TEXTILE TIPS TO HELP YOU GET ORGANIZED

A big part of Spring cleaning is also home organization. Before all our "stuff" turns to clutter, we need to take some time to clear it. But it doesn't have to mean a trip to the store to buy all new Martha worthy totes! Although that would be nice, over the years I've simply used what I already have: existing storage boxes, file boxes from Office Depot / Max, hangers and shelves for stacks. I sort my home textiles by color (pillow covers and window panels) and label the boxes. All the textiles (and pillows) are kept in one closet. If the closets starts to get over-stuffed, I know it's time to donate - to friends, mom, or Goodwill...

Pillow covers may take up less space than continually buying dec pillows, but they can pile up too. Take time to sort the piles into similar colors. Put sorted colors into labeled boxes or totes.

When winter comes, and you're feeling like switching from the brights of summer,

it will be easier to refresh your space.

Keep and reuse some of the store zipper packages.

This helps when trying to fold up and store slippery fabrics like sheers.

Even if you don't have boxes or totes,

stack your home textiles by color on shelves.

Use what you have - use space to hang

some of your window panels or even table cloths.

Label totes and tuck into back corners what you don't use that often. (I don't scrap book so the boxes on right are memorabilia such as our cards and photos.)

Use above shelves in your closet to stack & store dec pillows.

Colorize & alternate your stacks (helps keep them from falling).

Can't stress this enough: Sort by color.

Sort by color.

Keep like prints together - label "Black & White prints".

Use what you have: No fancy shelving system or Martha worthy decorative totes - but

 the closet is still organized.

Be sure to put away the piles - you could have space you don't even know about.

You can even sort your textiles by theme which can make it easier

to pull out when a holiday comes around.

I recently acquired a generous (free!) stack of fabric samples from my friend Jose.

While at his studio one day, he saud, "Take what you want" so I did - but they too are colorized in a stack.

Not all textiles need to be stored away

in a closet, but use the same concept: sort by color.

Use a buffet adjacent to your kitchen or dining area to sort table linens.

Darker colors sheets I usually use for fall & winter.

For spring & summer I like the whites - and now a bit of B&W prints.

I don't know about you, but I destroy white towels with make so

I prefer to use dark or printed towels.

I love my zebra towels - must be the Leo in me =)

Under sink in master bath - hubs only likes to use white towels =)



Hope these tips helped with some of your Spring Cleaning!

What are some ways you organize your home textiles?

Linking Post To

Elements Interiors Link Party



What's going around? Spring Cleaning Fever!

It's that time of year, when we open the windows to let in some fresh Spring air... and also notice all the dust that accumulated during the closed up winter months. You don't have any dust? Rrrrrright - even the cleanest of houses have accumulated dust from pet hair to lint. It's on your baseboards, on your staircases, and on your shelves, TV, books & picture frames. Dust is under & on furniture, on your window panels, rods, & sills. And it's even on your light fixtures, kitchen cabinet tops, computers and probably comfortably resting on the shoulders of hangers garments in your closet - which is a hint: Too much stuff and time to donate.



Feeling overwhelmed? Fear not. It doesn't all need to be done in a day. To make the chore of spring cleaning easier to tackle, write yourself a list of all you wish to accomplish. Then break it down into smaller categories and you'll not only be done in no time - you'll feel proud (and clean) too! Some categories to break down the chores could include:

Read: Spring Scrub Down!



UPSTAIRS / DOWNSTAIRS:
Even if you live in a small two story townhome, tackling cleaning can be overwhelming. To help ease the stress and still balance some time for yourself - tackle downstairs one day and upstairs on another day.


ROOM BY ROOM: Top - Down - Clean

Start each room by looking up: check for cob webs, dirt on air vents and dust on ceiling fan or light fixtures. Clear off bookcases, dust shelves, books and objects and when you put them back, try a new arrangement. Take rugs outside for a beating (lol) and even shake-out or wash window panels (or better yet: switch them out all together for something light & bright!!) Evaluate your space and its needs: Looking for less clutter and more storage?

