Let's get real here. Do you know how intimidating it is to walk into the home of someone that's, in our opinion, the crafting and entertaining version of OPRAH?!
Well, it happened to us. We are talking about Lauren Conrad (a.k.a LC). Yes...she's the walking Pinterest board you imagine. And since Joanna and I are only good at one thing (organizing), we had the opportunity to help make her life even more Pinterest-worthy than it already is.
Our primary goal for Lauren was to de-clutter and pare down (she's a self-professed collector). Not only did we organize her kitchen, office, closet, and bathroom--she even taught us some tricks in the process (I mean, of course. It's Lauren Conrad). Thanks to her crafty skills, she let us try out her Cricut machine, and we ended up labeling her office cabinets with gold vinyl. WE. WERE. FREAKING. OUT.
Here is a look at our finished project + the tips and products we used for each space:
CLOSET
TIP #1: Stack Your Shoes
Stackable shoe storage is a great way to optimize your closet shelves. You can not only increase the amount of shoes each shelf can hold, but you also keep them protected from scuff marks and dust.
TIP #2: Bring on the Baskets
If your closet doesn’t have drawers, create your own by using baskets! We suggest folding shorts, work-out clothes, pajamas, t-shirts, and even socks and underwear.
TIP #3: Swap with the Seasons
Create seasonal closet bins for summer and winter. Place one on a high shelf, and one within reach, and rotate them as the weather changes.
TIP #4: Abide by the One-Year Rule
We abide by the one year rule, and we suggest everyone else do the same. If you haven’t worn something in the past year, there’s a good chance you never will. Donate it, give it away, or store it in a sentimental box for safekeeping - but never let an item you DON’T wear, take space away from the items you DO wear.
SHOP LOOK:
PANTRY
TIP #1: Divide and Conquer
Almost every single pantry can be divided into Breakfast, Dinner, Snacks, Sweet Snacks, Baking, and Cooking.
For Lauren’s pantry, we made oversized labels for her pull-out shelves instead of labeling the bins themselves.
TIP #2: Embrace Open Bins
Be realistic with your time and lifestyle. If you’re a busy parent, or have a time consuming job, you’re not going to want to come home from the grocery store and empty everything into canisters. Open bins are much easier to manage, and require no extra work.
TIP #3: Spend 15 Minutes a Month
A quick 15 minute pass through each month to weed out expired or nearly finished items goes a long way in long term maintenance.
SHOP LOOK:
BATHROOM
TIP #1: Pare Down Your Products
People tend to over-collect makeup and beauty products, so it’s essential to go through your cabinets and drawers and remove the ones you don’t like and won’t use.
TIP #2: Create Categories
Sort your items into general categories to account for ALL your items. Try not to get overly specific since you want everything to have a home. For instance: Nails, Hair, Face, and Body.
TIP #3: Have a Daily Drawer
Create a daily drawer or bin that holds all of your everyday items. It will save you time in the morning since everything will be at your fingertips.
SHOP LOOK:
OFFICE
TIP #1: Go for Easy Access
Consider which items you need within your immediate reach and make sure they remain visible and accessible. Items that you need to hold on to, but don’t need constant access to, can be stored.
TIP #2: Highlight Your Happy Items
Highlight the items that make you happy on a daily basis. Whether it’s a jar of colored pencils on your desk, your sewing supplies, or in Lauren’s case - her balls of yarn! Keeping them in clear view helps inspire creativity and adds a personal touch.
TIP #3: Have a Specific Spot
Create a spot for current, on-going, or pending projects. Having a specific spot will decrease piles of clutter that can otherwise accumulate.
SHOP LOOK:
For more supplies, make sure to check out SHOP for our picks!
Xo Clea + Joanna
Thoughts welcome!