Today I want to share a few tips from my own home. I'm not the most organized person by any means, but these simple storage ideas have helped me a lot.
First up, use a wood box as an instant shelf for shoes and boots. I love having this shelf, especially during winter months. It's a home for our rain boots most of the time!
Bar carts really can work wonders! My husband collects scotch and before we had this cart it was causing a little bit of clutter in our kitchen. Bar carts are perfect because they display your liquor collection and give you an interesting smaller piece of furniture for those hard-to-fill living room corners!
You can use all sorts of things to create storage for your home. Metal baskets, wooden crates, paint cans (and so much more) make great displays with just a few screws or nails! You'll save money, even against the cheaper shelving options, while creating something stylish and custom… win/win!
PS. Did you notice the polish in mason jars? I almost never misplace a color anymore!
I don't know about you, but if I can't see my accessories I forget I even own them! Displaying them out in the open is the best way to make sure they get worn.
Small pieces are so easy to lose track of! Last summer I invested in a bunch of small plastic containers, mason jars and closet accessories (like this one). I spent a day finding places for my small accessories and it has paid off… big time! I am finally able to keep track of my jewelry, instead of piling it into one big container.
I created this little jewelry display in ten minutes with push pins and paint swatches. It's easy, perfect for renters, and changeable for coming seasons!
If you don't want to spend big bucks creating custom shelving, try these ideas! I purchased some cheap wood shelves (1/2 price at Hobby Lobby) and painted them white. To utilize that space along the floor I stacked wire baskets on their sides for instant shoe shelves! I love being able to see all my shoes, at a glance, when planning outfits.
I am constantly gathering inspiration, sketches and magazine clippings for future dress collections. I created this little wall in my sun room to keep them organized. The rest are stored in the drawers, but at least they aren't scatted throughout the entire home anymore.
We painted our cabinets with chalkboard paint last summer. It was a one day project that gave our kitchen a lot more personality. Now we use the cabinets to jot down menus and grocery lists. It's functional and cute!
A little rope and clothespins can go a long way to create a pretty, but temporary, photo display! I've often used this method to display photos without the commitment of buying frames and putting holes in the walls.
Try mixing it up with odd or unique containers. This coffee container is used to collect spare change in our bedroom. I chose it at a flea market for it's design and color. I think it's fun to use vintage items for a new purpose in your home!
I love collecting pretty glassware, like this cake stand. Storage can be an issue in our smaller home, though. Instead of storing it all in our laundry room I try to find different ways to use it throughout the home. This way it's being used, even when I haven't baked a cake in quite a while…. :)
Bikes are beautiful! Use them at focal points in your home! The same goes for musical instruments. Don't hide them in the closet, bring them out and let them add personality to your rooms!
I hope you've picked up a few helpful tips! All of these photos are by Janae Hardy and were taken for my home tour, last winter. Have a great day… Elsie
If you want to take a look at our full home tour here are the links… Living Room / Bedroom / Kitchen / Closet / Bathroom / Sunroom
145 Comments
Your home is so lovely and original! This post was so helpful–I just moved into a (small) NYC apartment, and finding a home for all of my things has been a struggle. Thanks for the great ideas!
Amazing. Elsie, you always manage to pinpoint my problems and give em fun alternatives to fix them all in one. First android photography, now this. Thanks a lot! Very helpful!
I LOVE THIS HOME!!
xoxo
http://natashafatah.com
http://natashafatah.com
lovely tips!! I really need to organize my room. too much fabric everywhere! haha :]
http://sprinklethepixiedust.blogspot.com/
You dont fancy jumping on a little plane and coming and Elsie-ing my little home do you?!?!? I love the photos, so sweet xxxxx
I’m a student so I only have one room, but I find that jam jars are super-useful – I have lots on my desk and in my drawers. I like having as much floor space and desk space as possible, so I fill up all the gaps like under my bed and desk first. I also use as few ring-binders, boxes etc as possible. People always say my room is really light and airy, and that’s how I like it! 🙂
I lovvvee your house! Thank you for all the ideas, I can’t wait to try some (:
you have some fab ideas here elsie! i am going to display, & push pin more my necklaces. some are currently are tangled in my jewelry box. 🙂
Love your way of organsing! very cool.
