Newsletters

Organizing Storage

The One Thing You Have to Do Before Buying Any Storage Container
It’s happened to all of us — that powerful urge to run to Target and buy all the storage containers to corral all that mess. But there’s something you MUST do — every single time, before you buy any storage container, ever. One of the biggest mistakes we make when we try to bring order into our environments is spending time organizing things we don’t actually need — and, quite frankly, don’t even want!
Shifrah Combiths
Mar 4, 2015
How to Be Your Own Professional Organizer: 10 Top Tips from the Pros
We can all use a little organizing reminder every now and again; I know I do. I always start out with the best intentions, and then they fall by the wayside shortly thereafter. I’ve gathered 10 tips used by professional organizers— just to scan over — whenever I need a little help getting back on track: 1. Get Ready The Night Before.
Alysha Findley
Feb 27, 2015
Before & After: From Balustrade to IKEA Built-In Storage
Ewa and husband Andrew approached their new home’s balustrade in an interesting way. With only a tiny hall closet, they could benefit from some additional storage. See what they did with a trip to IKEA: From Ewa: My husband and I moved into this VA townhouse late summer. We knew we would be removing wall to wall carpeting before our furniture was to arrive in only 4 weeks. We had little time and not a huge budget. We decided to DIY the floors.
Tara Bellucci
Feb 15, 2015
Beautifully Organized: Collections
What’s the difference between collecting and clutter? I ask myself that question often as I’m guilty of buying multiples of (too) many things. You can avoid clutter status by putting your beautiful collections on display. Here are 16 examples of great collections—including my own tea cup collection!
Melissa DiRenzo
Jan 31, 2015
Control the Clutter: Organizing with Trays In Every Room of the House
You know the table in the room where you just put ‘stuff’? Or that collection of ‘things’ you love, but don’t really have much in common with each other? Or all the essentials in your kitchen or bathroom that you want at an arm’s reach that clutter up the counter? An easy solution to controlling that clutter without really having to change your habits is to start organizing with trays. A tray takes a bunch of stuff and turns it into one element.
Melissa DiRenzo
Jan 16, 2015
How This Year Finally Made Me a Minimalist
All of my adult life I’ve been waging a sort of small-scale war: a war against The Encroachment of the Stuff. I think, though, that when I look back on the history of this conflict I will see 2014 as the year that marked the turning of the tide. 2014 is the year that finally made me a minimalist. In 2014 I lived in four different places: one in Paris, two in Houston, and one in New York.
Nancy Mitchell
Jan 15, 2015
5 Things To Purge From Your Bathroom Today
Sure, you give your bath a surface clean every once in a while, but admit it—there are things lurking in your bathroom that you probably haven’t seen for years. Time to change all that, my friends. Time to tackle the bath — and deal with these five things right now.
Jennifer Hunter
Jan 14, 2015
Before & After: Closet Turned Colorful Office Nook
We can all agree — too many closets is a good problem to have. Tanya decided to trade the closed storage for more square footage in her home office. See how she transformed it after the jump: From Tanya: In my current home and the one before that, I’ve been lucky enough to have a spare bedroom to use as a home office. In both spaces, I’ve needed less closed storage space and more square footage, so I’ve turned the closets into nooks, simply by removing the closet doors.
Tara Bellucci
Jan 11, 2015
Putting a Slightly Different Spin on Clearing Life’s Clutter
Christmas is often a time of accumulation, while New Year’s is often a time for starting fresh. Often, this means getting rid of things, taking stock, and cleaning up one’s house and life. But before you dive into the “gotta get rid of it” mode, make sure you’re approaching the process from a positive mindset.
Carolyn Purnell
Jan 3, 2015
New Year, New Habits: 4 Tips for Checking Off To-Do Lists
It’s human nature to want to take advantage of the fresh start that a new year brings and really feel some forward momentum. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the amount of things that need to be done to get things in order but strong lists can help make even the most ambitious New Year’s goals do-able, bit by bit.
