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.

via Pinterest via Buzzfeed

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.
via a cultivated nest

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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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Inspiring REAL Home Offices

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via Lonny Magazine

via Lonny Magazine

via Lonny Magazine

via Apartment Therapy

via Apartment Therapy

via Apartment Therapy

Beautiful and clever small closet ideas

FREE IMAGES In older homes and small apartments it's hard to find great storage and closet space solutions. Don't let the words wardrobe and armoire scare you though! There are some seriously great designs to choose from that give you the storage you need.

via bhg

There are simple, modern, sleek ones that let you close all the doors and not notice any clutter. Most of these have great options for how you can stack and shelve things as well!

We have a very, very small linen closet in our home that could really benefit from a treatment like this.
via Pinterest 

 We've all seen the closet-turned-home office - I still like finding a good one!
via Pinterest via Modern Home Decor

via CasaSugar

Don't neglect small accessories - they need a designated place too. Having these guys piled up in a corner or shelf can really make or break the feeling of chaos.  Clear acrylic boxes or no-frills baskets are a good way to organize small items if you don't have a drawer.

Your walls are your best friends when you live small.  Hang as much up as you can and save precious surface, drawer, and rail space for items that can't go on walls.

via Pinterest via Place of My Taste

via marthastewart

A simple traditional look with more storage necessities than you could ask for! Although this lacks hanging space it can be a great addition to a small closet, or a place to organize craft supplies.

Must Haves for My Desk

FREE IMAGES It doesn't matter how many times I clean off my desk and try to remove the clutter, there are always some desk must haves that stick around. Here are a few of my essentials to keep me going:

via annixen

A cute pencil/pen holder is a must have. I need easy access to write or sketch out my thoughts and something simple like this is a perfect match for my desk. 

via letterlovedesigns on etsy

Although I love sticky notes, sometimes the clutter of sticky notes everywhere gets on my last nerves! Having on spot to jot all my notes down is much easier for me, especially when I can close the notebook for the day and have a pretty cover to look at!

via jasminedowling 

With most of my schedule and events kept in google calendar it's not as necessary for me to have a place to write down what I need to do on a calendar but I love having one to look at just as a reference. I think sometime's I'd be lost if I didn't have a calendar staring at me!

via pinterest

And last but not least, I need something pretty to look at! Since I spend most of my days at my desk, I need it to be a spot that I love to be at. Sometimes it's a picture, a plant, or even something as simple as a fun lamp. Anything to make me smile while I'm in the middle of working. I always have pictures of the pups in my life on pretty gold frames on my desk. You never know where your inspiration will come from.

via Lonny

The desk itself matters too.  I like a lot of clear surface space.

via Lonny

What are your must-haves for your desk?

Make the most of a snow day with some of these projects

FREE IMAGES Four great ideas of things you can do to change your decor while your stuck inside (since we are snowed in with over a foot of snow here and it's still coming down!). Might as well have fun - and if you're like me I can only watch so much TV before I need to get up and do something!

1. Rearrange your furniture:

via BHG

I get so excited rearranging my furniture.  It is really refreshing and can make old things seem new again. It takes some trial and error to get things just right, and don't forget that you can "shop" furniture from the rest of your house!

2. Clean out your drawers:

via bhg

In your kitchen, bathroom, pantry, bedroom, and more! Clean out those drawers by creating three boxes: throw away, give away, keep. Sort your items and when you get to the keep, figure out if you have any good trays, shoe boxes, or containers laying around that would keep the items corralled.  It looks like the drawer above is using small jelly roll pans, which is really clever.

3. Make that gallery wall you've dreaming about

I like Design Crush's tutorial, but there are a lot of great ideas and step by step instructions online i you just search for something like "create your own gallery wall."  Even i you don't have all the art you want to use yet, gallery walls can be flexible and expand over time, or you can at least decide where you want it and start composing it in kraft paper.

4. Style Your Bookshelves

2 images via DesignSponge

You will be surprised how many compliments you get when you thoughtfully arrange your shelves.  Thinking of a bookcase or set of shelves as a composition really lets you show off your favorite accessories and books while also serving a purpose. I'm not going to lie, it's not always easy to strike that perfect balance, and you'll likely always be making little tweaks.  I would start by pulling a few images that I really like to use as a guide.  Next, collect the items that will be on the shelves.  You may have to omit some items or add some along the way.  You will want items with a variety of heights and widths.  Other than that, a lot of the process is just "feel."  Step back from the shelves from time to time to make sure you are happy with how your "composition" is taking shape.