“National Get Organized Week” – Divine Secrets to an Organized October

With all of the indoor activities that come with cooler weather, what better time than now to get your home ORGANIZED? After all, the first week of October is “National Get Organized Week!” And with Divine Consign’s selection of goodies, it’s never been easier and more convenient! 

Here are our tips (along with some featured store items!) on getting organized. Ready? Here we go!

1.       Use traditional items in nontraditional ways – Are the shelves of your linen closet caving in? Need a place to display all the extra arts-and-crafts your kids have been doing this month? Has your guest bedroom become a storage space for your out of season clothes and shoes? A china cabinet/display hutch would work marvelously for any of these problems! Towels, artwork, or shoes can be displayed in the upper glass cabinets. Extra bedding, craft supplies, and/or clothing can be stored in the drawers below. Bet you never knew how versatile that old china cabinet could be!

Thomasville China Cabinet - Item # 721 
$329.99

China Cabinet - Item # 2194 
$214.49

2.       Make the most out of every piece of furniture in your home – Why go with just a headboard when you can rock a headboard with built in shelves and drawers that ultimately saves space elsewhere in your home?! I mean, everybody needs a bed, right? Look for beds, desks, and other furniture items that may serve a dual purpose—you’ll be thanking yourself later when your home is clutter-free.

Twin Headboard w/ Shelf & Drawers - Item # 3506 
$120.99

Dark Wood Desk w/ Shelves - Item # 3508 
$213.49

3.       Under-bed storage doesn't stop at plastic bins – I’m sure you are all well aware of the wonder that is under-bed storage. Seriously, it’s pretty much the smartest thing since sliced bread. You can store clothes, shoes, outerwear, toys, or any number of items in long, shallow plastic bins so they are perfectly accessible and (even more perfectly) out of the way. But have you ever thought about storing a guest bed under your bed? Duh! Trundle beds are a genius way to be visitor-ready when your in-laws just happen to show up a week early (sorry, you’re on your own with that part…). Then you just tuck it away when you’re done! Guest bedroom problem = solved.

2 Twin Trundle Beds - Item # 769 & # 768 
$302.49 each

4.       When it come to drawers, you can never have too much of a good thing – If you are going to by a dresser, buffet, console, or desk, make sure you are getting as much storage/organizational space from it as possible. Drawers are a great way to separate different types of items, so you’ll always know where to find them. At Divine Consign, we always have great deals on those perfect items to keep your home organized!

Traditional Wood Buffet - Item # 713 
$192.49

Stitzle Buffet - Item # 679 
$989.99

Hope you found these tips helpful on your quest to an Organized October! Good luck, let us know how it goes (we always love to hear from you!)

DIY Mudroom

Happy June! 

Okay, so we’re already a week into this first month of summer, but to be honest, I think it was hotter in April...

Anyway, the temperature is only going to rise from now until August, and if you have kids, that means playing in the sprinkler, visits by the ice cream truck, and hours running around  outside...a.k.a. wet clothes, muddy feet, sticky hands, and skinned knees…oh joy! And in your newly-spring-cleaned house? Oh no…we just won’t let it stand.

It's all fun and games...until that Popsicle melts all over mom's new carpet.

That’s why we thought we’d help you contain the clutter (and, well, straight-up mess) that summer brings by sharing some lovely inspiration for an easy-peasy DIY mudroom in your own home, using items you’ve had stuffed in storage for years (or, you know, that you picked up at Divine Consign)!

Check out some of these great mudrooms...all done by handy little people like you and me! (okay, maybe just you...we'll stick strictly to the designing part) 

    

...Inspired yet?

 

How about now?!

We bet you have all kinds of stuff you could use for this project.

(Book shelves…hooks…curtain rods…benches…chairs…side tables…a small desk…The possibilities are endless!)

Okay, ready…………?

....

...................

....GO! Then snap a pic and let us know how it turned out! 

Mudrooms featured in this post (in the order pictures appear above):

1. http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/category/rooms/mudroom/

2. http://ana-white.com/2011/08/cutest-mudroom

3. http://stagetecture.com/2010/08/mudrooms-a-place-for-storage-sitting-and-slickers/

4. http://www.thehouseofsmiths.com/2012/02/project-entryway-closet-makeover-reveal.html

5. http://emilyaclark.blogspot.com/2010/02/not-so-messy-mudrooms.html

6. http://www.granitetransformations.com/blog/tag/diy/

America's Next Top Model (home) - A six week shape up guide to a brand new view!

WEEK TWO - Find your style, add architectural detail

With your space plan (week one) in hand, let's find your personal style!

We know you have been pouring through design magazines for ages. Time to get out those pages you've torn out and place them on the table in front of you. What do you see? Do you see a theme? Do you tend to gravitate towards modern or traditional? Do you like a minimalist feel or do you prefer to seek solace in a comfortable setting? There is no need to name your style (such as Post-Neoclassical-Baroque-Egyptian-Revival-Chic) just pick out your favorites.

Now look through your beautiful magazine pictures. Ignore the color, furniture, art, etc. - focus on architectural details. Molding? Windows? Fireplace surround? Now look around your room - how can you incorporate the details you like from the pictures so that it works in your space? Check out your moldings around the doors, windows, floors... what if you added a piece to make them larger? How about adding ceiling trim? What about the walls? Would adding a chair rail give you the look you like? How about that built-in cabinet you've had your eye on?

