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      Small Space Storage Tips + Making Room for What You Love

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      One of the most important space considerations for me in our kitchen remodel is addressing our need for dish and hospitality storage. Our house isn’t huge (nor is it teeny!) so I need to be mindful of how we will use our space. I don’t like clutter, but I do love pretty objects to enjoy and use for hospitality.
      To me, clutter is defined as stuff you don’t use or love. If you don’t have room for it, it gets lost and starts to feel like clutter and you don’t use it.
      When we moved into our last house, our movers called us “book and decor” people. Ha! Apparently some people are decor folks. Some are book lovers. And we are the special ones who happen to love BOTH! Don’t I know it! Had he looked in our boxes, I might also have been called a DISHES person! 🙂 I don’t have as many as some people do, but I definitely love to have a few sets of mix and match dishes and serving pieces like cake plates, vases, platters, pitchers, etc.

      Think of a smaller space as FREEING, not limiting!
      Honestly I would probably keep a lot more if I had a bigger house :). With a smaller space, I have to make peace with the fact that I don’t have room for all of the things I *might *enjoy. Those thoughts probably sound limiting, but for me having less space can be freeing. Having less is actually one of the reasons I like having a smaller home.
      Perhaps you have a small house right now, or a small kitchen or are thinking of downsizing. I will say it can feel limiting if you decide to dwell on not having “enough” room for all of the things, but it’s also so FREEING to have some boundaries and priorities around how you’ll use your time, budget and space.
      Don’t get me wrong, I loved having bigger houses in the past for different reasons as well. Love whatever home you have and embrace what it is! Having less space gives you the opportunity to live differently, not necessarily better or worse! It’s all what you make of it and how you use the space you have.

      With a smaller space, you have come up with creative ideas to use your space really well. You are more likely to assess what you really need and love, versus what would be just fun or convenient.
      I find a smaller space gives me some helpful boundaries to focus on what I love the most, so that is exactly what I’m doing as I’m planning my kitchen remodel! I won’t have EVERYTHING I could ever want, and yet, I love that. It brings me peace to have less.
      Let your space help you define what you keep!
      Defining the space you have available or are able to use for certain activities or belongings can help you decide what to keep! When you don’t have room for it, you can’t keep it! It’s as simple as that if you don’t want clutter. Sometimes letting go of stuff seems so hard until you make peace with the fact that you simply do not have room. The more space we have, the more we might tend to hold onto even if we don’t use it very often. So having limited space isn’t necessarily a bad thing, use that mindset to help you pare down to what you really love and need.
      I’ve given away a lot in the past year, but we still have more than our new house can currently hold with the storage we have. Therefore, I will definitely need to pare down, especially once we have remodeled! The remodel will help us define more boundaries as far as what I can keep. Either I will have room for it, or I won’t. I don’t want to store things we don’t love or use regularly.

      Out of sight, out of mind can turn into more clutter
      Create storage that is useful and accessible so you can stay organized without getting overwhelmed by, losing or forgetting what you have! Having a basement or garage or storage room can feel like a blessing, but also a curse. Storing a lot of things means I don’t use things because I either forget I have them or don’t want to go on a hunt for them even if I love them!
      Of course, particularly in a smaller space, you also can’t keep everything accessible or out in the open or your house will also feel messy and cluttered. So the trick is to decide what storage you need or have that is easily available and to be honest with yourself about how much you are able to use and keep track of.
      Case in point, I still have lots of things in storage boxes right now from the move. It’s too much, so right now it both overwhelms me and I know I won’t use things because I can’t get to them easily. If we cannot create specific useful easy to locate places for the contents of the boxes in our remodel, they’ll have to go!

      Plan for a mix of open and closed storage
      Knowing I want to keep my dishes easily accessible, I’m planning to add lots of dish drawers and even some glass front cabinets and/or open shelves in or near my new kitchen so I can enjoy some of my favorites as decor. Having a mix of open and closed storage is important to make sure your spaces don’t feel cluttered, but still allows some you room to display the pretty things you love!

      Better utilize the space you have!
      I’m also planning to find ways to better organize and utilize our current mudroom (see more of our mudroom here) as well as to create storage in our new dining room. We won’t necessarily have room for everything I want to keep right in our kitchen, but we can use spaces nearby for them so they are still accessible. I can’t wait to show you some of the ideas we want to incorporate!

      Use freestanding cabinets for extra storage and charming display
      Right now we use the white freestanding glass cabinets that are really helpful. I’ve often used them in our homes to keep items accessible without creating clutter. If you don’t have enough storage or built ins, freestanding cabinets can be so handy! You’ll find a recent post on freestanding cabinets and similar sources HERE.

      Click HERE for cabinet sources above.

      So if you feel limited by a small space or overwhelmed by too much stuff, remember it can be so freeing to have less and to let go of what you don’t really need!
      More storage isn’t always a good thing if you end up with too much stuff.
      Less stuff is always a good idea, but you don’t have to be a minimalist to have a tidy house! Simplifying is rewarding, so make the process a gift to yourself.
      I wrote a book on simplifying your home called Make Room for What You Love and in it I talked about some of my own struggles with stuff as well as how I have learned to create more order in my house. It’s an ongoing process, especially if you are book and decor people AND are downsizing or changing your lifestyle like we are as empty nesters now :). Believe me, it’s not about doing it all perfectly! But it really is rewarding to feel in control of your home. If you haven’t read it, you can find it here. I hope it will encourage you to make more room in your home for what you really love.

