organizing Archives - Arrow Hill Cottage

Kids Clothing Declutter | How much to keep

We are just weeks away from our mega garage sale in preparation for our move. I have been finishing up going through the last bit of items in our house, and the focus this week was on decluttering kids clothing.

You know the saying about how socks seem to be eaten by the washing machine? I feel that they magically reappear in the form of extra pants and shirts, in the drawers of children. And for someone who is attempting to become more minimal, this multiplication can be extremely upsetting.

This past winter, I took the leap to create a capsule wardrobe for myself. I ended up paring my entire collection down to fifty total items, excluding a few items such as outerwear and jewelry. I found it so freeing, in fact, that I eventually convinced my husband to declutter his clothing as well. Neither of us have missed a single item and we both find it super easy to make our outfit selections.

WHY KIDS CLOTHING ACCUMULATES

For a variety of reasons, it seems that kids clothing accumulates faster than adults. By understanding the reasons it is easier for these items to enter our houses, we can be more mindful in the future to stop it from happening.

Kids clothing is cheap

For a small amount of money, you can build your child’s wardrobe. A dress here, a pair of pants there. And don’t forget all those cute shoes! There are also plenty of garage sales that feature extremely inexpensive kids clothing. At fifty cents per piece, it isn’t easy to pass up those closet filling bargains!

They take up little space

Unlike large toys or furniture pieces that might get in our way and remind us we need to pare down, clothing is relatively small. We know that we can usually fit ‘one more’ shirt in a dresser or one more coat in a closet. It’s when all of these little pieces are added together that we really start to notice a problem at all.

There are never ending hand-me-downs

If you have multiple children, or generous friends and family, the accumulation game becomes even more dynamic. You may be suddenly faced with multiple storage totes full of prospective outfits, whether your child is ready to fit into them or not.

STORING KIDS CLOTHING

It’s easy enough to get rid of the items that have been outgrown or those that are riddled with holes and stains. But, what if the seasons are shifting and your child has a number of perfectly good clothing items that still fit? Or older brother has grown out of a favorite sweatshirt, and there is another brother just a couple years younger?

I am definitely guilty of keeping clothes around with the thought that ‘someday’ one of the other kids might need it. Though, through my nearly thirteen years of parenting, there have been only a handful of times when that has truly been the case. Styles change, body shapes are different, kid’s preferences might be particular.

Because of the sheer amount of items that can accumulate, dealing with stored clothes can be downright overwhelming.

HOW MUCH DO THEY REALLY NEED?

In the end, I am left with this very question. How much clothing do the kids really need? Probably every family’s scenario is a bit different. I can only speak for our family. And I know that our kids have way more clothing than they actually need.

I will admit that this is probably going to take me a series of edits before we get to the magic amount. And yes, it will most likely be left up to me to decide, since not one of my kids care much at all about clothing.

There are a variety of guides online that discuss how to create a capsule wardrobe for kids. They even go so far to indicate the number of each type of item (shirts, pants, etc) that it should include. This blog post, for example, gives some great tips on how to pare down.

Generally speaking, the rule of thumb has to do with how many days you want to go without needing to do laundry. Ideally, for our family, the kids clothing supply would last, at a bare minimum, a week to week and a half.

Potentially, our kids clothing capsule might look a little something like this:

BOYS

16 short sleeved shirts (shared)

18 long sleeved shirts (our youngest would need 6 of his own, and his brothers could share the remaining 12)

4 sweatshirts/hoodies (each)

5 pairs of shorts (each)

5 pairs of comfortable pants (each)

2 pairs of dress pants/jeans (each)

GIRLS

8 dresses (shared)

16 short sleeved shirts (shared)

16 long sleeved shirts (shared)

2 sweatshirts/hoodies (each)

2 pairs of shorts/capris (each)

7 pairs of pants (each)

After the move, I will plan to go through my kids closets and dressers again. At that time, I think I will attempt this capsule scenario. Perhaps keeping a few additional ‘backup’ items, in case the inventory seems too low.

The great thing about having a minimal wardrobe is that if something becomes stained or worn you can replace it with something new, guilt free. Another benefit to a smaller wardrobe is being able to customize it for each child’s comfort and style preferences, without breaking the bank.

And dealing with an item or two, here or there, would definitely be favored over the four hour decluttering session I just went through in their closets! If I look exhausted at the end of the video, it’s because I was!

WATCH ME DECLUTTER

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STORAGE CLOSET DECLUTTER

We are in the final stage of decluttering our rental farmhouse. Only a few areas and categories remain to be sorted through before our big move! This week I took on the storage closet declutter, and am happy to have it behind me!

Embarrassing as it is, all of these items were stuffed in our hall storage closet

STORAGE CLOSET DECLUTTER – OUR WHY

My husband and I have lived in three houses during our marriage. The first, for only a year. The second, for ten years. And our current rental farmhouse for the past four and a half years. Each time we have moved we were shocked to find the amount of boxes that were transported from house to house, without being opened. Because of this, we were determined to really SEE what we own before our next (and hopefully final) move.

The goal when sorting through this storage closet was to determine which items we plan to keep. There is no sense in moving the weight of extra items that we don’t need or want anymore. By doing the sorting before the move, we are more likely to be critical. In contrast, if the boxes were to come with us to the new house without being looked through, they likely would have found a spot in a closet there. And sat, again unopened, for who knows how long!

We actually designed our custom cottage home to have relatively little storage. Some people may be shocked to learn that our master bedroom has no walk in closet, and our kitchen doesn’t feature a pantry. This conscious decision was made because my husband and I both recognize that we have a tendency to fill large storage spaces with unnecessary items.

