How Sue Organizes Her Accessories

I have a new How I Organize series post for you guys today!  The spotlight is on blogger and shop owner Sue of The Zush, who shares with us how she beautifully organizes her accessories:

These photos are from my closet and the little dressing/vanity area right outside my closet.  I try to keep all my accessories (and I have a lot...I LOVE accessories) out where I can see them, but I like for them to look neat.  Right now I've got most of my clutches lined up on a shelf using pot lid holders that I picked up at The Container Store.  As for my perfumes and jewelry, I love to display them out on trays. We sell a lot of trays at The Zhush and this python one is my favorite.  I also love this little ceramic tray as a catchall for keeping smaller items like cell phones and earrings looking neat and pretty.  Finally, when I'm not sure if I'm ready to get rid of something, I usually move it into one of these fabric square storage boxes (also from the Container Store). If I go looking for it, then I know I need to keep it, if not, then after about a year, I'll usually give it away or donate the item.  If it's something really sentimental, I'll save it for my children.

-Sue

How Christina Organizes Her Jewelry

For this week's 'How I Organize' series post,  I'm excited to feature lifestyle blogger and vintage shop owner Christina Han Johnston. She gives us a peek inside her jewelry drawer and shares with us how she keeps it beautifully organized:

I've always been a magpie, even when I was a little girl, so it's no surprise that now as an adult, I own an online vintage home and jewelry shop (soon to be reopened). Since I collect jewelry for the shop all the time, I sometimes keep pieces for myself (a perk of being the owner!) and so my own personal jewelry collection can get out of control. I discovered one day on Pinterest that you could not only organize, but also display your jewelry in small plates and bowls. 

Well, luckily for me, I also collect small vintage plates so that's how I like to store my jewelry in my vanity table. It's an aesthetically pleasing way for me to see what's in heavy rotation and it makes it easy for me to grab and go when I'm in a rush. A lot of these plates I found at my local thrift store, so organization doesn't have to mean spending lots of money. And I love to use the gift boxes that my jewelry comes in (as long as they're pretty!). It's a practical way to protect really special pieces, and a great way to add a pop of color to your display area. 

-Christina

'How I Organize' is a guest series that gives a peek at how others beautifully organize their spaces. Find more of the series posts here. 

How Kristin Organizes Her Small Kitchen

The How I Organize series is back and I'm excited to feature my first participant of 2014 - the lovely Kristin of The Hunted Interior!  She gives us a look at how she organizes her small but very functional and stylish kitchen:Living in a smaller home makes you learn to organize and store things creatively. Utilizing the vertical space is one of those tricks we have learned to use to it's fullest.  We do store large pots & colanders above our cabinets, but we do try to keep them grouped together to minimize the cluttered look.  We also have a large basket that houses all of the less frequently used items such as muffin tins & baking utensils.  Hanging all of our pots & pans on a pot rack also allows them to be easily accessible, while still being up & out of the way.

Another vertical tip that has saved us, and our lack of counter space, is the use of a magnetic knife rack.  We have zero room for a knife block, so this simple addition to our backsplash again makes everything accessible while still feeling modern and stylish.

Being that a lot of our storage solutions are out in the open, I try to make them as visually appealing as possible.  In our open shelving this is accomplished by using all white dishes, storing dry goods in classic ball jars and grouping items such as our wooden utensils and storing them in an unexpected way.  I also like to keep items we use frequently out and at the ready.  The gold brioche molds are used most frequently as snack cups for my daughter. While we do not have a large kitchen, we have found that this space works really well for us. 

-Kristin

photography by Amanda Coker  

How Monika Organizes Her Jewels & Perfumes

Today I'm delighted to bring to you a new How I Organize post! Shop owner and lifestyle blogger Monika Hibbs (who just became a mom to a sweet baby boy!), gives us a look at how she beautifully organizes her jewelry and collection of perfumes:

I like to have most of my everyday jewelry in place, ready for me to quickly pick up and go! Having all those jewels organized on my side table along side my perfume is perfect!  The silver tray is from The Cross Design, one of my favorite home décor stores in Yale Town, Vancouver. The Stag Head jewelry holder, which holds my bracelets is from Front & Company in Vancouver. 

