A Few of My Favorite Things...For Organizing

If you follow me on Pinterest, you know I have a board dedicated to ideas and products for organizing we seem to require. Here are a few of my favorites.

Tension curtain rods used to separate platters and cutting boards

Freezer storage labeling and organizing - look how tidy!

Ring storage using navy beans (or colored glass)

A piece of wood and some hooks make the ironing board look a little decorative, if not inviting.

Shoe organization using wood strips on the wall. First you have to find a wall though.

In cupboard pot holder, found at amazon.com

Inside cabinet door organization for measuring cups and spoons plus conversion chart. This is blackboard paint painted inside the cabinet door.

Counter top dish detergent storage for easy cleaning. Use decorative bottles and either a cake stand or a diy cake stand made by gluing a plate to a candlestick and then spray painting.

A strip of wood and some decorative knobs to store jewelry.

Another freezer organization trick, keep track of contents using a dry erase marker. Comes off with rubbing alcohol, I promise!

Everyone Needs Some Studs In Their Home

Yes, I’m talking studs. (But I only put that in the title so those who google "studs" will find this page instead of the type of page they, perhaps, were looking for). Just my little joke on people I don't even know.

So getting down to brass tacks, what I'm really talking about is nailhead trim. Adding nailhead trim to an existing piece is pretty easy. It can update the piece instantly, just like jewelry enhances an outfit. And it is an easy way to hide staples when reupholstering a chair. Of course nailhead trim is often used when fabricating headboards, but no need to let the creativity stop there.You can buy a long roll of nailhead trim and you'll only have to hammer in every 5th one. Much easier for keeping straight lines.

For control freaks who simply must do it the hard way, the trim also comes in individual tacks.

And now nailhead trim comes in nickel which is a real trend update from brass trim. Here's my DIY headboard with nickel trim that I posted here.

One of the easiest things to DIY is a message board. This first one is from HGTV.

Cornice boards are really easy to make. I have made quite a few by either covering them with fabric or attaching moldings and painting. But I like the look of them on this cornice board, which looks like it is also made of wood with attached moldings.

Now call me crazy but I think this lamp could be a DIY project. This picture shows a table lamp from mitchel gold & bob williams, but I could see fashioning one out of wood and using faux croc wallpaper to wrap it before adding studs.

In my mind, these mirrors could be DIYed by making a wood frame for a store bought mirror, covering with fabric and then nailhead. I think that this is a good project for someone to do and tell me how it went. Now most bloggers would go ahead and do these projects, documenting them with pictures before blogging about them. But I moved from a 3200 sq ft house to a 2000 sq ft condo and I no longer have the space to make these or hang them. But I still like them and want them.

For those of you still with me, I've saved the best for last. There is a cult-like following of Ikea Hackers who have taken the inexpensive pieces and redecorated or reconfigured them. Ikea sponsors a website devoted to pictures and instructions for "hacking" Ikea products. This first picture starts with the Ikea "besta" cabinet (about $125) and then festoons it with nailhead trim to make a spectacular, one-of-a-kind piece.

And for those who would rather spend even less, take a look at this $6 garage sale table before and after.

The $6 table was painted and then decorated with...thumb tacks! This was done by one very creative, crafty person and her tutorial can be found here.

Are you inspired to try any of these yourself? How many of you want to show one of these pictures to your honey-do-list arm candy and ask him to make one for you?

A Shot of Color

I never met a can of spray paint I didn’t like. Changing the color of a piece in so little time is just fun. Using a foam paint brush or even a regular paintbrush is fun too. It just takes longer to get that gratification.

I got to the point where if something wasn’t moving I was thinking about what other color I could paint it.This kitchen set didn’t move fast enough so I decided to paint it then and there. Notice nobody is wearing what I would call “painting clothes" because they had no warning. The mood just struck me. Mr. Lane might easily have ruined his Cole Haan shoes in the process. 

Some of my recent paint jobs:

I used a random can of paint I found in the garage for this little table. Now I like it again.

This brass and glass coffee table and pie table got some new spray paint for my son's new condo. Nickel spray paint for the coffee table and black spray paint for the pie table. Unfortunately for him, I decided I liked the pie table and kept it. He did get another spray painted table though.

I have a whole list of items that I would like to attack with some spray paint. Future targets include this set of solid brass bedroom lamps. They're very heavy, not builder's brass, so it makes Mr. Lane a little nervous that I'm going to aim paint at these.

I have lots of picture frames that need to be spruced up with some spray paint, either black or nickel.

Not only are these frames brass, but can you see how the mats have faded? They're going to get the treatment too.

I think painted furniture adds so much to a room; especially if the furniture is matchy matchy or all wood toned. You can really revive a tired old piece with some paint, especially if the alternative is throwing it out!