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    My Quick & Easy Organized Gift Wrapping Closet

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    Today I wanted to show you my “use what I have” quick & easy organized gift wrapping closet.
    I’ve been working on organizing and fixing up small spaces in my home little by little this year. I’ve been sharing behind the scenes and progress in our HomeBody Gathering Place community (and these projects will continue even more in 2025 — come join us!). Since October in the HGP I’ve shared before photos and progress updates in my mudroom, pantry cabinets/closet and coffee station! It feels great to be making steady progress on decluttering, simplifying and beautifying spaces.
    This guest room closet really was getting out of control so something had to be done.
    In a smaller home, you can’t afford to lose any space to clutter or disorganization, especially a much needed closet.
    My dream and eventual goal was to wallpaper this closet and repaint the dresser, but I decided in order to quickly get some sense of organization and function before Christmas, I would leave the more creative or time consuming ideas for another season! My goal was to declutter and use what I have rather than get sidetracked on any grand ideas.
    I finally got a lot of the random stuff out that had piled up there (thanks to the motivation of our HGP Bag A Day challenge which we held this fall. We’ll be doing another community challenge and focus on simplifying our homes in the HGP in January, so I’ll be working another closet or room then!).
    If you could use a dose of weekly Home Therapy to inspire you to action in the new year, come join us.
    Sources: Gift Wrap, Ribbon, Floral Box, and Cards
    Once the clutter was out, I started to think about how I could better use this space.
    When a closet or cabinet has a distinct function or organizational system, it won’t be as likely to get cluttered again. I had just bought some new gift wrap so I was inspired to focus on using this closet mostly gift wrapping and packing supplies. But also decided to use the upper shelf for guest sheets (I had bought these containers a year or two ago, they work great for organizing our lesser used guest sheets) as well as hung some out of season clothing to one side.

    Recently I shared my over the door organizer in this post: 10 Organizers We Use in Our Home. I bought this for a different purpose but now I love the organizer in here as it can hold all of the small gift wrapping items that had previously filled up one of the drawers in this dresser.
    I will probably organize the cubbies of this organizer even more, but it was simple to just toss items in and instantly have an empty drawer to use!
    This is a Restoration Hardware dresser that was here in the house when we moved in. It’s good quality and I never like to let a dresser go to waste so we moved it in the closet to make best use of space.
    Now it’s the perfect spot for gift wrapping and the drawers are a handy place for rolls of gift wrap, small boxes and bags, and a spot to stash gifts, too.

    Then I got an idea for what to do with the rolls of ribbon we’ll use when I wrap Christmas gifts this year. Some of them are in the door organizer, but I thought it would be fun to keep some of the new holiday ribbon I got from Rifle Paper Co. separate to use for Christmas.
    Since I only wanted to use what I had to organize this closet, I found I had an extra tension curtain rod to use for the Christmas ribbon. The tension rod fit perfectly on one side of the closet. Now this ribbon is organized and very convenient for use in this season. Plus there is a lot more room on the rod so I can add more ribbon!
    By the way, the trick to making ribbon functional on a rod like this is taping the edge of the ribbon when not in use. Otherwise it will unroll and land on the floor :).

    Our closet doesn’t have a wired in light so for now I used this set of two rechargeable lamps (on Black Friday sale right now!).
    I bought these earlier this year and have already found so many places for them around the house, but I decided the lamps in this spot will make gift wrapping extra cozy in these dark evenings!

    I’ve had the linen boards since my navy office two homes ago.
    I loved that office so much, I think I might want to paint this whole room navy in honor of it. 🙂
    The printable gift tags and Hygge art on the linen boards (which I bought at HomeGoods years ago) are free gifts for members of HomeBody Gathering Place! If you are an HGP member, you can find them in your dashboard.
    I got all of these adorable wrapping supplies from Rifle this year … including the cards, gift wrap, ribbon etc! I love them all!
    Now that I have a cozy spot to be, I can’t wait to make a hot drink, turn on some tunes and wrap gifts!
    Gift Wrap Left to Right: Penguin Village // Nativity // Christmastide
    Click here for all above sources More

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      10 Organizers We Use in Our Home

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      1. Back of door organizers.
      I have this one in a gray color, and also a beige color. This is our guest room and we use this organizer for gift wrapping supplies like ribbons, small boxes, bags, tags, cards, tape, scissors, etc.

