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Simple Summertime Bedroom Makeover

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Filed Under: Bedrooms

Getting Your Bedroom Ready For Summer

As you shed your cardigans for sundresses and give your wardrobe a summer makeover, take a look at your bedroom. Chances are, it could use a bit of warm-weather flair as well.

You don’t need to completely renovate your bedroom to create a fresh new look for summer. Pack your winter blankets away and invite the summertime in with these simple bedroom makeover tips.

 

Let the Light In

Look for ways you can let in natural light to the room. Swap heavy, dark curtains for sheer, natural window treatments to let in light while keeping heat out or hanging mirrors in your room.

Mirrors reflect natural light instead of absorbing it. You can use a mirrored table, or using a beautiful mirrored tray to hold your favorite reads of the season. For any size room, a large accent mirror can make it look bigger and reflect light around the space.

 

Declutter and Condense

Throughout the busy months of winter and early spring, clutter can pile up. Clutter and disorganization can cause stress and anxiety, inhibit creativeness and make it difficult to relax.

Take a look at your room to see if there is anything you can get rid of or put into storage during the warmer months. Using a stylish shelf or hanging organizer is another great way to clean up the clutter and free up space.

A vintage trunk is a great way to store your winter bedding and curtains and adds an extra seat or side table for your room.

 

Use Bright Colors

Simply changing your color scheme can make a huge difference in the feel of your room.

While dark purples and silvers are perfect for a wintertime bedroom, bright or pale colors can create a more summery atmosphere. Mint and coral are popular decorating colors this season. Repaint your dresser or add some colorful throw pillows to your bed and voila, instant bedroom face lift!

 

Bring the Outdoors In

Everyone wants to be outdoors when the weather is warm.

Bring an outdoor element to your bedroom decor, such as putting fresh-cut flowers in a watering can, adding a natural wood night stand or bringing in a vintage patio chair to put in the corner.

 

Sleep in Summery Serenity

Pack away the heavy blankets and flannel sheets. Science has proved that most people sleep better in cooler temperatures.

Thick comforters and blankets can trap heat and make you uncomfortable, so deck your bed with lightweight, breathable materials.

If you like the “weight” of a blanket over you (like everyone here at home!) look for coverlets like this one from Pottery Barn.

Bright, flowery patterns are popular this season, so use a patterned quilt or matching duvet set, such as the Grandiflora set at Wayfair.com.

 

Create a New Space

Bedrooms aren’t just for sleeping. Even with a small room you can create a small space for reading, working or enjoying a cup of coffee.

Choose a corner or blank wall in your room to put a chair and small side table or a comfy loveseat, depending on the size of your room. Add a bookcase to create a private personal library or a small stand to arrange teas and coffees. Your room should be a place you want to be in all the time, not just when it’s time to hit the hay.

Love Bedroom Decor & Organization? Follow me on Pinterest!
A Personal Organizer

Basic Life Skills – Making Your Bed

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Filed Under: Bedrooms, Routines & Time

Making Your Bed Every Morning

Recently I started talking about basic life skills and how knowing (and using) these skills impacts your ability to live an organized life. I decided to start from a very basic skill that makes all the difference in your daily life and on how you start your days: making your bed.

Basic Life Skills

Funny thing is that while researching and reading about life skills I read that making your bed daily does contribute for a happier life. Who’d say that such a simple thing like fluffing your pillows could make you happier, right? 🙂

Truth is, life is made of small steps that build upon each other and when you start the day right, you set the tone for a good day.

By making your bed you quickly make the space more organized (hello!? Your bed is the largest surface in your room) And, you feel calmer and more relaxed because your environment isn’t reminding you of every little thing that is undone.

You also feel an immediate sense of accomplishment. You open your curtains, you shake off your bedding and next thing you know your bedroom is looking like a hotel room again – OK, almost.

 

 

I actually like to tap my back and I think to myself: way to go girl, now off to get ready!

All right, let’s jump to the video below and get started!

By the way, did you make your bed today? 😉

I hope you join me in this daily habit of making your bed when you wake up and set a positive tone for each brand new day.

Rituals are a powerful thing and they help us create the lives we want, so don’t fret the chores, embrace them!

Looking forward to have your household chores planned and organized?

Use the editable Chores Printables Specialty Set to get your household routine in place, so you have time for more fun!