TIPS ON DECLUTTERING A CLOSET

Decluttering a storage closet is a big undertaking. From my own experience, I am offering tips to help you achieve the best results, without too much stress.

CLEAR OUT THE SPACE

The very first step when decluttering a closet is to remove everything. It will seem daunting, to be sure; But it is very important to see the closet completely emptied. Seeing open shelves and space on the floor will give you a better sense of just how much room you have to work with. It can also help you recognize the dark, tricky corners where items can easily be lost and forgotten.

SORT ONE BOX AT A TIME

Tackling the clutter in bite sized pieces allows you to focus your mental energy without feeling overwhelmed. It can also help prevent decision fatigue. I suggest moving one or two bins/boxes into a separate room for sorting.

PUTTING ITEMS BACK IN

Think carefully about which items make their way back into your storage closet. Generally, it is best to store like-purposed items in the same space. If you must store many random types of things together in one closet, as we do, consider giving the closet ‘zones’. One shelf for camping gear, another as a spot to keep decorations, for example.

THE RESULT OF OUR STORAGE CLOSET DECLUTTER

I am happy to report that less than half of the items originally stuffed into our hall closet made their way back in. There is still a bit of randomness in there though. Camping gear, holiday decorations, DIY supplies. Quite a mix. We are hopeful that at Arrow Hill Cottage we will be able to be more intentional about where these items are stored. Camping gear will likely find a place in the garage, where it can be easily accessible, for example.

While sorting through the stored items, I found some real gems that we had completely forgotten about.

These adorable little shoes were worn by our oldest son, when he took his first steps.

And these chess pieces were hand painted by Craig’s mom, many years ago. Now that a couple of our kids have learned how to play, we plan to keep this set up and available for a game at any time.

As I was sorting, I made it a point to really think about these items. If they were things we wanted to keep, I needed to commit to finding a place for them at the new house – to give them prominence. Otherwise, we will be left with unopened storage boxes once again.

WATCH ME DECLUTTER

Need a little extra motivation to get started on your storage closet? Take a peek at what our closet looked like before. It was insanely stuffed. And watch me tackle it head-on. It took a lot of effort, but I am very happy with the result!

BONUS STORAGE CLOSET DECLUTTER TIPS

More great posts from other websites, offering you even more insight on how to approach these tricky spaces!

Declutter Storage Area |Home Storage Solutions

How To Declutter Your Storage Area Without Feeling Overwhelmed | Simple Lionheart Life

8 Surprising Decluttering Benefits | Lady Decluttered

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Keep this motivation and inspiration close by and add it to your relevant Pinterest board! Happy decluttering!

JEWELRY DECLUTTER | HOW ORGANIZING SMALL THINGS CAN HAVE A BIG IMPACT

This week I spent some time doing a jewelry declutter. I thought that it would be a quick process, and in a lot of ways it was. But, it also got me thinking – even the small things can make a big impact when it comes to decluttering and organizing.

I’ve never been much of a jewelry wearer. Though I like the idea of wearing jewelry, and I think that it looks nice on other people, wearing it myself is uncomfortable. It might be because I have sensitive skin and the metals make me itch. Or it might have more to do with the fact that for many years any necklaces or earrings I wore ended up being tugged on by my kids. These days, I tend to only wear my wedding ring on a regular basis.

While going through all of our belongings in an effort to only bring our favorites to Arrow Hill Cottage, I knew I wanted to leave no stone un-turned. And that meant I would need to take a close look at everything we owned. Even the smallest of items that seemingly take up little space.

STARTING THE JEWELRY DECLUTTER

And so, I opened up my little cabinet and started my jewelry declutter. Funny story about this little jewelry cabinet. It was one of the first gifts my husband gave me when we were married nearly seventeen years ago. I’ll admit that I was less than thrilled when I opened it. Why? Well, because what I had suggested to him as a ‘gift hint’ when he asked was a stand up furniture piece jewelry cabinet, not some small little table top storage piece.

I remember thinking that there was no way all of my jewelry would fit inside it. I wanted bigger, I wanted better. But was it necessary? Not even close. Looking back, I think my husband knew me better than I knew myself. He had seen that I didn’t wear jewelry often. He had noticed that when I did wear something, I always grabbed for the same one or two items.

This cabinet has moved with us into each home we have shared together. And, if I’m being completely honest, I don’t think I have opened it once since we moved into our current rental farmhouse four years ago. Are the items it contains precious and useful to me? I think we all know the answer to that question.

LAYING THE JEWELRY OUT

Opening up the cabinet and laying every piece of jewelry out on the table was like a blast from the past. Necklaces from junior high. Sparkly hair combs from high school prom.

A handful of keys that unlock… who knows what!

There were also a few sweet surprises. My wedding jewelry that, although I don’t intend to wear ever again, I could never part with. And, my husband’s high school class ring, which I distinctly remember him wearing the first time we met. When we started dating he put it on a chain and I wore it around my neck.

WATCH MY JEWELRY DECLUTTER

THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS PROCESS

As I was sorting through everything, I realized that, on a very small scale, jewelry can serve as a metaphor for all types of clutter.

Stop and think about it. A bracelet is a small item. So small, in fact, that we find no harm in holding onto it, even if it isn’t something we use or really love. Add to it a few more bracelets, a necklace or two, and a pack of earrings. Suddenly we are finding ourselves needing a place to store these items. It’s like a snowball that keeps getting bigger.

Compare jewelry to other item types in your home. Those dresses you are holding onto, hoping that the next time you slip them on they will fit perfectly. The camping gear your family used once, then stored away. The space that these unused items are taking up is more valuable than you may currently realize. And the more items that are accumulated, the more space that is needed to store them.

