14 UHeart Organizing: One Utility Cart Used Six Ways!

As our family has grown and evolved over the years, I have noticed that our organizational needs and systems have changed and evolved with right along with us. That is why "versatility" is typically one of my primary requirements when I am looking to purchase any new storage. For example, while looking for the ideal playroom baskets, I considered how those baskets could continue to be beneficial once the boys outgrew the space (and they are now being used in a few new zones in our home years later). Whether linen closet bins or an entire piece of furniture, it is smart to think about future uses and stretch that storage dollar.

A few years ago IKEA released a small rolling cart and I am pretty sure it rocked the organizational world. It was a viral piece of storage because it was also a very versatile one. Just how versatile? That is where my gal pal Cassie comes in. She recently picked up one of these darling little workhorses and decided to show all of us a variety of ways it can act as a handy household helper.

Hello lovely iHeart readers! I'm thrilled to be back chatting all things organized and pretty with you. Today I'm sharing one of hardest-working things in my house... the rolling utility cart! Yep, you read that right. This simple, inexpensive cart can be so useful in countless spots around the house. It's like a portable tray, corralling all the misplaced or leftover things in a room. But also, handy for entertaining and practical decor.

I intended to share just a few of our favorite uses, but once I got going, I just couldn't stop!! #bloggerobsessed #iHeartthiscart Allow me to demonstrate!


BATHROOM

Stock the cart with bath time essentials like candles, soap and magazines, or store extra towels and toilet paper... then roll it out of sight when not in use. My daughter keeps all of her hair stuff and playtime makeup in one... and of course I keep it stocked with toilet paper to cut down on the, 'Moooooooommmmmmm, can you bring me a roll of toilet paper pleeeeeeeeeeeaaaase?!' #amothersworkisneverdone ;)

Sugarplum Tip: Use a large shell to hold bars of soap and poufs. Not only does it keep your counter clean, but it looks pretty.

BAR CART

We love to have friends over, and will usually set up a little drink station in the kitchen for guests to help themselves (see our kitchen here). Oftentimes though, the party is on the porch or in the backyard (see that here & here), so I just load up my trusty cart and let it follow us around. We have big plans to make this a rolling cocoa cart this winter (like this).

Sugarplum Tip: Stock the cart with everything you might need so you don't have to spend a lot of time running back-and-forth inside the house.

 Find more Bar Cart Styling Tips here

PANTRY

We lucked out with a generous pantry (see it here), but a utility cart is perfect for storing the overflow items like paper goods, snacks, and dishtowels. You could even stock it with all your oils and spices and keep it near the stove.

Sugarplum Tip: Fill the cart with mom-approved snacks and treats, or lunch-packing items, so the kids have a spot they can raid without supervision.

LAUNDRY ROOM

We're in the process of overhauling our laundry room (see the latest progress here), but until then I love having all my essentials within arm's reach. I load the cart with detergents, ironing supplies, and laundry bags, and when I need the extra room, I just roll the cart in the corner.

Sugarplum Tip: Having everyday items in plain sight makes it easier to know when they need replacing, so it cuts down on over-buying.

CRAFT/HOMEWORK STATION

This is probably my favorite use of the handy cart! We recently gave our Little Miss a new creative/homework station (see it here), but the problem is, she only spends about half her time there. She likes to rotate between the kitchen bar, breakfast room table, and my office. Even the coffee table. Now, we've got all her essentials in one portable spot, so she can take them wherever she's feeling inspired!

 See our Organized Craft Closet here

Sugarplum Tip: Corral art and homework supplies in one portable tray or cart so they don't end up spread out across your entire house. 

LIBRARY

And finally, tuck a few of your kid's books and a cozy throw in the cart, and encourage them to find quiet or secret spots around the house to read. My daughter is much more likely to read when she can see her favorite book, and the cart feels like she's going on an adventure. #whateverworks #amIright

 Tutorial for DIY Pom Pom Throw here

Sugarplum Tip: Add crayons and coloring books, or blocks and toy cars, for a traveling play area for smaller kids.

I could keep going and going with all the useful options for a little rolling utility cart! I have this one from Ikea, but you could also DIY one like this. What other ideas do you have for this multi-purpose cart?

Oh, and if you're a fan of the One Room Challenge, we just kicked-off the new round last week, so check it out here! Happy organizing, love bugs!

