Playroom Storage

I would love for my playroom to look like these, but here's the problem: my kids' toys aren't all cute, little matching wooden toys that look cute sprawled all over the floor. Trust me, I've tried to buy all cute toys, but it just hasn't happened. Obviously, I am obsessed with organization and baskets, so I love the idea of baskets (labeled, of course), but let's be honest...the ugliest toys are also the biggest.  I think the solution is a combination of baskets and built-ins with doors.  Yes, that is my plan to hide toys.  Now to find a solution for the millions of Legos we have.  

image source unknown

image from Architectural Digest

image from Traditional Home

[in five]: First Five Purchases

Let's just get one thing out of the way: I have been a total slogger. That, my friends, is a word I made up for one who slacks on his or her blog. Her, in this case, is me. I'm tired. Those 25 hour drives just take it right out of you. Plus, we're kind of a big deal here in Utah (with our moms). They want to spend all sorts of time with us Stella. The good news is that almost all of our moving piles are put away. I still have nothing on the walls, and I probably won't for 21 more days. That is when Husband takes his anesthesia boards, and then I can bug him about things to hang up and projects and such.  He can hardly wait.

In the meantime, even though I am tired, I am not too tired to think about things I want to do with this place. (If that ever happened, I'd probably be dead, because I am pretty much ALWAYS think about someone's house.) I don't know why it is that when you move, you pretty much think you need all new stuff, but it's just the way it goes.  These are the things I'm going to purchase first: bath mat, frames for gallery, birch brackets, floor mirror, and bins for the playroom. (Links are under pictures.) So far, I have only bought one thing: the floor mirror. And that is only 20 percent. I seriously feel like such a failure.

Zig Zag Bath Mat from West Elm

image from Samantha Pynn (frames for gallery)

Ekby Valter Bracket from Ikea

Mongstad Mirror from Ikea

3 Sprouts Bins from Target

Let's Get Or-gan-ized, Or-gan-ized!

You know that title was to the tune of Oliva Newton-John's, "Let's Get Physical," right? And, now you're singing it, aren't you? I don't know what it is about this weather, but it's really making me want to organize my house--go though drawers, get rid of clothes, and throw things away! I know most people do this in the spring, but apparently I wasn't feeling it then.

This week, I am going to organize one thing a day, and I challenge all of you to do the same. Just one thing. We can handle it, and think of how good we'll feel! I will also be posting beautifully organized spaces to inspire your inner cleaning goddess! (I like to make things sounds glamorous, even when they're clearly not.)

Today, I will be sharing my best organization tips. Please feel free to add to my list in the comments! 

(1) Make your bed. Every day. When your bed is made, you're more likely to keep the rest of your room clean. Make your kids do the same! When I was a child, I couldn't leave my room in the morning until my bed was made. Our rooms stayed pretty clean. 

image from Restoration Hardware

(2) Tidy up your house before you go to bed or when you leave the house. There's nothing like starting the morning off to a clean house or coming home to a clean house.

(3)Try to stick to a cleaning schedule. I like to do all of my major cleaning on Monday (mopping, dusting, laundry, etc.) The rest of the week is just maintenance.

(4) Set a timer. Give yourself 30 minutes to clean. You'll be amazed at how much you can get done when you have a time limit!

(5) Consider open shelving. It's beautiful, and it can add tons of additional storage.

image from Alice Lane

(6) Don't put dishes in the sink! The dishwasher is inches away! Putting dishes is like not making the bed, it just invites additional messes!

(7) Use your countertop to store jars and utensil containers to make room in drawers.

(8) Provide a place for everything! This makes cleaning SO much faster and helps avoid clutter and junk drawer type spaces!

image from Better Homes & Gardens

(9) Get rid of it! If you come across something you don't use, and haven't used for a long time, it's time to part with it! Donate it or throw it away! Get it out of your house!

(10) Use hooks in closets and on the backs of doors. This keeps things off of the floor and keeps things organized!

(11) Containers, containers, containers! (See number 8!)

image from Poppy Talk

[so cheap, so easy]: Repurposed Cribs

I'm not going to lie, this is a good one, guys! Using your crib rails for magazine and/or quilt display? Genius. Love. It. It's so cheap that it's free, and the easy depends on where and how you will obtain your crib rail! I know, I'm excited, too, but please don't dismantle your crib if your baby is still using it. I know, it will be hard, but you can do it.

image from Ohdeedoh

image from Ohdeedoh

Lonny Mag's 5 Trends for 2011

Michelle Adams from Lonny Magazine appeared on the Nate Berkus Show to feature the top five trends for 2011. So, if you're looking to add a little somethin' somethin' to your pad, here are the latest and greatest!

[five]: MIRRORED ACCENTS

image from Elle Decor

image from Decor Pad

image from Design Ties

[four]: TYPOGRAPHY

image from Swiss Miss

image from Design Sponge

[three]: STORAGE ART

image from Martha Stewart

image from Martha Stewart

image from Martha Stewart

[two]: MID-CENTURY LIGHTING

image from Gear Patrol

image from Decor Pad

[one]: RUST

image from Morgan Harrison

image from The Lennox

image from Pottery Barn