Resourceful Girl

Chores suck. Gaining space and getting a more organized laundry room will do wonders when it comes to laundry time. Something about space with interesting elements makes you loath it less. It all boils down to 4 things, shelves, bins, hanging space, and color. All can be acquired for minimal ducats. The room above is adorable and adds so much space to a tiny room.

Instead of the clear plastic bins above these baskets are way cuter and on sale for $10 at Target.

You can also use a tension bar for hanging clothes and use the space on the left side for hanging spray bottles.
If you have space add hooks for jackets, scarfs and bags. These hooks from Ikea are $5 for two.

Color can be found with wall paper, paint or tile, just as long as you get rid of that boring flat white. Good luck!

Photo via I Heart Organizing

Time-check: middle of winter. It’s about that time of year when most of the country gets a little coo-coo after spending months indoors. Sorry New York, Annie is lying. The sun is not going to come out tomorrow, more like 3-4 more months. Here are some ideas on small in-home projects you can do (on the cheap) to bide the time found on Stylelist.com. Found via CasaSugar.

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1. Rearrange your furniture. This may sound simple, but rearranging furniture is a great (and free!) way to completely change the look and feel of your home. If you always find yourself climbing over an ottoman, move your couch back to create a passing lane. Is it too cramped? Try moving your side table to another room that’s more spacious.

2.Change a light switch plate. Finding the light switch is always a daunting task, especially for guests. So why not try decoupaging pretty patterned paper to the plate for a nice pop of color? Your friends will thank you and a little touch of color will liven up any space.

3.Rearrange the bookshelf. Reorganizing the bookshelf will easily make an entire room look more styled and polished, and you don’t even have to get rid of anything. One tip is to arrange your books so they look like a smooth landscape of rolling hills. Put the tallest in the middle and fan out to the smallest or create multiple peaks (as long as the books flow together) or lay a few books on their side and stack them like a pyramid.

4.Buy fresh flowers. A vase full of fresh flowers instantly brings life to any space, especially in the dreary winter months when everything outside is cold and pretty lackluster. You don’t need to get fancy – a bouquet of supermarket roses in a happy hue is enough to make a difference.

5.Make pillow covers. One yard of fabric is all you need to make two adorable decorative pillow covers. Adding a fresh pattern or color to your living room or bed will elevate the design and you can buy designer fabrics on sale for an inexpensive price.

6.Change your lightbulbs. Nothing is more frustrating than light bulbs burning out, especially because replacing them is one of those things you put on the to-do list and immediately forget about. Take the time to replace all of those lights for a brighter, happier space. In your bedroom or den, try opting for lower wattage lights (between 20- and 50-watts) to create a cozier and more romantic ambiance.

8.Transform A Coffee Table.If you have a glass-topped coffee table, try sticking photographs underneath the glass for a new look. It’ll bring a personal touch to the space, reduce the need for frames and changing the photos is easy. If you don’t have a glass-topped coffee table, but like the idea, you can easily buy custom-cut glass from the hardware store.

9.De-clutter. It’s amazing what a good cleaning can do to a space. Getting rid of miscellaneous items that you don’t need will make your home feel less cramped and more comfortable. Giving away or throwing out fifty things will not only free-up your home, but will alter your mindset as well.

Find these adorable bird knobs on Etsy

10.Change your dresser knobs.Changing all of your hardware can get expensive, but why not change the knobs on your nightstand for a low-cost alternative. Two or three knobs is all you’ll need to make them look good as new!

11.Frame a piece of fabric. Buying artwork can be very expensive, so try framing a piece of decorative fabric or an old scarf instead.

12.Change glass cabinet doors. It’s easy to repaint a wooden door, but what about when you have glass doors and are tired of people being able to peek at your mess? Turns out you can paint that too. If you’re done with your glass door, paint over them from the inside or staple fabric over the glass. If you don’t have fabric, you can use free printable decorative paper instead!

13.Create a hanging plate display. Do you have a gorgeous set of china sitting in the cabinet? Pull out those dishes and mount them on your wall. You’ll transform an empty wall and display an otherwise hidden collection.

14.Edge a shelf with ribbon. Update tired shelves by covering the edges with ribbon, fabric or paper. Use a fun pattern or bold color to turn the unit into a fun, statement piece.

Top photo by Marc Lacoste
Shelf photo By Lucy Orloski
Plate photo by BCCNYC

Life is messy and purses are an example of that mess. Receipts, change, bobby pins, keys, phones, cameras. wallets, lip gloss, hand lotion, tide to go, hand sanitizer….. I could go on. My purse is always a disaster. Ideally, at the end of each week you would have enough time to sit down and clean everything out and start fresh for the following week. But, as we all know, time is a bitch. Every other week or, at the very least, once a month clean out all the junk.

Here are a few tips for the job from Home Made Simple.

Dump and Declutter
From duplicate cosmetics to expired coupons to tattered business cards, the odds and ends in your purse can really add up. Throw all of the bits and scraps to the trash and place other items, like excess makeup and paperwork, in their proper locations.

Once your purse is empty, consider what exactly is essential to carry in your purse. Everybody will have their own opinions and needs, and the ultimate decision comes down to your own preferences. With that in mind, here are seven items we think you should always carry:

1. Keys
2. ID
3. Important medical information, medications and health card
4. Notepad and pen
5. Emergency cash and credit card
6. Cellphone
7. Small flashlight

Divide and Conquer
With our essentials and your own must-haves ready to go, clever organization is crucial to maintaining your purse’s new-found tidiness. Here are some inventive ideas to keep everything neatly separated and ready for access:

* Zip it Up. Break similar items into categories such as health, grooming and office. Next, place like products into small, clear zippered bags. Not only will you be able to clearly identify what you’re looking for, but also neatly transfer each bag from purse to purse.

RG TIP: Use fabric pouches (maybe those free promo makeup bags you have sitting around) to separate purse items.

* Clip it. Keys have a way of nestling into the farthest depths of your purse. Call off the search party with a convenient key clip or carabiner. Simply fasten the clip to a strap and secure them by zipping your purse shut.

* Secure it. Phones seem to disappear every time an incoming call rings. A phone pouch helps prevents scratches and ensures you’ll reach for the same spot the next time you phone rings, whether it be on the strap or secured to a pocket.

* Go Small. Travel-size cosmetics, pain relievers and toiletries are great for conserving space. Just as effective as their larger versions, simply replace as each gets low. And don’t forget Febreze® Fabric Refresher™ TO GO, sized just right for a little freshness wherever you go.

Tip: Despite our best efforts, purses tend to fill up with loose change, postage stamps and small pieces of trash. Create a catch-all bag for all those little items that don’t logically fit into your overall purse organization strategy. Just remember to clean it out regularly to keep the clutter under control.

* Exercise Restraint. Integrated pockets are excellent for keeping items organized, efficiently returning things to the same pocket is quite another story. Try to limit one or two items to each pocket, and if possible, limit your use to only the most convenient locations.

Photo – Valerie Renee/Flikr

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We can all thank Storage Geek for this super smart space saver, one of many on their site.

Some great ideas from Unluggd here! Not only do you get your cords off the floor, you make something interesting.

We spend a lot of time trying to hide cables and cords away, out of sight. But what are you supposed to do when there’s just no way to avoid having them visible? We say, embrace them! Check out these examples and get some ideas here.