      Looking for more ideas? You’ll find lots of organization posts HERE, and small space inspiration posts HERE! More

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      Small Accent Storage Cabinets, Consoles, Sideboards (Sources + Organizing Inspiration)

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      Accent cabinets can be placed throughout a home to provide storage and style. I’m always rearranging furniture to figure out what works best for us, so accent cabinets have been a versatile solution for us in every home. Plus they give you another surface to use for a lamp or seasonal decor!
      They help you to get organized and work well as a place to tuck away useful/decorative/seasonal items that tend to end up as clutter on counters or tables when not in use. I love them for so many reasons! I’ll share some tips and ideas below.
      In this post you’ll find sources for several cabinets my girls and I have in our homes as well as other suggestions.
      A few ideas for how to use accent cabinets:

      In a dining room for entertaining supplies – use little bins or baskets inside to store things like napkins and napkin rings, shelves for wine glasses etc…or for dish storage
      In a living room or bathroom to store extra pillows or throws (also great spot to put a table lamp to warm up a dark corner)
      Entryway – use a drawer or containers on shelves (store gloves, dog leashes etc), shoes, reusable grocery store bags, etc
      Kids’ toys
      In a bathroom for towels, bath supplies, toiletries
      In an office as a printer stand and/or to store office supplies

      Here are accent cabinets in our homes, and graphics with lots of sources linked below!

      Click here for Accent Cabinet Source // See post on Kylee’s Entry Cabinet Hack That Saved Her $1500

      Click here for Accent Cabinet Source

      Click here for Shutter Cabinet Source. We use this for storing entertaining supplies, pitchers, glassware and cloth napkins!

      Click here for Shutter Cabinet Source

      Click here for Shutter Cabinet Source

      Click here for the same cabinet (and see how Courtney lined the shelves of this cabinet here)

      This exact cabinet in Courtney’s apartment is out of stock, but HERE is one from the same line, and here is another similar cabinet. Take a tour of Courtney’s apartment here.

      Click here for the same cabinet (this is technically a media cabinet with space for cords to come out the back, but works great as a buffet cabinet too!) — See more of this room in this post: Kylee’s House (Sharing Some Hand-Me-Downs)

      Similar herringbone cabinet source // Click here for a post on how we made this freestanding cabinet into an entry command center!

      Click for herringbone wood and white accent cabinet source

      Click here for whitewashed wood accent cabinet (similar style to my gold one above)

      Click here for post on Kylee’s old townhouse entry

      Here are sources for more cabinets:

      Sources for Above (scroll and click images or links below):

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      1. Accent Cabinet with 2 Doors (multiple colors)
      2. White Entryway Cabinet with Glass Doors and Drawers (multiple color options)
      3. White 2 Door Floor Cabinet with Glass X Panels and Shelves
      4. Two Door Glass Storage Cabinet
      5. Wide White Storage Cabinet with Glass Pane Doors
      6. Blue 2 Door Accent Cabinet with Glass Doors (multiple color options)
      7. White 2 Door Floor Cabinet with Glass
      8. Tall 2 Door Gray Glass Pane Cabinet
      9. Freestanding Bathroom Cabinet
      10. Entryway Cabinet with Glass Doors and Drawers (multiple color options)
      11. Distressed White Tall Sliding Door Cabinet with Windowpane Glass Doors
      12. White Server Cabinet with Geometric Mirrored Doors

      Sources for Above (scroll and click images or links below):

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      1. Rattan Woven 2 Door Cabinet
      2. Gray Pattern Cabinet
      3. Handcarved Cabinet
      4. Whitewashed Wood 2 Door Cabinet with Geometric Pattern
      5. Wood and Metal Cabinet
      6. Cane Wood 2 Door Cabinet with Mid Century Legs (multiple color options)
      7. Navy Linen 2 Door Cabinet with Nailhead Trim
      8. Whitewashed Wood Storage Cabinet
      9. Rattan 2 Door Wood Accent Cabinet
      10. Wood and Herringbone Cabinet
      11. Antique Grey 2 Door Chest
      12. Navy Handcarved Wood 2 Door Cabinet
      Click HERE for more cabinet sources (and follow our new Instagram The Inspired Room Style for daily decor finds in stories!)

      My Organizing Books:
      Simple Organizing: 50 Ways to Clear the Clutter (my book available on Amazon or your preferred retailer)
      Make Room for What You Love: Your Essential Guide to Organizing and Simplifying (my book available on Amazon or your preferred retailer)
      Related Inspiration on The Inspired Room:
      Storage Cabinets for Linens and Things
      Kitchen Canisters and Sources
      9 Clever Organizers to Tidy Your House
      Six Simple Secrets for a Less Cluttered Home
      Organizing With Baskets and Containers
      Lovely Bathroom Storage Solutions
      Linen Closet Organization Ideas
      12 Lovely Accessories to Organize Your Home
      Small Space Solutions: Furniture Ideas More

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      Ribbon Storage Ideas That Will Keep Your Rolls of Ribbon Organized For Good

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      How to make a ribbon storage organizer or rack to hold spools of ribbon 3 different ways. These DIY ribbon holder ideas for your ribbon collection can be made very inexpensively to hang on a wall in a craft or sewing room or in a closet or cabinet as well as a few variations so you can customize each to fit your needs.

