Tag: Organizing

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…

To pare down your stuff…

To learn a few shortcuts…

To wrangle in your mess…

To stay on top of things…

To give yourself a break sometimes…

Source: Apartment Therapy

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

Move Over, Ikea: Hygge Style is What We’ve Really Been Missing—Fixer Upper Friday

Over the past several years, Scandinavian style has dominated interior design trends. In may ways, it’s been our answer to our overly cluttered, chaotic lifestyles and we’ve embraced it’s simplicity and function. Every home seems to have some space-saving, Ikea solution in one room or another, and we’ve totally fallen in love with the idea of paring down and organizing the things we have.

The Best, Eclectic Scandinavian Interior You've Seen---Fixer Upper Friday

Move Over, Ikea: Hygge Style is What We've Really Been Missing---Fixer Upper Friday

The root of this ‘less is more’ design motif is that we all just want a serene space that allows us to truly relax when we get home at the end of a long day. We want a space that is perfect for entertaining family and friends. We want a space that functions to make our daily routines easier and joyous. We want a space that’s cozy and inviting… and in the back of our minds we know that no piece of furniture on its own can create that kind of space. That space we all desire requires action. This, in a nutshell, is the Danish concept of Hygge (hoo-ga).

Move Over, Ikea: Hygge Style is What We've Really Been Missing---Fixer Upper Friday

Move Over, Ikea: Hygge Style is What We've Really Been Missing---Fixer Upper Friday

Hygge encapsulates the idea of mindfulness, kinship, familiarity, comfort, charm, and simplicity. It’s about creating an atmosphere of intimacy in our daily lives and in our homes. More than just a design trend, Hygge goes a step further by celebrating life’s mundane moments and fostering a general sense of mental wellness. Whether it’s lighting a candle with every meal, or taking the time to brew a cup of loose tea, Hygge describes the feeling of genuinely taking pleasure in all of life’s simple moments. Isn’t that what we all need a little more of?

Move Over, Ikea: Hygge Style is What We've Really Been Missing---Fixer Upper Friday

Here are some simple ways to make Hygge a part of your life:

For more information on Hygge, Check out this amazing book available through Amazon. It’s a total game changer!

The Best, Eclectic Scandinavian Interior You've Seen---Fixer Upper Friday

The Best, Eclectic Scandinavian Interior You’ve Seen—Fixer Upper Friday

I am a self-proclaimed minimalist guru. I absolutely despise clutter and “like so many others, I have become a slave to the Ikea nesting instinct” a la Fight Club. I think part of the appeal of the popular Scandinavian design aesthetic is the overall lack of clutter. I have fought the urge to be a hoarder all my life. I grew up poor and as a result I’ve always held on to things because that you never know when you’ll need it mentality was second nature to me. As I got older, and went through college and grad school, I bought myself a ton of brand new shiny things that as a kid my family couldn’t afford. When my brother died, I held on to a lot of his things for their sentimental value. When I looked around, I was literally wading my way through useless clutter that I had imprisoned and saddled myself down with.

The fact is, I had an awesome childhood with a loving family. Wearing hand-me-downs and growing up in run-down Brooklyn brownstones can’t erase that fact. Buying useless things and holding on to my dead brother’s belongings won’t bring me any peace or happiness and it certainly won’t bring my beautiful brother back. So for quite a few years now, I have been swept up in the awesomeness that is minimalism. It isn’t just the way it looks, it’s the peace of mind it brings.

I seriously love this ‘less is more’ design, and a tour through this eclectic Scandinavian interior by Tina Hellberg will hopefully float your boat too! Check it out!
The Best, Eclectic Scandinavian Interior You've Seen---Fixer Upper FridayThe Best, Eclectic Scandinavian Interior You've Seen---Fixer Upper FridayThe Best, Eclectic Scandinavian Interior You've Seen---Fixer Upper FridayThe Best, Eclectic Scandinavian Interior You've Seen---Fixer Upper FridayThe Best, Eclectic Scandinavian Interior You've Seen---Fixer Upper FridayThe Best, Eclectic Scandinavian Interior You've Seen---Fixer Upper FridayThe Best, Eclectic Scandinavian Interior You've Seen---Fixer Upper FridayThe Best, Eclectic Scandinavian Interior You've Seen---Fixer Upper FridayThe Best, Eclectic Scandinavian Interior You've Seen---Fixer Upper FridayThe Best, Eclectic Scandinavian Interior You've Seen---Fixer Upper FridayThe Best, Eclectic Scandinavian Interior You've Seen---Fixer Upper FridayThe Best, Eclectic Scandinavian Interior You've Seen---Fixer Upper FridayThe Best, Eclectic Scandinavian Interior You've Seen---Fixer Upper FridayThe Best, Eclectic Scandinavian Interior You've Seen---Fixer Upper FridayThe Best, Eclectic Scandinavian Interior You've Seen---Fixer Upper FridayThe Best, Eclectic Scandinavian Interior You've Seen---Fixer Upper FridayThe Best, Eclectic Scandinavian Interior You've Seen---Fixer Upper FridayThe Best, Eclectic Scandinavian Interior You've Seen---Fixer Upper FridaySource: Eclectic Scandinavian style at it’s best

Fixer Upper Friday: 5 Steps to Getting That “Fixer Upper” Style

So I just binge-watched the first two seasons of HGTV’s Fixer Upper. I suppose I’m a little late to that party, but I absolutely love that farmhouse style! I love the paint colors, the simplicity, and the character of all of the designs. Joanna, Chip, and their entire team are some super talented folks, so is it even possible for a novice like myself to get that look? I think so!

Here are five easy steps to help achieve that “Fixer Upper” style:

1. Start with a neutral palette with some subtle light paint colors. In almost every one of Joanna’s fixer uppers she uses neutral paint colors and brings brighter colors in with a pop here and there. This gives a nice simple, fresh, and clean slate for your design. [Though the picture above gives a sampling of Sherwin-Williams paints, Joanna just launched a new paint line this year to make the process even easier. Find it here.]

2. Mix your materials and textures. Joanna uses a variety of mediums and materials- wood, metals, leather, cloth, etc. Hardwood floor is almost always a design feature in a Fixer Upper house. Wood elements help your space feel warm and inviting. But don’t stop there…. Layer textures with a high-pile textured rug such as a jute. You can also bring in the warmth of wood with a piece of wooden furniture.

3. Use something architectural and unexpected as a decor center piece. Whether it be large shutters behind your couch or some old windows above your fireplace. This is my favorite aspect of Jo’s designs. I love seeing how she uses different architectural and industrial pieces so effortlessly in her designs. Items like these are found at antique festivals and shops. Your not going to find these one-of-a-kind pieces at your normal home decor store. The hunt for the treasured item is half the fun.

4. Use greenery. Nothing says fresh and clean like a vase of flowers or some greenery. These do not have to be living plants. Hobby Lobby has a great selection of faux greenery that fit the “Fixer Upper” style.

5. Declutter and find new uses for things you already have. All of Jo’s designs appear effortlessly simple and fresh. She does not clutter or over decorate- and almost all items have a useful purpose. Sometimes less is more. 

The “Fixer Upper” style is not something you can achieve over night. Although Jo makes it seem that way on the show. But hours of planning have been spent before she ever even steps into”design day.” This style takes time and will evolve over time. Just as it has with Joanna Gaines. If you look back at some of her first design reveals you can truly see how far she has came as a designer. But starting with these 5 basic steps will get you on the right path to your very own fixer upper!

All Images: magnoliamarket.com

Source: Plum PrettyHow to get that “Fixer Upper” Style: Design Challenge —