Organizing & Storage - Arsenic & Old Place

200 Ways to Begin the Journey to a Calm & Happy Home

I was once drowning in clutter. No matter how much I tidied up, scrubbing floors, wiping down light fixtures and windows, vacuuming, and cleaning baseboards I felt like my home was never really truly clean. I finally figured out that it didn’t have anything to do with dust, but everything to do with the amount of useless things I’d accumulated.

I’m a firm believer that being home should feel like a getaway. A place where you can relax and leave the stresses of the day outside the front door. To achieve this, we have to make certain lifestyle changes. Kickstart your journey to wellness at home with these nifty ideas.

To learn to love housekeeping…

Take expert advice: A Cleaning Expert On Letting Go of Resentment and Embracing the Craft of Keeping House
Keep it simple: 7 Ways You’re Making House Cleaning Harder Than It Has To Be
Embrace your small space: Bigger’s Not Always Better: 10 Reasons to Love (Cleaning) Your Small Home
Make it fun: How To Trick Yourself Into Being One of those People Who Actually Likes to Clean
Go solo: 9 Reasons Why It’s Infinitely Better to Clean by Yourself
Start small: 3 Mind Tricks that Will Get You Going on a Big Clean—Without Realizing It

To pare down your stuff…

Start with this: Declutter (In a Big Way!) by Asking Yourself One Simple Question
Keep your wits: Techniques for Decluttering Without Emotion (When You’re an Emotional Person)
Practice minimalism: 5 Mindful Habits that Lead to a Minimalist Home
Take real life advice: How to Make Downsizing Your Stuff a Little Less Painful
Spot the source: This Is Why Your Place Is Messy: 5 Common Clutter Causes

To learn a few shortcuts…

Make a weekly routine: 5 Things Impeccably Organized People do on Sundays
Know a little goes a long way: 10 Tiny Details that Really Up Your Organization
Knock it out: 10 Big Impact Tasks That Only Take 10 Minutes
Know the lingo: The 3-Word Cleaning Strategy that’s a Shortcut to Spotless
Easy prep for guests: A Refreshingly Realistic, “Good Enough” Plan for Cleaning Before Hosting Houseguests
Clean smarter, not harder: 5 Quick Cheats to Make Your Home Neater
Do a quick refresh: 5 Things You Can Do to Instantly Re-Energize Your Space

To wrangle in your mess…

Know what’s important: The 5 Little (But Life-Changing) Cleaning Commandments
Regain control: 7 Bad Housekeeping Habits to Quit Right Now
Learn from the best: 3 Secrets People Who Always Seem to Have a Flawlessly Clean House Know
Stick to the rules: The 10 Commandments of a Clutter-Free Life

To stay on top of things…

Know your style: Quiz: What’s Your Organizing Style?
Read the signs: The Warning Signs That Your Home is About to Get Out of Control
Go deeper: 45 Ways to Make Your Home the Cleanest It’s Ever Been

To give yourself a break sometimes…

You’re better than you think: 9 Signs Your Home is Cleaner than You Think it Is
Hire help, when needed: The (Real) Everyday Chores (Actual) New Yorkers Are Outsourcing
Know the loopholes: 6 Dirty Little Secrets of People Who Live in Small, Perfectly Organized Apartments

Source: Apartment Therapy

Texture and Pattern: Interior Design Inspiration

There’s an ongoing debate between me and my sisters over my love of minimalist interior deign. They really think minimalist designs are generally cold and sterile, lacking color and warmth. I tend to think that lots of colors and lots of furniture tend to weigh a home down. To me, neutral colors allow you to play around more with texture and pattern and allow a more visually interesting opportunity to incorporate pops of color. Anyway, the debate rages on. I was swooning over what I thought was a compromise between our styles, but it didn’t go over too well. Instead, I want you guys to look at these pics from SquareFoot Interior Design and join me in coveting their amazing blend of texture and pattern in a beautiful loft space. You’re totally gonna be on my side when you see these pics!

I absolutely love this space. Simple, sleek, and cozy all at once. Admittedly, it doesn’t boast those pops of color (totally trending in interior design this year), but it’s just perfect in terms of that hygge style interior we’ve all been craving.

If you love the look of this space, but you’re like my sisters ad crave a little bit more color, check out this post for affordable, yet trendy, home decor items that aren’t shy about hues!

Target Just Added Some Amazing Things to Their Spring Home Collection!!!

(This post contains affiliate links, but that fact should not discourage you from basking in the awesomeness that is Target’s Spring Home collection.)

Is it so wrong that I could literally just live in Target if it had secure wifi? I absolutely love the new stuff that hit stores this week and you will too! Spring cleaning is upon us and we all need a refresh. What better way to get started than to completely revive your space with these fresh new looks! Check it out!

Classic Accent Rugs

Shop all Home Accents at Target

This Couple Really Got the DIY Home Coffee Station Right—Fixer Upper Friday

All of us serious coffee drinkers have our own special coffee prep rituals. On auto pilot, we can crawl and grope our way to the kitchen and make our morning cup without even being truly awake. Recently, I’ve tried to streamline this process a little bit. I wanted all of my coffee paraphernalia in one place without clutter and without fuss. Most of all I wanted it to be pretty, because of course I did. This couple really hit the mark on what a fully functional, beautiful coffee station should look like. Check these pics out!

Creating a coffee station like this one isn’t as difficult as it might look. It’s all in the details. You can use a simple baker’s cart or a chunky piece of furniture like a buffet table or an armoire. Here’s a list of things you might consider including in your own home coffee station:

Glass or ceramic containers for storing everything from coffee and tea to flavored syrups and sweeteners
A pretty carrying tray or low top basket to organize paper cups, lids, and napkins
unique artwork (try chalkboard signs like the Gray House above or something like this)
any kind of houseplant or flower vase to add a little nature

Source: StudioGrayHouse