Simplify Your Chic: September 2017

Sunday, September 24, 2017

Closet Preview: Shoe Organization

Many people struggle with closet organization. The closet is an easy place for items to get tossed into and forgotten about because you can just close the door to hide the mess. One major component of any closet should be shoe storage. I am by no means a shoe fanatic, but I do have a healthy collection. From heels, wedges, sandals, slip-ons, boots, and running shoes, it was difficult at first to find a space-saving solution that would neatly store all of my shoes.

I decided to use a cube storage unit that came with pink bins for three of the cubbies, to put in the top of my closet. In the open cubbies, I display all of my favorite heels because it adds a bit of elegance to the mundane storage design. The pink bins contain sandals and sneakers that I wear on an everyday basis. I also have a stepping stool that can be folded away because some levels of the storage are hard to reach.

Home improvement stores are a good place to look for storage units ranging from small to large, or even custom sizes. This one from Target is a nice option if you are looking for a more affordable piece.

Sunday, September 17, 2017

Craft Clutter

Some of my favorite hobbies are painting and crafting! As a sorority girl in college, I definitely accumulated a large collection of craft supplies. Because I enjoy crafting so much, I wanted to make sure all of my supplies were properly stored and organized so cleanup would be an enjoyable task. I have two cabinets in the kitchen dedicated to craft supplies and use decorative storage bins, mason jars, and cups to organize the different items.

Every six months, I like to go through my bins and jars to clean out things that are old and things that I never use. For crafting supplies it is very important to throw away a product once it stops working or dries up, or else it will just take up space and you won't know it needs to be replaced!

I store my paintbrushes, paint pens, and regular pens in separate cups or mason jars, which makes finding them super easy. I keep all of my acrylic paints in a bin, all of my ribbons in a bin, all of my string and beads in a bin, and all of my paper crafting supplies in a bin. Once I am done with my art, everything has a place to be put up where it belongs.

Designer Desk

With midterms right around the corner, it's the perfect time to talk about great work spaces. It is very important to have a designated area, for work or homework, that you love to be in.

My desk makes completing assignments such a breeze! I love to keep my workspace clear of "traditional" desk items that can lead to desk clutter. Instead, I always have fresh flowers and a small piece of art. I keep all pens, pencils, highlighters, papers, and other desk necessities in the large drawer of my desk. By doing this, there's a place for work items to be put away and the desk looks like a cohesive designed area of the house when you are not working.

Creating a designer desk doesn't have to break the bank! I shop at Hobby Lobby for all my frames and mason jars (they're almost always 50% off), and Trader Joe's for my fresh flowers. I purchased my desk at Target a few years ago and I've been very satisfied with its quality. This one is almost an exact match!

Whether you are designing a desk for a dorm room, apartment, or home, keeping it simple is always a great route to go. If you like to switch up your style frequently, changing out pictures is an inexpensive way to update the space.

Sunday, September 3, 2017

Bedroom Basics: Declutter

When was the last time you asked yourself which items in your house were useful and which items were taking up space? A home filled with clutter is typically not the most efficient living space. Clutter makes it difficult to deep clean, find what you are looking for, and ultimately achieve a harmonious life.

According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of "declutter" is, "to remove clutter from a room, an area, etc." Simple enough, right?

When beginning to declutter a home, the most important places to start are the bedrooms. This is the room that you begin and end each and every day in. It should be relaxing, comforting, and inviting. The key thing to remember is that a bedroom is for sleeping and relaxing only! Unless you absolutely have no other space in your house and need to include a desk in your bedroom, I would advise against bringing work into your bedroom. My favorite thing about styling a bedroom is that you really have an opportunity to show off your personal style. I believe a person's bedroom really says a great amount about their personality.

After I graduated from college, I came across this dilemma. My bedroom didn't really show off my style and I had accumulated WAY too many things. I had just moved back home from my apartment at college and I basically had double, if not more, the amount of things for a bedroom and closet. I didn't know where to begin and felt like I was doomed to live a life of clutter and hoarding. Then I realized, "What if I don't really need all these things? What if someone else could use this stuff instead of it just collecting dust in my room?" It was hard for me to come to this realization. I still had many things I cherished from my childhood and high school, as well as all the trinkets I collected over my college years. I could never imagine getting rid of so many things, until I knew my life would be better off without them. I began by sorting through my clothes and ended up taking numerous bags filled to Goodwill. Then, I took pieces of furniture and appliances I had no use for to our local donation center that focuses on helping families who desperately need these items.

In the end, it felt really great to know I was helping other people, while also helping myself! I now feel calm and relaxed in my bedroom, whereas before I was constantly stressed and struggling to fall asleep at night. Removing my unwanted things also made it possible for my style to shine through. With a fresh coat of paint and some rearranging of my furniture, my bedroom was transformed into my own personal sanctuary.

I love traditional pieces. I found my bed, dresser, and mirror at a trendy antique shop that typically refinishes furniture with a beach chic look. My pieces definitely lean more towards a classic look rather than beach chic, so don't overlook a store based on its reputation. You never know what you might find!

An easy style tip that can transform a smaller room, is to hang your drapes higher than where the window stops and closer to the ceiling. This makes the ceilings feel higher and the room appear larger and grander. I only have one window in my bedroom, so I chose drapes that let a nice amount of natural light in. I also love to accessorize with mixed matched picture frames and metallics. No matter what your style is, metallic accessories and furniture will add a pop of shine and flair to your space.

Like my style? Here are some pieces I've picked out that will achieve a similar look.