Take note of some decorative storage boxes you could use - but only to hide the things you do use. If you haven't used it in 6 months to a year - "chuck it". The same goes for closets. Some ideas for your chuck it pile: besides donating to Goodwill or the Salvation Army you could also: Donate to a church or charity, just give items to friends or family, have a garage / yard sale, or have a closet swap gathering with your friends and then donate the leftovers.



CLOSETS / GARAGE:

Simply put: clear the clutter and put the piles away. Evaluate your space - how you're using it and what your needs are. Create zones or categories to keep like items together - same is true for pieces of storage furniture. I keep decorative glass containers in one place, and metal containers in another. While you're in the garage, check your paint inventory because you could use what you have to freshen up inside. Take notes of needs (like extra totes, shelving or tools) but FOCUS - don't get side tracked into another project until you're finished with this one =)





KITCHENS & BATHS

Become a bleach baby - and unless you're a pro at wearing black - wear all white =) and definitely be sure to have Magic Erase - it's FANTASTIC for cleaning anything white!! (have you seen the finger prints on your white doors, white moldings and white stair railings lately??)

IN THE BATHROOM: Start with clearing the cabinet clutter: Seriously, do you REALLY need all those hair and beauty products? You could probably condense multiple bottles of shampoo to one and the same for conditioner. If you know a skin product didn't work or made you break-out - "chuck it". Clear out bathroom drawers and baskets / totes: you'd be surprised how much of your blush & bronzer dust wonder into these places and then got sealed with hair spray overspray. Wipe down light fixtures and shelves. Q-Tips and an old toothbrush are great for cleaning nooks & crannies. Magic Erase works great on removing make up stains from white cabinets.

IN THE KITCHEN: Clear off the counters and start at the top: tops of cabinets - and work your way down. Clear & clean out lower cabinets. Is there something you don't use anymore - like that deep fryer - do as Emily says and "chuck it" into a donation pile. If you have drop in appliances (like your stove & fridge) MOVE THEM - or may have have some unexpected guests for breakfast one morning (lol). Pitch, refresh, and label your spices. Check expiration dates on boxed and canned goods. Empty drawers and grab your mini Dirt Devil to collect all the crumbs. In the fridge, after the wipe down - change the box of baking soda and display (yes display) some of your fresh fruits & veggies out of their store packages. Out of site (in that lower drawer) means out of mind. If you see it, you'll eat it and create less waste.

WINDOWS / CARPETS / FLOORS:

- Inside / Outside windows can be easily cleaned with newspaper, vinegar & water

- Scrub tile grout and Magic Erase works wonderful on tile floors

- If you don't need a deep professional cleaning for your rugs scheduled, you can refresh them with spot cleaning using Resolve foam spray. If you have carpeted stairs & pets: Not only vacuum your stairs, but also use a brush starting at the top of the stairs and work your way down. This will help to loosen dirt, collect pet hair and wake up the pile on your rug.

PAINTING:
Springtime is a great time to try a new color or touch-up those dings. This is also a good time to refresh stair railings, door moldings or baseboards with a fresh coat of white (semi gloss or gloss is great to enhance architectural details). Why not also give your accessories a renewed look with a new color like white?  This is also a great way to unit a collection of similar items in various shapes. Pick up both flat & gloss paints: Use flat for smooth surface items and use the gloss to highlight textured items.