Shifrah Combiths
Jan 2, 2015
Join Us to Get Organized in 2015: The January Cure
Do you want 2015 to be your best year yet? We believe that when your home is under control, fresh, clean and organized, good things happen throughout your life. If you are ready to really get your place back in shape (and reap the rewards for the whole rest of year) the very best way is one manageable step at a time, during our once-a-year-only January Cure. By the end of the month, you’ll be sitting pretty in a clean, fresh, organized home. We can do this – together!
Janel Laban
Dec 17, 2014
Before & After: A Thrift Store Media Cabinet Gets a Makeover
What do you do with a perfectly good, sturdy piece of furniture that has potential but is a bit heavy visually on the eyes? If you’re Kim, you give it a fresh paint job and add some design details that make this piece one-of-a-kind! From Kim: I’ve long since coveted a sleek mid-century modern media credenza.
Adrienne Breaux
Nov 22, 2014
Dream Closet DIYs: 10 Ways to Organize & Store Accessories
A huge, ginormous walk-in closet — complete with loveseat and island — may not be an option for you, but a well-organized and functional storage space is completely possible and do-able. These ten easy DIY projects will help wrangle all your myriad accessories in an orderly fashion, and make everything easy to find when you get dressed in the morning. TOP ROW An simple and pretty Anthropologie-inspired scarf hanger, from Poppytalk.
Dabney Frake
Nov 21, 2014
Worry-Free Decluttering: 8 Things to Get Rid of that You’ll Never Even Know Are Gone
It’s one thing to get rid of items that have a lot of sentimental value. It’s easier to ditch stuff that you don’t care about, have duplicates of, or just don’t really need. If you are starting a long-overdue purging process, start with this list. Trust me: you won’t miss a thing once they are gone. Coffee Mugs: Many people mindlessly collect mugs, much like business cards or matchbooks.
Dabney Frake
Nov 12, 2014
7 Secret Spots to Hide Valuables at Home
A friend of mine was recently burglarized. Their place was completely ransacked in the process and several valuables were stolen. Fortunately, a few of the most precious items were left unscathed because they were hidden away in a small storage safe disguised as a book, hidden in a pile of other hardbound copies.
Gregory Han
Oct 10, 2014
Before & After: An Outdated Closet Turns Functional Family Entryway
Having a whole closet right by your front door is amazing for storage if you’re a family with kids, but not if that closet comes with big outdated mirrored doors that don’t work well and don’t allow you to see what’s actually in the closet. Jen got to work, transforming this old closet into a very stylish — but most importantly functional — welcoming storage spot for her family. From Jen: This all started because this closet was not working for us.
Adrienne Breaux
Oct 5, 2014
Before & After: A Bulky Dresser Gets Bold & Black
How do you take a plain, bulky cabinet and turn it into a complete show-stopper? If you’re Miruna, you go the opposite of subtle. A few bold materials, an interesting pattern and this dresser gets quite the makeover! From Miruna: I’ve been wanting to use black chalk paint for a while, but could not find the right piece of furniture to stand up to the challenge. When I found this dresser online I was not very sure what to do with it, but I knew I loved it. So I bought it.
Adrienne Breaux
Oct 5, 2014
Parental Wisdom: 3 Tips for Organizing Your Kitchen Cabinets from My Mom & Dad
This week marks the start of a new chapter for my mom and dad. After four pleasant years spent in Northern Virginia they’re loading up the car and, along with the dogs, hitting the road for their new home in Atlanta. This isn’t the first, or even the fifth home they’ll be moving into during their thirty-one year marriage, and they’ve become quite adept at quickly and efficiently organizing a new space.