      2. Bedsheet organizers.
      These neat organizers have become so handy for storing our lesser used guest and seasonal linens. Now we’re able to efficiently organize and maximize space on the upper shelf of the closet. Plus this allowed us to make more room in other areas of our home.

      The cases are hard — you wrap the sheets inside so they stand up like a box.

      3. Under bed organizers.
      I love these attractive linen toned under bed organizers (we use them in our guest room for extra pillows!).

      I also love these under bed organizers for under our daybed (pictured above). I talked more about them in this post: No Linen Closet? No Worries! 3 Reasons These Shallow Underbed Storage Bags Can Help!
      Lidded Trunk
      4. Lidded trunks.
      Click here for all above trunks
      I have two of this one! I use them for extra blankets.
      Cabinet Riser and Mug Source
      5. Cabinet risers.
      These cabinet risers come in a set of two — they are very handy to organize in cabinets!

      6. In-drawer knife organizer.

      7. Kitchen drawer organizer.
      I have several types:

      8. Kitchen wrap organizers.
      Foil, Plastic Wrap and Wax Paper Organizer with Cutter
      Similar Sandwich Bag Organizers

      9. In-drawer spice organizers.

      10. Lazy Susans.
      I have these wood lazy Susans above, and these black and white lazy Susans in my pantry.

      Find my Prime Big Deals blog post here with photos and mood boards of my finds on sale! Only one day left of this sale — there are so many good deals.
      Here is The Inspired Room Amazon Storefront — bookmark it to return to all of my faves and deals from Amazon.

      Shoe Storage Solutions
      7 Home Organizing Tips + Organizers That Changed Our Lives
      Small Space Hacks: Collapsible Laundry Bags (7 Ways They Can Simplify Your Life)
      The Secret to Decluttering, Organizing, Decorating and Homekeeping Success that No One Tells You About!
      Click here for more Organization inspiration posts on The Inspired Room. More

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      A Bag A Day Keeps the Clutter Away (Join our Fall Decluttering Challenge)

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      A Bag a Day Challenge Fall 2024
      Clutter is a thief of joy and a distraction from the peaceful, welcoming home we long to have. For many people, including me, clutter can feel so stressful and overwhelming. I’m not referring to the manageable amount of every day things you need or want to have around you, but the accumulation so much stuff that it causes anxiety or frustration.
      I got inspired by the Bag A Day method many years ago because it is so simple, doable and effective. 
      Often people feel overwhelmed because they overthink clutter or procrastinate dealing with it.
      If you are eager to make progress on a decluttered home this fall, you’re invited to join us for our Bag A Day September challenge in our HomeBody Gathering Place community.
      No need to overthink or over prep for the Bag A Day Challenge, just fill one bag of clutter every day and out the door it goes! 
      It’s that easy. You can do this challenge on your own, but you’ll find invaluable community encouragement and support in the HGP to finally turn your home into the sanctuary you’ve always wanted.
      After 30 days, 30 bags of clutter will have been removed from your home!
      Basket / Photo Source
      The Bag A Day method is addictive in healthy ways! Once you get started, I promise going through the Bag A Day Challenge in the HGP will change the way you feel about your home.
      Of course you can also modify this simple method to your own schedule or needs. 
      Go on a clutter finding frenzy somewhere in your home every day or once a week— put your findings in bags. 
      Set a bag or a box by the door or a corner of the room and toss clutter in it every day.  
      Set a goal to fill a few bags every weekend. 
      However you choose to use the Bag A Day Challenge, we’ll do it together in the HGP!
      Homebody Mug
      If you are not yet a member of the HGP, sign up for your subscription here so you’ll be ready to go in September! The yearly membership is the best deal and you get additional freebies and perks, so I recommend being an annual member!
      There is so much more in the HGP to learn and be inspired by. We can’t wait to begin fall nesting and prepping our home for hospitality and holidays, too! This season we’re focusing on telling a story with our home. It all starts this September.
      Think of the HGP as your home therapy group.
      Together we decorate, putter and declutter all year round.
      Every week and every season in the HGP we learn, overcome challenges and change mindsets. We fall more in love with our homes — and I’m there to answer questions and help you every step of the way.
      Participants in the Bag a Day HGP challenge this September will also be entered into a giveaway to win one of our exclusive HomeBody Boxes! It’ll be a fun and productive challenge!
      Ready to get started? Let’s go! Our fall nesting session starts September 2. The Bag A Day Challenge begins September 5. More

