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

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.

via bhg

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.

via etsy

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.

\

via inmyownstyle

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.

via twotwentyone

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.

Ideas and Inspiration, Designer Portfolios!

Thought I'd help us all over hump day with my favorite content- designer (and interior photographer) portfolios! I hope you find something to inspire you, and excite you for the weekend - spent in your home, not the office.


Images via Fox-Nahem Design




I really love this room, it looks like a painting. Very compelling...
Images via Eric Cohler





Image via Windsor Smith



Oh don't get me started on those floors...



Spacious retro kitchen


A library in a hallway - notice all the window seats.



Love the pasta canisters, and the cabinet hardware




The botanical prints above the couch really make this room for me

Images via S.R. Gambrel

Pottery Barn's Biggest Sale - 75%

So Pottery Barn is having a big sale right now...here's a couple things I liked. Check out their website for more!

Very pretty, I'd use them on my desk, painted glass canisters $27.99-$59.99


I'd get a pair of these in red if I had the space! French cafe chair, $149


This rug would look great in a sunny breakfast nook, fiesta stripe mat $15.99 to $129.99


I love these sheets, now I have a good excuse to get them, Tile Organic Sheet Set $69.99-$89.00


I like the monkey, (these are taller than they look) -natural display candle holder, $49.99

Make your small kitchen work

Small kitchen? No counter space? No cabinet space? I share your pain, and it's probably one of the reasons I don't spend enough time cooking--that and whatever I attempt to make never turns out too well.

One trick that has served me well in the kitchen is to think vertically. I have doubled space in my kitchen by storing things on the walls. I found a long rectangular wooden box, painted it white, and screwed it to the wall, and now it is a great and convenient place to store my spices and things I need to grab quickly.

The wall behind my stove is exposed brick, so i just grabbed some metal hooks and large nails I had loose in the tool box, and pushed them into holes I found already existing in the bricks. It is a great way to hang my skillets and my wok! A magnetic strip screwed under my makeshift spice rack is another great catch-all for knives and utensils I need on hand.

Well utilized kitchen space...

image from California Closets



Storing pantry items in canisters or jars makes them easy to access, keeps them fresh, and the uniformity of the containers instantly adds a look of order. Image from The Kitchn


Even though this kitchen is small, it's compact and set up in an organized way. I love the magnetic spice containers on the fridge.
Image from The Kitchn


Shelves are our friends. Installing shelves is an excellent way to add A LOT of storage space, and allows you to keep counter surfaces clear as workspace. Shelving doesn't have to be expensive either. Image from marthastewart.com


The Ikea Grundtal bars are popping up in small apartments everywhere, the canisters are from Storables, and the galley ledge from Pottery Barn. Image from Not Martha



This idea is really smart, and from none other than Julia Child (thanks Upstart). Outfit a kitchen wall of any size with peg board. You can have it cut to size at a hardware store. After that, you can hang a multitude of baskets, bins, pots, and pans. Top Image from marthastewart.com,
bottom from domino



Kitchen carts can really come in handy for storing small kitchen appliances and provide extra work surfaces. Even better if they're on wheels!
Above two images from marthastewart.com