Adding architectural interest could also mean taking something out - such as getting rid of the 1970s mirrored closet doors, taking down fake paneling, removing wallpaper. How about replacing the fireplace surround with something more contemporary? Dump the faded shag carpet and replace it with hardwood flooring.

Don't forget to consider your space plan with adding/removing architectural details - the room should still function the way you planned.

Adding architectural detail can either be a big project or small. Review your budget if your project includes adding flooring or cabinetry - you may need to forego other purchases as architectural details really are important. Now is the time to call in some favors and get help completing this project - as Tim Gunn says, "make it work!"

Organization Tip #4 - Play Room

We have ideas up the wazoo for transforming ordinary furniture into new, useful pieces. The playroom is often a space that gets filled with toys, dolls, puzzle pieces, cars. These valuable possessions need some organized storage!

First, the obvious. Bins, baskets, boxes are all a must for good storage. You can buy the super-cute coordinating bins OR (as I do) reuse containers from formula, rice/pasta, bedding (thick plastic with zippers - awesome) for perfect storage solutions.

Next, think about the furniture pieces you may already have in your home OR can buy inexpensively at your local consignment shop (yep, that's a plug)!

Gone is the need for a large TV cabinet - make it a TOY CLOSET! Using baskets and containers, this is the perfect solution for attractive storage.
 (this one is only $99 at Divine Consign)

Forget a train table, coffee tables can easily transform using baskets to store endless train parts. When the train is gone, you still have a great table!
(this one is only $274 at Divine Consign)

Transform an old dresser into a clever toy chest - just a little paint and some creativity!
(this one is only $111 at Divine Consign)


Craft centers are a must - retrieve that old desk from storage, throw up a few shelves and a craft center is born!
(this one is only $113 at Divine Consign)

Organization Tip #1 - Master Closet Organization

Organizing is in our blood. Our staff has years of experience with organizing home spaces and we are happy to share our knowledge with you!

Today, we will start with the master closet. No matter the size of your closet, we guarantee it has too much stuff! Set aside two hours to declutter this important space.

Step 1) Establish piles for keep, donation, and further consideration.

Step 2) Remove every item (take off hangers) and place in a designated area (a.k.a. your bed).

- If the clothes are more than one size too small or too big, get rid of them!

- If shoes haven't been worn in 3 years, send them packing!

- Scarves/handbags - use your judgement but try to keep as few as possible.

Step 3) Hang/fold Keep Pile, organizing by like-items.

Step 4) Review Consideration Pile, keeping only 1/4 of the pieces! Put the rest in the donation pile.

Step 5) Donation items

- Consign them at your local clothing consignment shop

- Organizations like AmVets will pick up bagged donations directly from your home

- Hold a garage sale and make a little moola

Now just stand back and enjoy your newly decluttered closet! It was worth the two hours, wasn't it?

15 Sanity Saving Organizational Tips!

Sometimes the simplest solutions escape us; we thunk our foreheads and say "Why didn't I think of that?"

Well, get ready to thunk your head again, following are 15 Sanity Saving Organizational Tips that will help make your every day easier!

1) Velcro! - Cut strips of sticky-back velcro and adhere them back-to-back. Wind strip around wrapped up cord and everything stays put!

2) Toilet Paper Tube - Not a fan of velcro? (can't imagine why...) use an empty toilet paper tube to keep cords in place.

3) Break Out Your Cassette Tapes - While we're on the subject of cords, use an old cassette tape case (if you're under 25, ask your parents) to store your earphones and camera cords - label them for easier identification!

4) Empty Tissue Box - Use for storage of plastic bags - stash them wherever a garbage can resides! Also great for old batteries or other items that need to be seperately recycled.

5) Day-to-day Clutter - A medium-sized handled basket is placed at the foot of the stairs. Fill it up in the a.m. with items that need to go downstairs, and reverse in the evening. No more miscellaneous objects randomly put in the wrong place!

6) Baby Food Jars - Perfect for nuts/bolts/nails/screws or other small collections of items!

7) Recipes - Old School: tape them on paper and clip into a binder. New School: scan them and store them online or on your own computer.

8) Over-the-Door Shoe Organizers - Perfect for storing jewelry, hair accessories, small stuffed animals, bathroom toiletries, scrapbooking supplies...

9) Garbage Cans - They're not just for trash! Tall kitchen cans are great for umbrella storage as well as those tall wrapping paper rolls that are always falling over in your closet.

10) Holiday Ornaments - Not willing to spend fifty bucks on a custom ornament organizer? Here's an awesome solution: take a regular plastic bin, insert plastic cups to fill the bin and separate ornaments in the cups! Tiny objects - an empty egg carton will do the trick!

11) Remotes - Are countless remotes taking over your family room? Use a pretty vase (square works well) or decorative wood box and store the TV/DVR/Wii remotes in one place!

12) Have kids? Keep all your empty containers! A large plastic coffee can becomes a home for cars, legos, baby rings, the list goes on! Hang on to those old formula cans, perfect for storing crayons, markers and other craft items.

13) Reach-In Closets - Maximize deep returns in closets - buy inexpensive tension rods and install them front-to-back on either side of the door. Use this extra space to hang scarves, belts, ties, hats, etc. Shower curtain hooks also come in handy!

14) Clothes Pins - Use them to secure bags of chips, cereal, pet food, or clip them on hangers to keep straps from slipping off.

15) Toy Organization - Little ones don't read yet? Take a picture of their larger toys and/or storage bins and label their shelves/cubbies with the pictures. Not only does this show the kids where the items belong, but it helps them learn responsibility for cleaning up!