Fall Outfit Inspiration

I love adding accessories to really elevate an outfit. I have even been known on more than one occasion to create a whole outfit starting with an accessory like a scarf, necklace or earrings. I found this beautiful pink and blue Ikat scarf at the local consignment shop, My Secret Closet, and I just had to get it. That is one thing I love about Consignment and thrift shops is you never know what you might find. It is kind of like a scavenger hunt.

Once I got home I realized that I am drawn to this color palette quite a bit. This art by Jenna Webb Art has similar colors to the outfit and I have always loved it. I also have photos of bright pink flowers and pictures of the Amalfi Coast with all the blues and pinks. I Iove just about any shade of blue and pairing a hot pink with it just gives it that extra pop!

There are so many great sources of color inspiration around us. What colors are you constantly drawn to? I bet if you look around in your home or closet you will see some color themes!

Pantones Fall/Winter 2022/2023 Colors

Don’t you just love Pantones colors for Fall/Winter of this year?

There are some great bright colors you would not expect going into Fall and Winter.

However, there are plenty of great neutrals as well for those of you that like a more classic and neutral wardrobe.

I am a big believer in layering in the Fall and Winter. There are many pieces of my wardrobe that I use year round so I am loving that I can incorporate some of these brighter shades like Rose Violet, Amazon and Waterspout.

So what do these color predictions really mean? Well one of the biggest benefits is if you regularly wear any of these shades and want to add more pieces to your wardrobe they will be much easier to find in the stores. That means you can shop within your budget because multiple price points are available. You can also shop thrift and consignment stores and buy things secondhand. These are great ways to add to your wardrobe on a budget and have fun discovering new brands.

One of my favorite ways to help my clients is to teach them to shop their closets first. We create new outfits using interesting color combos and accessories they haven’t tried yet. Once we identify what colors and styles you are drawn to it is so much easier to make a small shopping list of any pieces you may be missing. Don’t forget adding even just one great accessory like a scarf or piece of jewelry can totally elevate an outfit!

Are you stuck in a style rut? Look around you for inspiration. Let these new colors for the season inspire you. Check out Pinterest or catalogs or store windows. Challenge yourself to create a new outfit using what you already have!

The benefits of Shopping Secondhand

Shopping secondhand may take time but there are so many advantages to it!  After years of helping women with their closets I can honestly say there are so many clothes out there that are in new or like new condition that end up at consignment or thrift stores.  Taking items to consignment is a way to make a little money and pass your items on in a responsible way where they don’t end up in the landfill.  If you aren’t worried about getting any money back for the items then there are so many great thrift shops that support wonderful causes  that you can donate to.   And the best part is  that someone else benefits from something that was just taking up space in your closet and never being worn.

What are some of the biggest benefits of shopping secondhand?

-You can try a variety of brands all in one place and you may even discover brands you didn’t know about.

-Once you identify the brands that fit you best you can look for those specific brands in the future.

-If you have an item, style or brand that is no longer made sometimes you can find these gems hidden at consignment and thrift shops.

-You have the opportunity to buy brands that are higher end and better quality for a fraction of the price.

-If you need some transitional pieces for weight fluctuations ( as many women struggle with, myself included) then you can buy some staple pieces at an affordable price.

-If you have a special occasion that requires an outfit you are not likely to wear often you can buy secondhand to stay within a budget and not have to spend money on something new.

I hope these tips helped and you are inspired to buy secondhand or at least do some  browsing! Its’ fun to see what you might find!

Some of my favorite local shops are:

Pennies for Change Thrift Store, Durham, NC

http://www.thedcrc.org

My Secret Closet, Hillsborough,NC

http://www.mysecretcloset.com

The Stock Exchange, Chapel Hill, NC

http://www.shopstockexchange.com

 

The little things do make a difference…

Do you ever say to yourself “Well this room is a mess and I don’t have time to do a big cleanup so there is no point in trying?”

I’m here to tell you the little things not only make a difference but they also provide motivation to do more! There are so many times that I have worked with clients who say “That area isn’t a priority and it doesn’t really bother me.”

Until….we improve the spaces around that area and suddenly it really jumps out as an eyesore and starts to drive them crazy.

This is why I am so passionate about organizing AND styling your space.  When you style your space or even just a corner of the room and love the way it looks then suddenly you feel better and want more of that feeling in your home!

What is one small thing you can do today to make your space feel happy?

Favorite Closet Storage

We can’t all be lucky enough to have a giant closet. These days all you see on social media are these beautiful dream closets with floor to ceiling storage and gorgeous chandeliers. However, many of us (myself included) have to make do with an average size closet. Over the years I have lived in many different style houses. I have to say my husband and I love old houses with all the charm but none of the closet space!