This is why it is important to be honest with yourself regarding each and every item in your home. There is no reason to keep anything that is not special or useful.

NEW JEWELRY STORAGE SOLUTION

After my jewelry declutter, I was left with a handful of special items. Will they go back into my jewelry box? In a word, no. Just as you a person doesn’t need an entire walk in closet for a few pairs of jeans, I do not need a storage box for my favorite jewelry.

Instead, I will be storing my special items in a set of silk and velvet bags. These small bags have special meaning to me. They were given to me when I purchased a set of pearls during our adoption trips to China. Twice we watched skilled women string the pearls of my choosing, add the clasp, and delicately place them into a bag. Two adoptions, two bags.

The bags will be placed in my sock drawer, where they will be kept safe and easily accessible. And you can bet that every time I look at them I will have a smile on my face.

I also will be keeping a small, velvet lined, silver jewelry box that was my grandma’s. It will surely find a place of importance in the new house decor.

Don’t worry though. My husband has given me his full blessing to donate or sell the jewelry box he gifted me all those years ago. I hope it falls into the hands of someone who will cherish it.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I’m extremely happy to admit, once and for all, that I’m not a jewelry wearer. And that is okay! The pieces I have kept reflect my personality and style, and have strong memories attached to them. That is what is more important to me. If you are considering a jewelry declutter, I definitely recommend it! Don’t let the little things get in the way of the big picture you envision for your life!

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HUSBAND’S CLOSET | DECLUTTER + ORGANIZE

Like many men, my husband was reluctant to declutter his closet. And so, I teamed up with him to get the job done. Find out what I learned that helped him get organized and complete the process.

My husband watched as I decluttered my clothing, creating a 50 piece year round capsule wardrobe. Seeing how freeing it has been for me to have a smaller wardrobe, he became interested in tackling his own side of the closet. Though interested, he had no idea where to start or what to do. In fact, he told me that I could go ahead and get rid of anything I wanted and he would just wear whatever I decided to keep.

While decluttering other people’s belongings isn’t generally recommended, it may work for some items. Things such as dishes, toys, and books might be easy for an outsider to sort through without too many problems. Clothing though? I think it’s much too personal. And though he hates to admit it, I know that my husband has an opinion about how he looks and what he feels comfortable wearing.

And so, after some negotiation, we came to the decision that we would work together on his closet declutter. After everything was sorted, I would then be in charge of organizing the remaining items in a thoughtful way that he could easily maintain.

MY HUSBAND’S STYLE

Before we began the closet declutter, we sat down and talked about which clothing items he tends to gravitate toward. His response was that he likes to be comfortable, and that jeans, t-shirts and hooded sweatshirts were among his favorites. I would agree that it seems to be what he wears most often – though he does need to dress up slightly more for his office job. In that respect, he prefers polo shirts and nice sweaters to button downs and ties.

With this information in mind, we set to work on the process.

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EMPTYING THE CLOSET AND DRAWERS

Following the KonMari method of decluttering, we gathered all of his clothing and laid it on the bed. We share a small closet, where he hangs up his nicer shirts. He also has a couple of drawers where he keeps t-shirts, shorts, and undergarments.

Seeing the mound of clothing on the bed seemed to surprise him. In fact, he commented that he probably had more clothes than I did! Now that I have my capsule wardrobe, perhaps. But during my own closet declutter, the pile I had on the bed was nearly twice the size of his. He just didn’t witness it.

SORTING THROUGH THE CLOTHING

My husband felt more comfortable going through his items while I was standing in the room. He knew from the start that he wasn’t planning on creating a capsule wardrobe. Instead, he wished to eliminate items that he didn’t like to wear or those that were damaged.

If he questioned any of the clothing choices, he would ask for my input. Ultimately though, every decision was his to make. There were definitely a few pieces that he decided to keep that I might have thrown directly into the rag pile!

Take this shirt, for example. It is literally see through – but Craig insists that it is the most comfortable shirt he has ever worn. He loves to wear it when he chops wood or is working outside.

There were also a pair of shorts that I think are too baggy, that he loves to wear. I encouraged him to keep them. This is his wardrobe after all, and I continued to reassure him of that fact as we went through this process.

BENEFITS OF DECLUTTERING TOGETHER

Decluttering can many times be thought of as a personal process. Going through my husband’s clothing with him though, I realized some important benefits.

BONDING

He might not agree, but I actually had a lot of fun helping him tackle the closet declutter. Not only did I get a better sense of what his style is, it helped to cement the unity of this moment as a couple. Minimalism and simplicity is something that we are constantly discussing as a couple, though I am the one who has taken on the bulk of the decluttering. It was nice to share this responsibility. Though I know that he doesn’t plan to help me declutter each and every room or category, this exercise at least gave him a better idea of the process that I am going through.

FINDING DUPLICATES

It was obvious during this closet declutter, that Craig had amassed quite the collection of T-shirts. Ironically, he doesn’t often wear them. After realizing that an entire drawer was stuffed with clothes he doesn’t use, he was willing to choose his favorites and let go of the rest.

In the large pile of t-shirts, we found two identical workout tank tops. Craig was unaware that he had both of them, and even questioned where one of them came from. He was able to look them both over, compare, and decide which to keep.

NOTING WHAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED

As the person who does the majority of shopping for our family (including clothing), it is important that I know when things need to be replaced. I will admit, however, that I hadn’t been paying close attention to Craig’s wardrobe. During this particular declutter process, it became pretty obvious that Craig is in dire need of a new pair of nice summer shorts, and also a couple new pairs of work Kaki’s.