For pieces that I only take out for special occasions I like to have them all wrapped up in the boxes they came in. I laugh, because my husband thinks I'm a horder- whereas I like the organization of each piece in it's place! Takes up a little bit more room, but those boxes are just too nice to throw away!

headshot photo by Melissa Skoda, all others by Ellen Ho of Hong Photography 

How Irene Organizes Her Sideboard

A new 'How I Organize' post! Today participating is my amiga Irene of Designstiles, whose home I posted about yesterday. She shares with us how she beautifully organizes her sideboard:My sideboard is really a dresser I bought at the thrift store and repurposed. I like to organize each drawer by category. In the top middle drawer I keep misc tablesetting items - party hats, confetti, paper plates, cute gift bags, fun candles. On the top left drawer I keep candles and candlestick holders. In the four larger bottom drawers I store napkins and placemats in one, tablecloths in the drawer next to the napkins. Plates (like these) and chargers at the bottom and stemware to the right of that. I usually keep all my stemware wrapped but in this case, I unwrapped some of them to display. These gold elephant highball glasses are my favorite. I used to intermix all my tablesetting things until it got out of hand. Assigning each drawer to a different tablesetting item has made it so much easier for me to remember what I have. No more thinking I lost stuff.   -Irene

How Kelsey Organizes Her Armoire

This week, participating in the How I Organize series, is interior designer and room stylist, Kelsey of Kelsey Design. She gives us a peek at how she organizes her beautiful bedroom armoire:

I have been in love with French armoires for as long as I can remember. When I saw one on Craigslist, I knew my time had come. It still needs a little TLC and I haven't decided if I'll keep the wood or paint it white. I love when I open the doors to my armoire, I can see everything at a glance- no more opening and closing drawers to find that one piece!

I'll be honest, it is not always easy neatly folding all my pieces, rather than shoving them in a drawer. But, everything is at my fingertips! I can actually remember what all I have. Socks, t-shirts, undies, and flats are piled in baskets. My belts are in an apothecary jar and my scarves are in a clear basket- even your armoire needs a pop of color! I display my statement necklaces on a mirrored tray to stay inspired when picking out my outfits. The rest of my accessories are housed in a chest of mini drawers and my favorites are in a vintage blue candy jar. Vintage candy jars are one of my favorite ways to store favorite accessories- where practical meets pretty! I stack my jeans, pants, and sweaters. They are easy to remove from the stack without the whole pile tumbling down. Like colors are paired together...can you tell I'm in love with pink and red pants?

How Stephanie Organizes Her Handbags

Today we have blogger Stephanie Fisher of Glitter and Goat Cheese participating in the How I Organize series. She gives us a look at how she organizes her fabulous handbags:

I have to admit - I've always been the walk-in-and-throw-everything-on-the-floor type. My poor purses used to find themselves discarded on the floor on a daily basis. But when I became the proud owner of a chew-happy puppy with a penchant for raiding my bags, I knew it was time to find a better solution.

We rent a home without many built-in hanging solutions, so we utilize these over-the-door racks in several rooms. This particular one used to hold towels in our guest bathroom, but now it hangs in my office and is the home for my most-used handbags. (As you can probably tell - I have a bit of thing for black, gold and sequins.) The office is close to the front door, so it's a quick, convenient spot to unload my purse before I head in to greet my puppy. Plus, I love that my favorite bags are on display instead of hidden in a closet!

How Jenna Organizes Her Makeup Brushes

Today participating in the How I Organize series is Jenna of the lovely blog The Three Little Birdies.  She shares with us how she beautifully organizes her makeup brushes.

With an increasing collection of makeup brushes and makeup itself, I found myself frantically searching for a specific makeup brush every morning while trying to get ready for work. With no rhyme or reason, I would just toss my brushes in a drawer and leave them to get smashed by the million other makeup items I would throw on top of them.

I got the idea from Sephora to use clear jars filled with a weighted object to display and keep my brushes organized. While having a hard time trying to find beanbag fill, I opted for a $1.00 bag of white beans to use instead. I filled each glass container halfway full of the beans and stuck my brushes straight in the beans to stand them up. I designated one jar for eye brushes and one jar for face brushes. It was a cheap and easy alternative to easily find a brush, keep them clean and keep them organized. Another suggestion is to use coffee beans as a filler; your brushes will have an extra special scent and might give you an early morning boost while doing your makeup!