      DIY Ribbon Storage Organizers To Make for Your Ribbon Collection
      Each one of these ribbon organizing ideas has a step-by-step tutorial:
      The first is a wall rack that requires a few tools. The second and third do not require any DIY skills or tools to make and can be completed in 30 minutes.
      Table Of Contents
      Before deciding what DIY ribbon organizer will work best for your ribbon collection read over the ideas in this post, as not every organization method will work for your space or work area.
      Think about how you can make the best use with the space you have. If you have a craft table with drawers underneath, this may be and easy and perfect option for you.
      For others, use these organization ideas as a creative jumping off point to come up with your own idea to store and organize your rolls of ribbon.

      Organizing Ribbon TIPS

      Before you get started, here are a few tips about organizing your spools of ribbon no matter what organizing spools of ribbon idea you use.
      Choose a Spot – Do you have a room with open wall space where a wall rack will fit?
      If not, consider turning a closet into a craft closet where you keep your craft supplies. In this closet you can hang a ribbon rack from the closet shelf or create a smaller holder for a smaller collection of ribbons.
      Sort Ribbon – Group every roll of ribbon into categories so you can see just how much ribbon you have and how large the storage organizer should be.
      Group the spools by color, then by similarly-sized spools. If you have smaller pieces or scraps of ribbon, these can be placed in old shoe boxes, a basket or tied onto a clothes hanger.
      This will allow you to see all the snippets and have easy access to them. Seeing the actual amount of ribbon you have will allow you to see just how large or small your ribbon organizer should be.
      Ease of Accessibility – You’ll want to spend some time really thinking about how you create with ribbon.
      Do you like to take down spools and have them close by while you’re working? If so, you may want to keep them easily accessible instead of in a closet.

      #1: How to Make a Ribbon Organizing Rack to Hang on a Wall
      How to Store Ribbons in a Craft Room
      When creating this wall mount ribbon rack, I wanted to make use of one of the empty frames on the wall I call my Creative Wall.

      I previously used the empty frame you see on the far wall as a mini photo studio in my previous home.
      After a trip to the home improvement store where I went to see about using gutters to organize my ribbons, I ended up buying Corrugating 2.38-in x 10-ft Aluminum Drip Edge instead.
      I also like that the “drip edge” was inexpensive and white. No paint was needed to make my DIY ribbon rack!

      You may be asking – what is aluminum drip edge? It is used to protect roof edges and allows water to go into rain gutters.
      It can be found at the Home Depot or Lowes in the gutter aisle. It is usually already painted white, brown, black or silver which saves you any need to paint.

      If you plan to make this DIY ribbon storage rack, take tin snips with you when you go to buy a section of aluminum drip edge so you can easily cut the long length of the aluminum drip edge to fit into your car to get it home. Make sure not to cut it shorter than how wide you want your organizer to be.

      supplies needed:
      Large wood photo frame3 – Corrugating 2.38-in x 10 Aluminum Drip Edge – roofing/gutter aisle in the home improvement storeTin SnipsMeasuring tapePencil14 – 1-1/2″ zinc corner braces with screwsDrill and drill bitLarge brass fastenersPhillips head screwdriverWork glovesOptional: Washi tape to cover ends of cut aluminum drip edge.
      I already made the frame that is part of my Creative Wall.  You can read how I created it in this post: Craft Room Idea.
      If you don’t want to make a frame you can simply buy any size picture frame at craft stores like Michaels and hang it on your wall.
      I cut the aluminum drip edge into 7 pieces to create 7 shelves that fit inside the frame for my ribbon organizer.
      Once the frame is hung on wall (no glass or mat, just the frame), measure the inside width of the frame. This width will be the measurement you will need to cut the aluminum drip edge.

      Put on work gloves (the aluminum drip edge does have sharp edges) and use tin snips to cut the aluminum drip edge to the width needed.  If your tin snips are sharp, cutting through the aluminum is very easy. I drew a pencil line where I needed to cut and then cut into the drip edge from one side, and then flipped it around to cut in from the other side to meet the first cut. My cuts were not perfectly square so you don’t have to be exact.

      2. Place a corner brace as shown above on the outside of one of the cut pieces of drip edge and mark hole closet to edge on corner brace onto aluminum drip edge. Repeat on opposite end. Drill holes where pencil marks are.
      Place corner braces around L-shape of aluminum drip edge and line up holes. Place a large brass fastener in hole.

      3. Bring tips of brass fastener to inside of drip edge and then spread out to secure. Add a drop of glue over center of opened fastener. Repeat on all other cut sections.

      Each cut to size shelf should have two corner braces attached. One on each end.

      Optional: I left the cut edges of my ribbon organizing shelves alone, but the cut edges can be sharp. If you want to cover the edges, add some colorful Washi tape over each edge before hanging the shelves on the wall.
      How to Attach Ribbon Organizing Rack to a Wall

      Starting at the bottom of the frame, begin attaching the metal shelves to the wall by screwing in the other side of each corner brace into the wall with screws.
      You may have to bend the front of the shelf out a bit, but this is OK to do since when you place the ribbon in, the spools will push the front out also.

