Jars–$136.00. Want to add a little style to your kitchen…how about this awesome jars. I’d use them to hold tea bags, granola bars or packets of oatmeal. So cute!

Wire Letter Holder–$70.00. Baskets of any shape and size are great for organizing your home. This one would be perfect hung above the commode to store extra TP rolls, towels or toiletries or next to your desk to hold office papers or stationary.

Recycled Cubby Box–$68.00. I’m envisioning gift tags, ribbon scraps, tape, scissors, address labels….the perfect gift wrap accessory storage box!

Wire Magazine Holder–$70.00. Magazines are an obvious choice but how about using this basket to store wrapping paper rolls, towels next to the pool or firewood at the hearth. This basket just might be the perfect storage solution for a multitude of organizing sins!

So, don’t these items make the idea of organizing your home or office seem like more fun than work? If you could choose just one item, which would it be????

To check out their entire selection of home decor, gift, party and personal accessories head on over to the Chez Renee website, here!

all images via Chez Renee

One Room Challenge: Week 1 | No Personality At All

October 3, 2019

Hi Friends! Today is an BIG day. Not only am I starting back blogging after taking a hiatus this summer, but my first post is about an exciting room makeover I’m doing. It’s not just any room makeover, it’s a makeover I’m doing as a guest participant in the Fall 2019 One Room Challenge (ORC). I’m so excited!

I have been following the One Room Challenge since it started several years ago and have come so close to joining before but never have. Well, now is the time!

If you’re not familiar with The One Room Challenge, here’s a brief rundown of how it works. The challenge was started by design blogger Linda Weinstein of Calling It Home blog. Linda had the idea of pulling together a group of bloggers to decorate a room over a six-week period. Each blogger shared the progress of their room design and on the final week of the challenge the completed spaces were revealed. Over the years, the ORC audience and participation grew and gained the attention of the design industry. Today, the event takes places every Spring and Fall and has become one of the most highly anticipated events for designers, bloggers and the design community.

Along with 20 featured designers, there are hundreds of guest participants (including yours truly) from all over the globe who will be making over rooms in their home or a client’s home and sharing weekly on their blogs and to social media. As the media partner, Better Homes and Gardens will also be covering the event and featuring some of the finishing spaces.

So now that you know one of the projects know I’ll be focusing on in the coming weeks, let me share a little about the room I’m going to be designing.

When I decided to join the ORC, I kept waffling back and forth between making over our guest bedroom or our master bathroom. Like many interior designers, I give so much attention to my design clients that my own home falls last on the list. The guest bedroom was a great option but the space has a tricky angled ceiling that I just did not want to tackle at this time. Plus, the room is already somewhat pulled together and really only needs a few finishing details.

The master bedroom on the other hand is screaming for design attention. I have basically ignored the room for two years and there is absolutely no personality in the space! I’m cringing at the thought of showing you before pictures but here goes nothing…

The Before

When we moved into our townhome 2 years ago, I had every inch of the interior painted. We also installed new carpeting and hardwoods. I am not planning to repaint the room or change the carpet but will be adding elements to both areas.

Given the layout of the room, there is only one way the bed can be positioned without blocking the large windows. I am not a fan of placing a bed in front of a window and definitely don’t like the foot of the bed facing the door (Feng Shui No No)! The bed sits on the left wall between two windows and will stay in the spot.

Windows Need Love

We purchased the bed and nightstand several years ago and love the shape so it will be staying. The bench at the foot of the bed will be getting a beautiful makeover!

A black dresser and armoire sit on the other walls. My plan as of now is to keep these pieces but give them a refresh. The Armoire actually serves as our linen closet since there is not one built into the bathroom. I’m going to Marie Kondo the armoire and will be sharing my organizing tips and favorite products with you.

The foundation is great so my plan is to give the space personality, design detail and visual interest. Here’s my summary of the challenges within the room as well as the features we love.

What Works & What Doesn’t

And here’s my vision for the space…

What’s To Come

Next week I’ll be sharing the inspiration board I created for the room along with my project and shopping list. I had hoped to start working on the room last weekend but our air conditioner unit for the top floor is acting up and the room is currently registering 90 degrees 🙁 If the heating and air company doesn’t get it fixed within the next day or so I may be showing you how I’ve turned our living room into a posh air mattress bedroom!

Be sure to tune into the blog each week to see how my design plan evolves. I’ve have great things planned and will be sharing design tips throughout the series.

The Fall One Room Challenge™ Guest Posting Schedule

Week 1 – October 3rd

Week 2 – October 10th

Week 3 – October 17th

Week 4 – October 24th

Week 5 – October 31st

Week 6 – November 7th – 10th THE FINAL REVEAL

You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook and my ORC Pinterest board. And be sure to follow our hashtags on Instagram…

#BHGORC

#OneRoomChallenge

#ConfettiStyleInspired

Thanks for stopping by the blog today. Come back next Thursday to see my plans for the space and what I’ve been able to accomplish.

Easter Tablescape | A Colorful Twist On Tradition

April 5, 2019

Happy Friday friends! Today’s the day that I’m sharing my fun and colorful Easter tablescape with you. I had so much fun creating this table decor and this just might be one of my favorites of all times.

The inspiration for my table started when I was organizing my table linens. First I pulled out the table runner that Boho Luxe Home made for me for the 2017 Merry & Bright Holiday Home Tour. You can see how I styled the runner for Christmas here. Then I pulled out a navy and white plaid tablecloth I got from HomeGoods. I put the two patterns together and that’s when the full vision of my table came to life.