Since we are currently halfway through a no spend month, these purchases will need to wait a bit, which shouldn’t be a problem. They are noted, and will be taken care of.

ORGANIZING THE CLOSET AND DRAWERS

Holding up my end of the bargain, I went to work getting everything put back in it’s place. The hanging items were neatly arranged in our small shared closet. Short sleeved tops are currently hung on the left side, since they are out of season. The long sleeved shirts are more easily accessible, on the right – closer to the door opening.

I decided since hooded sweatshirts were important to Craig, that I would hang them up as well. This makes them more easily visible. Pants and shorts were also hung, using a special type of hanger.

I folded his t-shirts using the KonMari method, and was pleasantly surprised to easily fit them all into the drawer along with workout shorts and running pants.

While decluttering together, we discussed that the bins we had been using on the floor of our closet were not a great solution. It seemed to us that when items went into the bins, they were easily forgotten about. We decided to fit all of our items either on the hanging rod, or in the dresser drawers. This will not only make the clothing more accessible, it should also hopefully cut down on items being forgotten.

The bins, and also over 60 hangers, are now relieved of their service.

WATCH US TACKLE CRAIG’S CLOTHING

There is something entertaining about watching other people take on a closet declutter. It might even be motivating for you to try the same thing!

If you are looking for more inspiration, check out the husband closet declutter videos from Katie on the Flip Side and Old World Home.

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Organized Linen Closet | Quick Declutter

Today I am going to share how I tackled a seriously stuffed hall closet and turned it into a simple and organized linen closet – in less than 30 minutes!

*This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See my full disclosure here**

In this decluttering journey, I have to admit that this space was one I was not looking forward to. Our linen closet had become one of those places in our house that was just out of sight, and out of mind. I knew what was lurking behind those doors – and knew it wasn’t pretty. But I didn’t really want to acknowledge the task at hand.

Faced with the lofty New Year’s goal of finishing our rental house declutter before we break ground on Arrow Hill Cottage in the spring, I knew that there was no more holding back. It was time.

LINEN CLOSET BEFORE

We moved into this rental house four years ago. In our previous home we did not have a linen closet, and so we saw this as a bit of a luxury upgrade. We piled all of our bedding, towels, and extra pillows into the closet and called it good. Except, it wasn’t good.

Here’s the situation. I wash laundry only once per week. I like this system, especially since it gives me a sense of finalization, at least for one day. The towels we use daily are stored in our bathrooms. They make their way into the laundry baskets throughout the week, and on Sunday get a thorough washing. That means that every towel behind this closed linen closet door are ‘extras’, and are rarely used. They are brought out primarily when we have guests stay in our home.

Bedding is similar. After I wash the sheets, they go right back on the beds. Again, as the above photo illustrates, we had saved plenty of extras.

DECLUTTERING THE LINEN CLOSET

Starting this declutter was by far the most difficult part. I think I was a bit overcome by just how MUCH we had stored away in this small closet. Once I began to take it all out though, a weight started to lift.

Our linen closet is located at the end of a long hallway upstairs. As I removed the items from the closet, I grouped like category items together. This made it easy to see the quantity of each type of item. Noticing the amount of duplicates made it easier to make decisions regarding what should stay and what should go.

Sorting through the piles, I placed items that I thought we should keep on the right side of the hallway, and those that we could donate or sell on the left.

FINDING TREASURES

One of the biggest surprises during this declutter project was finding a special quilt I had made years ago. It was presented to my husband at the groom’s supper, the night before our wedding. I clearly remember the months leading up to our marriage. Craig was doing a mechanical engineering internship near Chicago, and I was in North Dakota, at college. Those months apart were long and difficult, and I spent many hours working on the quilt and dreaming about married life.

Honestly, this quilt means more to me than my wedding dress. So why was it stuffed in the bottom of the closet, completely forgotten? When I first saw it, I felt really sad that it had been so neglected. Now I am ever more committed to this process, and discovering which items bring us joy.

This quilt will serve as a reminder of how easily items you cherish can be crowded out by other, less important, belongings. It will be going to the dry cleaners, and a more prominent spot will be found for it in our new home.

THINGS TO CONSIDER

When decluttering and creating an organized linen closet, there are a few important questions you should ask yourself:

Is this a convenient location for these items? Linen closets were very popular in older homes, but have fallen out of favor somewhat in recent years. I believe the reason is that more people now place items closer to where they will be used, instead of grouped together in a central location. For example, the bed sheets may be stored in the bedroom closets, and the extra toilet paper in the bathroom.

Really think about what works best for you and your family. Where some might find a central linen closet the prime location to store towels and bedding, others may find that a hall linen closet in their home is better suited to store cleaning supplies, small appliances, or even toys.

How many of _____ do we need? In our household, whenever a new set of towels was purchased we continued to hold onto the old set. Just in case, we said. If we have company, we thought. The truth of the matter is that if we chose to buy new towels, our old ones had more than likely finished their purposeful life for our family.

I encourage you to determine how many towels, bed linens, etc. your family really needs. Any more than those items used on a weekly basis will likely be stored. Don’t let them multiply behind closed doors like we did!

ORGANIZED LINEN CLOSET

Like a lot of people, I have been watching ‘Tidying up’ on Netflix. One of the tips I have learned from watching the show is the idea of placing like items into smaller baskets for storage. I have mentioned before that I have a love for baskets. In fact, I have a stash of them in our storage closet, just waiting to be used.

These chrome wire baskets were the perfect size to hold the items I had chosen to keep.

Though I don’t have quite the ‘magic’ of Marie Kondo, I did try her method of folding into thirds and storing them upright. I have to say that it really did save space! An entire set of towels (two bath towels, one hand towel and one wash cloth), was able to fit into a single basket, for example.