      I attached the bottom shelf so it sits on the frame. When the ribbon spools are placed on the shelf, the metal will bend out slightly. This creates a angled view and secure fit for the spools of ribbon.

      Arrange your ribbons by the size of the spool before screwing the shelves to the wall. For the spacing of my ribbon organizer shelves, I placed the largest spools of ribbon I had on the the bottom shelf.
      I needed 5″ of clearance for these ribbons. I placed the next two shelves up 5″ apart. For the rest of the shelves I spaced them at 4″ to 4-1/2″ apart.

      Use a bubble level to make sure the shelves are level as you attach them to the wall.

      Place ribbons in shelves by size and or color.  Some of the spools don’t touch the bottom of the shelf, but they are all secure and easy to get to now.
      The best part though is that they are now not only organized by color, but easily accessible and beautiful ribbon is pretty to look at.
      #2: How To Make a Ribbon Organizer to Hang in a Closet or Wall
      This is a very easy and creative idea to store craft ribbon, curling gift wrap ribbon or anything that is on a spool in a craft storage closet.
      Making this style organizer can be completed in about 30 minutes.

      supplies needed:
      2 equal lengths of large link chain2- large S HooksCafe style curtain rods or metal rods – at least 27″ long.Optional: Rubber bands – 2 for each rodVariation: 2 eye-hooks to screw into a ceiling or wood shelf if you don’t have wire grid shelving shown in the photo.Item Six

      After figuring out how many curtain rods and length of chain you will need, hang chain from closet shelf about 27″ apart using an S-hook for each side. Variation: For a wood closet shelf – use a screw-in style S-hook to attach to the underside of the shelf.

      3. Thread the spools of ribbon onto a curtain rod.

      4. Next, slide a curtain rod through the chain on one side and repeat with the other side of the rod on the other chain. Make sure to count the chain links down from the top for each rod so the rods will be level across.
      5. Repeat for each rod and amount of ribbon you have.

      Optional: Do you like to cut off just the amount of ribbon you will need before you start your project? If so:
      Hang a pair of scissors with ribbon and tie onto the chain on one side of this hanging ribbon organizer. Place a yardstick at the bottom of the chains in the same way you added the curtain rods. Wrap a rubber band around the finial end on rod if rod moves back and forth. This can happen on rods that are not full.
      Variation on this Ribbon Storage Organizer
      If you want a more finished look for your ribbon organization, you can use a frame instead of chains to hold the rods as I did to hold gift wrap.

      You can learn how to make this framed organizer in this post:

      #3 Ribbon Storage Inside a Cabinet 0r Cupboard
      Of the 3 ribbon storage ideas shown in this post, this one is the easiest and doesn’t require any DIY skills or tools.
      For smaller ribbon collections and loose ribbon, you can use spring-mounted tension curtain rods that have rubber tips. A tension rod’s length can be easily adjusted by twisting the rod snug against the insides of a cabinet.
      4 tension rods holding spools of ribbon in a cabinet.
      Before I made my wall mounted ribbon organizer that I shared earlier in this post. I use to store the spools of ribbon I had in my crafts cabinet on cafe style tension curtain rods that you see in the photo.

      All you need to make this ribbon organizer is a spring-mount tension rod. This style of rod is sold anywhere window treatments are sold.

      They come is different lengths from short to long. If you have a large cabinet, you could even use a spring-mount shower rod.
      Pros: The nice thing about this ribbon organization idea is that the ribbons are up and off the shelf so you can still store supplies and items on the shelf underneath the rolls of ribbon.
      Cons: The only downfall is that when a spool in the center of the rod becomes empty, you will have to take the rod down to remove all the other ribbons on one side of it to remove and replace it.

      FAQs About Storing Ribbon

      How to Keep Ribbon From Unrolling?
      To keep the ends of the ribbon on each roll in place, use a straight pin or a small piece of tape to keep it in place.

      How Do You Organize Ribbon Scraps?
      There are many ways to organize ribbon scraps. Placing them in a shoebox or basket is the easiest. Inside you could place the scraps by color into food storage bags.
      Another way is to tie the ribbon scraps to a coat hanger or a slack hanger that can hold multiple pairs of pants – (see below). You can tie the ribbon on by color and be able to slide them back and forth along the hanger. This will make organizing the ribbon scraps by color easy.
      A third way would be to tie the ribbon scraps to key rings. Have a key ring for each color and then hang the rings on a wall hook.

      How to Organize Ribbon in a Drawer
      To easily organize rolls of ribbon in a drawer is to use sheets of dollar store foam boards to make drawer dividers. You can also buy pre-made drawer dividers to fit your drawer. Adding these will keep the rolls in line by color, size or however you would like them organized for how you work and accessibility.

      Ready Made Ribbon Storage Organizers

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      How I Set Up a Spice Drawer So It Stays Organized

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      If you have enough drawers in your kitchen, using one to store spices can be a good idea. Using a spice drawer clears space in your cabinets and keeps your countertops clutter-free.
      Also, storing spices in a drawer and away from heat and light can prolong their freshness and protect flavor.