Here’s my 2018 Easter tablescape…

Easter and spring tablescapes traditionally use pastels and soft colors, but my table puts a brighter and more colorful twist on Easter tradition.

For the place settings, I combined white plates, vintage Blue Willow plates and small blue & white bread plaid plates. I used woven placemats and bamboo silverware to add a more casual element to the table. The texture and darker tones are a nice contrast against to all the formal elements on the table.

p.s. this bamboo silverware is my absolute favorite and is such a great deal. You can snag a set or two of your own here.

white charger plate // blue willow dinnerware // white china //navy & white plaid plates (similar here)

Ashes Of Roses Table Runner // Blue & White Ginger Jars

rabbit with basket (similar here)

I created a really fun and unusual centerpiece using this adorable resin rabbit I found at HomeGoods. When I saw him, I knew he needed to come home with me.

I sat the rabbit in the center of a pedestal bowl that I had and added flower stems to fill the bowl and the bunnies basket.

faux flowers from Amazon

I added two blue & white ginger jars to the table along with a couple of small ceramic rabbits. And to make my tablescape even more “Eastery”, I filled tea cups with Easter grass and foil-wrapped chocolate eggs.

Instead of using a single color dinner napkin, I layered two colors together and added a brass napkin rings. You can check out the creative way I store my linen napkins here.

I just love the way my tablescape turned out. It’s so colorful and whimsical and of course has a little touch of chinoiserie which I love.

Now that my Easter table is done I’m going to start working on making Easter baskets. I’ll be sure to share them with you when I’m all done.

If you’re looking for creative Easter basket ideas I have two really fun and easy ideas for you. My DIY Easter Candy Jars perfect for kids of all ages and budget-friendly. And for the adults in your life, my Ice Bucket Easter Basket is fun to create.

To see my black, white and red Easter tablescape head here.

Classic Color Combination: Black & White

October 1, 2018

When you think about classic colors to decorate with, black and white should be at the top of your list. Black as a stand alone color is dramatic and refined. When paired with white it can take on sleek, modern feel. The two colors together are sophisticated and timeless and the perfect foundation for any room. It doesn’t matter if it’s a bathroom, sunroom or this beautiful living room that I spotted in Real Simple, black and white never fails to disappoint.

For more tips on decorating with black, read my Design Guide: Every Room Needs A Touch Of Black. And shop my favorite black and white decor finds below.

Velvet Flock Pillow // Akiko Black Velvet Chair // Vintage Rose Black Floral Peel-n-Stick Wallpaper // Tatum Black and White Basket

Laicie Floral Token Rug // Black Ginger Jar // Black and White Checkered Pattern Accent Chair

Callaway Table Lamp // Black Chandelier // Lancaster Settee // Lana End Table

Do you love decorating with black and white?

Weekend Wrap-up: Inspiring Ideas-Vol. 8

July 21, 2018

Happy weekend friends. It’s been a busy week in my neck of the woods. I’ve been working on client projects, shopping for my mom’s new place and we’ve been installing some new light fixtures in our abode. All good stuff but I’ve been on busy beaver.

I just wanted to pop in today and share a few fabulous finds and style inspiration. Enjoy!

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Entertaining & Organizing Inspiration…

I was literally drooling when Courtney at Pizzazzerie shared her prop room. Did you see it? It is truly AMAZING!!!! I loved seeing all of the tabletop pieces she’s collected over the years and uses in her stunning tablescapes. Now I think I need to start collecting cake plates and definitely need more dinner napkins! You can tour the entire space here.

On My Shopping List…

I am usually all in when it comes to shopping but I have to admit that I’m not all that enthusiastic about the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. I think every blogger in America (minus me) is sharing a round-up of their favorite fall picks. Even though I’m nowhere near ready to start buying fall clothes, I did take a quick look on the site and found a few items that I think are perfect to use now.

I’m a big fan of Voluspa candles and this trio of small tin candles can’t be beat for $15.90. The tins are the perfect size to use in a bathroom or guest bedroom and they also make a great gift. You might want to stock up now for holiday stocking stuffers.

The Bauble Bar Genevieve Hoop Earrings are jus darling. With every color in the rainbow included, you could easily wear these with something dressy or pair them with jeans and tee. And they are just $24.90!

This.Is.Such.A.Cute.Bag! While most of the handbags I own are on the larger size, I adore this Leith Bicolor Faux Leather Cylinder Bag. It’s the perfect weekend bag for shopping and jotting around town. And the color combo is a nice change from black.

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Entertaining Inspiration…

In case you missed it, I co-hosted a Backyard Bash Blog Hop this week with a few blogging friends. We shared loads of entertaining inspiration, tips and ideas so be sure to check out everyone’s post. I’ve listed the participating bloggers below.

M. Jones Style // Atta A Girl Says // Home On Poplar Creek // Positively Southern // Viva La Vintage For Your Home // ConfettiStyle

On The Bookshelf…

If you haven’t picked up your copy of Iris Apfel: Accidental Icon, you can snag the book at TJ Maxi for $16.99.

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Design Inspiration…

The Pinterest rabbit hole lead me to the portfolio of interior designer Lauren Muse. Her work is stunning. If you’re looking for some design inspiration to fuel your next home project, check out her portfolio here.

Thanks for following the blog. I’m off to check a few more house projects off the list.

I’ll see you back here on Monday with a tour of the new Ballard Designs store here in Atlanta.