How Myrna Organizes Her Desk

Today we have Myrna of For the Love of Black, participating in the ‘How I Organize’ series. She gives us a peek inside her home to share with us her fabulous desk area:I've never really needed a desk area before, but since I've started my blog, I was finding I needed an area that was all mine, and of course it has to be beautiful so that it inspires me. So I find if I surround myself with things like my artwork, a scented candle, and beautifully organized desk supplies, I get the job done easier and it's much more pleasant.

A few things I've found to help keep me organized are for everything to have its place and that goes for around the rest of my home as well. On my desk I like to have paperclips ready to grab in a pretty little bowl, definitely a little notebook for those random thoughts going on in my head all the time, a great pen for notes, a pencil for sketching, my iPad, and a good light. I also must have a clock as I'm a stickler for being on time. And fresh flowers never hurt!!

Another thing I find is a must is to keep all wires from computers, lamps, and phone chargers out of sight if you can. Too much clutter looks disorganized. Ikea has some great cable management boxes and reels. Organizing as you go helps things from piling up and keeps your mind free from clutter too. I have a little black urn style container with a lid for receipts and little notes I don't want scattered all over my desk. For me, this is how I work best!!

How Shauna Organizes Her Spices

This week’s guest participating in the ‘How I Organize’ series is the lovely Shauna of Satori Design for Living who takes a holistic approach to design and organization in helping others beautifully transform their homes. She gives us a peek inside her kitchen and shares with us how she organizes her spices:

I have always loved using spices in cooking, but it usually meant searching through a basket of miss-matched packages, jars and tins to find the one I was looking for. Quite often I’d end up buying multiples of the same spice because it was buried at the bottom of a disorganized mess. I also never kept track of how long I had a particular spice and knew that in order to get the most flavor, whole spices should only be kept for three years and ground spices for just a year. (When a spice is ground, it releases the oils responsible for its flavor and aroma. As the oils dissipate, the spice becomes less pungent.)

To start with, I took stock of all the spices I had and weeded out the ones I never really use. I then bought small jars from the Dollar Store to transfer the spices into. It’s always much better to keep items the same to prevent an area from looking cluttered. I used small jars for most of the spices and larger ones for spices we use in greater quantities. I then found labels from the Martha Stewart line at Staples, printed the spice names using the computer and affixed them to the jars. Next, I applied a clear protective film over the labels to keep them looking new. On the bottom of the jar I affixed a small label and wrote the month and year the spice was put into the jar.

Currently I keep the spices on simple white trays on a shelf in my pantry closest to the stove. I store them alphabetically, with spices used more often at the front. This new system looks visually appealing and makes finding spices a breeze. I like the fact that I’m doing something good for the environment by purchasing small packets of spices (that can be recycled) to refill the jars. I also feel confident that dishes will be flavorful because of the freshness of the spices I use.

How Jocelyn Organizes Her Closet

This week's guest participating in the 'How I Organize' series is graphic designer Jocelyn of The Stylish Type, who makes and sells pretty decor prints on Etsy and frequently shares her uber stylish outfits on her blog. She gives us a peek inside her home and shares with us her beautifully organized closet:

My closet is small and far from the walk-in-closet I would one day like to own. For this reason, I have to be creative with how I organized it and take advantage of every square foot of space I’ve got. That’s where closet storage solutions come in handy. I’m all about using extra hanging rods, shelves, bins, special hangers, and anything else you can get your hands on to make your closet functional. One of my biggest pet peeves is having a huge mess and not being able to see what I own. Accessibility is also important so I organize by type and then color.

My new Real Simple solutions hangers that I purchased at Bed Bath and Beyond are the best for maximizing hanging space. They are ultra-slim and have a built in hook feature that can be used to stack clothing or hang accessories like scarves and belts. Utilizing these babies to their full potential could ultimately give me double the closet space. A belt loop hanger is also a good investment to keep belts organized and visible.