      As someone who has started to cook more and experiments with new ways to season plant-based foods, I have acquired lots of spices that have been becoming a disorganized mess over time.
      It was time to improve the organization of my spice storage drawer in my small kitchen in a way that I could keep the drawer and spice jars organized for good.
      Table of Contents

      Spice Drawer Before Getting Reorganized

      Does this look familiar? When my spice drawer was disorganized like this – I couldn’t easily find the spices I needed quickly, even though I set the drawer up for easy access.
      There are two problems with this set up. The first was that the spice jars are not all uniform in size and didn’t fit together. This allowed them to roll around and get disheveled.
      The second problem was that at a glance, if I didn’t see the spice I needed, I would think I needed to buy more, only to find once I bought the new jar home – I realized I had it and wound up with duplicates.
      Hopefully my new and improved kitchen drawer spice organization will stop these scenarios from happening ever again.

      How I Organized My Spice Drawer

      I bought a set of 36 new square glass spice jars that came with labels for the sides and top.

      I like the clear labels as they don’t block the contents as paper labels do.

      It seems most spice jars sold online come with labels. I liked the labels that came with the set of spice jars I bought, but ended up buying a separate set of labels sold without jars that I liked better.

      I bought them for a style reason – I just liked the font better – I know silly, but I liked these better as the font is larger and easier to read.

      I also like these bottles since the lids give you the option to pour or shake.

      How to Decide What Kind of Spice Drawer Organizer You Need
      I was going to make a DIY spice drawer organizer, but after doing research on spice drawer organizers, I figured the best type of in drawer spice rack set would be a spice organizer drawer liner.
      This type would work since the size drawer I have is not high enough to fit an expandable tiered rack where the spice jars are angled to easily see and grab.

      I painted the inside of the drawer white to make it look nicer.

      Measure Your Drawer
      How deep should spice drawers be? First measure your drawer to determine the depth to see what type of spice organizer will fit. I wanted to use an angled expandable rack, but my drawer was not deep enough to use this type. So measuring your drawer height is important.
      Measure the width, depth and height of your drawer. This will help you determine whether to use a liner, expandable, or vertically arranged organizers. 
      I figured the liner would work best for my drawer and bought one.

      But, as I was putting the jars in the drawer to see how many of the new jars would fit, it just so happened that my exact drawer dimensions fit eight 4-ounce glass spice jars across perfectly – with little movement so they would stay in place.
      For the length – four jars fill the length of the drawer with about an inch left over that allows to easily move the bottles in a line to remove one. So I didn’t even use the liner I bought and returned it.
      No more jars rolling around and getting out of place.

      How to Organize a Spice Drawer So It Will Stay Organized

      1. Use Square Glass Spice Bottles
      When deciding what type of glass spice jars with labels to buy to organize the spice drawer in your kitchen, go for the square bottles over round ones.
      The reason for this is that when round bottles are in a spice storage drawer, they tend to roll, even when on a drawer liner or spice drawer rack.
      When this happens you can’t see the front label of the bottle, hence at a glance when cooking you can’t see what the bottle that rolled contains. When you use square bottles this doesn’t happen. The labels will always stay face up.
      When you have matching spice jars – you can save money by buying bulk spices in just the amount you need. Many whole food grocery stores sell spices this way where you can measure out just what you need.

      2. Use a Drawer Insert or Tiered Racks
      There are a few different types of spice drawer racks or inserts that include three-tier or more rack options. These expand to fit the width of a drawer.

      3. Alphabetize the Spice Jars
      The best spice drawers are organized in a way that makes sense to you. This could be alphabetically or by your frequently used favorite spices.
      Should Spices Be Stored in Plastic or Glass Jars?
      Spices don’t last forever, but if properly stored and sealed, glass will extend the shelf life significantly. Plastic jars can be porous where small amounts of air can get into them and degrade the spices.
      Using clear jars also allows you to easily see when you are getting low on a herb, seasoning or spice.

      What is Better to Use – A Drawer, Wall or Countertop Spice Rack Organizer?
      Having organized spices in a drawer not only frees up valuable cabinet or pantry space but also makes them super easy to access. My drawer is next to my stove and food prep kitchen island.
      Using a cabinet or drawer to store your spices will keep them in the dark which is a good thing as it will keep your spices dry and away from stovetop heat. When spices are stored on a wall or on a counter they may get too much light and degrade faster.

      The Best Spice Drawer Organizers and Inserts To Buy
      If you are thinking about reorganizing your spice drawer or rack, below are a few popular options to consider to organize them in the drawer space available in your kitchen.

      Expand-to-Fit Organizers
      Expand-to-fit tiered organizers are a simple solution. They simply expand to fit your drawer and usually feature different compartments and tiers to keep bottles separate and visible.
      They come in wood, metal as well as clear and black plastic.

      Trim-To-Fit Drawer Liners
      It’s easy to create a custom solution with this type of spice drawer organizer to fit drawers. Simply trim with a pair of scissors to fit your drawer size. The ridges keep spice bottles in place.
      This type of soft cushy liner comes in grey or off-white.
      This is the type I thought I was going to use, but didn’t since my bottles fit nicely in my drawer without it.

      For Deep Drawers
      Choose your organizers based on the depth of your drawer. In-drawer organizers that hold the jars vertically work well in deep drawers.  