When putting the linens back into the closet, I made sure to put the items that will be used more frequently on the eye level shelves. The large blankets were placed on the highest shelf, since it is likely they will be accessed by the adults only. The extra pillows are now within reach for the kids to use for camp-outs and movie nights.

It is important to note that we are living in a rental house. Because of this, we aren’t able to modify the spacing between shelves. If you have a closet with adjustable shelves, customizing your storage should be much more efficient!

BENEFITS OF AN ORGANIZED LINEN CLOSET

Now that our linen closet is organized, I definitely want it to stay that way! The following benefits will help me keep the clutter from coming back.

Items are easily found. One glance in, and you can see how things are organized, by category. This makes it much faster to find that towel when you need to clean up a spill, or retrieve a clean set of bedsheets for a child who had a middle of the night accident.

Linens have room to breathe. With the linen closet stuffed to the max, there was little air circulation. Stored in this way for too long, and you could be dealing with musty towels and bedding. That’s just not pleasant. In your organized linen closet, you may consider adding an open box of baking soda. It will help cut down on moisture and will keep things smelling fresh and clean.

WATCH ME ORGANIZE MY LINEN CLOSET

See the process of of decluttering my personal linen closet. I am still shocked to see the drastic change!

ORGANIZED LINEN CLOSET INSPIRATION

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Control magazine clutter | Simple organizing tip

Do you love getting a new glossy magazine filled with inspiration in the mail, but are not sure what to do with them after you’re finished reading? Today, I will be offering a quick organizing tip on how to control magazine clutter.

Long before the steady reliable stream of digital images, print inspiration was king. Magazine subscriptions were sold door to door as a form of entertainment and inspiration, and it was big business. I too have had a few longstanding subscriptions. And I can genuinely say that I look forward to each month’s new copy.

However, there is a major downside to this seemingly harmless consumption. Clutter.

HOW MAGAZINE CLUTTER HAPPENS

Perhaps you already have a system in place to stay on top of paper pile up. Many businesses now offer a paperless billing option that you might be taking advantage of. Or maybe you are great about sending junk promotions directly to the recycle bin as soon as they exit your mailbox.

However, there is something a bit more special about that shiny new magazine that shows up once a month. Whether because they arrive with less frequency or the fact that they are full of colorful images and inspiring information, magazines are hard to let go of.

One thin magazine laid on the coffee table turns into five, and then into a stack in the corner of the room. Before you know it, magazines are taking up more of your precious space than you would like. If this has become a problem for you, I have a tip that can help you control magazine clutter.

SIMPLE STORAGE TIP

Because I work in the home design industry, I find home decor and building magazines very inspiring. For years I held onto stacks of my favorite issues. Eventually they got overwhelming, and I had to come up with a solution. I realized that of an entire magazine, I was interested in about 5% of the articles and images.

Because of this, I determined that it didn’t make much sense to keep the entire magazine. Instead, I opt to rip out only the pages that are most inspiring. I then curate them in plastic sheet covers, in white three ring binders. This is an ultra simple and inexpensive way to control magazine clutter, and it has been working well for me.

One important word of advice. This method will work best when you get in the habit of practicing the ‘tear out’ method immediately after reading through a magazine. Not only will your favorite ideas and images be fresh in your mind, you will also be more likely to get the job done. If a magazine is allowed to stay whole for too long, it becomes a more permanent house resident that sadly won’t be noticed until a few of it’s buddies join.

My binders are stored on a shelf in my home office. The contents are used as inspiration not only for the decorating of my own home, but also also but when designing homes and spaces for clients. They are plump full of images I love. And they certainly were helpful to look back on during the design process of our family’s home, Arrow Hill Cottage.

WATCH ME DECLUTTER MY MAGAZINE STASH

With this storage system, it is important to go through the binders on a regular basis. Doing so will allow you to be sure they contain contain content you wish to save.

Recently, when looking through my collection, I noticed that there were articles and images that were outdated or no longer my style. Trending home products from 2006? Probably not relevant any longer. Just this week I decided to further pare down my collection by eliminating the pages that no longer inspired me.

The beauty of the binder system is that you can easily switch out items that are no longer giving you inspiration for those that are.

Before this most recent declutter, I had a total of six binders filled with plastic sleeves. Through the declutter process, I was able to reduce my binders from six down to three. It feels good to know that inspiration on each and every page awaits me, whenever I choose to open the binders up.

IS STORING MAGAZINES MINIMAL?

You might be wondering – wouldn’t it just be easier, and more minimal, to throw out all the magazines? Is keeping magazine clippings even necessary when there is Pinerest?

There is no short answer to either of those questions. The truth is that the more we walk down this minimalism path, the more realize that it is a highly personal journey. There are no hard and fast rules about what can be deemed appropriate to save, and what for sure needs to be tossed. Those decisions lie solely with the person who owns the possession, and nobody else.

Minimalism does not mean we need to rid our lives of all the things we love. Instead, it asks us to be mindful of the intentions behind each of our belongings. To decide, for ourselves, what things and quantity of things are appropriate for this moment in time.

The beauty of this mindset is that I don’t need to justify my decision to save three binders full of magazine clippings any more than someone else needs to justify their personal collection. Whatever that may be. My magazine binders bring me joy, and serve a purpose at this point in my life. So they stay. In the future, if I decide to scan all of the pages and keep only a digital copy, that is fine too.

I would encourage you to follow the same process of thinking while you declutter or attempt to simplify.

