Storage and care...

[Smuterella]

Ooh, I wonder if I can get those here?

 

[KittyT]

I may have to invest in some of these!

I think the real trick to organizing is to put stuff in a place and order that makes sense for you and your style! For example, I need my stuff out where I can see it. Why? Because I'm always running late, and if I have to dig for something and have trouble finding it in a container, I get frustrated because I can't find it AND I'm late, and then I toss things all over (or empty out containers) looking for what I need, and then I've created a big mess that I'm unlikely to clean up after I come home at 2am after a few cocktails.

Woah run on sentence! Also, I'm forgetful, so if I can't see it, I'll forget I have it and it will never get worn. Or I won't remember where it is. If you're the type of person who can remember where everything is, then containers and canisters will work all right for you without keeping everything displayed.

Also, I try to consider practicality when organizing. When I'm putting together a room, the first thing I'll do is put my dresser as close to the closet as I can, or with easy access. You waste time walking between dresser and closet, so I like everything to be in close proximity.

But those are things I've noticed I need based on my personality and "dressing style". Obviously, other things will work for others.

 

[KittyT]

I'm so clever it hurts

Ever since I moved into this new apartment with a smaller closet, I've been struggling with my shoes. The new closet has an awesome raised shoe shelf, which is great, but I've been keeping some of them in another cabinet because there just isn't enough space.

Now I've been toying with the idea of finding some sort of shoe rack that I could mount to the back of the closet underneath my shirts and other shorter items. Well, I finally figured it out! Behold my awesome cleverness:

It's from 2 simple over the door organizers, $7.99 each at Target. I cut off enough of the bottom that it would fit (except that I could've fit another row along the back wall, had I not been so eager), reinforced (with my sewing machine) the cloth tape at the bottom where I made the cut, and just hung it on nails (instead of the cheap door hooks it came with). All my dreams have come true!

Again, with clothes:

I'm so tickled I finally got this one figured out! Hope it helps some of you with your organizational problems!

 

[ShoreRoadLady]

Great storage space, KittyT!

This thread reminds me that I really should buy some garment bags for my wool items, and more cedar blocks to put in my closet.

I recently tried to put (some) order to my ever-growing vintage collection, and bought a bunch of decorative boxes to make everything look cohesive. Somehow, most of it managed to fit - don't ask me how. lol

When it comes to storing vintage, my main concern is keeping it away from pesky little bugs, and too much light. Anything delicate, light-colored, or prone to yellowing (like vintage linens) I try to wrap in acid-free tissue paper. A few cedar balls get thrown into boxes with wool/felt items to discourage any moths that may sneak in. And in theory, I try to keep like colors with like so I don't end up with weird color transfers, but I'm not always so good about that.

It's not clothing, but for some of my vintage printed material, I bought an archival storage box from the Container Store. Pricey, but worth it for nice magazines and other paper items that are susceptible to the elements.

 

[FaintlyMacabre]

Thanks for taking the time to snap pics and post them. I love the ribbon idea for earrings, I've been wanting to move my jewelry from their hiding place in a drawer and didn't know what to do about the clip ons.

 

[miss_elise]

i'm just about to embark on looking for a cloth lamp shade (and lamp) to hang my earring and broochs on to go on my vanity

 

[KittyT]

i'm just about to embark on looking for a cloth lamp shade (and lamp) to hang my earring and broochs on to go on my vanity

Neat idea! Most cloth shades have that firm material underneath though - do you think that will work? I've never seen a shade that was 100% cloth.

 

[miss_elise]

i'll let you know how I go... I think some of the old school ones would be just cloth... or if they are pleated cloth then in the cloth on the pleats

 

[KittyT]

i'll let you know how I go... I think some of the old school ones would be just cloth... or if they are pleated cloth then in the cloth on the pleats

Definitely let us know! It's a super clever idea!

Here's another one I had - I decided I really needed someplace to sit while putting on my stockings and shoes to avoid the odd balancing act and the awkward bending over if I need to nudge my shoes on. I'd also been looking for something to put my hand washables in when they're dirty (but needed something big enough to hold a couple of dresses as well). Was going to build a stool out of a vintage suitcase, but found a storage ottoman like this on sale at Target for about $12. Mine is plain turquoise (very pretty!) and they have them in other colors too - plain pink, brown, black and chartreuse. Perfect for sitting on when dressing and then I toss my dirty delicates in it to keep them separate and out of sight until washing.

 

[The Shirt]

Next week begins the Great Closet reorganization 2010. I move in with my honey and have to compress at least 10 years of living in my own house with all the closets to myself - to now sharing (and hopefully not overwhelming) the fella). I am reading back thru all these great ideas and will need to figure out what will work. At least he is a minimalist and doesn't take up much space himself.

 

[KittyT]

Vintage storage solutions!