      More Helpful Spice Drawer Organizer Tips
      Most of the spice jar/label sets sold online come with a collapsible funnel so that when you bring a new jar of herbs or spices home you can easily fill the square glass bottles.
      If you have extra spice in one jar after filling a new one, I keep a shoebox in an upper kitchen cabinet where I store these jars. When one of my spices gets empty, before I put it on my shopping list to buy more, I look in the shoebox to see if I have any in there first.
      How do you arrange your spice collection? Do you have any tips to add that help you keep your spices organized?

      Spice Drawer Jars, Labels & Organizers

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      Small Entryway Solutions

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      Hello, Kylee here! After sharing my entryway post (about how to decorate when your front door opens into your living room) , many of you reached out to me saying you also have an extra small entry space! So, I did a little digging to see what kinds of solutions I could find for when you don’t have much space for furniture. I rounded up some of my favorites that are multi-functional or well suited to a small space. Enjoy!
      Sources for the graphic above:
      1. Entryway Cabinet (lots of color options)
      2. Valet Hook
      3. Entryway Wall Mirror with Hooks
      4. Coat Rack with Shelf and Hooks
      5. Storage Bench
      6. Iron Entryway Shelf Set with Baskets and Hooks
      7. Wood Bench
      8. Entryway Storage Mirror
      9. Swivel Hanging Rack (two color options)
      10. Entryway Shelf with Hooks
      11. Wood Hall Tree with Hooks
      Looking for more small space inspiration? Here are some related posts!
      More Solutions for a Small or Non-Existent Entry
      10 Small Space Decorating Mistakes
      How to Get Organized in a Small House
      5 Clever Ways to Make a Small Space Cozy and Inviting
      Small Space Solutions: Furniture Ideas
      Ideas for Small and Budget-Friendly Kitchens
      Making the Most Out of Hallways, Entries, and Small Rooms
      Click HERE for a gallery full of small space idea blog posts! More

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      How to Organize Freezer Drawers DIY

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      How to organize freezer drawers for a few dollars.
      If you have a refrigerator that has a pull-out bottom drawer freezer and have not been able to fit ready-made freezer bins or freezer organizing baskets into it that will help to keep the contents organized, you may like this freezer organizing hack I came up with.
      It is easy to do using dividers I made from sheets of craft store corrugated plastic.
      These dividers are not just for freezers. They can be also made to use on any white plastic coated wire closet organizer shelf or basket in your clothes closet, laundry or pantry.
      Table of Contents
      Freezer Drawers: Before Organizing
      Here is how the two drawers in my kitchen’s freezer looked before I made new freezer dividers for them.
      Before: Shallow Top Basket in Drawer
      BEFORE: Deeper Bottom Basket in Drawer
      Each drawer only had one divider. No matter how much I tried to keep “like” items in rows, they always moved when the drawer was opened and closed making a big pile of frozen food on each side of the dividers.
      Why I Needed to Come Up With My Own Freezer Drawer Organizing Idea
      While searching for freezer organizing ideas online, I did find a few ideas that I thought would work.
      These ranged from using different sizes of freezer bins, file folder holders and even freezer organizing baskets, but none of them fit.
      Freezer Drawer Inspiration
      On the blog, Simply Organized I like what she did to organize the bottom of her freezer drawer.

      She removed the deeper bottom wire basket completely in the drawer and replaced it with a row of plastic multi-use organizers. I bought these, but had to return them as they didn’t fit in my freezer the way hers did. They were too tall for mine.
      Since that idea didn’t work, I had to come up with a plan to organize my freezer on my own. I didn’t want to use cardboard magazine folders or dividers as after a while they would get soggy with moisture.
      I kept searching for an idea and finally found white plastic corrugated cardboard sheets at Michaels craft store. They were perfect – not expensive and easy to cut and would not get soggy.
      I also liked the white color, as it would make my organizing efforts look like they came with the freezer.
      How to Make Plastic Dividers for Freezer Drawers
      These freezer drawer dividers are very simple to make, the part that I found the hardest to get the project done, was having to empty my freezer.
      I brought a large cooler into the house to keep the food cold while I was working on the drawer dividers.
      To make the addition of the dividers doable and keep the food cold, I removed the top drawer first.
      Then I added the dividers, placed the basket and food back in to the freezer and then proceeded to repeat the process for the deeper bottom basket in the freezer drawer.

      supplies needed:

      Tools:
      craft knifescissorsyard stick or t-squarehole punchpencil
      Time needed: 1 hour and 15 minutes. How to Organize Freezer Drawers DIY Remove the Contents of the Drawer Measure your freezer, the entire space and height to make sure that what ever you add does not interfere with the opening and closing of the freezer drawer.Mark the front of the baskets with tape before removing them so you don’t forget how to place the baskets back into the drawer. If you mix this up, the drawer may not close. Remove Existing Divider The divider that came with the top freezer drawer basket was removable. Use the divider as a template to cut new dividers from a sheet of corrugated plastic. Figure Out Divider Placement Use the actual contents of your freezer to help you determine how to space the dividers in the basket. Punch Holes in Dividers Mark dividers with a pencil along each edge. Using a paper hole punch or an awl make a small hole and thread a zip tie through each hole. Attach Dividers With Zip Ties Line a divider up with a horizontal wire on the basket. Then use the zip tie to secure it to the frame of the basket.Make sure the zip tie is snug. Then cut off the excess with a pair of scissors. Repeat on both top and bottom of the divider. Repeat Steps for Bottom Freezer Basket The bottom freezer basket is much deeper and has a lining tray at the bottom. The one divider that came with it is not removable.To make the dividers an exact fit, I laid the basket on its side so I could trace the shape onto a plastic corrugated sheet. Repeat Cut the divider(s) out and follow the same steps used for the upper basket to attach the dividers. Place Basket Back Into Freezer
      Freezer Drawers – AFTER Adding Dividers

      So much better! Now the contents will stay in rows which will help me keep the contents organized so everything is easy to find at a glance.
      Freezer Storage Idea: Labeling the Contents
      You can make your own printable freezer labels or use sheets or rolls of ready made labels.