I have started collecting nice looking Jars and i use them for things like sunflower seeds, hair clips, pen pots. beter to recycle them!
I really need to work on my home decor. Right now my house just looks like a messy preschool. Haha. These tips are great. Someday ill get to it. Thanks!
Amazing and very helpful post!!!
Thanks again for sharing Elsie!!!
xoxo
so cute!! love the way you organize your house!
http://www.petiteandhungry.blogspot.com
aw! You have the cutest house ever 🙂 Thanks for letting us peer in!!
Yummy ideas aplenty!
http://www.elizabethselena.wordpress.com
to watch her unfold
these organization tips are really helpful. I tried hanging and displaying my jewellery in the open before but sometimes causes my gold colored jewelry to change colour. I had to resort to keeping it back in boxes and drawers…any idea on how to prevent this from happening?
Love the pink coffee container for storage, I have a similar one that I planted some succulents in! I think there’s a picture of it on my blog somewhere. Thanks so much for the tour of your lovely little home!
http://www.prettylittlefawn.blogspot.com
well, I know what I’m doing over the summer!
Love this post. So many great ideas!
WOW! This is so great! I have tons of mason jars and have been discovering so many uses for them! We are about to move to another apt. so this is a timely organizational boost!
Brooke
thebebebirds.blogspot.com
Your home is so lovely and inspiring. I absolutely love the pallet in the bathroom with the crates as shelves!!! I would love to do that and paint the pallet ombre style! Love it!
your home is gorgeous! love the tips. The paint swatches is such a cute idea.
Zoe
http://gypsiesister.blogspot.co.uk
Great ideas, everything looks cute!
such a sweet post! i love your little house. ours is small and cute so youve given me loads of ideas to make it more cozy and ‘us’
I LOVE having our bikes hung on our basement walls!
love your place and amazing tips! I’ll think about them in a few months when I move out 🙂
All great tips! Pretty sure I’ll be using a couple of these ideas in my little Brooklyn apartment!
lovely! your house should be in one of those magazines 😉 can’t wait to get my own home to decorate some day, other than an apartment.. loving the paint swatch ideas, too! the walmart around here has no problem with me taking as many as I’d like for crafts as I’ve asked about it in the past, so new ideas are great!
your place is so cute! and those are all great ideas for maximizing space and adding personal touches! so great!
<3 http://dlezr.blogspot.com
Oh I love this post! I’m currently reorganizing my apartment and needed some ideas, especially for all my jewelries. Thank you for sharing! xoxo
Adorable & practical tips – love the peek into you darling home!
I adore the chalkboard cabinets, your home is lovely. 🙂
This post is so helpful, thanks!!!
Georgia
http://swonderfulgd.blogspot.ca/
Lovely appartment and great ideas. c:
→le cours des choses
This is such a great post, and such great timing. I just moved into a new house and I have been trying to nest and make it my own so thanks for the cutesy tips!
http://annaelainedempsey.blogspot.com/
I used pink milk crates on their sides to make extra space in my teeny tiny closet. I also love to decoupage cardboard boxes with pictures of what they contain. Sunglasses, scarves and mittens are especially great. The cute boxes are cute when they’re out for the season and easy to find when I’ve put them away for a few months.
Jennifer
her-many-downfalls.blogspot.com
everything is so lovely! definitely remembering for future use, thank you 😀
love this. and i’m totally like that about accessories… i almost always wear the same stuff because i don’t have a great visual way to store them at the moment. jewelry display/storage is my next project. thanks for the tips!
What is it about organisation that’s so addictive !! I always want to organise every little area of my life into journals & boxes, I don’t really know why. Today I bought a sweet 1950’s style cabinet for my bedroom, in the process of painting it up for my make-up & things, exciting 🙂
your home is my absolute dream!
Wow, your home is super nice. Thanx for the tips, they’re sure useful, I specially like solution for shoes and towels storage.
Inspiring.
What a smart post!! Love the cake stand as a perfume collection area – the bar table for your scotch collection, the paint swatches, the visible accessories!
I’ve always loved finding odd containers to add a little zing to the place.