Here is what you’ll get in the Chores Printables Specialty Set:

  • Your Big Picture-Goal Setting
  • Daily Chores Checklists
  • Weekly Chores Checklists
  • Monthly Chores Checklist
  • Yearly Chores Checklists
  • Get Ready for the Week Checklist

Here are some of the files included in this Printables Specialty Set:

How to Fold Fitted Sheets

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Filed Under: Bedrooms

Folding Fitted Sheets The Easy Way

Hi there how are you? Here is Helena, personal organizer.

So this week I am going to show you how I fold my fitted sheets and give you a couple of tips to make it really easy.

The first one is how I organize my laundry routine to make folding my sheets is easy.

So the first thing I do is very early in the morning as I wake up, I take my laundry on for washing. It takes about an hour and then when I am half way through the morning routine with the kids, I transfer it from the washer to the dryer. Later, by the time I come back from walking them to their classroom and getting back home from dropping them off, I am ready to fold because, by the time I get home, everything is nice and warm and ready to get out of the dryer.
So I am going to show you now, how to fold fitted sheets. And then we will go through step by step, so you can also have easy to store fitted sheets.

The first thing I do is to work close to my bed because I need a surface to place the sheets once I go through the first step. So try to do the folding in a place where your floors are cleaner, and you have a clean surface to put your laundry on. So the first step is to turn the sheets inside out and let me tell you I learned this twelve years ago when I got married, and I didn’t know how to fold my fitted sheets. And back in Brazil, I don’t think we had fitted sheets then. And so when I got here my husband taught me this and if I can learn it you can learn it too.

So the first thing I do after placing it inside out, I put my fingers in this corner where the sewing is. And I used the long way instead of the short, the head and the foot and I stick my fingers in here, and I flip them all from my left hand and it will hang like this.

Do not worry about the bulk down here because we are going to get there. So again, I have this side, now we are going to work on this side.

I place it on top of the bed where it hangs, and I come in here again I am searching for that corner. Here we are again; I am placing a corner with another corner.

Alright, so now I have my long sides already folded, and I am going to work with head and toe. I fold it again over my hand, and it will hang like this.

So now you can straighten up here and shake it up, so you take away all these folds and all that jumble.
Now, place it on top of the bed or your couch and smooth it to eliminate the wrinkles.

Next, I pull this side here that looks more like a skirt to the rest of the sheet, and I smooth it out to make this into a rectangular shape, so it’s easy for me to fold. And I want it to look nice, so that is why I give it attention.

If you are in a hurry, you just go to any fold it through. All right; I pull this to make sure these edges are unfolded in and everything is looking good. And now I fold one, two, three. I go here I fold the center because we are going to fold in thirds.

Go back fold it and now you have a rectangular shape. And now you fold it again. And you have a square, and you actually will fold and will have all the sheet looking the same and piled in your closet, linen closet that is now super easy to find what you want.

I hope this tip helps you get your linen clothes organized and make laundry time less painful because you and I know that doing the laundry is not our favorite chore to do in the house.
I hope you have a great week, and I’ll see you soon.

Simple Habits to Keep Your Life Clutter Free

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Filed Under: Bedrooms, Clutter & Declutter, Home Office, Organizing

Creating a Clutter Free Life

 

How many times have you lost your keys, shoes or important papers because there is too much clutter in your home? Families around the country are drowning in clutter that can cost time and money as well as cause frustration. Clearing the clutter from your home, and your life, will take some time and effort but the results will be well worth it.

 

clutter free life

 

Looking on the internet, you will see many blogs and businesses that offer help to those struggling with clutter. If this describes you, there is help available. And if you follow these simple habits to keeping your life clutter free, you may find you can also let go of the clutter in your home.

 

1. Walk-through

Go through your home as a visitor and make note of anything in your home that is out of place, items that are piling up or things that bother you. Start with what bothers you most and begin going through the items, getting rid of things you no longer need or want.

 

clutter free life

 

The goal is to clear small areas, one at a time, until you have cleaned the entire room. Go through each room until you have gotten rid of as much clutter as possible.

 

2. Create a Decluttering Schedule

Create a cleaning and decluttering schedule. Include chores for each member of the family so one person does not have to do everything. If you work on cleaning a little bit each day, it will make keeping your home clean much easier.

 

clutter free life

 

3. Create a Home

Rather than stacking mail and other papers all over the room, create a specific area to handle mail and pay bills. This could be a desk or a shelf with an inbox. Be sure to place a garbage can, and a shredder is all possible, near your mail area so you can throw junk mail out as you go through the mail.

