Monday, February 20, 2012

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Wish List





I've never used drawers to keep clothes. I prefer to have all of my clothing items hung so that I can see them all and for easy access. Then I saw "The Amanda's" and Amanda changed my life. She puts my OCD and organizational skills to shame and I am so inspired to try some new organization tips and step up my closet game. After watching "The Amanda's" I immediately googled her business and "Liked" her show page on Facebook and of course checked out her photos. This is when I came across a little piece of Heaven....the first pic on this page! I have at least 100 basic tees and a solid 15 pairs of leggings okay maybe 20. The dividers allow me to keep s/s white v-necks and l/s white scoop necks separated and with a label at the bottom I will know where and what everything is! This is so beyond genius and I have never thought to roll your items so that you can see everything. But then again I haven't kept clothes in drawers in over 10 years so I wasn't looking for new ways to organize my dresser.
Luckily for my need to organize I already have a dresser (my first real dresser as an adult, I bought a crappy Ikea chest that broke a couple months after assembly) on my to purchase list. With this new purchase I'll have all kinds of new drawers to organize. I get so excited just thinking about it!

Heaven!!!!!

Oh, and the bottom 2 pictures are other drawer organizers I found at The Container Store. Also, the spring drawer dividers are sold at TCS too.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Accessory Table Update

Current Accessory Presentation

Before

Only someone as OCD as myself would notice the minor improvements made. There is now a watch case ($20, Bed Bath & Beyond [Black Friday ;-)]) and the acrylic bowl which houses costume rings ($1, Dollar Tree). There is an added necklace arm on the right ($8, Marshalls, half the price I spent on the other 3 from "Heaven") and I purged and got rid of most of the bangles on the coffee mug tree. Oh, and I switched the writing desk everything is displayed on for a 9 cube shelving unit ($40 [on sale] Target). What you couldn't see before was the push pin board where I display my necklaces. I spray painted it with some paint I had lying around to jazz it up but since Pinterest as come into my life I want to use fabric to decorate it.

The push board no matter how you decorate it is a genius idea to display jewelry. The board can easily be hung inside of your closet on that one wall most everyone has or on the back of your closet door.

Purging for Ebay

This is the result from purging clothes from my Master closet. I still have my coat closet, spare room closet and the extra bedroom that I turned into an accessories closet to purge. I decided to start selling on Ebay again and I've come up with a goal item I want to purchase with money earned (a new professional camera, maybe a down payment for a house [I Kid!]). The saddest part about the rack and pile of clothes is at least twice a year I give a good 5 garbage bags away or resell to thrift stores. Just this past August I purged 8 garbage bags for charity. I've been re-selling unused clothing items to local thrift stores the last year or two and then I remembered I can get triple the price by selling on Ebay.

I'm making a resolution to myself to stop purchasing clothes and accessories as I have been. The picture above makes absolutely no sense. I'm debating between giving myself a monetary budget or a number of items budget.

In addition, to my budget resolution I'm giving myself the goal of putting all my clothing in my master closet as oppose to spread out through 3 closets. No one needs 3 closets of clothes and a room for accessories.

What a Difference a Move to the Opposite Wall Makes

Here is what my handbag display currently looks like. I love it so much more in front of the window but I really need a better way to organize my clutches. I will be giving The Container Store a visit very soon, Swoon!

Monday, February 6, 2012

Under Construction ...

I'm not inclined when it comes to technology and what not so it's going to take me some time to get this blog in order to my preference. But it's high on my list of things to do along with my need for a new camera. Until then my phone pics with the help of Photo Apps (which I barely know how to use) will have to do. I pinky promise I will progress, mostly for me because I'm completely OCD and it will get under my skin until all things are amazing :-)

Julia, The Organizista

Bedroom Progression



Above is the current state of my bedroom


And here is what my room looked like 6 weeks ago.

My Bedroom is the last project (room that needs real furniture) in my home I initially was going with black brown furniture and a pistachio color and then I found Pinterest and re-realized my love for all things light and bright. Also, considering my living and dining rooms are filled with black furniture my living environment was screaming for light colors. I have a ton of work to do for instance: new bedding (I'm thinking something pin-tucked in white or off white), curtains (I'm having trouble committing to a color), something to put above my bed, lamps (maybe, I may use a variety of pastels for pops of color and keep the lamps) the list goes on. Regardless of the ongoing list I'm happy with the progress thus far and will continue to keep my commitment with a glamorous feminine vibe.

In between the previous and current picture I painted the accent wall the color of the lamps...HORRIBLE! It totally ruined my day to look at it, well maybe not ruin but it was an eye sore for sure.