I own a lot of coats for those chilly San Francisco days so I used an extra closet rod to take advantage of the lost space under my tops and skirts. I purchased some stackable shelves to double my shoe storage and used clear bins to store hats, scarves, and clutches. For those narrow spaces where traditional shelves won’t fit, I used an ordinary locker shelf to gain a little extra space. A basket on the floor is also a good place to store extra blankets or miscellaneous belongings.

Extra Tips:

*Use command hooks on the walls to hang hats or necklaces. They are easily to use and don’t require hammering into the wall.

*If you have a door that opens towards you, use the back and hang a shoe organizer. It’s the perfect place to store flats and flip-flops.

How Jean Organizes Her Entry

This month's first guest participating in the How I Organize series is Jean of Flower Hill Design Company, whose design aesthetic I love. She gives us a peek inside her home and shares with us her beautifully organized entry:

My design dilemma was that I had an entryway closet that blocked my front door from my living room space. It was small, cramped, dark and not functional. Living a busy life style, I needed organization that allowed me to keep the daily essentials within reach, without having a space that looked cluttered and unorganized.

My solution was to remove the old entryway closet, opening the front door to the living room and allowing more light to fill the space. I designed a built-in closet in another area of the home that not only had space for in season coats and shoes, but incorporated cubbies to hold the day to day essentials that were ready to "grab and go". Items include my handbag, keys, and accessories like sunglasses or lipgloss. It also needed to provide storage for transient things like my son's school papers that need to be referred to in the short term, incoming mail, a place to store my laptop when not in use, and some basic office supplies (i.e. a pen for a quick note, tape, notepad, etc...). I painted a mural on the interior of the closet. By treating the closet design like another area of my home (not just a storage space) it keeps me motivated to keeps things looking pretty.

There is a hanging rod for in season coats. Beneath the hanging rod there are two shelves which is ample storage for our in season shoes. An upper shelf holds baskets for hats, gloves, and scarves. The cubbies hold my handbag, accessories, laptop, and basic files to hold paperwork that needs to be referred to but is not quite necessary to be filed away in the office filing cabinet. An urn holds pens for quick notes (either notes to the teacher or a grocery shopping list). Simple DIY storage boxes made from shirt boxes hold some basic office supplies like tape and a stapler.

Everything has it's place. The cubbies make everyday essentials easy to find. It makes a busy lifestyle and constantly being on the go so much easier. Having a designated space for everyday essentials keep my countertops clutter free.

How Annie Organizes Her Nightstand

This week's 'How I Organize' guest is new pal and professional organizer, Annie of Live Simply. She gives us a look at how she beautifully organizes her nightstand:

My nightstand is small, meaning that I have to keep it really streamlined. I do most of my reading and note-taking in my bed, so for me its important to keep pens, highlighters and sticky notes on hand. Since I always sleep with my hair tied back, my nightstand also has hair ties or a clip. There is nothing worse than being on the verge of sleep, only to realize that you have to get up to get a hair elastic! I also apply hand moisturizer and chapstick right before I go to sleep, so having those two things within arms reach is a must.

I like to keep a cup of water next to my bed as well. For a long time this meant that I would end up with a collection of cups on my nightstand and none in the kitchen. I finally solved that problem by purchasing a special cup meant only for my bedside. I don’t bring cups from the kitchen upstairs because I know that cup is there, and I since I only use it for water (and it’s only me using it) I feel fine about simply washing it in the bathroom sink with soap and water.

I keep a small stack of books by my bedside, but make sure that they are only the ones I am currently reading. If it’s completed or neglected, then back to the shelf it goes!

How Maggie Organizes Her Bathroom Cabinet

The How I Organize series, which gives us a peek at how others organize their homes, is back! I've got some fabulous participants lined up. First up is my friend and Seattle-based interior decorator, Maggie of Maggie Rose Interiors (who just launched a new e-book!).  She shares with us today how she organizes her bathroom cabinet:

Our apartment has no under-sink storage, but it came with a generously sized cupboard in the corner near the door. It's not the prettiest thing to look at, but it holds a LOT of stuff! It's nice to have everything at eye-level instead of getting down on your knees on the bathroom floor to dig stuff out from under the sink. 