Therefore, I have had to learn to get creative to max out my storage space. Also, I have learned that you don’t need as many clothes as you think you do! Weeding things down to what you truly love and wear is half the battle of having an organized and streamlined closet.

I wanted to share one of my absolute favorite storage solutions for a small closet. It is truly a game changer! I have used this in multiple houses for my own closet and used for clients as well.

It is called the Elfa Start a Stack and you can find it at the Container Store. There are a few different versions once you start looking at Elfa but one of the things I like about the start a stack is that it is a freestanding tower of drawers. It is perfect for rentals and small spaces. So if you are someone that likes an easy solution that can be assembled in less than 30 minutes then this is it! It does come in a few different widths so you want to measure your space but I have found the depth perfect for a small closet and the height as well. It slips perfectly under your hanging clothes so that you basically have a built in dresser under there maximizing all that space.

I actually do not own a dresser anymore and use these drawers for anything I don’t want to hang. Leggings, workout wear, pajamas, casual tees, scarves, lingerie, lounge wear…It makes putting away your laundry a breeze! I file fold or roll most of my stuff so that it is easy to see and grab.

These also work great in kids closets! And there is a taller version you can buy and use to max out that wasted vertical space. You can also use it to store kids clothes, toys and craft supplies. The best part is the kids can easily find things and easily help put them away.

The start a stack is such a multipurpose storage solution. It’s great in any closet, pantries, laundry rooms, craft spaces, kids homework spaces.. the possibilities are endless. If its a little over your budget just keep an eye out for the Elfa sales which run multiple times each year!

https://www.containerstore.com/s?source=form&q=Elfa+start+a+stack

Some organizing tips for sharing a small space

living room

Sadly, I have not written a post in awhile and we have all been in this crazy pandemic life for almost a year now. Wow… it really has felt like a long year.  I think we can all agree we will never take those small things for granted again. The pandemic has made many of us really evaluate what we do truly miss and what we are actually happy has changed. Many of us have slowed down from our busy schedules and realized this slower pace is kind of nice. So it’s not all bad, right?

The new norm right now has become lots of people working from home and many kids doing remote learning. When the whole family is home the majority of the week and you are all sharing a space it can get tricky. Balancing work with school and making sure everyone is set up for success in whatever space you have available.

This brings me to the question of “How does your house make you feel?” If you are constantly stressed out and tripping over each other and piles of stuff then something needs to change. Your house should support you and be a space you can relax in. ( I’m not saying you will never be stressed but at the end of the day you should be happy to wind down in your space. So what can you do to make small changes that will make a big impact on how you view your house? The key is to set up systems that work for your family and are easy to maintain.

Start by making everyone responsible for their work space. If you or your spouse have a d home office or desk set up somewhere then set boundaries that no work is allowed on the kitchen table. If you have to use the kitchen or dining room table as a temporary workspace then set a boundary that by dinnertime the space needs to be cleared each day. This will work as well for children that are using it for remote learning or homework. Getting them a little utility cart or small bin for all of their supplies will make it easy to clean up and find things the next day.

Set up a drop zone somewhere in the house where items land on your way in or out of the house. If you don’t have a large mudroom or designated space you can create one easily with a little table, bookcase with cubbies (like the IKEA Kallax) or a bench with storage. This is where shoes, keys, phones, purses,dog leashes, masks and hand sanitizer can land to avoid cluttering up other surfaces. Hang a decorative hook on the wall for keys and masks or set up a bowl or tray to keep them in.

Keep the family room as clutter free as possible by using baskets and other storage to hide blankets, remotes, kids toys, etc. There are so many great pieces that double as storage; like coffee tables and ottomans. The biggest mistake I see is when parents let the kids treat the family room as their playroom. This space should be for kids and adults. If the kids want to have some toys or games in here then do a toy rotation. That way the majority of their stuff stays in their rooms or playroom. At the end of each night or beginning of each day have them help you put things away.

Lastly, this is an important one…your bedroom is not a dumping ground for laundry and odds and ends. I hear clients says all the time that no one sees it so it doesn’t matter. YOU see it!!!! So it does matter. More on this soon…

So ask yourself what you can do right now to make your home feel better and be easier to maintain?

 

Spending more time at home?

