In January all we hear about is everyone setting big goals for the New Year?
But what if we take the pressure off and set some small goals that are an easy win?
The one thing I truly believe is that it is the little things that can make the biggest difference in our homes, closets and wardrobes. What are some examples to make small changes that are super attainable?
-De clutter your drop zone area and set up a pretty tray or dish for keys.
-Add new throw pillows to your couch to refresh your living room.
-Add a lamp in a dark corner or buy fresh flowers.
-Make your bed everyday.
-Shop your closet and put together 3 outfits that are easy for grab and go.
-Follow the “one in one out” rule. You buy something and get rid of something. This will help keep your house manageable.
The weather cools off, the leaves start falling and I love the cozy feeling it all brings. If you start planning and getting your house organized now then you can have more time to enjoy the holidays.
Some ways to get ready for Fall:
-Swap out your closet and bring out your Fall and Winter pieces. Don’t forget to do a shoe swap as well!
Fall is all about layering in North Carolina so remember there are lots of pieces in your wardrobe that can be worn year round. Once you add those third pieces like cardigans and jackets then your wardrobe can be more versatile.
-De clutter to be ready for entertaining and guests.
Don’t stress at the last minute when you are hosting a party or having family come visit. Doing some reorganizing and creating household systems will make your house much easier to maintain.
-Add some cozy accents and accessories to make your house more calm and inviting.
Think throw pillows, blankets,cozy bedding, candles and twinkle lights. All these accents can make such a difference in how your home feels.
-Create some go to outfits for Fall and Winter by shopping your closet.
Once you take inventory of what you have creating new outfits by shopping your closet is part of the fun. This will also help you make an intentional shopping list for any pieces you may be missing.
-The ultimate goal is for you to love your wardrobe and wear everything in your closet.
-Do you want to clean out your closet once and for all and get rid of what no longer feels like you? But you feel guilty about your past shopping mistakes and overwhelmed about where to start?
-Sometimes clients don’t know why they aren’t wearing an item. Is it the fit? The style? The color or pattern? Or is it just a matter of creating the right outfit with it?
-Shopping your closet can be so much fun. I love helping women create new outfits using what they already have.
– I like to think outside the box and create interesting color combinations and add accessories to complete the look. The idea is to embrace your current style and have fun with it!
-And yes sometimes an item just doesn’t work. But this is the easiest way to know you gave it one last styling attempt and it’s time to let it go.
-Shopping your closet saves you time, money and frustration. When you do need to add some pieces to your wardrobe you can create a VERY intentional shopping list.
Have you shopped your closet lately? Are you bored with your wardrobe? Are you constantly running out shopping to buy something new?
How is your closet feeling this Spring? Are you constantly wearing the same few outfits? Are you frustrated with your wardrobe? Tired of trying on things that don’t fit or don’t feel like you?
This is why I LOVE closet edits! A good closet clean out can provide so much clarity and save you time, money and frustration. Once you get rid of everything that isn’t working then you will feel so much better! When the seasons change it is the perfect time to evaluate what you actually wear. The seasonal swap is a great time to take inventory and you can make an intentional shopping list based on what you truly need. Then when Summer rolls around your closet is organized and your wardrobe is refreshed! Just in time for those summer vacations.
This photo shows a closet of “styled” outfits I have put together for my busy client. We know all of it fits and looks great on her. The whole outfit is ready, complete with jewelry! It’s an easy grab and go. No more last minute clothes crisis before work, your next event or a last minute trip!
I like to shop your closet and mix different colors, pieces and accessories so that you never get bored with your wardrobe. There are so may great staple pieces that can be styled a million different ways. Once you have the staple pieces you need then it makes getting dressed so much easier. The staple pieces in your closet are the building blocks to an outfit and the accessories and third layers are the icing on the cake.
How would you feel if you could open your closet and have an outfit ready for any occasion?
Let’s dive into your closet! I’m ready when you are.
We can’t all be lucky enough to have a giant closet. These days all you see on social media are these beautiful dream closets with floor to ceiling storage and gorgeous chandeliers. However, many of us (myself included) have to make do with an average size closet. Over the years I have lived in many different style houses. I have to say my husband and I love old houses with all the charm but none of the closet space!
Therefore, I have had to learn to get creative to max out my storage space. Also, I have learned that you don’t need as many clothes as you think you do! Weeding things down to what you truly love and wear is half the battle of having an organized and streamlined closet.
I wanted to share one of my absolute favorite storage solutions for a small closet. It is truly a game changer! I have used this in multiple houses for my own closet and used for clients as well.
It is called the Elfa Start a Stack and you can find it at the Container Store. There are a few different versions once you start looking at Elfa but one of the things I like about the start a stack is that it is a freestanding tower of drawers. It is perfect for rentals and small spaces. So if you are someone that likes an easy solution that can be assembled in less than 30 minutes then this is it! It does come in a few different widths so you want to measure your space but I have found the depth perfect for a small closet and the height as well. It slips perfectly under your hanging clothes so that you basically have a built in dresser under there maximizing all that space.
I actually do not own a dresser anymore and use these drawers for anything I don’t want to hang. Leggings, workout wear, pajamas, casual tees, scarves, lingerie, lounge wear…It makes putting away your laundry a breeze! I file fold or roll most of my stuff so that it is easy to see and grab.
These also work great in kids closets! And there is a taller version you can buy and use to max out that wasted vertical space. You can also use it to store kids clothes, toys and craft supplies. The best part is the kids can easily find things and easily help put them away.
The start a stack is such a multipurpose storage solution. It’s great in any closet, pantries, laundry rooms, craft spaces, kids homework spaces.. the possibilities are endless. If its a little over your budget just keep an eye out for the Elfa sales which run multiple times each year!
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….
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.