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Hi, I'm Cassie, a DIY and design-obsessed Texas girl, and lover of travel, fashion, sarcasm and Mexican food. When I'm not hanging with my sweet and funny family, you can find me kicking the '80s out of our home, one budget project at a time, on my blog Hi Sugarplum!

8 UHeart Organizing: Coming Clean in the Laundry Room

When I dreamed up the What Would Jen Do series, I knew there would be a few spaces and ideas explored in which we may not ever know the final outcome.  The idea is to share a problematic space, and then problem solve the solution in hopes that others in similar situations could find a tip or two (or five) useful as well.

Well, when I went to visit my dear friend Cassie a few months back, I picked her brain for fashion tips and she picked mine for organizational ideas.  Isn't that the best part of having friends with a variety of amazing skills and passions?  Not that Cassie really needed much advice in the organizing department either, but I was overly happy and excited to talk through her ideas and to come up with a few plans for higher traffic areas in her happy home.  One space we chatted about was her laundry room, and I shared many of those details and ideas here.

Well, I have some great news for you guys!  Cassie is here to share a laundry room update and we get to see one of the ideas come to life! The best part is that it isn't an overly complicated system, yet it is incredibly space saving and hard working.  Be ready to want to replicate this little setup in your own home in 3...2...1...

Hello darling iHeart readers!! I'm thrilled to be back sharing our latest organizing overhaul with you. In fact, it's these contributor posts that give me the kick I need to tackle a new space every few months... So if it's been awhile since you've given a space in your home the ole heave-ho...don't worry, you're not alone!

You may recall that Jen, the sweetest girl in the world (seriously, she's that sweet!), came to visit us in Texas earlier this year... and while we spent a fair amount of time gabbing and shoving tacos in our mouths, there was no way I was letting her go without picking her clever brain for every last organizing tip she had for our home.

So after we created the Craft Closet of my dreams, I turned her attention to our Laundry Room. I had most of the design details down, but wanted her thoughts on making it as functional as possible... starting with the laundry and cleaning supplies.

As you can see, one whole wall consists of the utility sink, washer, dryer and cabinets. The opposite wall will be the mudroom (see those plans here), and the remaining walls are mostly taken up by a window and door. (See more of the room here.)

Jen and I are both big fans of utilizing the backs of doors, but this house is blessed with 9-foot doors with raised molding, which makes hanging things a little tricky. And high. #verticallychallenged So we decided the next-best spot was the narrow wall behind the door!

I considered several options and products, but in the end, decided the Elfa system gave me the most bang-for-my-buck... because if I'm going to use an entire wall, then I'm going to get the most out of it!!! I used these utility boards in the Craft Closet, and was immediately hooked #seewhatIdidthere They allow for complete customization, plus anchor directly to the wall without the traditional Elfa track system.

Tip: Before mounting the board, determine how high on the wall it needs to hang based on your longest broom. You certainly don't want your husband to hang it, only to discover your Swiffer won't fit because it's too tall. #oops 

Once all the long-handled supplies were in place, I rounded up the remaining laundry and cleaning materials I wanted within easy reach. With these type of organizing projects, I always over-buy an assortment of bins and containers, then return the ones I don't need. Maybe not the most efficient method, but it helps me completely customize based on what I need, and takes the guess-work out of it when I'm at the store.

Like a puzzle, I snapped in the bins, hooks, and tray, then made Jen proud by adding cute little labels. #teacherspet

'Crappola' is the official name for miscellaneous around here. Plus, it fits on the label better.

Tip: Funny enough, the scissors are one of my most-used items in the Laundry Room... so many pesky tags and threads! Do yourself a favor and just add scissors to every junk drawer, craft & cleaning closet of your house... you know you're always looking for a pair! ;)

Obviously I have more supplies than just these, but they're stored elsewhere. For instance, the large jugs of detergent and dryer sheets are stored over the washer, and the majority of the cleaning supplies are under the Kitchen sink. But these are the items I reach for most, and having them together simplifies my almost-daily routine. (Does the Swiffering ever end?!?!)

I don't have to tell y'all how happy this little corner makes me... I know you get it! But please tell me I'm not the only one who Swiffers everyday?! See more of our Laundry Room makeover here, and find all the sources for building your own Laundry & Cleaning Station here. Happy organizing, lovebugs!