Erin Roberts
Oct 2, 2014
The Sentimentalist’s Guide to Dealing with Children’s School Papers
As every parent of school-age children knows, they come home with a lot of paper!! Whether it’s the tenuous-but-determined pencil scratches of the letter M or the (very detailed) drop-off and pick-up instructions, these papers will pile up — and very fast — without a plan for managing them. Here’s how I try to stay on top of all the papers that follow my preschooler and my kindergartener home. Anything you know you don’t want to keep, recycle right away.
Shifrah Combiths
Sep 12, 2014
10 Ways to Squeeze a Little Extra Storage Out of a Small Bathroom
Is your bathroom clutter getting out of control?
Nancy Mitchell
Aug 26, 2014
Before & After: A Creative Solution for a No-Closet Bedroom
When you don’t have a closet, it might make sense to fill your bedroom with big furniture so you can pack away your clothes and accessories, hiding your apparel as a method to cut down on clutter. But what if those big, bulky and dark furniture pieces are doing more harm than good? Christina did away with her furniture, instead replacing it with a DIY clothes organizing solution that might be inspiration for folks with small spaces and little storage.
Adrienne Breaux
Aug 23, 2014
Pro Organizer Tips: What NOT To Do When Decluttering Your Home
Organizing words of wisdom from a pro.
Catrin Morris
Aug 4, 2014
Before & After: A Vintage Sideboard Goes Matte & Midnight
What do you do when a wood sideboard — covered in deep scratches and other marks — needs a makeover but you’re not looking to brighten it with a coat of white? You could go with a color, or you could skip straight to something dramatic and do what Suzanne did. From Suzanne: This vintage sideboard was in need of a makeover. It had many deep scratches along the top and other marks and scratches.
Adrienne Breaux
Aug 3, 2014
13 Temporary & Removable Adhesive Products All Renters Should Know About
Because renters like nice things too!
Dabney Frake
Jul 21, 2014
Before & After: DIY Coat Closet Makeover
Mallory from Classy Clutter had been itching to make over her coat closet since she the day she moved in. She found that no one in her house, including herself, wanted to hang up their coats when they had to untangle hangers and fiddle for a spot to hang their coat. She decided it was time to remove the hangers and closet bar, and replace them with hooks and bins.
Kate Legere
Jul 8, 2014
Before & After: A Sideboard Gets Diagonal Color for a Dining Room!
From Samantha: I chose to paint it grey. But when we put the sideboard inside, hubby looked at it and said “its too boring, too serious.” So I decided to do something different! We just love how you personalized this piece you found for free to fit into your home with your personality! Thank you Samantha!
Adrienne Breaux
Jul 5, 2014
Tips for Sticking to Your Budget: Getting Clothes Shopping Under Control
Sometimes getting a bargain isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. There are tons of tips out there for getting a deal on your clothes shopping — shop off season for coats and swimsuits, swing by the store on a Wednesday morning to scope out the new markdowns, use the department store’s extra percentage off coupon, etc.
Erin Roberts
Jun 20, 2014
Before & After: A Subtle and Sophisticated Storage Fix
Ama had found this piece of furniture at a garage sale but wasn’t quite sure what to do with it for a few years. It had great bones, but the finish was in pretty rough shape. Though not a drastic change, the finished product came out stylish and sophisticated and is now the perfect storage piece for her dining room! From Ama: The cabinet cost me $50, dyeing, varnish and handles about $35, plywood for shelves, new door and feet cost me $23 and paper for background about $12.
Adrienne Breaux
May 4, 2014
Living Without: An Attic, Basement, Garage, or Large Storage Area
Recently, for the first time in my life, I moved to a space with a basement. After spending so many years without one, I’ll admit that at first I was hard-pressed to figure out what should go there. Thanks to having more tools, holiday decorations, and some extra kitchen supplies, I now have that covered, but it definitely got me thinking about what I did before I had all the extra storage space.
