The paradox of stuff
keeping tidy as object enthusiasts
It’s no secret, WE. LOVE. STUFF.
Nothing beats a careful curation of objects to make your home feel truly yours. Nostalgic hand-me-downs, funky second-hand finds, or future heirloom investment pieces, don’t get us wrong here, we identify as object enthusiasts.
That said, many of us are in tight spaces with other people and it can be a slippery slope from I love my cute little collections to being truly overloaded. We’ll be chatting with our friends at Tartan Organizing this Thursday at 3pm to get some practical advice on keeping tidy - available to our members (peep the Slack for this invite!) Join our community for access.
At the risk of telling you to deal with your stuff by buying more stuff (at least we’re self-aware?) We’ve pulled together a whole array of selects to help you contain your proverbial beasts.
Drop Zone / Danger Zone
From our pros: The best systems allow for ebb and flow, and no matter what, they’ll require attention weekly. If you lack an entry closet or one that is big enough, go for open storage that makes you happy to see it even when it is piled with stuff.
Big baskets (perhaps even a cute hamper?!) for the in/out package dance
A vintage toast rack or a tray with tiny feet would make a very cute mail sorter
This shelf could serve double duty as there are hidden hooks beneath
A vintage dresser that can store the many miscellaneous drop zone items
Kitchen Chaos
Our kitchens may be overflowing with snacks and small appliances, but perhaps we can tame our #cluttercore with some of these tricks from Tartan Organizing:
Adjust those adjustable shelves down to match the height of what is being stored. This usually gets you more practical, reach-able storage. Use the upper parts for those appliances you don't use as often.
Condense snacks - the small size of the Hay basket would be great, or go thrifting since these are behind closed doors.
Get those plates out of the cabinet to make space for less pretty things and hang them on the wall.
(pic by Meta Coleman)
Some other helpful stuff for stuff:
A new or vintage turntable
A marble paper towel holder because if it’s going to be visible, might as well be gorgeous
An adjustable rack like this or this for pots, pans, lids, etc.
Taming the closet
Our pros swear that splurging on matching hangers is worth it
Adding a second hanging bar below the main one can double your hanging space and could even change your life apparently (texts from my sister after following our Instagram stories) - Linny
Get into those ikea hacks - pax is a workhorse that can be transformed
pic from Matilda Goad’s home in House and Garden
Be ruthlessly picky about what you bring in (see: Harling’s newsletter)
Kid sh*t
It seems to come in droves, even when you try to keep it at bay, it somehow shows up everywhere. CUTE baskets and bins - especially ones without tops - are the key to survival. -Claire
(pic of Kate Berry’s home on Domino)
The ivar ikea cabinet has been a huge life-saver for me. It can easily be painted, stores a ton, and you can adjust the shelves to fit the baskets and toys you already have.
Again, these Hay baskets have been a big win - lightweight and cute so I don’t mind that they are visible. I added wheels and the toddler likes to push it around.
Soft baskets like these or these with handles!
Members can head to our Pinterest board for even more unique finds and join House Friends to catch our conversion with Tartan Organizing on June 20th at 3pm EST.