The top shelf (out of my reach!) holds infrequently used items like beach towels, a small tub for soaking, and back-up bulk kleenex. The next shelf holds back-up toilet paper (we keep 3 rolls in a glass vase near the toilet so guests don't have to scrounge), once-in-a-while beauty and health products, travel supplies in a shoebox, and our first aid kit (blue bin on the right). The third shelf from the top holds towels (holds up to four plus our two in rotation), hand towels, cleaner, and the heavy kitty litter box - I wish there was a better place to stash that, but the litter box is in the bathroom, so it makes sense. The bottom shelf is the most frequently used and easiest to reach. I have a basket for everyday items (hairdryer, etc), occasional items (feminine products, curling iron), and the basket on the right holds all the washcloths. It's not uber-glamorous but it IS uber-functional and I can find everything quickly. Maybe someday I'll get around to painting or wall-papering the inside, but for now, it does its job!

How Victoria Organizes Her Vanity

Today participating in the How I Organize series is the super sweet Victoria of the lifestyle blog vmac and cheese. She gives us a peek inside her home and shows us how she beautifully organizes her makeup, perfumes, products and other lovely things atop her dresser:I'm not the type who likes to hide everything away -- my house definitely looks like someone lives there and my vanity area is no exception! An antique wood dresser which belonged to my great grandmother is right at home in a sunroom off of our bedroom, which we use as a dressing area. Atop the dresser, I store makeup in clear acrylic drawer and cosmetic organizers that I purchased from The Container Store. I also showcase different perfumes and products on an old mirrored tray found at the flea market; jewelry rests in a repurposed ceramic soap dish. Getting ready in the morning is easy with all my items in quick reach, and the area looks pretty, lived in, and organized!

How Melissa Organizes Her Fabric Library

Today participating in the How I Organize series, is the beautiful and talented Melissa Warner of the design firm Massucco Warner Miller.  She gives us a peek inside her team's beautifully organized LA studio:

When we moved into our new West Hollywood design studio, we wanted to restructure the way we organized our fabric library. Although we'd never compile an entire room from our fabric library, we do love to have our favorite fabrics and wallpapers at our fingertips, to use to add that final touch on a room scheme, or sometimes even inspire an entire room's palette. The fabrics are organized by color and then type (geometric, floral, stripe, solid/linen/velvet/etc.) and with the clear doors it's very user friendly and easy to find exactly what you're looking for!

How Laura Organizes Her Shoes

This month's first guest participating in the 'How I Organize' series is the incredibly chic Laura of Laura Cattano Organizational Design and of the blog The Order Obsessed. She shows us how she beautifully organizes her shoes in her dressing area :

My dressing area is set up like my personal boutique with everything organized and displayed beautifully. This Lack bookcase from Ikea fits three pairs across perfectly, and there's room in the back for my special occassion shoes stored in their original box. Positioning the shoes front to back saves space. Off-season shoes are put away to give more room and so I'm not distracted by ones I can't wear now. 

How Megan Organizes Her Magazines

This week's guest participating in the 'How I Organize' series is the beautiful Megan of Honey We're Home. She gives us a look at how she keeps her magazines and catalogs in order:

One of the things that can quickly get out of control at my house is the major influx of magazines and catalogs. As soon as I receive them, I immediately sort through the ones I want to keep, donate the rest, and put the ones I want to read in a big basket near my bed since I like to read before I go to sleep. After I've had a chance to read through my favorite mags, I like to keep them for future reference and store them in inexpensive Ikea magazine holders in my office. Keeping the magazine holders all white keeps the space looking clean and fresh! 

How Lauren Organizes Her Necklaces

Today I'm excited to share a new guest series which will feature a peek at how others organize their belongings and various little spaces in their homes!

Kicking off the series is the lovely Lauren of the food blog A Full Measure of Happiness. She gives us a look at how she beautifully organizes her necklaces:

I had that terrible situation where you have too many necklaces in a box, and they start to become one giant knot of beads and string that threatens to  break every time you have to detangle it. So I thought of a magical idea involving a towel rod and shower curtain rings. Not only does it keep my necklaces organized and safe, but they area all on display so I never forget about anything that I have and can easily choose the best look for any outfit just by giving the bar a quick glance. I use it every day and I know my Mom had my Dad set one up for her too.