Carolyn Purnell
May 1, 2014
Small Space Inspiration: 10 Closets Turned Workspaces & Home Offices
Thinking of turning a spare closet or nook into an office or craft room? Check out these 10 examples for inspiration. TOP ROW: 1. Studio Renovation from Cardboard Sea 2. Home Office from Natalme 3. Closet Turned Home Office from A Cup of Mai 4. Tiny Closet Office from Design Addict Mom 5. Jason’s Closet Office from Apartment Therapy BOTTOM ROW: 6. Melissa’s “Cloffice” on a Budget from Shoestring Magazine via Apartment Therapy 7.
Kate Legere
Apr 30, 2014
IKEA Hacks: DIY Ways to Make Cheap Wardrobes Look More Expensive
We often turn to IKEA for cheap storage options, which makes their basic wardrobes a popular item in a lot of homes. Clever DIY projects and hacks pop up as people discover ways to upgrade the units to look more expensive and custom-built in their spaces. Here are 8 great projects to think about yourself: Designer Tommy Smythe updated his PAX doors with molding and vintage knobs. Combined with the sleek black paint, this new storage looks high-end and beautiful.
Dabney Frake
Apr 16, 2014
My Small Home: Lauren’s Small Space Solutions
1000 square feet for a family of four sounds completely reasonable, but these days, it’s started to feel a bit cramped. As our family has grown we’ve simply had to get more creative with how we organize our space. While we’re very lucky to have three bedrooms, two of them lack a real closet space and are very oddly shaped. (The joys of living in an older home!).
Lauren Hufnagl
Apr 15, 2014
The 10 Commandments of Keeping a Small Space Organized
Living in a compact (read: tiny) one bedroom with my fiancé and our two dogs sometimes resembles a giant game of Tetris. When it comes to cramming our lives, complete with hobbies, home cooking and my photography business, into 450 square feet organization is key. Here are a few of the ways that we manage. 1. Build upwards.
Kim Lucian
Apr 15, 2014
How To Deal When Your Closet Isn’t in Your Room (or Maybe Isn’t Even a Closet)
Small space dwellers have a whole set of issues that folks who live in more spacious homes could never understand. Take this one, for instance: in a perfect world, your (incredibly spacious) closet is conveniently attached to the bedroom or even the bathroom. But what do you do when your closet is in a weird place? Or you have a tiny closet? Or no closet at all? Well, you start getting creative.
Taryn Williford
Apr 3, 2014
How to Stay Clean and Organized During Craft Projects
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of looking up at the completion of a project and realizing that a once perfectly tidy room has been destroyed by some sort of crafting whirlwind. I am usually that whirlwind. I think a lot of us are usually that whirlwind. I’ve put together a few tips to help us all stay clean and organized during future projects. It certainly makes crafting more fun when it doesn’t involve massive cleanup at the end! Start with a clean surface.
Erin Roberts
Feb 21, 2014
Hang Ups: 10 Magnetic Key Holders for Easy Organization
This past Christmas I gave a magnetic key holder (#3 above) to my husband which was really a gift to our home, so it was really a gift half to me. Instead of our key dish which had at some point become overrun with spare keys to my sister’s, my neighbor’s, and several sets of “mystery keys”, we now each hang up our keys when we arrive home and it saves us the aggravation of fishing through a bunch of keys as we’re dashing out the door.
Carrie McBride
Feb 7, 2014
Stylish Storage: 10 Smart Ways to Organize Your Pantry
For years I’ve coveted pantries, and now that I have one… it’s kind of a mess. Keeping a well-stocked pantry user-friendly is definitely a challenge, but the wisest minds online are here to help… From across the web, here are some of the best ideas for keeping your pantry organized. You’ll never spend 15 minutes digging around for the sugar ever again. Open + Industrial Perhaps the best way to keep your pantry looking its best? Make it public.
Tess Wilson
Feb 7, 2014
5 Ways to Declutter: Conquer Clutter Before It Conquers You
As many of us are probably feeling at the close of the January cure, there’s something so refreshing about an empty, cleaned out space. Keeping clutter from multiplying and knowing what to do when it starts to grow are essential for maintaining a peaceful living space. Here are five ways to get and keep that clutter out: 1) Work clockwise. When faced with a space you want to declutter, staying focused is key.