PIN THIS SIMPLE WAY TO CONTROL MAGAZINE CLUTTER

If you are a magazine lover like I am, I encourage you to try out this method. It’s inexpensive – maybe $3 per binder and $5 for a large pack of plastic sheets. It is also simple enough to be maintained as a long term solution to control magazine clutter.

OTHER MAGAZINE ORGANIZING TIPS

These articles offer additional ways to control magazine clutter:

Simple Magazine Filing System

Determine what magazines mean to you

18 CREATIVE COLLECTION DISPLAY IDEAS

If you have a collection of items you love, but are unsure of the best way to display them, check out these 18 creative collection display ideas.

Because homes are personal spaces – and are reflective of the people who live within their walls – it only makes sense that they would be filled with the things the homeowners love.

And for many people, if they love something enough, they may just want to have more than one of that item. After awhile, a little collection may begin to take shape.

These 18 creative ways to display collections can help you showcase the items that bring you happiness. Visit the links below each image to learn more about these collections ideas.

SET THEM ON SHELVES

Probably the most basic way to display collectibles is to set them together on shelves. The similar objects play off of the beauty of one other when placed side by side. This display option allows you to easily add more shelf space as your collection size increases. The downside is that you may find yourself doing a lot of dusting to protect your collectibles!

Teapot Collection

Shelves Of Lunchboxes

Vintage Record Collection

FRAME THEM

For flat or uniquely shaped items, consider frames or small cubes that can act as miniature gallery podiums. If the items you collect are flat – such as vintage prints or handkerchiefs – you may be able to get UV protective glass for your frames, which can add a layer of protection.

Framed Handkerchiefs

Vintage Camera Display

Stamp Collection

GROUP THEM IN GLASS CONTAINERS

Smaller items can find a place in clear containers such as glass mason cans or apothecary jars. These containers are easily moved and can themselves be grouped together for an additional level of display. You will not be able to see each and every angle of your small collectible items if they are displayed this way – unless you pick them out to look at them. This may be a downfall for some collectors.

Vacation Memory Jars

Cookie Cutter Collection

Items In Dome Displays

HANG THEM UP

A fun, and ‘outside the box’ way to display your collection might have you looking UP. Create a floating mobile of postcards, or a lampshade of old love letters. A hanging line might even allow you to pin up items that are heavier.

Pins on a Lampshade

Tin Collection

Postcard Mobile

CLUSTER THEM TOGETHER

Perhaps the items you collect are large and bulky. Or perhaps you have a collection of items that are still in regular use – such as picnic baskets or tableware. These items might be displayed easily by simply clustering them together on a side table or even on the floor.

Vintage Crock Collection

Picnic Basket Group

Globe Collection

PROTECT THEM IN A CABINET

For the more delicate items that should not be handled often, consider protecting them behind glass doors. A hutch or curio can be a safe place for items that are easily breakable. Some cabinets may even have the option of showcasing your display with light.

Stoneware Collection

Vintage Silver

Pottery In A Cabinet

MORE DISPLAY INSPIRATION

Aren’t these ideas so fun? If you’d like more inspiration, be sure to take a look at my Pinterest Board ‘Collection Displays‘ – I am always adding to it!

If you collect books, consider reading this post on 9 creative ways to decorate with them.

I would love to hear which of these collection ideas is your favorite and/or if you have found other unique and inspiring ways to display the things you cherish most. Please comment below!

PIN THESE IDEAS FOR LATER

18 CREATIVE WAYS TO DISPLAY KID ARTWORK

If you share your home with children, you know that they are little art making machines. There is something so precious about your child’s creativity and imagination that you just want to bottle it up and save it for all time. Even still, it can be quite overwhelming trying to figure out what to do with each of these masterpieces.

In my search for unique and stylish solutions to this very problem, I have discovered 18 creative ways to display kid artwork. I think you will enjoy what I found.

raw art wall

This setup requires little to no prep work. When a child creates something that they want displayed, use a bit of tape or another removable adhesive such as poster putty, and add to the wall. Personally, I feel that this technique is best suited for a kid friendly space, such as a toy room, as it has a tendency to look a bit more cluttered than other display options.

clothesline

This highly adaptable hanging technique is accommodating for various sizes and shapes of projects. All you need for this simple DIY is a thin twine rope, a few clothes pins, and your child’s creativity. The great thing about this option is that the kids can clip up and take down the art all on their own!

cork board

Positioning an extra large cork board against the wall and adding a desk can create an instant art station. Though similar to a raw art wall, the chaos is a bit more consolidated. Learn how this set up was created using cork squares, on the blog Young House Love.

clipboard display

These clipboard displays may tidy things up a bit more, but will mainly accommodate similar sized pieces of artwork. I love the added touch of the nameplate, which can be changed up as often as the artwork is.

framed art

If your child is a master at one type of artwork – flowers, glitter, abstract – this may be the option for you. Grouping similar styles of art pieces lends itself to a beautiful gallery style display. I imagine the frames used in this setup are either poster size or custom created to fit the artwork.

ledge display

A simple shelf ledge arrangement may be the perfect option may be preferable if you tend to change out your child’s artwork frequently. Anna White has a wonderful tutorial on how to build these ledges out of standard materials – for only $10!

matching frames

Another way to tie varied art pieces together is by removing glass from old frames and painting them all the same color. This also gives the display a gallery look. These sunny yellow frames are really helping the art shine!

hinged frame

Perhaps you love the idea of framing your child’s art pieces but imagine that changing them out would be too much of a hassle. This hinged frame product may be the option you are looking for. They are said to be able to hold up to 50 sheets of paper! Click on the link above to purchase, or make them yourself!

