CasaSugar

Link Time: Bathroom Organizing Tips, a Closet Transformation, and Color Blogs that Inspire

Angela Swinderman Elias — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:00:43 PDT

A ramshackle plot in New Jersey becomes an enchanting estate. – Elle Decor
10 addictive color blogs that will inspire you to go bold. – Stylelist Home
See which unexpected recyclable material is popping up in home furnishings. –Houzz
Follow 9 simple steps to whipping your bathroom into organized shape. – Real Simple
70 different ways to add style and personality to your kitchen. – Country Living
Designer Jiun Ho shares 15 of his favorite design pieces on the market. – Dering Hall
Learn how to transform your closet from a sad white box to this! – Apartment Therapy

How to Clean Out Your Closet

Laura Marie Given — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 00:15:56 PDT

Getting dressed is a much more enjoyable process when you have a neat, organized closet to rummage through each morning. Stray belts, mismatched shoes, and a pole lined with tangled, broken hangers makes for extra, unnecessary stress. Sure, cleaning out your closet may be an elaborate process, but the results will have a major, time-saving payoff. Not sure where to begin? Follow this step-by-step guide for a smooth closet-cleaning experience:

Remove and Classify

The first step is to take out everything - yes, absolutely everything. It's the only way to know exactly what you have and exactly what you need.
As you remove your items, sort them into different categories: things to keep, things to store, things to give away, and things to toss. This applies to everything, from clothing and shoes to jewelry and handbags.
Bag up the to-give and to-toss piles, then box up the seasonal items you'd like to stow away for a while. Sweaters, puffy jackets, and Winter boots take up lots of space, so keep them in a different closet or attic until the Fall.

Do a Thorough Cleanse

Once your closet is completely cleared out, it's time to start dusting, wiping, and washing. Clean every shelf and drawer, then sweep and mop the floor.
Consider adding an air freshener that's specifically designed for closets, like the Ornascent by Compac Closet Freshener ($12), to maintain a clean scent.

Keep reading for more closet-cleaning tips.

What Kind of Hangers Do You Use?

Julia Millay Walsh — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 10:35:00 PDT

Ever since I switched to slim, nonslip Huggable Hangers, my life has improved drastically! I swear! Not only can I pack dozens more items into my closet, but my silk tops aren't constantly falling off their hangers anymore, and my whole closet looks much nicer visually to have matching hangers. But, I still do like to keep a few heftier wooden hangers around for heavy Winter coats and beaded dresses. The thought of using metal dry-cleaner hangers makes me cringe; I don't think I could ever go back. But I have some friends who swear by plastic or wooden hangers - different strokes for different folks!

How about you? What kind of hangers do you use? Take the poll below!

3 Ideas For Tackling a Murphy Bed Mystery

Julia Millay Walsh — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 13:05:00 PDT

YumSugar's Susannah Chen recently asked the Assisted Living group for decorating advice:

After five years at the same place, I'm just getting around to really decorating. One huge conundrum: what to do with the little nook that houses my TV/entertainment station. It used to house a Murphy bed, and just looks a little barren and empty. I'm not quite sure what to do with it.

I thought about putting a framed picture above it, but that would compete with the television screen for attention. I thought about curtains, but wondered if that was cheesy. On top of that, I've got to wrangle with the two ugly rail tracks that it's left behind.

Any thoughts/advice would be greatly appreciated!

Continue reading to see my ideas for Susannah!

Spring Clean Your Closet to Jump-Start Your Workout Routine

Heather Dale — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 11:25:19 PDT

I take pride in the overall aesthetic and organization of my closet. After my relaxing morning ritual, I continue to keep stress levels to a minimum when opening my clean closet - clean being the operative word here. A messy closet can add unnecessary stress to your life and waste precious minutes of your day. And not only that, but sprucing up your closet can do wonders for your mind and body. Here's why . . .

Give away clothes that don't fit or don't make you feel good to Goodwill. By putting your closet through a mini detox session, you'll feel like a huge weight has been lifted off your shoulders. Oprah says that your home should rise up to meet you, and I feel that this extends to the closet zone as well. If your closet is stuffed to the brim with outdated shirts or dresses you know you'll never wear again - it's time to say so long. Once your closet is more airy, you'll have easy access to your wardrobe and you'll discover chic pieces you didn't even know you had! Trust me, you'll feel like a million bucks, which will translate to saying yes instead of no when your friend asks you if you want to join her in spin class.

Here are some more reasons why you should get your closet clean on.

Do You Label Your Shelves and Storage Units?

Julia Millay Walsh — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 08:00:45 PDT

I recently gave my closets a serious cleanse, and I'm concentrating on being the most neat and organized version of myself. I've been promptly hanging up my dresses and folding my sweaters, slipping my shoes into their little hanging cubbies, and making my bed every morning.

That said, the most organized version of myself is not a person who labels her shelves - or anything for that matter. The categorized sections of my closet are all mental ones, and until I have someone else putting away my laundry, I suspect they will remain that way. How about you?

Source

Real Housewife of DC Mary Schmidt Amons Puts Her Closet on Lockdown

CasaSugar — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 07:00:00 PDT

Mary Schmidt Amons of The Real Housewives of DC has magnificent taste. After getting a look at her McLean, VA, home in an iVillage house tour, I was wildly impressed. Her family's home is sophisticated, cozy, and unique - not exactly what you'd expect from a reality star. But Amons is not only a stylish decorator; she's also a clever one.

To keep her fashionista daughters from borrowing her collection of designer apparel, Mary had a Charlie's Angel-style biometric fingerprint lock installed on her closet door so that only her left index finger and hers alone can open the door. “When you have daughters who wear your same size, you have to take matters into your own hands,” she says. “It was necessary!” I've never heard of anyone going to such great lengths to keep their possessions from their own family, but it really cracks me up. I don't blame her . . . I'm sure my own mother's wardrobe would be much more extensive if she'd kept my paws off of her threads!

Think it's a great idea? You can pick up one of these wardrobe-saving devices at the Home Security Store for $142.

5 Ideas For a Walk-in Hall Closet

CasaSugar — Tue, 04 May 2010 13:00:00 PDT

My friend has a predicament she's definitely not complaining about: what to do with a large walk-in hall closet? Right now it stores out-of-season coats on the rod and other miscellaneous items on the shelf above, but with that large window and the extra space, it's begging to be better utilized. I've rounded up five ways this closet could be used to reach its stylish and functional potential. If you have more ideas, please share in the comments!

Casa Quickie: Go Into the Closet

CasaSugar — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 13:00:00 PDT

I don't know about you, but my closet doors are usually open when I'm in my bedroom; I'm in and out of there all the time looking for something. But most of us don't realize that, try as we might, guests occasionally get a peak at the "internal organs" of our closets. So, we might as well have them work for us!

If your room is small and wallpapered, you can expand the visual size of it by wallpapering the interior walls of your closets with the room's wallpaper. It's a subtle reminder that there's square footage beyond those doors. And, this trick will work for any room in the house. Of course, if your closet is jam-packed, it won't be very successful. Unfilled closets, such as front hall coat closets, are perfect guinea pigs for wallpaper. Do any of you have wallpapered closets?

10 Offices Converted From Closets

CasaSugar — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 06:00:40 PST

Do you have a closet that's just dying to be converted into something more ambitious than storage space? If you can stomach the idea of working in a petite office space, then perhaps that closet is a great candidate for an office conversion. Check out 10 closets that have made the leap.