New Uses For Old Things: Mug Rack

14" tall stainless steel mug tree; $25 Crate and Barrel. 

I love re-purposing old things in new ways! Thanks to HGTV, here are three clever ways to use a mug rack or "tree" to organize some loose ends around the house. Their "branches" are perfect to hang objects. 

Jewelry: No more tangles when you hang your everyday jewelry. 

Original source: HGTV

Scissors: All kinds of cutters can fit neatly on the pegs. 

Original source: HGTV

Ribbon: Slide on the spools and you can cut off pieces as you need them. 

Original source: HGTV

Other items you can hang; washi tape, rubber bands, keys. If you don't want to spend a lot, hit up your local Dollar Store. They usually have wooden ones there that you could paint to match any room in the house.

Design 101: Everything You Need to Decorate Your House

We are currently in the early phases of building a home and it's become all consuming. I don't know how anyone ever did this without the inspiration of Pinterest or the Internet. I came across this fun, informative decorating article in Architecture and Design that I thought was worth passing along. Some of the diagrams you could do without but some are fantastic. 

One of my favorites - How to Decorate a Mantel. But I also liked the one on how to style a bed, the rug size and placement diagram, and picking the right paint. I mean, c'mon how many times have you stood at the paint counter with glazed eyes when they ask if you want eggshell or semi-gloss? Thanks to this handy diagram, you'll look like a pro! 

Honey and Fitz

The simple “formula” to creating the perfect mantel vignette lies in creating a visual triangle. Steven and Chris show us the way with 5 easy steps.

#1:  Center a large piece (art or a mirror) on your mantel
#2:  Add something with movement to the left.  I struggle with understanding what “movement” means exactly but I think it means a pairing of items in varying height that cause your eye to bounce between them (hence movement).
#3:  Add something with visual weight on the right (to counterbalance the movement element on the left). See…a triangle is forming.
#4:  Layer in a couple of additional framed pieces in a cluster.
#5:  Balance that on the opposite side with a couple of accessories (books or decorative boxes) in a cluster of varying heights. 

How to Style a Bed

Matouk

Rug Size and Placement

Burlap and Lace

Choosing the Right Paint

Kirsten and Danielle

For the entire list, click HERE.

DIY: Chic Shelf Liners

 Looking for an inexpensive project that will add a touch of fun & a pop of color to your everyday? Attach trendy self-adhesive and repositionable liners inside drawers, on shelves, on the backside of a bookcase, or jazz up the bottom of a nightstand. Check out www.chicshelfpaper.com for the largest online selection of stylish liners. Starting at $2.50 per square foot.



Design It: Thanksgiving Centerpiece

 

Need an inexpensive decorating idea for your Turkey Day centerpiece? Below are a few simple "Design on a Dime" approaches to decorating your table found over at My Heart's Desire used with something you probably already have lying around the house: Hurricane Vases.

Centerpiece #1:
Hurricane Vases
Corn Kernels
Small Red Beans
Green Split Peas
Candles
Jute String (optional)

Directions:
Place the candle in the empty hurricane, then begin pouring the beans in very slowly around the candle to the desired level. Repeat layers with different beans. Tie the Jute (or any other festive ribbon of your choice) around the hurricane.

Centerpiece #2:
Hurricane Vases
Corn Kernels
Tall Candles
Artifical Leaves (optional)
Jute String (optional)

Directions:
If you do not have hurricanes like the ones pictured that hold the candle up, then place a tall candle in the bottom of the empty hurricane. Then begin pouring the corn in very slowly around the candle to about 1/4 way up the candle. Tie the jute string around the leaf towards the top to secure it to the candle.

Love the simplistic look of the top picture? Simply fill  hurricane with either hazelnuts, walnuts, or pecans. Stagger the amount of nuts in each container around each candle.

Weekend Craft: Tangled Webs

 

If you're looking for a holiday appropriate, low cost, easy clean-up craft do with the kids, give this a try:

What you'll need:

Jars - small mason jars or baby food jars work best
Orange & black yarn
Elmer's Glue
Tealights

Directions:

For each candleholder, dip 48 inches (more if using a larger jar) of yarn into a one-part Elmer's glue, two-part water solution. Squeeze out excess; wrap strand around clean baby-food jar from top down. When dry, add a tealight and light the night.
Have a spook-tacular weekend!!