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      Basket Storage Trunks

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      This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. Please Read Our Disclosure Policy here

      It’s that time of year when we start turning our thoughts to making life feel cozier in our homes. I’m a big fan of baskets for adding texture and warmth to a room, but I also love to use them for storage and organization. Basket storage trunks can be used to hold anything from games to seasonal items to extra bedding (we use ours for blankets, sheets and pillows), too. I’ve even used our basket trunk as a small space coffee table!
      Click here for above sources (I have two of the bottom right one!)
      See more basket trunks in this folder of my Amazon storefront.
      Get inspired by organization posts on The Inspired Room here. More

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      Shoe Storage Solutions

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      A friend recently asked us for ideas for shoe storage so we went on a quest for the most attractive solutions. Since we found such great ideas we thought we’d share them with you, too.
      Here are our favorite ideas and sources!
      Cabinets:
      Click here for all above sources
      Racks:
      Click here for above sources
      Cubbies:
      Shoe Cubbies
      Benches:
      Click here for above sources
      Bench

      Seagrass bench source above

      Wood bench source above
      More Ideas:
      Click here for above sources
      Space saving shoe rack for a closet like these
      Under bed shoe storage like this
      Shoe organizers closet bins like this
      A rolling cart like this
      Fabric stackable shoe bins with clear window like these
      Clear stackable shoe boxes like these or…these similar ones with magnetic doors
      Over door organizer like this
      Hanging organizer for closet like these
      More sources – click the images below for details:

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      7 Home Organizing Tips + Organizers That Changed Our Lives
      The Secret to Decluttering, Organizing, Decorating and Homekeeping Success that No One Tells You About!
      Small Space Hacks: Collapsible Laundry Bags (7 Ways They Can Simplify Your Life)
      Six Simple Secrets for a Less Cluttered Home
      All Organizing Posts on The Inspired Room

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      My Inexpensive Clothes Closet Organizing Ideas

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      What’s behind your clothes closet door? Are there neat piles of folded sweaters and orderly rows of shoes? Or do you have a single, straining closet rod filled with smashed together clothing and one long shelf filled with toppling stacks of sweaters and t-shirts?

      Most of us like the sound of the first scenario, but live with the second.

      I love the above quote and try to keep the contents of my closet in tune with it by seasonally editing what is in my closet and keeping it organized. Doing this not only keeps the space uncluttered, but also lets me find what I want right away.

      I did one of these “clothes closet editing sessions” recently when waiting for the paint to dry when making over my primary bathroom.

      I had gotten lazy and was just leaving my shoes on the floor when there are shelves for them and not keeping my clothes organized by the season.

      I like my walk-in closet. It isn’t huge or fancy with wallpapered walls, a chandelier and center island like you see closets have on Instagram, but it is all mine. It was one of the selling features of the house that I liked.

      When Ed and I were touring the house with the real estate agent 9 years ago, after seeing the view of the lake from the house and then walking into the bedroom and saw the two “his and hers” walk-in closets, I turned to the agent and said, “Where do we sign?” 🙂

      Before having a closet to myself, I have always shared my clothes closet with my sisters growing up and then Ed. In college I had a tiny little space with a folding door to hide it.

      Cleaning Out My Clothes Closet

      I did a thorough clean-out of every item in the closet – contents of the drawers, what was hanging on the rods and stored in boxes on the shelves. I found I didn’t need the pink boxes and their contents anymore so out they went with a big pile of clothes that I no longer wear, like or that don’t fit anymore.

      The leopard print shoes were hard to let go, but I can’t wear flats anymore. I have high arches on my feet and need to wear shoes that support them so I don’t get a flare up of plantar fasciitis.

      The pink boxes fold flat so I will keep them to use somewhere else in my house. I took the clothes to my local thrift shop.

      Here are all all the empty hangers that were holding the clothes I took to the thrift shop. I moved them into Ed’s closet where he has an empty closet rod on one side.

      See the mirror leaning on the wall? That is one of the two that were above the sink vanity in the bathroom that I no longer needed.

      Once I had cleaned out the closet and reorganized everything, I put the mirrors to use again by hanging them on the back wall of the closet.

      Having mirrors on the walls makes the space look bigger and brighter. My closet also has a floor to ceiling wall of mirror tiles which make it easy to see if I like an outfit or not when getting dressed.

