Wednesday, February 27, 2013

41 Reader Space: A Lively Linen Closet

As the kitchen monthly challenge is slowly coming to an end around these parts, I wanted to switch gears a bit to get you excited for next month's challenge; the loo and the linens.

And since we are going from pantries to linen closets, I have one that will knock your socks off.  Really, it's absolutely incredible!


I am sure in a glance you can see why I love it, adore it and want to marry it.  Beautiful bright bold colors used in a classy way!  So amazing.

This swoon worthy linen closet {who knew a linen closet could be titled such a thing?!}, was created by the beautiful, sweet and talented Tricia, from Simplicity in the South!

But it didn't always look that way....


So I had to ask her my oh-so-awesomepants reader space questions:

What is the main function of the space?

"Our linen closet is one of four closets in our hallway. Since I've been working on redesigning our hallway the past month, I've also been getting our hall closets reorganized, a little bit at a time."

Any superstar tips for keeping it organized?

"My goal for this year has been to simplify our home. Our linen closet was so full of things we never used, we couldn't find what we needed. Once I divided everything into piles, I was able to decide what to keep, give to Goodwill or find a new home for. For instance, the boys' sheets are now kept in their dressers so it's easier for them to make their beds. After organizing and putting everything back in the closet, it looks like we have twice as much room {or half the junk}."


What items did you find were essential when organizing the space, and why?

"I find it so much easier to keep a space organized if things are labeled and contained. The chrome shelf dividers keep everything looking neat. Cleaning supplies are kept close to where they are used most often in a pail. Baskets are wonderful for holding smaller things that would normally look cluttered on a shelf. The labeled shelves are my favorite part of the closet."




What did you do to go the extra mile and "make it pretty"?

"I knew what a difference it would make to paint the door and the shelves white after seeing the results a little paint made when I organized our other hall closet.  I painted the closet walls the same light gray-blue that is in our master bedroom, Benjamin Moore's Gray Cashmere.  I spray painted some old baskets white and used craft paint to add the red cross.  They were inspired by the Swiss Army baskets that Refresh Interiors had made.  I had planned on using them in the boy's bathroom, but for now the baskets hold pillow cases and ironing supplies.  I found the ironing board cover on Etsy.  With a house full of boys, a girl needs a little something cute and floral in her life."


What items did you DIY to stay on a budget? 

"These were all DIY projects.  I stayed on budget by using things I already had, such as the baskets and paint.  The fabric covered galvanized pail was also a DIY project."

How has it impacted your life for the better?

"I had been putting off getting our hall closet straitened out for about three years.  Now that everything has it's own little home, it's so much easier to keep it organized.  I think after all of this work, I might need to treat myself to some new sheets!"  :)

Let's let out a big happy sigh together, as we look at the jaw dropping before and after transformation:


She proves the power of paint, no doubt about that!  Doesn't even look like it is in the same home!  And what I also love is that she covered that bucket with fabric to make it bright and bold.  Such a simple update totally made the closet so much more fun.  And girl has it right when she says you need a little floral in your life.  I hear you on that sister!  And how cute are those spray painted, craft painted baskets?  Such a high end look on a budget.  And those shelf dividers are one of the best linen closet organizing tools created... She is one smart cookie indeed.

Who says organizing needs to be boring?  Or that closets should be as well?  Our homes should be filled with color, happiness and whimsy.  I promise, it makes doing chores a bit more fun as well.  Tricia's project is a great reminder that a little love, paint and creative thinking go a long way in any project you tackle.  I am feeling so inspired!  You can find all the details and many more great projects on her blog here.


 ATTENTION!!  Want to be featured in a Reader Space edition?  Have an awesome organizing story to share?  I am looking for projects that have made a positive impact to your life.  Please submit your story and photos here and I would heart to feature them right here, on the blog!!  Photos should be high resolution and unedited.  Please include a description of the project, including any costs, inspiration, and how it has changed your life and routine for the better!  Oh, and no worries my friends, we will NEVER judge "before" pictures because that just wouldn't be nice!  Only love goes on at this blog!

41 comments:

  1. Woooww! Is it possible to fall in love with a linen closet? I just did! ;O)
    I totally agree with having everything labelled in order to get systems to last. I'm becoming so obsessed with labels that I even dedicated one of my Pinterest board just for them!

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  2. I love the hanging ironing board on the back of the freshly painted door. It almost looks like a piece of art with the cute cover! I definitely need to do that because my ironing board is constantly falling down from it's leaning position against the wall. :)

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  3. The difference is amazing and beautiful. Where did you get the chrome shelf dividers?

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    1. Hi Erin! Thank you so much for the compliment! I bought the dividers at Bed Bath & Beyond. If you can't find them there, I have a couple of links in my original post where to buy them online. I love them!