Cathy Trails
Such great ideas here! I especially love the nail polish in mason jars suggestion. Your place looks so cool, with tons of character.
Loulou
I’m absolutely IN LOVE with your blog! It’s so fantastic! You make my day, everyday 😀
So cute love the fort larson where did you get that?
These ideas are so helpful and your house is simply charming! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you!
This gaver me a couple of fun ideas for what to do with my new apartment!
By the way, I LOVe your painting! Who is it?
I like the idea of displaying musical instruments instead of keeping them in their cases, but it’s not good for the instrument, pretty much regardless of what it is. I’ve been told by numerous music teachers over the years that keeping them out of their cases on a regular basis is a great way to send them to the repair shop. Not only can they get bumped and damaged, but the changes in the room temperature can severely damage the instrument – especially stringed instruments and they can end up warping. Other wind instrument can be affected too – they can end up with a large amount of tarnish, and the climate can affect anything from the corks to the pads on the keys. Definitely not the best idea. HOWEVER – my husband and I have an old inexpensive violin that we do not plan to use, and we plan to put it up on the wall as a decoration. So I would say, use instruments to keep on display only if you do not intend to play them or do not mind them decreasing in value. 🙂
Some are really lovely ideas!
http://missbobino.blogspot.com
your home looks awesomely chaotic -like really happy people live here!
Your home is beautiful! My favorite room would have to be the kitchen. I just love the chalkboard cabinets! They would be son fun too doodle with and write quirky messages.
Your house is almost too adorable! So many great ideas, thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you so much for these tips. I like tips like this. Organization tips are always helpful !!!
Tank you so muc for the organizing tips! You seem to have everything on your walls organized is such a way that it doesn’t look to cluttered or busy. I’d love to see a post on tips of how to use wall space effectively like you do!
Wow some crazy iPad auto correct happening there 🙁 sorry!
This is extremely helpful! I am the most disorganized person ever and I’m really trying to change that. Thanks!
lisaintheevening.blogspot.com
wonderful home and post!
So inspiring 🙂
i love your kitchen cabinets, who would’ve thunk!? adorable!
I want to do ALL these things! I’ve seen the cake stand thing done in a kitchen before (with soaps and sponges) but in a bedroom with perfume is a cute idea, too. And I ADORE the paint swatches display! I want to run home and do it RIGHT NOW, haha! Thanks Elsie. 🙂
http://annadeloresphoto.blogspot.com
P.S. “Fort Larson” over the dresser and “Happy Place” above the shoes? Smitten with that idea! So clever and adorable.
http://annadeloresphoto.blogspot.com
Hurrah for crates, so many uses! My fella runs a wine shop, so our whole bookcase is made of wine crates… it makes for good storage but is a great design feature too.
Thanks for the inspiration! x
Love.
I love seeing posts like this- it reinforces some things I already like and gives me fresh perspective to think outside the box (or crate, or jar)! Just started following your blog via pinterest. Happy day!
Amazing photos!!!! love your blog
kisses
Elena
http://dcinstyle.com/blog/
GREAT tips! Love it!!!!
Would you mind making a link for it in the sidebar so I can read this post over and over? 😉
acreativecookie.blogspot.com
I love your home and your tips!
Another great idea is to use an old kitchen roll holder for ribbon and thread bobbins so you can easily use them! I am making my own version soon!
I love you bikes too! Mine gets shoved in the shed and I forget I have it!
Thanks for sharing!
Love
Amy
x
http://www.dottypinkdesigns.blogspot.com
this post is really nice!! love it!
Your home is awesome, and this totally helped. I have been trying to figure out what to use to be able to stack my shoes at ground level. Wire baskets are perfect!
Wow, I really love all of your wonderful ideas!! Your home is so gorgeous!
http://www.teganiasthoughts.blogspot.com xx
I love the hooks to display necklaces! I always lose track of mine when they’re put away and they often get knotted – This is a perfect, pretty solution!! will definitely be doing it!
x
http://www.iloveublank.blogspot.com
Such great tips! I can’t wait to take a trip to the op shops this weekend to see what treasure I can find for storage.
these are such great ideas! def trying to redecorate my dorm next year 🙂
http://www.tseparfait.com
Great tips! i love the paint swatch one. I’m always collecting those, but never know how to use them effectively. Holding on to that idea for sure.