I just picked up a reprint of a book called "101 Things For The Housewife To Do - 1949" by Lillie B. and Arthur C. Horth at the Vermont Country Store. It's also available on Amazon and contains a ton of tips for things you would expect, but also a lot for things that you would not expect a housewife to do, like refinish a floor, mend electric cords or build a medicine cabinet.

I'll be posting various tidbits around the Lounge in various threads!

 

[TillyMilly]

I have a typical 1930's semi, it's not huge but it's not tiny either. I lived on my own for long while and I'm a total minimalist but I still didn't seem to have enough space! I had my box room converted into a dressing room with a doorway made into the bedroom. It has chests and hanging rails (it will be properly fitted out once I find a good carpenter) it used to have my vanity in thier too but i moved it to the bedroom as i like to look at it.

Anyway- the chap finally moved in and he's a hoarder! He's got 43 crates of toys, sorry- 'collectable figarines', he's got a vintage bottle collection, 2 vintage singer sewing machines, 2 huge vintage 'pirate chest'- a huge DVD collection, a huge CD collection, a huge book collection- and a penchant for big boots and vintage full length coats- I could go on but you get the picture- suffice to say that now all my storage is taken up- the dressing room is full to bursting, the spare room (formerly my sewing room) is full- as is the garge, the outbuildings- AND the loft!

Can't complain too much as he's brought some lovely things including a real Victorian Lady's mourning jacket for me. It was shame the things we had to take to the tip to move though- 2 1950's vacuums and a 1940's wash tub! *sniff*

 

[CherryWry]

I'm going through all my clothes, shoes, accessories, etc. and trying to decide what to hang up, what to store in drawers, and what to do about my shoe problem. I have all the off-season stuff in rubber tote bins behind the eaves, but want to figure out how to make the in-season stuff more accessible. Naturally, closet space is limited. I already have purses hanging up and an over-the-door shoe rack.

What do you do with cardigans? Fold or hang?

Shoes...under the bed? If so, do you have them in something?

 

[Foofoogal]

What do you do with cardigans? Fold or hang?

Fold and store in vintage suitcases. I use them for so many things. One can find them with lovely linings.

One can find a shoe storage thing to put under the bed with different seasons.

Purses are what I struggle with. I put smaller ones in larger ones and have shelves but they still look untidy.

 

[Puzzicato]

What do you do with cardigans? Fold or hang?

Fold - I have one of these IKEA sweater hanger things http://www.ikea.com/PIAimages/71284_PE186614_S3.jpg on a clothes rail, and a bunch of cedar blocks between them.

 

[Irene Goodnight]

Alas, my hometown is an agricultural area on the coast - so we get a LOT of red Australian soil dust and black sugar-cane trash blowing in through the windows. Basically, anything that isn't stored inside a well-closing drawer or cupboard gets absolutely covered in reddish dust and greasy black dust within a day. Anything stored on gorgeous open shelves or clever racks like you ladies have shown would need to be cleaned very carefully every day.

It's a shame, because it's nice to display things like bags, gloves, jewellery and trinkets, but it's just not possible where I'm from!

I'll just admire the photos you've all posted instead.

 

[KittyT]

Alas, my hometown is an agricultural area on the coast - so we get a LOT of red Australian soil dust and black sugar-cane trash blowing in through the windows. Basically, anything that isn't stored inside a well-closing drawer or cupboard gets absolutely covered in reddish dust and greasy black dust within a day. Anything stored on gorgeous open shelves or clever racks like you ladies have shown would need to be cleaned very carefully every day.

Gosh, I can't imagine how often you must have to clean your house

 

[KittyT]

What do you do with cardigans? Fold or hang?

Always fold. Knits will stretch out of shape if hung.

Shoes...under the bed? If so, do you have them in something?

Use a storage bin. They also make under bed storage containers:
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=16879266
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=16886580

 

[Jasmine Jolene]

i'm just doing up my bedroom, and being the only girl in a household of 4 boys, i am making it an oasis of femininity!

unfortunately, i don't have the money or the space to furnish it vintagely (is that a word??!?) so i have succombed to Ikea with some inspiration! i have moved our old wardrobes and drawers into the kids room and have bought some others, freeing up a bit of space in our room.

i am getting my first dressing table!!! i am so excited! and i love what Kitty has done with the flowers - i'm going to have to purchase i alot more to make my new mirror look fab

lots of inspiration here, thanks girls!

PS - Smuterella, been reading your blog, i LOVE what you have done with your bedroom!

 

[evelynn]

Hi everyone,
How do you store your scarves? I'd like to hear how everyone does it to get some ideas. Some peope fold them flat and some hang them. Anyone know what's the best way for silk and satin scarves? I'm also wondering the same about lingerie and negligee, mine are hanging in the closet and I wonder if they should be in a drawer instead. I'd love to hear how you store your scarf collections. Thanks!