Tips for Tidy Spaces

Fun Fact: I send my sister IG reels and posts on decluttering every week. You're welcome sissy! 

I absolutely can NOT handle clutter! And she has a ton. As the older sister it's my duty to help guide her ... she's polite but she finds it unnecessary. 

Another Fun Fact: Ryan gets super annoyed with me because if you sit something down within seconds I will move it ... to its rightful home (or where I feel it should go).

A clean and tidy home brings me peace and joy!

Final Fun Fact: I am riding around on week 3 with a trunk full of donate. To be fair, the place I donate to is only open on Saturdays 10-3.

Having an organized home is all about maintaining in my opinion. It's not a one and done task. As pretty as a I make our shelves with containers and sections inevitably over time things will need adjustment and edits/removal of items will be needed. 

Like a lot of people this time a year, I encourage you to declutter in a way that works for you and your family.  

MY #1 RULE: IF YOU LOVE IT, KEEP IT!

I hoard clothes and have no intentions of being a minimalist there! I also enjoy table linens and make up. Now, kitchen gadgets, tools and appliances, I can live with very few.

MY #2 RULE: ONE SPACE AT A TIME.

MY #3 RULE: DO IT WITH GRATITUDE ... AND MAYBE SOME FUN MUSIC.

MY #4 RULE: DON'T RUSH IT, LET YOUR KIDS PLAY WITH THEIR THINGS AS LONG AS THEY WANT!

MY #5 RULE: BE INTENTIONAL WITH THE ADDITION OF ITEMS.

MY MAMA'S RULE: CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO GODLINESS

FYI You don't need fancy clear containers, baskets or labels to be organized. I use clear shoe boxes from the dollar store and nice gift boxes/lids to categorize items. Get creative!

Dress Your Home Beautifully

with Tidy Spaces

XOXO Sarah Louise

Mamma Monday: Get Organized

It's the start of a new week/month and we're still in the beginning months of the new year which means I'm all about fresh clean starts.  Since having baby girl lots and lots of stuff has entered our home. Oh and we moved into a much larger home so the stuff got scattered and placed quickly.

I've always been very tidy and lived clutter free! My nerves can't take a mess.  And it always bugged me when people would say negative things like 'your baby is going to ruin your new cream couches and fancy rugs' or 'just wait til you have kids, their stuff will be everywhere'.
Well to all of you who shared your unsolicited opinions - you are wrong!
Her things are not throughout my home and she hasn't ruined my rugs or couches (and I'm praying it stays that way)

But I will say our recent move caused disarray in our closets. We moved quickly and Mr couldn't help me, so along with the baby it was grab and go (we moved 1/2 mile down the street).  There's tons of closet space so the goal was just to get our belongings in and sort it all out later.

So now we are finally in a place where things are put in the best cabinet, closet or shelf for efficiency.

What I've found adds value is having a professional help organize areas of distress.  An outsider can look at things from a different perspective and offer resources for a sustainable, well functioning space.  While I'm very organized, it's hard for me to take a step back on my own items to better categorize and arrange them.

Since children do add more things to your home I believe a professional organizer can bring storage solutions and functionality to your every day life.  With kiddos there's never enough time and who wants to spend those cherished moments searching for things or running around trying to scoop up clutter. Playing is much more fun!!

Giving items a proper home helps keep your household running smoothly and creates more time for your family than being a Cinderella!

It's also adds cost savings! Yes, you can save money when you're organized! You aren't rebuying things you already have or don't need and you use and appreciate what you do have.

You're home will be brighter, shinier and I promise happier when it's organized.

Also, less is more! I cringe at hoarding and do not have an abundance of stuff.
Ok maybe my closet has a tad more than necessary but let's not touch that one! I do purge items regularly (more like pass down to my sister or gal pal but it counts).  This is clearly my weakness.

But hey, no one will ever say I have too much in my pantry ... it's sadly empty because I hate cooking and don't eat processed food.