      Now I have all my clothes organized once again by the season. Winter to the left and summer to the right.

      I need to wear hats with wide brims whenever I am outside to protect the white vitiligo patches on my face. Since it is a must, I have tried to embrace it and have collected a few hats that look nice and have wide brims. I can easily grab one now right off the closet shelf.

      I spray painted the hatbox navy blue for a new look. It had a black and white pattern on it before.

      I made new labels for the baskets that I made lids for. I add lids so I can easily stack the baskets. To find out how to make the lids, check out this post: How to Make Lids for Storage Baskets.

      To learn how I make the storage basket labels, see this post: Decorative Free Printable Labels for Organizing

      My shoes are all where they should be now.

      As are my totes…

      …jeans, and folded clothes on the shelves and in the drawers.

      Picking out what to wear and getting dressed is once again easy to do now that I have cleaned out and organized my clothes closet.

      If you haven’t cleaned out and reorganized your closet recently, I highly recommend it. It feels so good to now like everything I see in my closet just as the quote at the beginning of the post stated.

      Inexpensive Closet Organizing Ideas

      Here are a few inexpensive closet organizing ideas that may help you create a clothes closet you enjoy going into every day.

      With so many affordable closet organizing solutions and options nowadays, it is easier than you think to upgrade your closet no matter the closet size or your budget.

      Install a Closet System

      Inexpensive closet organizing systems are made for every size closet from small to a large walk-in closet.

      I refitted my closet in my previous house with a DIY closet system called Easy Track. It was affordable and easy to install in an afternoon. If this doesn’t fit your needs, look into Easy Closets or closet and shelving units from IKEA that will allow you to design just what you need while keeping the cost down.

      Add A Double Rod

      I have a double rod system in this closet, but you don’t need a closet organizing system to have a double rod or any DIY skills.

      Home stores sell affordable hanging rods like these that fit over existing rods so you can create a double rod… literally in an instant. They are ingenious.

      Use Better Hangers

      There is a reason wire hangers are free… they are not made to hang clothes for a long time. If you want to prolong the life of your clothes, don’t keep your clothes on wire hangers. Use more substantial hangers that will maintain the shape of your garments.

      I use the clear style hangers that retail stores use to hang clothes on the racks. When I buy clothes I always ask to keep the hanger.

      Label Storage Boxes and Baskets

      As I mentioned above, I add labels to storage boxes for smaller items like scarves, handbags, and other items I don’t use frequently.

      These boxes are from IKEA

      Labeling each box helps me know what I have at a glance.

      Adding labels also keeps me organized for the long run since I know exactly where to find or place everything after I wear it.

      My motto….  “If I have to hunt for it, I will probably never wear it.“

      Stacking shoe racks can be bought at stores like Target and Walmart. The stacking shelves fit nicely under clothes hanging from the rod above. The plastic shoe containers are from the dollar store.

      I like using see-through storage containers for my shoes so that I can see what I have at a glance. I label each with a description of the shoes that are inside. This keeps them organized so I will be a “shoe-placer” not a “shoe-tosser-to-the-floor” kind of girl 🙂

      More Clothes Closet Organizing Ideas:

      Replace the light bulb in the closet light fixture. See how a simple light bulb switch can remove the color cast it gives clothes hanging in the closet in this clothes closet lighting post.

      Use matching hangers so the rod looks visually appealing – just like your favorite clothing boutique.

      Treat your closet like your favorite clothes shop. Keep items categorized on rods – shirts, pants, skirts, jackets, and by the season.

      Keep items visible. If you don’t see it, you won’t wear it.

      If your closet is small, make more room by storing out-of-season clothes in boxes, under the bed or in another room and make sure to label each.

      Organize in a way that works for you and your budget. The dollar store has many budget-friendly closet organizers.

      If you have the room, consider adding a chest of drawers to the closet. so that all your clothes are in one place.

      Hang a mirror on a nearby door or wall.

      And lastly, if you enjoy your clothes and want to maximize the ways you can coordinate and accessorize them to come up with new outfits consider hanging a Fashion Coordinating Idea Board in your closet.

      Having one will help you save ideas you find in magazines or catalogs to coordinate your clothes into many different looks.

      By tacking a piece of paper and hanging a pencil from ribbon using a push pin or thumbtack will help you take note to write down outfit combinations you created and liked. Doing this will end the standing in front of your clothes and thinking you have nothing to wear syndrome.