Bed Frame: World Market
Mirrored Side Tables: Target
Table Lamps: Home Goods

The Container Store makes my heart sing!


I love acrylic organizers, LOVE! The Container Store has a good assortment of jewelry organizers (and everything else organization related) it does become a little pricey though but nothing makes my heart smile like new ways to organize my home. The 3 bracelet arms on the left and the earring holder in the center are all gems from The Container Store. I have since found these exact items at T.J. Maxx and Marshalls for almost half the price.

On the Left is an old coffee mug holder I found at Goodwill for $3 and spray painted it silver to make it sassy. I have since changed what's going on on the left side of the table (including the table). I'll update with pictures of my jewelry section when there is good sunlight in my closet.

I would give a Budget total but I honestly don't remember the cost of everything pictured.

"I'll literally be the old lady who lived in a shoe" -Carrie



Budget: $112

Believe it or not the white shoe shelves in the before picture and the shoe organizers including the shelves on the wall in the after picture were nearly the same cost. I started buying the single white shelves one by one as I needed more while in college and ended up with 8. At $10 a piece they totaled $80. For an additional $30 I have a much cleaner presentation and decorative wall shelves.

After: I used 2 ClosetMaid adjustable shelf organizer ($40 each) and 1 10 cube organizer ($20) both from Target. The shelves hanging on the wall were $12 total from Ikea.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Hangers are EVERYTHING!

This beauty can be found at The Container Store (also known as Heaven) for $5 per hanger. I'm looking into upgrading the hangers in my closet and in a dream world this would be my winner but I need at least 400 hangers ($2,000).

One of my number 1 rules is to have ALL hangers in your closet match, ALL of them! And under ANY circumstance should there be a wire hanger. The most attainable way to achieve matching hangers are the plastic hangers sold in packs of 10 for $1.29 (if I'm not mistaken) at Wal-Mart. In addition to have the same style hangers they also need to be the same color. White and Black are the best colors to buy, one or the other not both. I say to choose white or black because they can be found year around for the next 50 years to come. Every back to school season new trend colors will be for sale on end caps and by spring it'll be new colors and those amazing hangers in Tiffany blue you purchased 6 months ago you will never be able to find again.

The importance of having all of your hangers the same color creates a uniformed look. And if I know anything in life it's that a uniformed closet will calm your nerves and soothe your soul. It's the next best thing to the spa.

Handbag Heaven

Budget: $21

I totally scored when I found these 3-shelf bookcases on sale for $6.99 each at Bed Bath & Beyond Because I have made an extra bedroom my closet (Bucket List) I was able to use these as a case to display my handbags.

Because these are actually bookshelves if and when I'm no longer able to dedicate a whole room to an accessories closet I can use these for so many other things. That's how I justified my purchase ;-)

Remotes Need a Home Too


Like many others Pinterest is my new best friend. We have the bracelets and all. Like most everyone who enjoys a good vegging out in bed your remotes get lost in the bed or take over your bedside table. So, when I saw a post with living room remotes in what appeared to be a pen/pencil holder cup thing I said to myself, "well isn't that genius". And the search began for a remote "organizer" for my bedside table. Then as I looked at my bookshelf I realized I already had the most perfect item to hold my remotes. A vase I randomly purchased at Goodwill for $3 a few months prior. My Gossip Girl marathons haven't been the same since. It seriously has made a huge amazing difference.

What's best about my remote organizer (vase) is it goes so well with the vibe I have in my bedroom.

THE URGE TO PURGE

Purging is the key to keeping an organized home. The more items you keep lying around your house the more clutter you create. Choosing not to purge is how you end up on Hoarders. Well, maybe not that extreme. Because I'm OCD and get horrible anxiety at the sight of clutter in my home I do a good purge ever other month. Goodwill, Family, Friends or even Ebay are great ways to get rid of unused items.

Anytime I organize a clients closet step 1 is purging and getting rid of unworn/unused items. Purging is the ultimate way to make room in you closet so that you can find things or if you're like me make needed space for new items!

Get Rid of It If:
1. If you haven't worn/used it in over 1+ year(s).
2. There are stains, rips, etc..
3. It doesn't fit!



BUDGET: $0

The Difference a Purge Makes


BUDGET: $0

The majority of this project was purging. The dresser you see in the fourth picture was moved from the back of the closet which isn't visible in either of the befores. Moving the dresser from the back to a "nook" under an unused hanging shelf created an open space. The shoe boxes on the first after picture where stacked on the floor. Again, by moving them from the floor to the upper shelf an open less cluttered space was created. Clothing items were hung in categories (tanks, blouses, skirts, pants, etc) making it easy to find and put back after wear.

Getting any and everything off the floor is a key component to an organized space.