I had The Modified Home Method come to my closet.  It was the 5th bedroom in our home converted into a hand built custom closet.  The stained wood is a bit dark for my preference and I would have designed it differently based on our wardrobes but it is beautifully crafted so we are embracing it.
The Modified Home Method helped me with placement of my items so that I can better see and access them.  Baby girl doesn't allow for me to spend time focusing on my closet and I love to get dressed so to see my pieces easily allows for me to select an outfit without wearing the same things over and over and to not neglect the beautiful pieces I have.

If you're local to Charlotte and feel that your garage, pantry or closets could use some modification, I encourage you to reach out to The Modified Home Method.  Whether you're intimidated, don't know where to start or just don't have the time they can help bring clean function to your home!
Check out some of their work on Instagram!

Dress Your Home Beautifully & Organized

XOXO Sarah Louise

Mamma Monday: Closet turned Playroom

Welcome to Vivian Louise's closet turned playroom!  When we found our house one of the things we were most thrilled about were the humongous walk in closets for all the bedrooms.
Now that Vivian Louise is 1, her nursery isn't just a pretty room where we rock her, change her and where she sleeps.  It's now a room where she spends time awake playing with her toys.

She's always adored her room, not sure if it's the soft colors or just that she knew it was hers but it's her happy place.  This thrills me as I loved creating it for her.

I wanted to keep her room nice and pretty and the rest of our home nice and pretty!  As I noticed she would bee line to her closet every time I was in there picking out her clothes it occurred to me that it was just the right space to make into a play area for her.  And to house her toys in an organized fashion.

The hanging quilt was handmade by a lady at our church and made the perfect wall decor and the mermaid painting my sister made using her daughter's hand print.

The rug is amazing!  It's not fluffy so it won't collect dirt but just enough softness, color and a fun confetti pattern :)
It's not a perfect fit with a few inches too wide but it is mostly hidden.

I used soft bins with labels and handles for easy and pretty organization. I love that you can find them in whatever color suits your decor - everything purple and pink for my baby girl!

Although she can't read to put her toys away in the correct bin, whoever is playing with her can.

I used the inside cubbies to house bigger toys.

I decorated the top of the shelves with her wooden doll house (she's not quite ready for it yet) and her special handmade bear and caterpillar.

On the left side are her hanging dress clothes and of course beautiful bonnets.

Underneath is her piano, puzzles and baskets of fun.
Low soft baskets are key Mammas! That way they can get into them easily.
I bought a nesting set in white and they've been perfect.

Puzzle racks are also necessary so that you don't loose the pieces.

There are also two rows of shelving on top to house sentimental things like her Moses basket, baby book etc ... as well as the everyday things like diapers.
I also have bins up there with clothes I'm keeping and clothes that she hasn't grown into yet.

We use this canvas tote bag to fill with toys when we are going places for extended time.  Easy to grab, fill and go! 

I used a clear over the door shoe rack for her baby shoes, socks and hair bows.

She's not confined to play in her closet, we leave the double doors open and she has a blast in her teepee and spreading out her toys on her rug.

This rattan carriage is not only beautiful but it's great to push around.

This lamb sings 'Jesus Loves Me' and this bunny is the BEST! She got her for Christmas and we gave the elephant version to her cousin. She plays peek-a-boo and sings.

Again these soft low baskets are so perfect for toddlers. And they're cute!

This shelf has nothing to do with her closet/playroom but it's pretty so I'm sharing it :)

It houses the things I don't want her playing with/destroying.  They're special and require supervision. 

Now the prettiest part of her room is her framed heirloom dress gallery wall I shared with you last week HERE!

6 Cube Organizer Shelf | Storage Bins | Confetti Rug | Rope Nesting Baskets |

Puzzle Rack | Tote Bag |

Dress Your Baby's Playroom Beautifully

XOXO Sarah Louise