Calling all organization junkies: Making the most of small closets

FREE IMAGES Our house has a fair amount of small closets, but we lost one in the renovation, so now we have to be even more organized in the closets that we have.  So, I've been gathering up ideas and inspiration for how to make the most of what we have.

The secret seems to be bins and compartments designated for like items.
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We will definitely be utilizing the back of doors, so I really had my eyes peeled to see how people utilized their own.

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Maybe not as aesthetically pleasing, but clear bins can help you spot things more quickly.
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Shelf dividers make it easier to grab items as opposed to pulling something from the bottom of a tall stack.
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Little people have little things, so smaller bins will help keep little socks and hats in order.  You could also add another rod between the top one since their clothing is not as long as adults'
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Industrial Eye Candy - using just a dash or go all out

FREE IMAGES Spring is the time for cleaning out our homes and bringing in new fresh design. It's all the season of yard sales, festivals, and fairs which can bring some seriously great finds for your home! Here are a few ideas of what you can do with those industrial style finds:

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I love the industrial style shelving here, even if you can only find the pipes there are plenty of tutorials on how to create your own shelving with them!

via Pinterest via A Passion for  Beautiful Things

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It could be something as simple as a light fixture that gives you a little extra in a room or some great baskets to use on open shelving. 

via Pinterest via Stroll Without Shoes

via Pinterest via Tidbitsandwinde.com

The great thing about industrial finds is that they are great for mixing and matching. You don't necessarily need to have an industrial theme in order to make a piece fit into your decor. It can stand on it's own and look amazing. 

Contain Yourself (and the necessary clutter in your home with these clever storage ideas)

FREE IMAGES While spring cleaning has yet to begun at my house, and likely won't this year with my wedding in May (yikes!), I thought I'd share with you some fun ideas to contain the chaos you'd like to keep in a way that doesn't affect your home decor.

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Matching baskets are fantastic! Especially ones with label options to help you remember what you have stored inside. It keeps this bookcase clutter free but makes it possible to not have to store a ton of things behind closed doors.

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Picking similar styles, all see through containers at the bottom and baskets at the top make this cabinet look so well organized. Clear canisters also help remind me if I'm running low on something.  I also love the pop of color with the labels.

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Not everything is going to fit in the same size containers and if keeping everything matching is too much of a commitment for you, you can mix it up a bit and it still look great. Just try and use similar sizes and shapes to create a cohesive look.

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I love the mix of three colors here. Using pops of color is great but I love how this one is minimized to two color options and scattered throughout the storage.

Make The Most Out Of Your Closet

FREE IMAGES Spring cleaning can get to the best of us sometimes and when it feels just a bit too overwhelming sometimes I like to start small! A closet is a great place to get a great amount done but it not take too long to accomplish.

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Try pulling everything out of your closet, sorting it into piles of keep, donate, and trash. Sort your keep pile into sections on a table or floor of how you would organize it. Plan it out to fit the size of your closet so you don't have any extra bulk in the way.

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Figure out what you need in your closet to function for the stuff it's going to contain. Do you need more shelf space, more drawers, a few buckets, or more space to hang things? Do a quick drawing of how you'd like it to look so you know you are putting everything in the right place and not missing any essential pieces.

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Sometimes it can be a quick run to the store to get what you need, other times you'll need to think about custom fits for your closet to make it work but either way the closet needs to function for you so customizing it is a great option. Since most closet storage items are not that expensive and most closets aren't large enough to get to pricey, this is a great budget friendly place to start as well.

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Once you've updated your closet to fit your needs, put everything inside and enjoy the glory of your new organized closet. Want to keep that amazing? Don't put anything new in the closet without taking something else out. Make sure you keep a balance of items and space in the closet or every time you go to get something out it will be a big ordeal.

Decorating for the later years

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As we grow older, there are many things we need to consider. From what we’ll do with our time, to how we’ll stay fit and healthy, the options at our disposal are endless and that can leave us a little unsure about what to do.

In particular, how we approach decorating our homes can be a tricky thing to manage. It may seem relatively unimportant in the grand scheme of things but the appearance of our home can have a profound impact on our attitudes, emotional health and general well being.

No one wants to spend their retirement staring at four unsightly walls and here we look at a few tips for decorating your home in your later years.

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Shelf for success

From books and ornaments to films and music, you’ll undoubtedly have a lot of need for storage in your home. Wall-mounted shelves should be at an accessible height and not contain anything too heavy. Anything you require regular access too should be stored at a comfortable height on freestanding bookshelves or display units. You can always arrange items by color for something artistic and playful.