Most of us have been spending more time at home whether we like it or not. Since the stay at home orders due to covid-19 we have all been feeling a little cooped up. This brings me to the big question of how do you feel about your home environment? Does your home make you feel stressed? Is it full of clutter, piles and unfinished projects? Or does you home feel a little blah and unfinished…no art on the walls, no color, no finishing touches? Or is your home almost the way you want it but it feels like it is missing a little something? It just doesn’t feel like you and your style?

Basically, all of these problems are caused for the most part by indecision. Yes sometimes it may be a lack of money or time but most of the time we get stuck living with the way things are and accept it. For example, I had a client one time who I was helping de clutter and stage her house to sell. When I opened the door to the small closet in the kitchen that should have been the pantry I was shocked. The client was using this closet for coats and then she revealed that canned goods were stored behind the row of coats and completely inaccessible and out of sight. I asked her why she had never made this a pantry and she didn’t really have an answer. She set it up that way when she moved in and got used to the challenge of it and accepted it as her only solution. Once I suggested we move the coats to the appropriate bedroom closets and purchase a small coat rack for the front entry she was excited to design the space as a pantry. One call to a handyman and wooden shelves were installed in the back with narrow shelves on the side for cans and condiments. She was thrilled with the transformation and only wished she had done it in time for her family to enjoy it more. Although, it did help the house sell!

A common theme with clients moving and having their houses staged is why did I not do these things sooner? I love the way my house feels and functions so much more now. Years ago I attended a seminar and one class completely stuck in my mind. The class was called “the eyes of a stranger”. The concept is a fairly simple one. Walk in your front door as if you are a stranger seeing everything for the first time. You would be amazed how you notice things differently.

During this crazy time with all of us spending more time at home try to look at your house through the eyes of a stranger. Sometimes the smallest changes can yield the biggest results and really change the way you feel about your home.

Staying organized (and safe!) during the Coronavirus

Hopefully everyone is staying home and doing their part to stay safe and healthy! As a professional organizer who likes to be prepared, these crazy times can definitely make me a little anxious. However, I find that the more prepared and organized I am the better I feel. I’m sure most of you have figured out your tips and tricks on dealing with Covid-19 by now but I thought I would share a few things that have helped me.

-Organize supplies and essentials so that they are easily accessible when needed.

Disinfecting wipes:

If you are lucky enough to have disinfecting wipes then you know making them last is important since they are not easy to find. I decided to cut mine into halves and quarters depending on use. After cutting them place into Ziplocs with size written in sharpie on bag. The quarters are a great size to wipe down your phone without wasting a whole sheet. The halves are great for disinfecting doorknobs and other smaller areas. My husband even suggested adding a teaspoon full of alcohol to the Ziploc to boost the disinfectant and keep wipes moist. You can even keep some in your car for wiping down your steering wheel or phone.

Gloves and masks:

Keeping gloves and masks near the front or back door (by your car keys or normal drop zone) will remind you to take them with you when you head out to the grocery store or other essential trips. If you are lucky enough to have multiple sets you can keep some in your car as well. Make sure you dispose of your gloves when leaving the store or first thing when you get home so as not to contaminate any other areas.

Purses/wallets:

Take your debit card or main form of payment out of your main wallet before you head to the store and put in a side pocket of your purse or a Ziploc or pouch. This will keep you from fishing around to pay and contaminating all of your purse contents.

Paper Products:

Use paper towels sparingly since they can be hard to find right now.

Buy Kleenex to blow your nose so you are conserving toilet paper.

Buy what you need but try not to hoard essential items ( especially toilet paper) so that others can buy what they need for themselves and their families.

Groceries:

If you are still going to the grocery store and not having groceries delivered then try to be really prepared before you go.

Make a very thorough list. Then rewrite your list in the order you would shop; produce area first, then rice and grains, meats, etc. This will keep you from backtracking, blocking aisles while you shop and asking for help from employees. Right now the best thing you can do is get in and get out quickly and keep contact with others to a minimum.

Hope these tips were helpful!

Stay safe and healthy,

Kristina

The icing on the cake…

I have to say organizing and design go hand in hand as far as I’m concerned. I love to help clients with refreshing and styling their spaces.  Once a space has been de cluttered and organized, the design touches are the reward and the icing on the cake! ( and for those of you who know me well then you know that icing is one of my favorite things).  Without these added touches the room doesn’t feel finished,  or new or revitalized.

I guess you could say its one of my favorite parts of my job. I love taking a space and giving it a whole new look.  A space that was once neglected and used as a storage area is transformed into one of the happiest spaces in the house.  Taking a clients vision or “wish list” and giving a space a whole new purpose is so rewarding.

The question is do you have a room like that in your house??

Maybe now is the time to tackle it…