Shifrah Combiths
Feb 5, 2014
Before & After: From Uninspiring Shelf to Ultra-Functional Floating Storage!
When Griffin found this old shelf just “collecting dust” at a local thrift store, she knew there was some place in their home for it, perhaps the garage or maybe the playroom. But it was some creative thinking (and not even that much work!) that transformed it into a surprisingly sophisticated storage piece for a dining room! From Griffin: With the help of my husband we started by removing the base which was made up of 2x4s.
Adrienne Breaux
Feb 2, 2014
How To Organize Digital Photos
Raise your hand if you’re like me and your downloaded photo files are a huge, unorganized, hot mess. Yeah, I thought so. Although the digital age has made it so convenient to capture all the moments in life that you want to remember, this also means that there are way more photos to organize and keep track of.
Alysha Findley
Jan 28, 2014
10 Habits of a Highly Organized Person: How Pro Organizer Jeni Aron Keeps Her Own Life Under Control
Meet Jeni Aron: an organized person. Since how truly organized minds work are still a mystery to many of us, I set out to ask our top video organizers: what are the top 10 habits that you actually use to keep your own life organized? First up, Jeni! 1. Know what you like and stick to it. I know I only like Aveda shampoo and Kiehl’s face wash. This seemingly shallow information actually creates less confusion and clutter in my shower.
Rebecca Blumhagen
Jan 21, 2014
Before & After: Laundry Nook Refresh
Potential can be a dangerous thing. Like when I sell myself on a fixer-upper accent chair from Goodwill, convinced I’ll watch a YouTube video one day and learn how to upholster it back to glory. “But it’s got so much potential,” I tell myself, while the chair collects dust in the basement. Bri of Emerson Grey designs saw similar potential in this laundry nook in a potential new home… Thankfully, her story ends better.
Taryn Williford
Jan 20, 2014
Fresh Start: 5 Things You Should Do Every January
I’m not usually one for New Year’s resolutions, but I am always interested in rejuvenating my space, work and life in the New Year. January is a great month for cleaning up problem areas, whether they are physical problem areas in your home, or work and financial issues. Here are a few of our top tips for simple tasks to help get your new year get off to a great start! 1. Declutter your desk or work area and go through important papers. Tax time is coming!
Andie Powers
Jan 16, 2014
12 (Okay 13) More Items You Probably Own Too Many Of
There’s something about the new year that puts me into declutter mode. So, it’s not surprising that Thursday morning, the New Year’s Eve hangover now thankfully a memory, there I was, donation box in hand, tossing, tossing, tossing, starting with my favorite gotta-goes, the multiple multiples.
Abby Stone
Jan 7, 2014
10 Clever Ways to Store Stuffed Animal Collections
Ready to organize those stuffed animal collections for the new year? Some parents recommend purging until you don’t need a storage solution, but some kids love their stuffies so much that they’d love to keep them all. If you agree to house a bunch of these toys, you might want an aesthetically pleasing way to store and display them. We’ve rounded up some simple and clever ideas for keeping plush toys corralled and displayed so that, hopefully, everyone is happy. 1.
Beth Callaghan
Jan 6, 2014
Before & After: From Beige to Bold!
Seeing potential in this heavy storage piece from an old bedroom set, Carmina set to work transforming the blah beige finish to a handful of shades of just one hue. Now beautiful and functional, it’s got a modern color palette that updates its style and creates one unique addition to a home! From Carmina: We rescued this piece from a house being cleared out after an estate sale down the alley from our home.
Adrienne Breaux
Jan 4, 2014
Before & After: TV Nook Upgraded Into a Home Entertainment Center
Renting almost guarantees you’ll be living and working around compromises, and perhaps nowhere more so than when it comes to planning a home entertainment setup. Awkward layouts can prove a challenge, especially when you can’t move or tear down walls like a home owner.