      Having a roll or sheet of labels on hand is another way to make sure that the contents in your freezer are organized and stay that way.
      More DIY Ideas on How to Organize Bottom Freezer Drawers
      When trying to decide what you can use to organize the bottom drawer of a freezer, here are a few more easy to do budget-friendly ideas.
      Buy more containers or baskets than you think need so that you can figure out what sizes will work. You can return the containers that didn’t work.
      Once you have the containers play around with arranging them in the drawer. You want them to fit together like a jigsaw puzzle so you don’t waste any space.
      Use ready-made plastic multi-use bins.Cut corrugated boxes down to sizes needed. Plastic dollar store baskets in various sizes. These can also be stacked to create layers of organization in the depth of the drawer.

      For the ultimate in refrigerator and freezer organizing, check out this soon to be published book on the topic. It will surely inspire you once and for all to get your fridge and freezer organized.
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      Creative Dorm Room Decorating Ideas on a Budget

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      It is that time of year again… back to school and college. Here are the best – tried and true ideas to decorate a dorm on a budget along with ways to keep the small space organized with these creative dorm room decorating ideas. 
      Post Updated: 7/13/2021

      Over the past 7 years I have helped my two daughters move in and decorate 8 dorm rooms and college campus apartments.
      In this post I am going to share the dorm room essentials, quick and creative dorm room decorating ideas, tips and tricks that I know work and won’t break the budget when it comes to getting a dorm room or college apartment set up. All of these ideas make the grade!
      So get ready to move the furniture around to create the best use of space so that everything you bring to decorate your dorm will do double-duty – EVERYTHING!  Organization and smart accessible storage is key to making the room both attractive and livable.
      Creative Dorm Room Decorating Ideas
      How can you decorate a doom room cheaply? With creativity and planning before you even arrive on campus.
      A few months before college starts, most students get excited and think about the color and style of the bedding, lamps and cute organizers they will need for their dorm room, but the number one thing you need to have with you on move- in day are a few tools!
      Having a tool box filled with basic tools will make everything you do on moving day much easier. Trust me! If you bring one, you will be the most popular person in the dorm as everyone will want to borrow your screwdriver, hammer or glue gun. 

      On move-in day a toolbox gets packed in the car last so that everything from a screwdriver to fabric glue is ready to whip the room into shape as it gets placed in the room or at least done on move-in day. You will find the contents of my toolbox in this post:

      Pick the Bedding First
      When decorating a dorm room, the first decorative element you need is to pick the bedding. The bed is so important – it serves as a sofa for friends to sit on and a place to relax, do school work, eat, and sleep.

      Look for a comforter that you can put a colorful duvet on that will hide stains and will be easy to wash when needed.  The room’s color scheme or half the room’s color scheme can be based off the color of the comforter/bedspread.
      Get Creative With Fabric

      When decorating a dorm room on a budget, there are many inexpensive fabric options to choose from.
      Fabric added to the room in the way of window treatments, chair covers, wall hangings, and art will add a lot of style and color to the room.
      If you want to add some color to the plain walls,  buy some fabric yardage and hang it on the wall using the Command Brand mounting strips across the top of the fabric and along the ceiling line. Two or three of the strips is all that will be needed.   Let the fabric hang freely. It will look like wallpaper.
      How to Hang Art on Top of Hung On the Wall Fabric: Use Command Brand mounting hooks on the wall under the fabric. Once hook is placed, cut a small slice in the fabric where the hook is so that the hook can fit through the slit. Hang your photos or art on the exposed hook.
      Other Fabric Options to Consider:

      Colorful Sheets: Head to the thrift store or stores like HomeGoods and TJMaxx to find colorful or patterned sheets that can be used t cover a window or an open closet.
      Use Command Brand Hooks To Style Window Treatments:

      Most of the Command Brand hooks are pretty self explanatory, but the utensil hooks – have a moveable hook and are perfect for tying drapery panels to the wall with twist ties. I did this in my daughter’s apartment bedroom one year.  I used colorful ribbons to hide the twist ties. 
      Everything on the wall was hung using the Command Strips.
      Loft the Beds
      Photo: Dorm to Die For
      Lofting the bed gives the room double the space. I found this photo over at Dorm to Die For.  At the college my oldest attended, all the beds were loft-able. 
      Create a Clothes Closet Under a Lofted Bed
      To make the space under a lofted bed into a place to hang clothes, attach a tension rod along the front side of the bed to hang a curtain on a tension rod.
      Use “U” clamps to attach a closet rod or curtain rod to the underside of the box spring. When the curtain is closed, clothes will be out of sight. 
      You can also use the space under a lofted bed for a desk and or chest of drawers.
      Make a Lofted Bed Organizer

      Hang a flat handled basket on the bed in a color to coordinate with the room.
      Tie it to the bed rail along the top of a lofted bed for easy access to a phone and charger, book, tissues, etc. This way you won’t have to jump down from the bed.