      Ultimately when your closet is well organized and your clothes are in sync with your personal style, you should be able to walk into your closet blindfolded and pull out any shirt, pant, jacket, and shoes and walk out looking and feeling great!

      And remember….

      More Clothes & Closet Organizing Posts

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      The #1 Fashion Tip That Will Help You Dress Better

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      Do you have a clothes closet filled with beautiful clothes that you never wear only because you’re not sure how to coordinate and style the clothes to come up with new outfits or ways to wear each item so that you look your best?

      If so, I have the best how to dress better fashion coordination tip for you that will help you get better at styling your clothes. It is so simple, yet will eliminate “the getting dressed struggle” of putting separate items and accessories together into stylish outfits.

      If you want to get better at styling your clothes, consider adding a fashion coordination idea board right in your closet. It is the best place, better than in notebook or on an online app.

      By placing it in your closet right where you need it every day when you are getting dressed you won’t forget an idea as they will all be right there front and center in your view. Seeing them will not only inspire you, but also help you remember the looks and outfit combinations you liked.

      How to Organize Your Fashion Coordinating Ideas Board

      You can make your fashion idea board any size and organize it the best way for you. When you like the way an outfit is coordinated in photos in magazines, online and on social media, clip or print the ideas and start creating a fashion coordinating ideas or inspiration board.

      I have had the scarf tying book since college. It has many ideas that I always seem to forget. Having it handy makes it easy to come up with a new way to tie a scarf as I am getting dressed.

      Where to Put a Fashion Coordination Idea Board In Your Clothes Closet

      A fashion coordination idea board can be hung on the wall in a walk-in closet or on the back of the door in a small closet.

      Once Your Board is in Place Add a Valet Hook

      To help me coordinate my favorite pieces when creating new outfit combinations, I have a “Valet Hook” on the outside of my closet door.

      The hook comes in handy to simply hang clothes I plan to wear.

      I also have what I call my “fashion coordinating hanger.”

      When I worked in retail display I oftentimes had to coordinate separate items of clothing into stylish outfits to display on the end caps of the clothes racks to help shoppers see the coordinating potential of the clothes on the rack.

      I tied one end of a 12″- long piece of ribbon to the hook part of the hanger with a loop to fall at the end of the ribbon. This loop was to hang a second hanger for a skirt of pair of pants. This way a skirt/pants could be seen just as they would when worn.

      Doing this helps me have outfits for parties, vacations or my workday ready to go.

      How to Make a Fashion Idea Board for Your Closet

      The easiest way to add a fashion coordination idea board is to simply purchase a large memo board at an office supply store, hang it up and start pinning clippings and ideas to it.

      If you are like me and would like to make the board look more like a piece of wall art, you can add a bit of decorative style to a memo board with a large frame, a piece of foam board and fabric following the step-by-step instructions below.

      supplies needed:

      fabric

      frame

      (2) dollar store foam boards

      scissors

      straight edge ruler

      spray adhesive

      clear duct tape

      1. Measure opening on the back of the frame and cut two pieces of foam board to this size. Leave a 1/8″ short all around so when you add fabric, the foam will still fit snugly into the frame.  You need two pieces of foam for thickness and stability.

      2. Use spray glue to attach the two foam boards together to create one thick board.

      3. Lay fabric face down on work surface. If there is a pattern on your fabric, make sure it is centered before cutting. Center foam board on top. Cut fabric so you have enough to wrap around to the back of the board on all sides.

      4. Wrap fabric around board and secure with duct tape to the back of the board. Repeat on all sides making sure to pull the fabric taut as you tape it to the back.

      5. Use no-damage picture hanging strips to hang your style inspiration board to the inside of a closet door or wall.

      By making and hanging a fashion coordination outfit idea board in your closet will make coordinating your clothes much easier. Expect to start hearing…. “Ooooh…la…la you are looking stylish today”.

      More Fashion and Closet Organizing Ideas:

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      The Secret to Decluttering, Organizing, Decorating and Homekeeping Success that No One Tells You About!

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      If you’ve ever struggled with creating the atmosphere you want for your home, I got you! 
      I will share the secret no one tells you about.
      Many years ago I started out my home-creating journey with so many dreams of the kind of home I hoped to have — one that was welcoming to us day to day as well as to the people we invited in.
      Perhaps you have similar dreams for your home.
      Even though my heart was in the right place and I worked hard at it, I felt like I was always struggling to create the atmosphere I desired.