washi tape borders

This is an inexpensive craft – and it looks cute too! You can create various sizes and change up the patterns and colors of the tape. The wonderful thing about washi tape is that it is easily removable and doesn’t leave residue – meaning you can have a traveling gallery that moves from room to room.

painted frames

For a more permanent look, painting frame patterns on the wall could be another simple fix. This display sets the mood for a creative art station where the littles can be inspired.

digital collage

If you have access to basic computer software, you can easily create this stunning look. Simply take photos of or scan each art piece, then crop and scale the images and arrange them in a grid pattern. Hang photos of the little artists nearby for an added personalized touch.

mini masterpieces

Another miniaturization of artwork, this display is created by scaling and printing the images and gluing them to bits of foam board. The individual mini art pieces are then arranged in a single frame.

binders

Displaying of artwork doesn’t always need to happen on the walls or shelves of your home. A binder filled with projects may be the perfect low-tech option to keep things clean and organized. This is such an easy technique that you might be tempted to save every last artistic scrap. Try to be selective or your child may end up with a storage room full of filled binders when they are ready to move out!

photo books

Photo books are very popular and may be just the thing you are looking for to display (and keep) your child’s artwork. Add photos of your child and short write ups about their projects to create a wonderful keepsake. Popular photo book companies include Snapfish and Shutterfly.

magnets

Is your fridge the place where most of the artwork migrates? Reclaim space by resizing each masterpiece digitally and creating fun, kid-friendly magnets! The kids will love rearranging their art pieces and making their own small exhibits.

blocks

Custom blocks are another fun option to transform artwork into useful play things. Imagine the colorful castles and roads the kids could build!

puzzles

Artwork can also easily be turned into puzzles! Websites such as Collage.com and PuzzleYou.com allow you to upload scanned images and create these custom, fun keepsakes.

bring it to life

If you really want to up the wow factor there are various artists, such as Custom Plush Art , who will bring your child’s artwork to life with a hand made stuffie! Just look at the details!

Each of these 18 ideas for displaying kid’s artwork is so creative and fun! I hope you will give some of them a try.

If you want to save this information for later, remember to pin!

9 CREATIVE CLOSET ALTERNATIVES

Is your home lacking closet space? Find ways to store your belongings practically with the creative closet alternatives outlined in this post.

It is the time of year when most people are feeling the urge to purge. The cold weather has driven us indoors and we find ourselves surrounded by all of our belongings. It doesn’t take long for it to feel like the walls are closing in with too much.

Too many toys, too many books, too many pairs of shoes. In addition to the ‘stuff’ we had – we just brought more into our homes in the form of Christmas gifts or extra decorations for the season. It can be overwhelming.

My family is no exception. Although neither my husband or myself tend to be collectors of things – the accumulation just happens over time. The amount of clutter that naturally enters our lives is one of the main reasons our family is on a journey toward minimalism. The New Year is the perfect time to get a clean slate, to look at things from a new perspective.

I strive to keep only items that we use on a regular basis and/or truly cherish. And I’ve noticed that I am better at accomplishing this goal if I have FEWER closets. In fact, when we moved into our rental home one of the first things we tackled was the removal of most of the closet doors. One of the closets even became a bedroom for our oldest son!

I can almost hear you asking the question: ‘If you don’t have closets, where do you put all of your things?’ I’m going to answer that today with a list of 9 creative closet alternatives for your home.

HANGING RODS

I’m going to be honest in saying that the storage of clothes is something which I personally prefer to happen behind closed doors. I have designed for each of the bedrooms in Arrow Hill Cottage to have a small closet for clothes, and the mudroom to have a small closet as well, to store seasonal items such as winter coats and boots.

If you don’t mind having your clothes on display, there are plenty of creative alternative ways to hang them.

simple hanging rod with shelf above

ladder wardrobe

branch wardrobe

BASKETS

It’s no secret that I love baskets. Of all the closet alternatives in this post, this is possibly the one I utilize the most in my own home. I showed you some of my favorite baskets in this post about organization containers. They are so versatile and come in a wide variety of sizes, styles and colors. You can utilize freestanding baskets to store items such as blankets and towels, or use a series of baskets to organize smaller items on shelves.

blanket storage

kitchen storage

basket storage for toys

OPEN SHELVES

Whether a freestanding shelf or a wall hung shelving unit, there’s no doubt that shelves are considered a powerhouse of home organization. Basically, anything that can be set flat can be stored on a shelf. One of my favorite spaces to see open shelving in is a kitchen. The display of beautiful (and useful) dishes and other items adds much interest to a room that would otherwise be full of closed cabinetry.

open kitchen shelving

shelving in a playroom

living room shelving

UNDER BED STORAGE

There may be some items you own that are only used during one season of the year. You may not want to have them stored in a prominent place. Under bed storage is one of the most versatile closet alternatives. The space is perfect for items such as winter gear, holiday decor, and kid clothing that you may be saving as hand-me-downs for a younger sibling. If you build a platform bed, you can create even more customized storage underneath.

elevated bed with storage underneath

re-purposed dresser drawers

platform bed with basket storage

LOCKERS/CUBBIES

The divided spaces of lockers really help to keep things organized. They are perfect for kids, making it easy for them to remember where to place their backpacks, coats and shoes instead of throwing them in any random spot.

lockers with shoe storage below

vintage metal lockers

large open lockers

FURNITURE

This is another of my favorite storage options. A coffee table that blends with the room’s home decor can hide (ahem… store) obnoxiously colored toys when not in use. An ottoman with a storage compartment can house books or extra bedding.

coffee table storage

stacked trunk end table

DIY storage ottoman

HOOKS + BENCH

Similar to the locker set-up, a simple bench with a series of hooks above can accomplish the hard-working job of keeping everyone’s outdoor gear in line at a minimal cost. The bench may have an interior compartment, or perhaps space below for basket storage.