Gregory Han
Nov 5, 2013
Before & After: Ursula’s Guest Corner
If you’re a serial host (or even a regular guest!), you’ll appreciate Ursula’s “guest corner”— a bookshelf in her hallway that houses all the necessities for her visitors. Though it was always practical, she gave it a pretty update to really welcome those out of town-ers. Spa day at Ursula’s, anyone? Color us impressed by those DIY wire baskets! From Ursula: It is amazing what a little paint and a bit of organization can do!
Tara Bellucci
Jul 5, 2013
Before & After: Natalme’s DIY $7 Nightstand Cable Organizer
Does the sight above look familiar? With the array of mobile devices found in the average household, it’s increasingly common to keep many or all of these portable devices within arm’s reach.
Gregory Han
Apr 16, 2013
Before & After: Ashley’s Pantry Makeover
My bi-fold pantry door is an eyesore. It has a fake woodgrain and blocks the left side of the shelves when it’s opened. But it’s an unusual size, so finding an off-the-shelf or salvage replacement has been impossible. I thought about converting it à la Jason’s closet-door hack, but then I stumbled upon Ashley’s attractive solution. While she didn’t have a bi-fold to begin with, her door replacement would work for just about any ugly door, including mine.
AnnaMaria Stephens
Apr 11, 2013
DIY Secret Hiding Spots
TOP ROW: 1. Stylish Wall Storage from Mamamekko 2. Doortop Stash from Make 3. Beck Marks the Spot for Secret Storage 4. Secret Storage Sofa from Ana White 5. Hidden Jewelry Box from Design Sponge BOTTOM ROW: 6. Hollow Stash Book from Vivid Please 7. Hidden Bookcase from Imgur 8. Floating Secret Drawer from Stashvault 9. DIY Hide-a-Key from Zakka Life And, if all else fails, just go buy this and stick it in your fridge: 10. Iceberg Lettuce Safe Do you have a secret hiding spot?
Dabney Frake
Mar 13, 2013
Before & After: Kimberly’s Overflow to Organized Pantry
Who hasn’t opened their pantry or cabinets to a mess and thought — there’s not even any “real food” for dinner? Kimberly’s pantry needed a clean out and some order. If this ‘before’ photo looks familiar to you, check out what some labels and dollar bins did for her: From Kimberly: I decided I’d just take one shelf at a time one night a week and organize everything. That idea lasted until I finished the first shelf.
Tara Bellucci
Mar 5, 2013
Before & After: Kim’s Closet to Craft Room
The closet in my guest bedroom never hosted much clothing, and I decided it’d be a perfect tucked away spot for sewing and crafting.My workspace in my last apartment was a craft cabinet, so a closet was a step up. I painted the bottom portion of the wall with leftover paint and built a desk with wood and metal braces from Home Depot. I hung acrylic shelves on the left wall and added a custom corkboard, task lamp, filing cabinet, and calendar.
Kim R. McCormick
Feb 28, 2013
Before & After: An Organized Mudroom
I love before and after projects that involve a good afternoon of organization — no paintbrush, no tools… just some motivation, a vision, and some hard work.I recently came across this mudroom makeover and thought it was a great example of how a before and after doesn’t have to be a super-expensive or super-involved affair. It’s encouraging to see how little changes can have a big impact!
Sarah Dobbins
Feb 26, 2013
Before & After: Michelle’s Industrial Jewelry Chest
When Michelle found these old tool chests at a fairground in Norman, Oklahoma, she immediately envisioned a way to restore them to their former glory and put them to good use. With a great deal of work and some serious elbow grease, they became what she calls her “keeper of treasures.”For some interiors the rustic industrial look might have worked, but the edges were sharp, the piece was covered in grime, and rust had overtaken the original finish.