      I often felt like I was failing as a home keeper. 
      While I always loved decorating, much to my dismay I quickly discovered that decorating alone wasn’t enough.
      There were always new messes being made, meals to prepare, laundry to do, needs to tend to, rooms to update, clutter to deal with, endless home projects and jobs to keep up with. 
      While I wanted to be a good home keeper, I wasn’t naturally skilled in figuring out how to do it all well and take care of myself and a family at the same time. I was often frazzled and frustrated. 

      One mess or another always seemed to stand in the way of the atmosphere I wanted.
      When I felt like my home was a cause of stress, anxiety would creep in and make me feel like I was a failure in all areas of life.
      I knew that wasn’t what I wanted for myself or our family. 
      Yet I could not figure out for the life of me how to keep all the balls in the air without causing more stress! 
      I read all the books on decluttering, organizing, housecleaning, and decorating yet none of them seemed to offer the simple holistic, sustainable solution I needed. It was all overwhelming. I just wanted to feel at peace with my home day to day, not create a perfect designer-approved showplace!
      I really didn’t need a perfect home. The truth was, a growing family and every day real-life experiences at home created ongoing understandable chaos. I wanted to savor the people, the moments and seasons of life, but trying and failing to keep up with resulting mess in our home was the opposite feeling I wanted in my surroundings.
      How in the world do you find a balance so you can create the type of home you really want without feeling so stressed and overwhelmed?
      Three homes, three kids, one dog and a lot of anxiety and home keeping trial and error later, I finally had an epiphany. This epiphany changed everything!

      I always knew I wanted my home to be a peaceful and welcoming place, but the peaceful and welcoming feeling I craved wasn’t just about the house.
      *I* needed to feel that way! 
      I needed to feel a sense of peace in our home for my own wellbeing, so I could offer that to my family as well.
      I needed my home to be welcoming to me day to day, too, not just to be welcoming to others.
      I couldn’t just bless the mess. Ha! To me, mess = stress.
      Yet all the methods I had tried to keep up with the mess created new kinds of stress.
      It makes sense that people just give up.
      No one tells you the secret to achieving what it is you really want.
      What most of us want to create is a sanctuary, not a showplace.
      That’s what I longed for all along — a home where I felt at peace.

      No wonder I was stressed!
      No wonder I was floundering! 
      It all began to make more sense. 
      I had been trying to get somewhere worth going, but doing it the wrong way led me to the opposite results.
      I was working hard at keeping up with what I thought was necessary or expected, but I didn’t stop to consider what a sanctuary would feel like.
      To be a nurturing place, living in it or caring for it couldn’t be a stressful experience!

      Little by little I made new discoveries about what it meant to create a sanctuary.
      My perspective on home keeping changed.
      I began to make progress and my family noticed and felt it, too! 
      Learning what to do and what not to do, when to do it and why it all mattered so much to me personally made all the difference. Everything changed for the better!
      My well-being improved and my anxiety and daily struggles diminished greatly.
      The care and keeping of our home not only became more manageable but more enjoyable and fulfilling for me (even with a busy household!). 
      My home became a true sanctuary!
      Once I began to see my new daily efforts for what they were, a worthy investment in our health and well-being, creating a sanctuary truly transformed all areas of my life.
      And the most amazing thing is: 

      It didn’t take a lot of money or a housekeeper!

      I didn’t need a perfect house or a perfect plan.

      I didn’t need ideal circumstances. 

      I didn’t need to be a slave to housework. 

      I finally had more freedom and creative energy to do what I loved!

      I felt better than I ever had before in my surroundings. 

      If creating a sanctuary resonates with you, I would love to have you join me in in this journey in 2024!

      I’ve shared many of my struggles and successes in homekeeping and decorating over the past 17 years through encouragement and practical tips on my blog The Inspired Room and in 11 books. 
      But now I am thrilled to be able to offer my secretes to success and support you in a more personal way. In HomeBody Gathering Place, I’ve brought these important decorating and home keeping concepts all together into a never-before offered format with a simple to follow formula along with my secrets to success!
      I am thrilled to be able to walk with you through this journey in real time through HomeBody Gathering Place!
      You’re invited to join me for A Year of Sanctuary, which takes place in 2024 in my member community HomeBody Gathering Place. If you are a member, you’re all set! We’ll begin the winter season on January 5th. If you are not currently a member, you’ll want to register HERE before we close the doors.