 

clutter free life

 

Along with the inbox and garbage can, it would also be helpful to keep a family calendar in the area. When you see paperwork that has an appointment or important date, you can write the information directly into the calendar and toss the paper unless you need to return it.

 

clutter free life

 

4. A Landing Place

Place a coat rack or shelf with hooks near the door you use most often. It is important to have everyone hang jackets and book bags here when they come into the home each day. By placing these items in the same place each day, your family will be less likely to lose things.

 

clutter free life

 

You can use similar tactics to declutter your office or workspace. A clean work area can make your day more productive, which your boss will most likely appreciate. Develop a filing system so you can find important papers when you need them.

 

5. Declutter Your Schedule

Cut back on commitments. Part of having a cluttered life is having too many obligations each week. Families these days are busy and everyone is going in different directions with meetings, sports, band, volunteering or religious activities.

 

clutter free life

 

Declutter your schedule by asking each person to give up all but one activity. This will reduce the amount of running and allow the family to eat together regularly.

Finally, if you are too overwhelmed with the amount of clutter in your life, give yourself permission to seek outside help.

A professional organizer can recommend simple habits to keeping your life clutter free and will help you develop a routine that will work for your family.

 

Living and Organizing Small Spaces, aka Cozy!

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Filed Under: Bedrooms, Home Office, Organizing, Readers Love, Small Spaces

How to Organize Small Living Rooms

Not everyone has the sprawling ranch of their dreams, with a living room that goes on for miles. Most living rooms are cluttered and lived in. If you have a small living room, there are ways to make that small space work for you rather than against you.

featuring framed wall art

 

Creative Furnishings

There are many options when it comes to seating arrangements in your living room. One of the best options, however, is to buy furnishings that double as storage space.

 

Ottomans

Ottomans are a perfect example of how to creatively make a small living room work for you. Ottomans can store blankets, pillows, and throws, or even linens for overnight guests.

 

I love this shoe storage ottoman from One Kings Lane!

 


Josie Shoe Ottoman, Beige
from: One Kings Lane

 

Benches

Benches are a great way to add extra seating arrangements and store great stuff. Books, heavy-duty blankets, movies, music, and even electronics can all be stored inside benches. You can even store bench cushions when not in use.

 

small living room

 

Futons & Daybeds

Futons and daybeds work perfectly to accommodate extra seating and are great to use as a pull-out sleeper for company.

 

 

Tables

Tables with storage and plenty of it is another great way to accommodate a small space. Tables that have cubby spaces for things like playing cards or remote controls are a great way to store small items. Tables that lift up completely to reveal storage are another good way to make a small living room work for you.

 

featuring a black accent table

 

Wall Space

Many people overlook the walls of their living room when it comes to finding extra storage space.

Wall space is also a great place to push a high-back bench with storage underneath. Guests can make themselves at home sitting on the bench up against the wall while never knowing that there is storage below. A folding table can be opened up in front of the bench for company and then put away when not needed.
A shelf hung with hinges at just the right level on a wall is perfect for a laptop or this desk “murphy bed style”.

 

How to organize small living rooms. Examples and ideas to help you furnish and organize your small living room.

 

How to organize small living rooms. Examples and ideas to help you furnish and organize your small living room.

 

Another great use for wall space is a table top size piece of wood with hinges and support – perfect for a light snack or cup of tea. When not in use, the table can be folded down and put away, creating more room in a small space.

Or, what about this super clever idea?

Living in small spaces, furniture arrangement and ideas.

 

Fold and Go

Folding tables, chairs and beds were invented for a reason. They are great to use when you need them and even greater when you do not.

Folding chairs are easily stored in a closet or even under a bed when not in use, but make perfect sense for when you have extra company.

 

How to organize small living rooms. Examples and ideas to help you furnish and organize your small living room. Design Sponge hang chairs wall

 

Folding tables can be pulled out for extra company and put away when not in use as well. Folding tables are easily decorated with nice tablecloths.

 

Pull out dinning table for small rooms

 

Folding beds and couches can host a guest (or two) at night and be closed back leaving all the space free again for the daily use activities of your home.

 

How to organize small living rooms. Examples and ideas to help you furnish and organize your small living room. Pottery Barn sleeper sofa

 

These are just some ways to be creative when trying to make small living rooms more functional as well as inviting.

What are your favorite tips to make good use of space?