simple built in bench with hooks and shelf above

bench with baskets below

simple DIY entry bench

ARMOIRE

One major downside of closets is that they eat up valuable square footage. The framing itself takes up space, and the door swing creates it’s own series of issues. If you really want to keep items behind closed doors, consider an armoire instead. Made of cabinetry materials, the construction is more slim. They can also be moved – meaning you can experiment with it’s best placement.

freestanding pantry

bathroom toiletry storage

storage for linens

DRAWERS

Drawers are another way to keep items organized and a bit more hidden. Of course, cabinetry is one option – but it can get expensive to create custom built in pieces. A simple stand-alone dresser can many times do the job just as well. A desk with side drawers may be the perfect solution for smaller items, such as office supplies.

dinner plate storage

coffee bar

desk made from two drawer units

The bonus of utilizing these closet alternatives is that your items are bound to stay more organized and you will be less likely to add extra, unnecessary items into your home!

ALTERNATE USES FOR CLOSET SPACE

Another giant plus? By removing closet doors (or the entire closet itself!) you will free up a ton of floor space! Just think of the possibilities this extra square footage could become!

READING NOOK

This reading nook is so completely cozy! Can’t you imagine getting lost in a good book here?

SMALL OFFICE SPACE

The detail of this small office would really make working enjoyable. It provides plenty of storage and looks beautiful at the same time.

NURSERY NOOK

This bright and colorful nook is just the right size for a crib- freeing up space in the rest of the room.

ARTS & CRAFTS CENTER

I can imagine a lot of creativity happens here! Click here to see a photo of the closet before!

I hope this post will inspire you to clear out the clutter and possibly reclaim the space that the closet occupies! New Year, new possibilities!

PIN THESE CLOSET ALTERNATIVES

Save these ideas for your home, and get organized for the New Year!

HOME ORGANIZATION IDEAS

Keeping your home organized is one of the best ways to add simplicity to your life. Check out these home organization ideas to get a kick start on your simplifying journey.

The cold is setting in, which in the Midwest means plenty of time will be spent indoors over the next few months. I’m not sure about you, but cabin fever causes me to re-evaluate my belongings and sets me into full out organization mode sometime around mid-January.

In an attempt to get a jump start on the de-cluttering and organizing this year, I scoured Amazon for organization gear that can help me reach my goals. I found a TON of handy (and totally affordable) items that I would love to purchase. I thought you might find them useful as well. Click on the images below to be taken to the product page.

This post contains affiliate links to products for your convenience. If you purchase via my links, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting Arrow Hill Cottage!

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BASKETS

You really can’t go wrong with a basket. My husband is pretty sure that I have an addiction to them, and he might be right. There is a perfect basket size and shape for just about any occasion. They can hold blankets, toys, books, you name it.

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Uh oh… the basket addiction is rearing it’s head again. My first choice? The large sea-grass basket. I can totally envision it filled with cozy blankets, sitting next to a fire place.

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BINS / BOXES

Similar to baskets, bins and boxes are highly useful in home organization. The awesome thing about them is that they are typically rectangle or square in shape, meaning that they can be easily stacked. Many also have a lid or cover. Those visually cluttering items can be stored neatly and out of sight. Legos anyone?

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The grey boxes are fold-able, and come with lids! I think I may need to buy some to organize all of the building sets my boys have.

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CLOSET SYSTEMS

A closet is probably the most likely space in any house to become cluttered. What happens behind closed doors stays there, right? Wrong! You will need to open that door at some point, and wouldn’t you rather see a well organized space than a war zone of items falling on top of you?

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How genius is that rack for pants? No more annoying crease marks from folding and stuffing the khaki’s in the drawers!

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SHELVING

Shelving units are an absolute staple in home organization. There are so many stylish options for shelving these days – from bookcases to display shelves. Take a look at the goodies I found!

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Pretty sure that little red number is calling my name. It has glass doors, which means it is the perfect place to store keepsakes and books, protecting them from little hands… and dust!

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CONSOLES

I would venture to say that just about every home in the United States has at least one television. And with that television comes all of the ‘extra’s’. The dvr, the blue ray player, the video streaming device, and video games for the kids. All of these items need a home, and a console / entertainment center is the perfect place to put them.

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I love the style of the aqua fretwork cabinet. I could see it being useful for a variety of items beyond the living room. Linens in the bathroom. Hat and glove storage in the entry. The possibilities are endless!

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KITCHEN ORGANIZATION

The kitchen is notorious for being a room that needs a lot of organizing attention. Forget about it for a short amount of time, and the space can easily be over-run with pots and pans and mix matched Tupperware. Thankfully the market is huge for kitchen organization items, such as these awesome finds.

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That spice rack. Come on. I mean, I’m not sure I would have the patience to fill all those little jars – but this may just tempt me to try! It is almost a work of art. You guys also have to check out the rolling kitchen cart/ island. It FOLDS!

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MISC. STORAGE/ ORGANIZING

I had to throw in one more grid including random storage items. The truth is, from the bathroom counter to under the bed, just about any space in the house can benefit from organizing!

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The wire wall hanger could be so useful for keeping all the paper items in line! No more piles of bills on the counter!

Let’s do this organizing thing! I’m thinking that if I tackle the clutter before the Christmas tree goes up, I won’t be as overwhelmed when it comes down.

What are your favorites from this list? I would love you to leave a comment and let me know!

MORE HOME ORGANIZATION IDEAS

For more inspiration on how to keep your home organized, check out my post titled 7 daily habits for a tidy house