Carolyn Purnell
Feb 26, 2013
Before & After: Closet Under the Stairs Gets a Dramatic Makeover
Harry Potter isn’t the only one with a cramped cupboard under the stairs. KariAnne Wood had a similarly awkward closet off the living room in her farmhouse. Previously it was just wasted, forgotten storage for random things, so she decided to make it a more useful and special spot in the house. See more of this project on KariAnne’s blog, Thistlewood Farms Thanks for sharing KariAnne!
Dabney Frake
Feb 25, 2013
Before & After: Drab Cardboard Boxes Turned Chic Organizational Bins
Emily of Namely Original is a crafty college student who’s never short on clever DIY’s and always excited to share them. This time she’s taken some boxes headed for the landfill and turned them into organizational bins cute enough to put on display.This is certainly one of those crafts that begs the question “Why didn’t I think of this?
Lauren Pavao
Feb 8, 2013
Beautifully Organized: Shoe & Bag Storage
When you’re short on space, shoes and bags are some of the hardest items to give a proper home. It seems like they’re always hanging around in the wrong rooms, getting crushed together in a too-small bin, getting tangled together on a top shelf, or gathering dust at the back of a closet. Here are some lovely and clever ways to put those shoes and bags in their proper place.Top row (shoes):1. Bookshelves with glass doors make for a great display option and dust-free storage.
Carolyn Purnell
Jan 29, 2013
Pins Piling Up? 5 Ways to Keep Your Pinterest Boards Clean & Organized
I know what you’re thinking. Oh man, aren’t there enough things in this world to clean? Now we have to tidy up our Pinterest boards? I’ll leave it up to you to decide if it’s worth your time, but I spent an hour doing some work on mine the other day, and it felt kind of good. I use Pinterest A LOT these days, so the pins build up quickly. The more current and relevant the boards are, and easy to navigate, the more useful it is as a tool.
Dabney Frake
Jan 10, 2013
Before & After: Anna’s DIY Custom Closet
While Anna’s mid-century house has a fair share of closets, they weren’t exactly outfitted to store much stuff. Faced with the predicament of storing two young boys’ clothes and other belongings, Anna decided to build out the closet herself.A lot of us have faced a similar problem with our own closets — one measly shelf and a long hanging clothes bar do not exactly make the base for an organized closet.
Jason Loper
Jan 4, 2013
Advice From a Pro Organizer: Fall Closet Cleaning
People always think of the new year as the perfect time to clean out closets, but professional organizer and declutterer Nicole Anzia of Washington DC-based Neatnik prefers to do it after Labor Day. “I always think of fall as a new beginning. Summer is over, kids are back at school and everyone else resumes a “normal” schedule in September. Plus, the weather is about to turn crisp, so what better time to clean out your closets?
Catrin Morris
Sep 13, 2012
5 Tiny Tweaks to Keep Your Bedroom Closet Organized
A newly reorganized closet is a sight to behold. You’ve cleared the clutter, your belongings look great, and you can check another chore off the list. If you’re like me, however, this feeling lasts a shockingly short time before the clutter creeps back. I just re-cleaned a closet I organized only a few months ago, and I’m determined to keep it nice with this list of easy tips.
Kathleen Luttschyn
Sep 10, 2012
Guaranteed to Save You Money & Time: Tips for Organizing Your Fridge
I’m always surprised by how much money I can spend at the market. While there are lots of things you can do to save money on food — limit your grocery runs to once a week, eat out of the freezer and pantry instead of ordering out, take lunch to work, shop with a grocery list — for me it all starts with having an organized fridge. Not to mention a clean one.Having an organized fridge is more than just a matter of things looking neat and pretty.
Abby Stone
Aug 8, 2012
9 Steps To Arranging A Well-Organized Kitchen
Whether you’ve just moved into a new space, are settling into a summer rental, or are just frustrated with your kitchen, here are some ideas to help you arrange your kitchen for maximum cooking and cleaning efficiency that will making mucking about in the space a lot more fun.Start with what you have: You may love them, you may hate them, but unless you’ve got the money for a full scale renovation, your sink, stove and refrigerator aren’t going anywhere.