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  4. Love the fabric she used to cover the pail. I'm making curtains and a memo board out of it for my craft room.

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  5. I am in love! Where did she get the shelf dividers... the container store?

    Thanks!

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  6. I want her to come do my linen closet! It's absolutely gorgeous.

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  7. Also wondering about the shelf dividers...I hear them :)

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  8. Where can you get those shelf dividers!? I have to have them!!!

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  9. Agree with all the above and MUST know where to find the chrome shelf dividers so that I can transform my linen closet as well (which, by the way, looks a lot worse than her "Before" picture). Thanks for sharing!

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  10. VERY nice....I have been organizing like crazy!

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  11. It's lively and lovely, indeed! Glad to hear about next month's challenge :)

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  12. I'm also curious about the shelf dividers and which Etsy store had the ironing board cover. Thanks! bsklaw29@yahoo.com

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  13. Thank you for the sweet comments! I bought the shelf dividers at Bed Bath & Beyond a couple of months ago. There are a couple of links in my post on my blog where you can find them online. I didn't see them the last time I was in the store, but they were $10.00 for a pack of 2 before the coupon. Hope that helps!
    Tricia

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  14. I'm pretty sure the dividers are from Bed, Bath and Beyond.

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  15. Shelf dividers - on her website, it says that she bought them at Bed Bath & Beyond.

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  16. I do adore it and want to marry it! What a gorgeous and happy re-organization project! I love that she was able to use existing materials. :)

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  17. I love this!!!!! I am going to spray all of my baskets to match my interior.

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  18. It's gorgeous! I especially am in love with your ironing board cover, where did you get it??

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    1. Hi Wendy! I bought it from Etsy and have the link to her store in my blog post. I'm so glad you like it!

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  19. These from Walmart seem to be the same. I noticed that hers have a cross-arm to prevent the divider from tipping over so I was looking for that. You can't see it in WM pic but the reviewer comments mention it.

    http://www.walmart.com/ip/Household-Essentials-2pc-Wire-Shelf-Divider-Set/16616247

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  20. Awesome! I am in awe. Wondering about the labels used on each shelf. They look like little book plates. What are they and where can one buy them? Thanks so much!!

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    1. Thank you, Sarah! They do look like book plates. I've seen them used on drawers also. I have the link on my blog.

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  21. Big improvement! The baskets and shelf dividers look great, and it was a great idea to paint it white. The entire closet looks crisper and cleaner this way.

    But may I give you a hint about making it even more perfect? If you 'refold' or turn the folded towels, sheets and blankets so that the "bending" sides are facing to the front, it will look even better!

    I hope this makes sense. If not: have a look at this tutorial, and I think you'll get what I mean.

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    1. I forgot to add the link... Here it is: http://www.coderedhat.com/how-fold-towels/ and scroll down all the way. The last photograph should be selfexplanatory.

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  22. I love her linen closet!! It is beautiful, functional and organized. Love it!!

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  23. So bright and beautiful! It always feels great to weed out and simplify. Adorable little space!

    ~Abby =)

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  24. I love this very inspirational! And the dividers are genius!

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  25. Love it! I too believe that the sheets belong in the bedroom, which frees up the hall/linen closets, and puts them within reach when it's chore time. Great job reusing your supplies and saving money!

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  26. There's nothing better than an organized linen closet! This looks amazing!

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  27. Nicely done. Wish I had enough room to devote an entire closet to linens.

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  28. Forgot to add that the material on the bucket is one of my favorites- I used it to cover a footstool and pillow in my son's nursery.

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  29. I love this- especially the hanging the ironing board in the linen closet. My laundry room is sooo tiny and lacks space to hang the board. Now I know where its new home will be. I also love the fabric on the bucket- it is the same as I used in my son's nursery on a pillow and ottoman cover. I am inspired now to redo my linen closet- I only have ONE small one- ugh!, but as a Clever Container consultant I am always looking for ways to use my products!!

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  30. Hi Tricia, what a beautiful job you did! We don't have a Bed, Bath & Beyond here but we do have a Bed, Bath & Table so I might have to check it out for those great dividers. Love the red crosses - very sweet. x

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  31. Wow! I have been trying to find a home for my ironing board & now I have! What a great idea to use the space on the door of the linen closet to hang it! My linen closet looks almost exactly like your before picture, so I will be using most all of your ideas to get mine in shape. Thank you for posting!

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  32. Oh, how I want a linen closet to organize!

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  33. These are great trips! I am all about organizing and my linen closet seems to become a mess very quickly!

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  34. If you don't find the shelf dividersat Bed, Bath, and Beyond, the Lillian Vernon catalog has them, too. I think I might have seen them in the Harriet Carter catalog, but that was some time ago. They work great.

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  35. LOVE the bucket. WHere did you get it?

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