Category Archives: how i organize series
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!
Posted in bedroom organization, how i organize series
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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!
Posted in bathroom organization, how i organize series
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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!
Posted in creative workspaces, how i organize series
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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!
Posted in guest bloggers, how i organize series
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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.