Decorating by Numbers

 

Helllllloooooo!!! Gosh, it's been awhile. My plans to have a "low key" summer totally backfired on me. I'm sure I'm not the only one. But it was 100% intentional to not blog (or partake in much of any social media for that matter) during our month long trip. That -  I must say - was heavenly. I'm convinced I could write a book on the effects of social media and overall well being.

Totally different subject that I'm not in the mood to tackle at this time.

What I do want to share with you though is this super helpful guide to make arranging your abode as easy as 1,2,3 thanks to interior designer Sabrina Soto, host of HGTV/s The High/Low Project and author of the new book Sabrina Soto Home Design. Takes all the guess work out.

{3} Unless you're purposely using symmetry to create a calm, orderly environment, play around with odd numbers (3, 5, 7, etc) of vases, decorative objects or portraits on the wall. Soto states the "eye finds these groupings intriguing."

{4} Keep no more than this number of small kitchen appliances (preferably fewer in my book) in plain view. Counter tops are meant to be work areas that need to be left as clear & clean as possible.

{4-9 feet} Position the couch and armchair this far apart so guests can comfortably sit & talk.

{18 inches} Designate at least this much distance between a rug and the wall. The exceptions: small areas like an entryway.

{26 inches} A rug in the dining room should extend at least this far past the table on all sides - to prevent chair legs from getting caught on or under it.

{30 percent} Leave about this much of empty space on shelves. Do not jam pack.

{30-34 inches} Kitchen light fixtures should hang out this high above the table. A general rule is to add an inch for every additional foot of ceiling height past a standard 8 feet.

{55-60 inches} When hanging a single piece of art, make sure the center of the frame is at eye level - approximately this high up from the floor.

 

FYI; Sabrina's Home Design book is jam packed with 200 pages of fresh, budget-friendly how to's that will bring balance, color and organization to every room in your house. (Amazon, on sale right now for $12).

Design on a dime: The art of the stack

Sick of looking at that messy set of shelves? Want to make them more of a decorative focal point rather than a hodge-podge of clutter? Fret no more - here is a design on a dime tip that will help you achieve storage and style all in one.

The art of the stack:

1) Start with a few chunky books. Three or four is usually enough. If you don't already have a library of books, you can always hit up Goodwill or a secondhand bookstore to find some books with character.

2) Put the biggest books on the bottom, then stack the others like a pyramid, getting smaller at the top.

3) You have two options for positioning; lay them even with the binds flush with each other, or place them slightly askew - but never at purposeful diagonals, which looks too forced.

4) Top off your pile with an object that has a rounded shape, like a sculpture or a footed bowl. Make sure it fills enough space on the top book so it doesn't look dinky.

5) Fill the unused space on the shelf with vases, picture frames, collectibles and/or decorative pieces that have meaning to you. Adding dimension to your shelves with different heights and textures. Thrift stores, flea markets and clearance sections of retail stores  are great places to find inexpensive treasures that you can prime and re-paint (if need be) for decorative bookends, etc.

Want to add a splash of color to your shelves? Try this fun tip from Better Homes and Garden:

Remove the jackets, then group books by color, standing some upright and stacking others. Shelves will seem more organized and have an artistic, color-blocked look.

Want to take your shelves to the next level? Start in the back. Simple inexpensive bookcases become stunners when their backs are dressed up with paint, fabric or wallpaper. Eddie’s Billy Bookcase was brought to life with a pattern that accentuates the balanced display of books and collectibles. 

Design on a dime with paper napkins

Want to add a pop of color at your next gathering? Don't want to spend a fortune on decor?

Solution: Paper Napkins. Make an easy, inexpensive table runner for your next get-together with assorted, patterned paper napkins. Lay out napkins (lunch size seems to work best but cocktail size would also work) in desired design, tape the edges together and flip over.

Add a mason jar of fresh cut flowers and you've successfully designed on a dime!

You can find a great selection of napkins HERE.