Read: Think Green When You Spring Clean

To help save with gas (and time) try to minimize the amount of trips out you make. Create a plan for one day and in one route to:

~ Drop off donations

~ Drop off dry cleaning

~ Pick up paint, shelving or tools from Home Depot or Lowes

~ Pick-up any storage totes or boxes you may need

~ If you go to Target for your totes, you could also pick-up groceries and even some fresh flowers. Clip manufacturer's coupons and if you have a Target card, use it and save an additional 5% on your purchases =)



After you've cleared the winter cob webs, added some fresh cut greens from your yard or neighborhood, let in the natural light, and given yourself a few bloom bursts in each room - sit back and enJOY!! Congratulations! You've made it through cleaning the inside of your home! Now you're ready to take on outside =)

What are some ways you spring clean around your home?
I'm going to tackle the office today - wish me luck!

Happy Spring Cleaning!!



Have you had your 'style diagnostic' done yet?

What is that you ask? The style diagnostic is the fresh approach the latest Design Star winner - Emily Henderson - has to pulling a look together in a home, defining the space uniquely as you. On Emily's show, Secrets From a Stylist,  Emily takes a "tailor-made approach to styling a room" by customizing the room "layer by style layer" to ultimately help the homeowners discover their individualized personal taste (somewhat similar to Find Your Style). On Emily's show, she demonstrates this by asking the owners to choose some fave items from what Emily has selected from around their home. She also plays a game with the owners called "Keep it? or Chuck it?" Emily then will come up with a style (hence her 'diagnosis') to be the inspiration for her hunting and gathering new items for the space.



The twist is though - the items may be new to the space, but they aren't necessarily all chain-store new items (like only shopping at West Elm or Crate & Barrel). She shares tips on how she saves money by buying vintage or thrifted items, and tweaking them - through paint or upholstery (hence looking at lines & shapes when thrifting). Emily also keeps a photo journal of what she spots - to perhaps use in a future project. This past Saturday's episode, she even showed viewers how not to be discouraged by the high retail price of a pillow, but how to create a look for less. Yes - it is something several DIYer's already know, but not everyone can do.

Emily Thrifting

Emily Thinking

Besides her down-to-earth and quirky personality, what I have enjoyed about the show is that Emily is explaining to viewers the what, why and how of shopping thrift & vintage (almost like a blog turned TV show). She easily  demonstrates one room styled two ways. Although a budget isn't shown, the cost of item selections are and they are more reflective of the way we think in today's economy. Her first two episodes have done a great job of demonstrating to viewers that from a simple shift to shopping thrift you can create a personal style that is uniquely YOU. And that truly is what makes a house a home - rather than looking like a merchandised store.

From Emily's first Episode - Option 1

Same room - Option 2

No construction - just paint and a simple switch of rug, accessories and

some furniture - but not necessarily its placement.

You can catch a re-cap of her show she posts on her blog at Emily Hendrson's Blog, as well as check the schedule and room reviews on HGTV.com. There is even a site created for you to upload your won pictures (similar to the Rate My Space format) and Emily can diagnose your design style.

Have you seen it? What do you think?

 

STORE TOUR: Z GALLERIE NEW SPRING SET

With all the driving around I've been doing lately for David & the ColorSplash team, it has enabled me to pop into stores more often and see there updated floor sets. I'm totally in LOVE with the refreshed look welcoming customers at the entry of Z Gallerie, in South Miami. What I love about it so much is the refreshed color palette - vibrant and paired more with white - than with gray, black or brown. They even highlighted their all white sofa more by keeping the sofa simple, and framing it with strong color blocked vignettes. These settings are oh-so South Florida and perfect for Resort Markets. They will even help break the ice up north...

Sumba Ikat Chair

Sumba Pillow 24"

Eddie Accent Chair

Lola Side Chair - White Linen

Mimosa Reversible Bedding - Aquamarine

 

Area still in progress - but still looking good!

The white birds add fun and whimsy to some faux bamboo...

Even existing espresso store fixtures are lightened up with a refreshed look

paired with more white... LOVE the painted black stripes on some otherwise ordinary white plain paper lanterns (That's an EZ DIY project!!)

Love this look so much so - it just may have become a source for new inspiration

(even though I was HOT for PINK!)

What have you been inspired by lately?

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!