      Create Extra Seating

      Space is at a premium in a dorm room so it is nice to have a few extra seating options for when friends are hanging out with you.
      These storage and seat-in-one ottomans made from milk cartons serves double-duty.

      Create a Bedside Table

      Make lids for square baskets. It is easy to do with cardboard from boxes and fabric.
      Stack the baskets on top of each other to create an easy to reach storage spot as well as create a little bedside table

      Decorating a Dorm Room Essentials to Pack
      Buy these dorm room essentials ahead of time so you won’t have to run to Walmart 5 times on move-in day.  You can find most of the items needed in this list at Ross, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Bed Bath and Beyond, IKEA, Target, and Walmart.
      1. Command Brand Strips Hooks & Hangers

      The biggest innovation in dorm room or rental decorating since I went to college is 3M Command Strips – Hello! Wonderful. They are amazing and can be used for so many things.  Spray a little bit of rubbing alcohol on the walls, doors, sides of a desk, bed frames, chairs – you name it and you can hang just about anything easily.
      When it is time to move out – they are a cinch to remove and leave no damage. 3M even has replacement tapes and tabs so you can use the hooks and hangers again the following year.

      2. Clip-On Light, Floor Lamp & Backrest Pillow
      My oldest didn’t understand why she needed these when she was a freshman. It didn’t take her a long time to figure out why – comfort and task lighting while studying on the bed.

      If lofting a bed, the clip-on light can easily be clipped onto the bed frame or even mounted on the wall with Command Brand strips.

      This style floor lamp with adjustable arms works well in a dorm.  Each light can be directed where needed – on the ceiling for ambient lighting, on the bed for task lighting = double duty.

      3. Power Strips & Extension Cords

      There are never enough outlets in a dorm room for all the electronics you use.  One or tow power strips and long extension cords are needed.  Throw in a few 3-prong adapters, too.

      4. Over-the-Door Hangers & Organizers

      These types of hangers are perfect for hanging not only over doors, but they work over the bed rails as well.
      Use two or more so you will have plenty of storage. They are great for bath towels, handbags, coats, and hats.

      Hanging TIP: If you place an over-the-door hanger over a door and the door doesn’t close – get a pair of pliers and bend the top section that goes over the door to mold it to fit – works every time.
      5. Closet Organizers

      Some rooms have nice closets, others have only an armoire.  Making use of a variety of closet organizers will increase the storage.

      Closet Organizer DIY: Use shower curtain rings on a hanger to hold scarves or belts.
      6. Stackable Storage

      Stack, stack, and stack some more.  Easy accessible stackable storage is the best way to hold stuff – from books, toiletries, food, etc.
      IKEA makes small shelf units and these may work well in one room, but not the next year in a different room.
      I have found that classic milk crates are the best. The reason – versatility.  They can be stacked and used in many different ways. One year they may be used in a closet, the next – across the shelf on the desk or dresser to hold food and/or dishes.

      Stacking Organizing Idea: Cut a square from dollar store foam boards to fit inside milk crates. This gives the crate bottom a level surface to place items on so they won’t fall through.

      7. Tension Rods & Cafe Clips

      Tension rods and cafe clips can be used on windows, under lofted beds, and in closets.
      Photos: BH&G and Martha Stewart
      As long as the window is inset you will be able to create easy no-sew treatments using a tension rod and café clips. 
      Photo Above: On the left are two scarves that are folded over along the top edge of the scarf and simply clipped on.
      On the right, use fabric glue to make finished edges on fabric that is cut to fit the size of the window, then clip on the rings and hang.
      Don’t forget that shower rod tension rods found in the bath department are much wider in diameter and when two are placed about a foot parallel to each other a pine or mdf board can be placed on them to create a knock down portable shelf for a closet.
      8. Bed Risers

      If the bed doesn’t loft, then use bed risers. Buy the extra tall ones so that you can get as much extra space as possible.  They even come with electrical sockets now – smart as there are never enough outlets.

      9. Rolling Storage & Bins

      This style of rolling cart with drawers can hold extra toiletries, school supplies, and/or clothes.  They move around the room easily when needed which is a big plus.
      Use the rolling drawers as an end table to hold a clock, phone or lamp. 
      10. An Area Rug
      Check stores like Target, Walmart and HomeGoods for an affordable area rug. A 5 x 7 usually will fit. It will make the room feel cozier and decorated.

      If you have gotten to the end of this post, then you now have a few more creative ideas on how to decorate a dorm room on the cheap, but these ideas are really only a starting off point.
      Once you get on campus you will see just how creative and resourceful students can get when it comes to making a dorm feel like home sweet home.

      More Budget Decor Ideas for Dorm Rooms:

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      InMyOwnStyle.com

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      Protein balls, Energy balls, Bliss Balls, Power Balls or Bites. No matter what you call them… this plant-based treat is so good and much better for you than candy or junk food when you want something sweet. Leading an active life – one with a lot of DIY decorating – painting, ladder climbing, moving furniture,… Read More More