Organizing 101: Kid's toys

Alright Jana, this post's for you - and all the other mom's that are pulling their hair out at the sight of their kid's toys and need a toy storage solution.

Jana asked:

Do you have any suggestions for toy storage? Namely, do you prefer big baskets/ toy chests, etc. that hold a lot of toys, or do you prefer smaller boxes or bins that you can use to sort based in type of toy?  I would imagine that this would lead to more work when cleaning and putting away, but may be worth it for the organization?

My response:

I personally prefer smaller baskets or bins sorted by type. My observation with my two boys is that if it's too messy - aka a hodge podge of random toys all thrown into one big toy chest or closet - they won't touch it. It's too overwhelming and the toys don't look nearly as inviting. While the clean up might save you time in the short term with a big chest, it will cost you more time in the long run as they are bugging you to help them dig around to find it.

I love the idea of "by type" bins or baskets because the toys are organized but not. You just toss them in and call it good. No staking. No lining up. This achieves the "put all your toys away so you can't see them" rule and makes clean up time quick and easy.

I also like this approach because it teaches kids at a very young age to group like things together and to understand that all things should have a place. A good life lesson to instill now to save mom from any extra unnecessary hours spent cleaning up after our children.

My favorite organization shelf is the Ikea Expedit shelving unit. It comes in all different configurations but I like the 2x2 ($39.99) and 2x4 ($69.99) the best. If you have a small space I suggest the 2x2 but for more storage, I suggest laying the 2x4 on it's side. If you have the wall space, I like the idea of keeping all the toys in one central area. The 4x4 ($149) is perfect for that. They come in several different colors and can be hung on the wall or placed on the floor. Ikea also carries baskets that fit in the cubicles or Target's Itso fabric bins work as well if you want to add some pops of color.

The possibilities are endless as to how you can configure and organize the toys. Put baskets in every cubical for little pieces like legos, trains, cars, wooden blocks, doll clothes, balls, etc. Or put baskets in 1/2 and keep the other cubicles open for larger toys like dolls, books, firetrucks and puzzles. It also makes for a great seat or to display items on top.

And if you want to get uber organized, you can label the bins or put pictures on the front so clean-up is even faster and easier. Talk about teaching your children how to organize like a pro!

I hope that helps answer your question Jana and gets your ideas flowing for how to make your space practical and organized.

Oh wouldn't it be nice to be this organized!?!?

Fancy Friday: Hanging with one of my favorite {Peeps}

My college roommate, best friend, and teammate (yes I played collegiate golf) was in town this past week and I thought it was only fitting that I give her a shout out in the blog being that my time with her is what tickled my fancy. There's nothing better than catching up with an old, dear friend. One that knows the best and worst of you. One that has loved you through the good and bad. One that has seen you in your highs and lows. One that you could spend days, if not weeks, laughing about all the memories you share. That is Kelli to me. Although we live completely different lives now, we will forever remain "Kailey." Get it - Kelli & Hailey combined?!? I know, cheesy but it was a name given to us in college since we were never seen without eachother. We were inseparable. We even had dreams to start a women's golf clothing line together named Kailey. Unfortunately that never happened.

One interesting fact about Kelli - she loooooves Peeps, those sugarly marshmallow candies in the shape of a bunny. I've never met another person that can eat enormous amounts of Peeps without wanting to throw up like Kelli can. Talk about cavities in the making. And sugar OVERload. No wonder the girl could go days without sleep.

Although I don't care for Peeps in that same way, I do think using Peeps for Easter decor is a must. So much of a must, I'm going to blog about them again. They come in the perfect Easter colors and are super inexpensive. Think beyond the tops of cupcakes. Although those are pretty stinkin' adorable...

Think centerpieces. Wreaths. Place cards.

Need inspiration? Thanks to Pinterest (nope still don't have a page), here are a few I personally love in addition to my Peep for Thought post from last Easter:



Tutorial found HERE.

Tutorial found HERE.

Love the simplicity and pops of color

Peeps Topper {free download} ~ And at the end of the day, give your favorite “peeps” a special treat with these free printable toppers. One row of your favorite colored peeps chicks fit perfectly in a snack-size ziploc bag.