Organizing+Styling for Home and Wardrobe
I can’t believe it is already September! I do have to admit I am relieved we may get a break from this heat finally. Fall is my favorite time of year and I thought it would be fun to share some inspirational decorating ideas with you.
We all get in a rut from time to time and think we have to decorate in traditional holiday colors or stick to a certain look or theme.
The main goal is to have fun and be creative!
-Kristina
Spring is flying by! Has everyone finished their spring cleaning?? I am sure many of you are thinking ahead to the summer months and planning your next vacation. There are many things you can do now so that your next trip is easy and you don’t have all those last minute things to do.
Summer travel checklist:
-Go through purses, tote bags and luggage and make sure they are all empty from last trips. Donate any pieces that you no longer use.
-Go through your toiletry bag and throw out and old expired products. Refill travel shampoos and soaps. Make sure you have what you need for your next trip. Make a list of anything you are missing and buy ahead of time.
-Go through your medicine cabinet and throw out any expired medications. Make a travel first-aid kit with pain and allergy medicine, band-aids and any other travel necessities.
-Make sure your car and health insurance cards are current and keep in your wallet or car.
-Make a copy of the contents of your wallet in case it is lost or stolen. Keep the copy in a secure place so you can access in an emergency.
-Stock your car with an umbrella, extra jacket, sunglasses, kleenex, hand sanitizer, a few trash bags and anything else you may want on the road.
-Stock your purse with a few snacks in case you get stuck somewhere and need a boost.
-Make sure your phone contact list is updated with important numbers such as doctor, vet , pet sitter, etc. in case you need to call from the road.
-Create a checklist for your next trip so you don’t forget anything.
I read a quote the other day on instagram that I really loved. “The white space in our life is where the magic happens. “The quote was written by Brian Gardner from the site No side bar.
It really made me stop and think. We are all so busy scheduling appointments and checking off lists and rushing to the next big thing. But what if those quiet moments in between are where the magic in our lives really happen. Sometimes its the littlest things and the unexpected moments that make you really appreciate your life and bring you the greatest happiness.
So next time you are stressed out and over scheduled take a minute to appreciate “the white space”. And if you want a more in depth look at this idea of simplifying your life check out this article “Why the White Space in Our Life Matters” by Brian Gardner at no sidebar.
It is that time of year again! Time to put away the winter clothes and boots and get out your spring and summer wardrobe. Do many of you dread doing the swap?? Here are a few tips to help make the swap less painful.
Take the time to weed out things you did not wear this season before storing your winter stuff. Get rid of anything stained, worn out or no longer your most flattering look.
A few questions to ask yourself when cleaning out your closet:
Would I buy this if I was shopping today?
Would I wear this if I wanted to impress someone I hadn’t seen in forever (like an ex- boyfriend) ?
If my house was on fire what would I save out of my closet?
(of course many of us would not worry about clothes or shoes but things that are more important to us) However, pretend for a minute that all other items were safe-what clothing and shoes do you love so much you would save them?
Do not put something in the category of lounge wear just because it is not good enough to wear out of the house but you don’t want to part with it. How many lounge outfits, gardening clothes and clothes for projects like painting do you really need?
Okay so once you have done the hard part of getting rid of stuff then you are ready to store off season away.
-Make sure any items that have wool are stored in a cedar chest or closet or in a garment bag protected from moths.
-Leave some transitional items in your closet if you have the room.
This will save you from having to go search for items if we have a cold snap or rainy day.
-Items that will wrinkle easily or are dry clean only try to leave hanging so you don’t create more work for yourself when you get everything back out.
-Before storing shoes I like to check the bottoms for mud or dirt and do a quick wipe down with a clorox wipe before I store them away.
-Container store has great boot boxes. They are clear and the perfect size. A little pricey at $10 per box but you can buy a few a year and build your collection.
-I like to store my other winter shoes in a shallow clear bin that will hold multiple pairs. I don’t think it is necessary to have each pair of shoes in its own box. That makes for unnecessary bulk.
Hope these tips help make your transition a little easier. One crazy thought that I have been sharing with my clients lately is to try to pare down your wardrobe significantly so that you can fit ALL your clothes in one closet!!! I know that makes most of you break into a cold sweat with a look of horror on your face.
On that note, I have been reading quite a bit about minimalist lately, capsule wardrobes and project 333. So more on that later….
Let me start with wishing everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day! In honor of Valentine’s Day I wanted to write something about the topic of love. We all get used to our surroundings and our house and sometimes get too comfortable with the clutter. But do we truly surround ourselves with things we love?