Stay in the Lines
While the space we’re staying in right now is so temporary we haven’t bothered to pretty it up much (working on buying a house! Woo!), this is giving me so many ideas for when we move in. Chalkboard cabinets are sooooo covet-worthy.
Great ideas. I need a way do display my bike inside easily. xo, rv
http://aneclecticheap.blogspot.com/
MY DREAM HOME! so cozy and so much of your personality in there! 🙂
Elsie you’re amazing! Seriously!
I love all of this! The only things I would ask for are suggestions of where to buy the crates, shelves, etc.
I love your idea of displaying things so you don’t forget about them! I’m constantly forgetting to put on jewelry (esp earrings!) until I’ve left the house because I keep it in boxes and all jumbled together.
Also your house is absolutely gorgeous! 🙂
good grief, this is brilliant! my boyfriend’s apartment is so small (and I’m sorta taking charge in decorating, in a way, hehe) that these inexpensive methods are do-able! Thanks, Elsie 😀
Rima
http://www.bolubyrima.com
i love the perfume stand idea – so creative and cute 🙂
cat
http://www.catgotdressed.blogspot.com
Your home is so pretty! I love the paint swatch idea, it is a great way to add color to the room!
xoxo, Aves Gry
http://thatsgryt.blogspot.com
Ok, not only your house is awesomely inspiring but this post is brilliant! Thank you so much for those tips.
I love your blog !! you two are sooo creative and are like my own personal desginers !! yay !!
Your home seriously makes me want to jumo into the computer screen! This tips are SO helpful Elsie! 🙂
http://vivikstyle.blogspot.com
interesting!
I LOVE IT! If I would have a house of my own, it will definitely be like this 🙂 So great!
tripnitintin.blogspot.com
I have been craving a bar cart for so long and this post is only furthering my wanting. Great tips!
prudenceandaustere.blogspot.com
the cabinets is my favorit..
love this so much, Elsie.. 🙂 😀
I love these photos and ideas – what a cute and colourful home!
love this post! 😉 display your bike proudly! yay!! 🙂
I needed this sooo much! Thanks, Elsie!
Questo sito blog è molto molto buona e illuminante. Io postare un link a questa pagina sul mio sito. Sono sicuro che i miei visitatori del sito si scopre che particolarmente utile!
We are in a tiny apt in Asia and stretch to use ALL our space all the time, we love the clothes pin photos (so we can change em’ out), we also have one with cards our families send us right by the front door, so we get a lil hug as soon as we enter. I LOVE the shoe rack idea though of the old cool box. Our shoes are constantly everywhere in the front hallway!
I love those mugshot posters in the living room!
a beautiful, colorful home !
Those are all great and fun ideas. I also collect acohol bottles (mostly wine) and since I have a large space between the ceiling and the cabinets of my kitchen I can display them there (exactly like your own kitchen picture with the thermos). I have some pretty neet bottle and it gives a nice effect. As for my jewlery display, well I’m lucky enough to have a great best friend who bought me a display made from an old printer drawer she found on Etsy……it’s pretty cool. Anyway I love your DIY projects and you have given me a plethora of new ideas for my home (which I luckily own).
Love this post!
great ideas!
I am not allow to display my bike… it is on the garage ; )
http://mykitschworld.blogspot.com.es
Love this organizational tip. Suvh pretty ideas! Check out GirlOffFifth.com for more fashion and decor!
I have to say- displaying my necklaces visibly like you mentioned makes such a difference! i love how little things like that can make the room much less cluttered and getting ready much easier.
Thank you for the tips. I am moving into a smaller apartment soon and I will be returning to these for sure. Also, what do you do if you have heavy necklaces? because I have tried that before but the push pins just fall off
i cannot wait until my boyfriend and i live together. so many of my decor ideas are coming from you blog 🙂
I love the idea of the chalkboard paint on the kitchen doors – maybe I would use a different colour (as per your DIY post).
And, the inspirational ideas above your desk – that is something I have been meaning to do for ages.