 

 

Find below all the items from the vignettes and collages:

 


 


Aidan Gray nested table
laylagrayce.com

Wooden furniture
wayfair.com

Black antiqued furniture
$995 – alexanderandpearl.co.uk

 


Framed wall art
wayfair.com

Lacquer finish furniture
$1,825 – alexanderandpearl.co.uk

Tufted ottoman
safaviehhome.com

 

Have you checked all our organizing printables?

Keeping Kids’ Rooms Clutter-Free

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Filed Under: Back-to-School Season, Bedrooms, Kids, Readers Love

Teaching Our Kids to be Clutter-Free

Not long ago I made a presentation for tween girls and when I pulled up my well-organized drawers where everything was folded and neatly stored away, there was an Ohhhh in the room that took me completely by surprise.

As the presentation unfolded I learned that most of them were living out of their laundry baskets, that their closets were a hot mess and that they just preferred not to look at it, so they closed the door. They didn’t know how to keep their rooms organized or clutter-free.

Everyone has at least one room in their home that is a magnet for clutter. For families with children, it’s usually the kids’ bedrooms.

They are catch-alls for toys, games, clothes, school work, musical instruments, and everything else that kids seem to collect, no matter what their age. For many the mess is overwhelming and it seems easier to just shut the door and never look.

Keeping back the clutter might seem like a never-ending battle, but it’s possible. A solid organization plan using the tips below will keep your kids’ rooms neat and clean

Organizing Their Clothing

Overflowing dresser drawers and jam-packed closets not only contribute to clutter, they make getting ready for school in the morning a real challenge. A simple schedule can turn a daylong job into a quick task.

If your kids are younger and growing rapidly, evaluate each piece of clothing every time you fold laundry. Simply ask yourself if the item still fits. If it does, it goes back in the drawer; if not, donate it. In addition, check for stains, tears, and other damage that can’t be hidden or fixed. Toss items that are no longer wearable.

For older kids, quickly evaluate clothing at the end of every season. As your kids are going back to school, ask yourself if their summer clothing will still be wearable in the spring. Donate clothes that won’t be usable. If you can use the items for younger children later, sort them by size and store in clearly labeled bins.

 

 

Organizing Toys

Kids’ toy collections grow and grow until you don’t know where they all came from. Preventing your home from turning into one big toy box starts by involving the kids. The trick is to make picking up toys easy and fun.

Make it easy for kids to keep their toys put away. Designate shelves with pretty baskets or colorful plastic bins for toys. Add five minutes to your nighttime routine for putting toys away. You’ll be teaching them valuable skills and habits along the way. If more than one child shares a room, have each child pick out a different colored bin. Designated containers will prevent fights and make the task simpler.

 


Organizing Homework and Other School Supplies

Morning is often the most stressful time in a household. Getting each child out the door fully dressed and on time is a challenge. Organizing homework and school supplies will prevent scrambling on the way to school.

Designate a place where all homework is stored. This might be an “in” basket on a desk or a small box or basket on a shelf. When your child comes home from school, everything he or she brings home goes there. During homework time, each child will know exactly where to look for the necessary books and papers.

Nothing but homework should be kept in the homework box, and homework can never be left anyplace else. Keeping the spot for homework only is critical.

 

I have 3 boys and I know that keeping kids organized can seem like an uphill climb, but involving the kids in fun habits makes it easy. You’ll organize your home and reduce stress. Plus, you’ll be teaching your children how to live a clutter-free life, and that will serve them well over the years – even if it seems we’re talking to death ears now. 😉

Enjoy these Closet Organizing Products and how to use them to keep your kids’ room (and yours) clutter-free.

Shop organizing products on this post

Closet Organizing Products

Drawer Dividers

Keep everything in its place with drawer dividers. Create a separate section for socks, underwear, scarves, and belts.This simplifies finding what you need and replacing items after laundry or use.

Custom Drawer Dividers

Maximize all the space in your drawers by using this customizable drawer divider. Ideal if you have just a bit of each item and won’t need a full section like the one provided in the previous product.

FlipFold Jr.Laundry Folder

Makes folding t-shirts neatly a breeze. This one is the Jr. size but also offered in adult size.

 

Over the Door Organizer

Offered in several colors, these organizers can hold every little item that would otherwise be scattered around the room. From socks and underwear to brushes and makeup, all stay in one spot.

Over the Door Shoe Organizer

Keeping all your shoes organized and out of your way. If possible install it inside the closet door to avoid visual clutter when your bedroom door is closed and you’re resting.

Hanging Jewelry Storage

Makes it easy for you to spot what you have and what you’re looking for. Ideal to “remind” you of all your jewelry and start using all you have.