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Spare a thought for cleaning and maintenance of these though. Depending on where you live, you may be able to get some help with this. For example, retirement property for sale from leading firms like McCarthy and Stone offer domestic cleaning services with some of their developments.

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Get it framed

Whether you’re a proud grandparent who wants to show off pictures of their beautiful grand kids or someone looking to take a trip down memory lane through old photos, it’s important you get them framed.

There are many styles to choose from but popular favorites include collage frames which display multiple photos in a large frame or single frames arranged in a symmetrical or eclectic pattern. This set-up can also be applied to artwork as well as to personal photographs.

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Go minimalist

Accessibility is an important buzzword as you age so make sure your decorating takes this into account. Keep walkways clear to prevent the risk of falls and embrace minimalist styles that promote clean layouts and minimal furniture. Combine natural woods with light, neutral colors for a stylish contrast.

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Small laundry room inspiration

FREE IMAGES When did it finally sink in that I was a homeowner?  It wasn't when I was carrying boxes in to our living room or kitchen, it was when I walked past our laundry room for the first time.  I know it sounds silly, but I have never had my own laundry room - I either had to go to a laundromat or down the hall to the residents' laundry room. However, since this space isn't usually seen by guests it tends to be put on the back burner for any updates. I like to remember how grateful I am to finally have my own laundry room by keeping it functional and organized.  Below are some dream laundry rooms for inspiration

Even if you only have a laundry nook, make it feel more luxe with an updated lighting fixture, and sleek shelving with organized supplies.
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Love this Stain kit idea!
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You can still make a small laundry space work for you and be pretty too. Making the most of the room you do have may take a little creativity and narrowing down your items to just necessities, but making it functional will really help you enjoy this space.

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Don't forget about the accessories! Have fun with them and mix them up since there are a lot of different small items that get put in the laundry room. Baskets and clear jars keep smaller items from creating visual clutter.

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Giving your laundry room a makeover doesn't need to be pricey. A few cabinets and a table top to fold your clothes can really make a difference in the room. Also adding a touch of color with some paint can make it feel more like a homey space than a commercial laundry.

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If you laundry room has plenty of space you might consider a wash tub or sink, and some hang up space for those items that need to hang dry.  I think laundry room slop sinks are a must.  We don't have one yet, but it's on my registry! A rug can also add a little comfort to this space to keep it from being to stiff and cold. 

Keeping Small Spaces Beautiful

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You would think that having a small flat or studio would mean minimalistic decoration and the end to all clutter forever. But like most people, you probably find yourself holding onto stuff which you can’t justify discarding. I believe that if you have space, you'll fill it, so one has to be careful to remember to purge, purge, purge, or you will run out of space, no matter how much you have.

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This is easier said than done however, especially if your sweetums or the kiddies hate to throw things away or donate them.  Here are a few rules I follow to try to keep clutter at bay.

Be brutal

Home decoration is one of those areas where you have to be ruthless no matter how big or small the job.

The fact is that you are going to be living in the space you are decorating so you have to be absolutely sure that what you are bringing into your home is what you want AND has either a function or very sentimental value.

Keep it to a minimum or keep it hidden in plain sight.

Baskets and bins are my mantra if you have a lot of small toys or tools that need to be kept accessible. Open shelves are great for accessibility but they can start looking messy very fast.  An easy way to remedy that is matching baskets or totes.

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Use color decisively

In a small space, every color and item has more impact than it does in a more spacious abode.  It is a myth that dark colors make a small space seem smaller. What makes a space seems smaller is high contrast, because of it's play with perspective. Your can use that idea to your advantage though if you want to create depth in a room. Painting three walls a light color and saving the last one for something rich deepens the sense of space.

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Nowadays, space is at a premium especially in large cities. They say that less is more and there is no reason why this can’t also be true for making a small flat or studio a delight to live in.

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Large pieces of art make a space seem larger than it is and mirrors work wonders for giving the illusion of increased space.

Keep it slick

There is nothing wrong with clutter if you like the crammed-and-cosy look.

However, if you want to create space, turf out the unwanted odds and ends immediately. I always feel amazing after dropping off boxes at good will!

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To keep it simple work on one set of items at a time to stop you from feeling overwhelmed. After all, de-cluttering is not just a physical task but emotional too. It is tough discarding objects which and quieting that voice that always says "but I may use it one day...".

Once you are de-cluttered, some cleaning tips will help you along. Clean as you go each day so that you can not only relax in comfort in your space but you don’t have a huge job at the end of the week.  Even cleaning a studio flat can take days if left too long.

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With less clutter, 15 minutes of daily cleaning will be a breeze.

this post was in partnership with supersavvyme.co.uk