      What is a Year of Sanctuary? What is HomeBody Gathering Place?
      A Year of Sanctuary is our theme this year in HomeBody Gathering Place, a private member community where we focus on realistic methods and make joy-filled rewarding progress in creating a sanctuary.
      I’ve organized the concepts I teach into a new seasonal format so we can experience A Year of Sanctuary! In a Year of Sanctuary, we dive into each of my four essential sanctuary principles as well as learn how to savor the simple joys of a sanctuary week by week, season by season, year round.
      All HGP members get to enjoy A Year of Sanctuary, there is no additional fee or registration, it’s all included in your membership.
      How does a Year of Sanctuary work?
      We go through A Year of Sanctuary lessons together weekly in real-time (either in the optional Facebook community, or your own private dashboard and weekly emails we send), but you can also go at your own pace with previously taught lessons and resources that are all saved and available to you in a private dashboard any time.
      While you will be inspired with new ideas and tips every week, you can also see immediate results if you choose to take simple optional action steps through our weekly challenges.
      Of course, establishing your rhythms and experiencing the full benefits of a sanctuary will take time! But we make it more fun every step of the way. You’ll get access to HomeBody Notebook pages, prizes, printables and more!
      The decorating and homemaking principles we learn throughout the year can be personalized and practiced in a variety of ways in each season, just like we do in our real life homes!
      This is a gentle and sustainable way to bring more joy and peace to life and your home, too.
      You’ll find this to be a rewarding experience — one you can look forward to each week and through every season! 
      Do I have to be a new homemaker to benefit from HomeBody Gathering Place?
      Not at all! Whether you’re already a seasoned sanctuary creator or just starting out or somewhere in between, we can learn and grow together in our own ways. No one has it all together all the time, so we all can benefit from inspiration to connect to our homes in various seasons of life.
      Plus, in HomeBody Gathering Place, I bring together a lovely community of women who are all in different seasons, all creating a sanctuary! It is a joy to encourage each other wherever we are in the journey.
      One step at a time, season by season, I’ll teach you how to not only make your home look great, but FEEL great, too.
      Join us in HomeBody Gathering Place for a Year of Sanctuary. We begin January 5th with our Winter Session on Simplicity!
      Once we close the doors for this session, we don’t open again until spring session.
      TIP: I recommend that you join in January as a yearly member (it’s the best deal, plus this year we’re offering yearly member perks and resources!). We hope you’ll join us for the full year of transformative sanctuary lessons, resources, and activities! More

    • 88 Shares149 Views

      in Organization

      Kitchen Remodel, Butler’s Pantry & Murphy Door?

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      Remember back in May when I posted that we were seriously thinking about gutting our kitchen and making the space over? Well, after having 3 different kitchen designers look at it over the summer and design layouts to consider, we decided it doesn’t make sense at this time.

      The main reason being is that it wouldn’t look that different since the footprint and cabinet placement and color would be the same.

      We would also have to totally gut the kitchen floor to ceiling which would mean we would have to replace the flooring not only in the kitchen, but most of the first floor since it is open concept.

      To get a cabinet layout that I wanted, we would have to go with custom cabinetry where they could be made with less depth so an island would fit. With stock size base cabinets – the design programs the kitchen designer’s used won’t even allow an island to be placed in the floor plans.

      So no kitchen remodel for the time being, if we win the lottery, then we would like to add an addition to the house to double the size of the kitchen. But I am content with what I have and will keep enjoying making the space the best it can be.

      Even though the remodel is a no go, I am happy that I went through the kitchen designing process to see what could be. One designer I met with told me how to look at my current kitchen with new eyes. She said what we could do is add space, not size. I had to repeat this a few times in my head until I understood what she was saying.

      Basically, find a way to use the existing space you have better. OK – I am pretty good at doing this, for instance when I found a small rolling cart to use as a kitchen island. It is used constantly. I needed to look harder at ways to create more space. So over the last few weeks that is exactly what I did and then some.

      I have been going through every cabinet, closet and drawer, not only in the kitchen, but the entire house. I have been donating what we no longer use or need, which in turn opened up space for new energy and opportunities.

