Today I want to share a few tips from my own home. I'm not the most organized person by any means, but these simple storage ideas have helped me a lot.
First up, use a wood box as an instant shelf for shoes and boots. I love having this shelf, especially during winter months. It's a home for our rain boots most of the time!
Bar carts really can work wonders! My husband collects scotch and before we had this cart it was causing a little bit of clutter in our kitchen. Bar carts are perfect because they display your liquor collection and give you an interesting smaller piece of furniture for those hard-to-fill living room corners!
You can use all sorts of things to create storage for your home. Metal baskets, wooden crates, paint cans (and so much more) make great displays with just a few screws or nails! You'll save money, even against the cheaper shelving options, while creating something stylish and custom... win/win!
PS. Did you notice the polish in mason jars? I almost never misplace a color anymore!
I don't know about you, but if I can't see my accessories I forget I even own them! Displaying them out in the open is the best way to make sure they get worn.
Small pieces are so easy to lose track of! Last summer I invested in a bunch of small plastic containers, mason jars and closet accessories (like this one). I spent a day finding places for my small accessories and it has paid off... big time! I am finally able to keep track of my jewelry, instead of piling it into one big container.
I created this little jewelry display in ten minutes with push pins and paint swatches. It's easy, perfect for renters, and changeable for coming seasons!
If you don't want to spend big bucks creating custom shelving, try these ideas! I purchased some cheap wood shelves (1/2 price at Hobby Lobby) and painted them white. To utilize that space along the floor I stacked wire baskets on their sides for instant shoe shelves! I love being able to see all my shoes, at a glance, when planning outfits.
I am constantly gathering inspiration, sketches and magazine clippings for future dress collections. I created this little wall in my sun room to keep them organized. The rest are stored in the drawers, but at least they aren't scatted throughout the entire home anymore.
We painted our cabinets with chalkboard paint last summer. It was a one day project that gave our kitchen a lot more personality. Now we use the cabinets to jot down menus and grocery lists. It's functional and cute!
A little rope and clothespins can go a long way to create a pretty, but temporary, photo display! I've often used this method to display photos without the commitment of buying frames and putting holes in the walls.
Try mixing it up with odd or unique containers. This coffee container is used to collect spare change in our bedroom. I chose it at a flea market for it's design and color. I think it's fun to use vintage items for a new purpose in your home!
I love collecting pretty glassware, like this cake stand. Storage can be an issue in our smaller home, though. Instead of storing it all in our laundry room I try to find different ways to use it throughout the home. This way it's being used, even when I haven't baked a cake in quite a while.... :)
Bikes are beautiful! Use them at focal points in your home! The same goes for musical instruments. Don't hide them in the closet, bring them out and let them add personality to your rooms!
I hope you've picked up a few helpful tips! All of these photos are by Janae Hardy and were taken for my home tour, last winter. Have a great day... Elsie
If you want to take a look at our full home tour here are the links... Living Room / Bedroom / Kitchen / Closet / Bathroom / Sunroom
Great ideas, everything looks cute!
Posted by: Foodloveandhappiness | May 10, 2012 at 12:45 PM
such a sweet post! i love your little house. ours is small and cute so youve given me loads of ideas to make it more cozy and 'us'
Posted by: katie jessica | May 10, 2012 at 12:51 PM
I LOVE having our bikes hung on our basement walls!
Posted by: Brooke Field | May 10, 2012 at 12:56 PM
love your place and amazing tips! I'll think about them in a few months when I move out :)
Posted by: nadja | May 10, 2012 at 01:01 PM
All great tips! Pretty sure I'll be using a couple of these ideas in my little Brooklyn apartment!
Posted by: Melinda | May 10, 2012 at 01:03 PM
lovely! your house should be in one of those magazines ;) can't wait to get my own home to decorate some day, other than an apartment.. loving the paint swatch ideas, too! the walmart around here has no problem with me taking as many as I'd like for crafts as I've asked about it in the past, so new ideas are great!
Posted by: Rose Eva | May 10, 2012 at 01:03 PM
your place is so cute! and those are all great ideas for maximizing space and adding personal touches! so great!
http://dlezr.blogspot.com
Posted by: lindsay | May 10, 2012 at 01:06 PM
Oh I love this post! I'm currently reorganizing my apartment and needed some ideas, especially for all my jewelries. Thank you for sharing! xoxo
Posted by: Silk&Whiskey | May 10, 2012 at 01:07 PM
Adorable & practical tips - love the peek into you darling home!
Posted by: Ashleigh | May 10, 2012 at 01:07 PM
I adore the chalkboard cabinets, your home is lovely. :)
Posted by: Leah | May 10, 2012 at 01:11 PM
This post is so helpful, thanks!!!
Georgia
http://swonderfulgd.blogspot.ca/
Posted by: Georgia | May 10, 2012 at 01:16 PM
Lovely appartment and great ideas. c:
→le cours des choses
Posted by: Katharina | May 10, 2012 at 01:17 PM
This is such a great post, and such great timing. I just moved into a new house and I have been trying to nest and make it my own so thanks for the cutesy tips!
http://annaelainedempsey.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Anna Elaine | May 10, 2012 at 01:18 PM
I used pink milk crates on their sides to make extra space in my teeny tiny closet. I also love to decoupage cardboard boxes with pictures of what they contain. Sunglasses, scarves and mittens are especially great. The cute boxes are cute when they're out for the season and easy to find when I've put them away for a few months.
Jennifer
her-many-downfalls.blogspot.com
Posted by: Jennifer | May 10, 2012 at 01:24 PM
everything is so lovely! definitely remembering for future use, thank you :D
Posted by: Angie | May 10, 2012 at 01:36 PM
love this. and i'm totally like that about accessories... i almost always wear the same stuff because i don't have a great visual way to store them at the moment. jewelry display/storage is my next project. thanks for the tips!
Posted by: meredith taylor | May 10, 2012 at 01:38 PM
What is it about organisation that's so addictive !! I always want to organise every little area of my life into journals & boxes, I don't really know why. Today I bought a sweet 1950's style cabinet for my bedroom, in the process of painting it up for my make-up & things, exciting :)
Posted by: Charlie (forages and finds) | May 10, 2012 at 01:39 PM
your home is my absolute dream!
Posted by: Betty-Lou | May 10, 2012 at 01:43 PM
Wow, your home is super nice. Thanx for the tips, they're sure useful, I specially like solution for shoes and towels storage.
Inspiring.
Posted by: Barbara | May 10, 2012 at 01:49 PM
What a smart post!! Love the cake stand as a perfume collection area - the bar table for your scotch collection, the paint swatches, the visible accessories!
I've always loved finding odd containers to add a little zing to the place.
Cathy Trails
Posted by: Cathy | May 10, 2012 at 01:59 PM