The very popular new book “The Art of the Magic of Tidying up” by Marie Kondo, does have one really good message. Does everything in your home spark joy?? Are you keeping things you do not love out of guilt, or because it was expensive or you just have a hard time letting things go? The designer Nate Berkus also wrote a book called “The Things that Matter”. The theme of the book is the same. You should surround yourself with things that make you happy and have meaning. Maybe items in your house are sentimental or do they just have happy colors or make you feel good? Choose your favorite photos to display, or a piece of art that makes you feel calm, a decorative object from a favorite vacation or loved one…. Whatever the reason is if you start to look at your house from a different perspective you will have an easier time creating the space you have always wanted.
One of my favorite things to help clients with is Holiday decorating! Everyone has their own unique style and holiday traditions which makes each house different and fun.
Most of us have acquired quite a collection of Holiday decorations but each year there is always a temptation to add something , change a theme or update a look. Holiday decorations don’t always have to be expensive. There are plenty of ways to spruce things up without spending much except for your time. (which I realize many of you are probably short on) But for those of you that are up for a little DIY decorating here are some creative ideas I have found over the years.
-Look at catalogs and magazines for inspiration to create the look you want
–White lights can make quite an impact-they can be used in jars, vases, hung from the mantel. (there are some great battery powered lights for those of you that don’t have easy access to an outlet).
-A can of spray paint can transform almost anything! If you have some decorations that need a face lift, maybe you have changed your color scheme? Basically if you like the shape of something but not the color just spray paint it and make it work with your decor. (vases, candlesticks, wine bottles, etc.)
-I have seen many things recently on Pinterest on how to make snow covered jars-a little glue and some epsom salt.
–Tree branches that have fallen in your yard could make great miniature trees. Stick the branches in a bucket of sand or rocks and cover the bottom in burlap. Then spray paint the branches white, add a little glitter or some white lights and you have a tree! (this would be great for a front porch)
– A little burlap, raffia or ribbon can add just the finishing touch to something.
-Buy some silk fabric for a tree skirt. It is a fraction of the cost and looks beautiful.
-Buy inexpensive garland and add your own ribbon and other embellishments. This looks more custom and high end and it reflects your own look.
-Go to the dried flower aisle and pick out some great pods and pine cones to add into your tree, wreaths or garland.
I just finished reading “the life-changing magic of tidying up” by Marie Kondo. The book has gained such popularity that of course I had to see firsthand what it was all about. I do have to say that out of the many organizing books that are out there this one is worth picking up. While I won’t spoil the whole book for you here are a few of the major points.
Sort by category, not by location:
The general theme behind her book is to gather all the like items from your house and sort by category not by location/room. For instance, if you are going to sort your medicine then gather it from all areas of the house-the bathroom, kitchen, linen closet or wherever and organize it at once. I have to say that I wholeheartedly agree with this method! This is the best way to organize and makes it easier to find items when they are in one general location instead of scattered all over the house.
“Does this spark joy?”
Her main mantra is ” does this spark joy?” She believes that every item you own should spark joy. I think this is a good way to gain a different perspective while tackling the organizing process. It really makes you think hard about whether or not to keep something. However, I do have to say that not EVERY item in my house sparks joy. Most of us have cleaning products, first aid supplies, laundry detergent and other necessities that we need to run a household. So while this philosophy works great for clothing, artwork, decorative items, books and other miscellaneous categories that are more personal it does not apply to everything in my opinion.
Never pile things: vertical storage is key.
Marie believes that everything is much more functional stored vertically. I do have to say that this works great in dresser drawers. Rolling or folding your shirts, leggings and other items makes them so much easier to see and access when they are stored vertically and each one is visible. And the best part of this system is that it is a real space saver!
A few other philosophies….
There are also many other philosophies shared throughout the book. Some of these may not be for everyone but it definitely makes for an interesting read. For example, the fact that your socks need a rest after being worn and should always be folded flat. Or that you should thank each item you own on a regular basis . Another one is that you should remove all soap, shampoo and conditioner from your shower after each use and wipe them down and store in the bathroom cabinet. The thought process behind this is that it keeps your shower much cleaner and the items from building up a residue. While this is a great thought I find it totally impractical for most people. If I did this I would find myself in the shower and wet with no soap or shampoo!
Those are just a few of the highlights so if you are up for some organizing or “tidying” inspiration I would recommend the book. You don’t have to agree with all aspects of the book to still enjoy it!
Sometimes we become so used to our surroundings that we do not look at things objectively. We all have a tendency to gather decorative objects and home decor without always thinking about it. Maybe a friend or family member gave you a gift that wasn’t really your taste or you inherited hand me downs from family. It is a common theme for people to keep things out of guilt. Take an honest look at your house and when decluttering choose to keep items that truly make you happy.