Abby Stone
Jul 25, 2012
Before & After: Outdated Entry Gets a Hotel Inspired Makeover
Jill’s entry from the garage had been a thorn in her side for months. Though the checkerboard floor was a great feature, the paneled walls were dark and dated; certainly not the warm welcome home she craved. In addition to a brighter color, Jill knew she wanted to add what she calls a “landing pad” for shoes, coats, bags, etc — a spot other than her kitchen table!
Colleen Quinn
Jun 20, 2012
5 Secretary Desks for Narrow Spaces
I’m on the hunt for a secretary desk that folds up to hide records, office supplies and a laptop. Must be tall, thin and handsome, with plenty of storage space. Modern, clean design preferred.It will be such a relief to move office work out of the kitchen and into its own space. Here are the secretary desk contenders so far:1. Campton Smart Technology Office Armoire from Pottery Barn2. Tall Blond Secretary by Thomas Wold3. Hallings Secretary by Thomas O’Brien from Hickory Chair4.
Rachael Grad
Jun 11, 2012
Tips For Storing Luggage at Home
For those of us who don’t have much closet space (let alone garages, attics, or basements!) where oh where are we supposed to store our luggage? Sure, there are some decent soft-sided suitcases out there, but many of the most durable suitcases are not exactly beautiful and they have hard sides and take up some serious space. One solution comes from the folks over at the blog In Decent Order who screwed in hooks high up on the wall of a large closet to hang their luggage from.
Catrin Morris
Apr 3, 2012
Before & After: Cabinet Goes from Sleepy to Uniquely Stylish
This snores-ville cabinet could definitely use a slap of paint to liven it up a bit. There is no question about that. But to give it even more personality, more pizzazz, what can you do?We’re reminded once again at the power of adding the right hardware; look at what a pair of mismatched, unexpected knobs does for this piece.Want to customize your cabinet in similar fashion? The brass finish Secret Key Handle from Anthropologie is available for just $4.95.And those lovely numbered knobs?
Jackie Boucher
Feb 7, 2012
How Long Should You Keep Electronics and Appliance Packaging?
All it took was two episodes of “Hoarders” and I knew that the next morning I was going to…had to…go downstairs to clean out our apartment basement storage area. Hidden downstairs was a slowly expanding Jenga pile of boxes, the majority of them empty, but all kept under the presumption I’d need them later for moving or resale. It was time to get serious and clean house for 2012…The biggest source of empty boxes were for electronics and appliances.
Gregory Han
Jan 10, 2012
Hide Awkward Electronics With Oversize Art
The cable for my building comes in a weird location half way up the wall in the kitchen. It’s awkward and problematic. If I would have seen this cool project a few years back I might have been inspired to do something about it before now. Don’t hate the problematic wires and modems, embrace them — oh yeah, and cover them up with giant artwork!Back in 2009 (that’s like a decade in cat years!) over at Mamamekko, this great oversize artwork was featured.
Sarah Rae Smith
Jan 6, 2012
Before & After: Danny Seo Gets Organized
The image above is of the Danny that the world knows. Calm, cool, organized…let’s just say, Martha-like in his homemaking skills. Well, here is proof that everybody has a spot in their home that could use a little attention.
Janel Laban
Nov 1, 2011
Before & After: Streamlining Scarf Storage
I may have a bit of a scarf addiction. With practically nonexistent closet space, they were taking over the hooks on my bedroom door. Not only was it an eyesore, it was impossible to grab a coat or scarf without creating an avalanche of accessories. This weekend, I found a solution that was quick, inexpensive, and visually interesting. Check out the after, after the jump!My bedroom is a square with this little nook large enough to accommodate the open door.
Tara Bellucci
Oct 20, 2011