      I have taken car loads of stuff to the local thrift shop. After a few trips, the volunteers there asked me if we were moving! 🙂

      Nope, I just want less, less stuff, less items sitting around getting in the way simply because I can’t make a decision about any of it.

      I have even donated the coffee table that was in my living room. It got picked up last week along with other furniture pieces I know I will no longer use. The decluttering process was therapeutic – I feel liberated!

      I have decluttered the contents of my house and kitchen cabinets many times before this, but this time, I was ruthless. If we hadn’t used something in the past few years, out to the thrift store it went. My husband, Ed was all on board which made the process pretty painless.

      For More Space: Embracing the Murphy Door Concept

      A while back I read an article about Murphy doors and was intrigued. It gave me the idea to create a room for kitchen storage or if I want to be fancy, a butler’s pantry of sorts that would be in a room of its own, but easily accessed from the kitchen.

      My studioffice is behind this pocket door.

      Much like Murphy beds, Murphy doors conceal a surprise—but the surprise isn’t simply an unexpected sleeping space or nook. With Murphy doors, the secret is often an entire hidden room. In addition to their hidden pathway—making them great space-saving solutions for smaller homes like mine.

      My food pantry is next to this pocket door.

      The Murphy door idea is becoming popular with homeowners now as it is a fix for one of the most common homeowner woes—a shortage of storage.

      I could implement the concept in my studioffice using one half of the room as a butler’s pantry. I however, don’t need to add an actual Murphy door as the room already has the next best thing – an existing pocket door that can act like a Murphy Door.

      The door does not have a doorknob and when closed it can resemble a paneled wall especially if I paint it or do some sort of trompe l’oeil art on the door.

      Creating More Storage Spaces for the Kitchen

      Using one half of my studioffice made so much sense to turn into a sort of butler’s pantry since it is right next to the kitchen and pantry closet, plus I no longer did computer work at the worktable I created in the room. I prefer working at my kitchen table where there is a better view of the lake.

      Without needing a sit down work area in the room anymore, creating a new function on one side of the room for larger and less used kitchen items, as well as bulk foods we get at Costco was a no brainer.

      We initially thought building a wall of cabinets with a counter using stock cabinets would be the way to go, but then I decided before we spend time and money, lets use something we already own first to see if having less-used kitchen items adjacent to the kitchen functions as we think it will day to day.

      What we used instead of custom building a butler’s pantry was a forgotten and now vintage IKEA wall unit that we used in the basement of our previous house.

      When we first moved to the lake house, the wall units didn’t fit anywhere, so we took them apart and stored it all in the attic thinking we may give it to one of our daughters one day. I am glad we saved it.

      Luckily when we took it apart, we organized all the screws, nails and shelf brackets into baggies, as well as labeled every piece and documented it all with photos.

      After bringing all the pieces down from the attic, it went together pretty fast.

      Where the two file cabinet are placed, was a space with a turntable for a TV. We threw the turntable out and found the two file cabinets fit well in the space.

      Now we have more storage space for kitchen items that we want to keep handy, like my heavy Dutch ovens. In the kitchen cabinet I had them in they had to be stacked on top of each other to fit in the cabinet.

      I use these a lot, and it was a lot of work getting to the one I needed to use. Now there is enough space for me to simply grab the one I need, no more stacking and unstacking needed.

      I am still organizing the shelves and making labels for everything to help me keep it organized.

      So far, both Ed and I are loving how our new storage area/Butler’s pantry has given us more space in the kitchen cabinets.

      Ideas to Make The Most of Kitchen Space

      For the kitchen itself, I will keep tweaking and embracing the positive aspects of the space. Where it lacks features, I will continually try to come up with creative solutions to make the kitchen work better for the way we live and move around in the room.

      For instance, we can retrofit the cabinets under the cooktop with sliding shelves, pull-outs or baskets. Doing this will give us two levels of space in each cabinet which will double what we can store in them.

      I can also style areas of the kitchen differently to give new life to the space seasonally or on a whim.

      I would like to find more rectangular and square baskets to organize the contents in all the drawers – not only a few.

      And adding a surprise pop of color in the way of a DIY Drawer Liner where you don’t expect it always turns what looks unattractive, look so much better.

      Now that we have opened up storage space in the kitchen, I have restyled the open shelves as well as added something new on the wall in the kitchen. Both turned out even better than I thought they would. I can’t wait to show you in my next post. Stay tuned.

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