Sarah
http://www.acatlikecuriosity.blogspot.co.uk
I LOVE your blog and I was wondering what you use to write on your photos. I know it’s probably a silly question.
Great Tips! I desperately need some organization in my life and who knew paint swatches were the magical cure!
cutest home EVER.
The wooden boxes mounted on the wall as shelves just gave me an epiphany on how to best store my unruly mountain of craft supplies. My fiancee thanks you for saving him from pins in the carpet.
Cheers!
Ash
I love all these organization tips! Thanks so much for sharing, will have to do some of these!
http://allthingsblogs.blogspot.com
Love the chalkboard paint on the kitchen cabinets! So fun!
Love these photos- thanks for sharing all these tips! Such fun to see your place and all the details! 🙂
http://slidingdrawersblog.blogspot.com/
lovely tips, all so cute and with so much love in them! xx
Alice Barton ♥ TheMowWay
Your house is amazing. So many good ideas and so full of personality. My partner and I are only renting but our dream is to one day have a home like yours, full of our knick knacks but displayed in creative ways. Thank you for the inspiration!
These are really beautiful! My biggest problem with storage solutions is that after I take something out it hardly ever goes back in.. ah well!
These are really unique and great tips! Thanks for sharing!!
I love the idea of using a cake stand for a display! I bake a lot and have been wishing for a cake stand, but my cupboards are already packed to the brim! Maybe I can find somewhere else to display it, and justify the purchase 🙂
Lovely pics, I adore the rug in your living room, where is it from?
I’m definitely going to use the nail polish in jars idea 🙂
you have a beautiful home!
http://incredimoments.blogspot.com
Thanks for the tips! I don’t have a clue how to organize creatively. These may help especially since I am moving to a new place soon.
Hey Elsie! I love this post! I’m always looking for cute, easy, and inexpensive ways to organize things in my house! After reading this post, I realized that the way I organize my earrings might be useful for other people, too, so I wrote a blog post about it. You can check it out if you’d like: http://kittenslosthermittens.blogspot.com/2012/05/organization-tip-earring-display.html
Also, are the paintings in the first photo and in the photo with the coffee container painted by your mom? I checked out her website, and they look like her style. She does beautiful work!
x Katherine
All such perfect ideas for a space that’s small, like mine! I also love mason jars as storage units for pens & pencils or loose teabags … and I’m right on board with your idea to hang pictures on the wall for inspiration! There’s no point in keeping them locked in a drawer to gather dust. Lovely.
Your home is so lovely and original!
love the way you organize your house
I absolutely love the pallet in the bathroom!
Thanks for letting us peer in!!!
Excellent tips & a lovely blog!
I love the tips.
Your home is so lovely and original
Awesome tips! Your home is gorgeous!
<3 Sarah
theantiquepearl.blogspot.com
Your chalkboard kitchen thing is adorable! Lots of great tips, I think I just might incorporate some of them into my own tiny apartment:)
Beautiful , amazing .
parfum pas cher
Pinned (Pinterest, obvi) so many of these for my new place (moving soon). I love your ideas; you are soo creative. Thanks!
This post was so great, I just had to blog about it!
http://darthpickles.blogspot.com/2012/06/inspiration.html
Love the cake stand idea.
Great home!! I love the pictures of this guy and this woman with glasses! Where can I find the same pictures??
Hi to all, how is the whole thing, I think every one is getting more from this web page.
This is so cute! I love it so much.
You’re home looks so pretty! I love the idea of chalkboard cabinets! 🙂 <3
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I can’t defend Paint Your Wagon on its mteris I saw it just after having my wisdom teeth out and so have precious little idea what its mteris might or might not be to a sober mind but it is the manliest musical ever made, and it did for my relationship to Clint Eastwood what Chicago did for you and Richard Gere.
I’m hoping to have a week end long day off so that I can rearranged the bookcases in my house.
I am swooning over all of us this. I want to re-decorate so badly right now. You’ve got great style!
SO glad I’ve found A Beautiful Mess. These storage and decor ideas are my aesthetic exactly! I’m renting a funky, worn down 70’s house and slowly but surely with tips like these, I’m turning it into something I can be proud of. 🙂