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Hi, I'm Cassie, a DIY and design-obsessed Texas girl, and lover of travel, fashion, sarcasm and Mexican food. When I'm not hanging with my sweet and funny family, you can find me kicking the '80s out of our home, one budget project at a time, on my blog Hi Sugarplum!

29 UHeart Organizing: An Eclectic Jewelry Display

I am hoping that today I can inspire you to think outside of the jewelry box, and set up a little in-home boutique for your favorite bangles.  I did this exercise a few years ago, not the kind of exercise that helped me lose weight (or lose anything else for that matter), but one that helped me gain a little appreciation for my collection (you can see my display here).  I found that I was so much more prone to reach for a variety of pieces and actually switch things up on a daily basis.

My very dear friend, Cassie, is not only about as sweet as they come, she is also quite fashionable.  In fact, I look to her for style advice all of the time and you can bet I pried her for all of her secrets and tips during my most recent visit.  I appreciate the fact that she is always finding fresh ways to use many of the items she already has in her closet, and she shops for pieces on my type of budget.  One things that all of us can do to make the most of our existing wardrobe, is to change up the accessories that go with it.  Swapping shoes, handbags, jewelry and even makeup, can completely transform an outfit.

Traditional jewelry storage has been to keep it concealed in a box or drawer, but I say, break free!  Putting together a happy (and of course organized) accessory display, ensures that your collection is used each day.  It will also inspire you to change things up, and visiting your "shop" can become a fun part of your daily outfit planning process.

Cassie's abode is filled with color, style and joy around every corner.  I was constantly gasping and grinning as she gave me the full tour of her home, and entering her closet was no exception.  I am so excited she is here today to share her eclectic jewelry and accessory display, and I hope it encourages some of you to do something similar in your own closets.

Hello friends! I'm thrilled to be back sharing my latest organizing project with you... inspired by none other, than the darling hostess of this blog, Jen! I've had some pretty awesome experiences come from blogging (did someone say Redbook cover?! #shamlessbrag), but the genuine friendships I've made definitely top the list.

Mine and Jen's blog-paths crossed early on, and we immediately clicked. Over the years, our friendship has grown from one that centered around our love of blogging, to one that has us vacationing together with our families! Pretty crazy, considering we live 1000 miles apart and met on the Internet, right?!

Last month, Jen flew to Texas for a long weekend (remember this closet we overhauled!?), and I stuffed her full of tacos, then picked her brain on every space of my house! When she left, I had a notebook filled with tips for organizing all the nooks and crannies... including, carving out an accessories closet.

When we moved to our new house (I should probably stop calling it 'new' considering we've lived there a year now!), some organization systems moved with us... seamlessly fitting into their new space... like the pantry. Others required a fair amount of tweaking, like my bathroom cabinets.

And some I never had before, like an organized closet, with space for all my accessories! But, I hit the closet-jackpot in this house, and we have a generous walk-in with a window! (Which became my nemesis when shooting these pics for you!!) In the past, I've kept earrings in caddies, necklaces on hooks, and bags piled in a basket... which basically meant I couldn't see what I had when putting together an outfit, so I just reached for the same items everyday. Out of sight, out of mind, right?

But now, thanks to a few key (inexpensive) pieces, and stuff found around the house, I've not only got everything corralled together and clearly visible, but also created a pretty spot in my closet!

It was sheer luck that our Ikea Hemnes dresser fit perfectly under the window, wedged between the shelves... and the top became an obvious spot to organize and display my baubles. If you don't have a dresser or table top, you can easily install a shelf using a piece of wood and some L-brackets.

The fun thing about organizing jewelry, is it's already so pretty... so having it on display is like decor for your closet or bathroom! I shopped my house for pretty little trays, plates, tea cups, and bowls, and grouped like items together for easy access. Virtually any vessel can be used, it doesn't have to be specific to organizing... mine are a collection from Ikea, Target, World Market, Anthropologie, and J.Crew, that I've gathered over the years.

I thought about cup hooks or pretty knobs for hanging my necklaces, but decided on this clear peg organizer for a more seamless look. And once again, we got lucky with just enough space! It's almost like I was meant to take over Mr. SP's side of the closet for my accessories!!?? #cantfightfatebabe

And these acrylic stands are nicely weighted, so they don't topple with a load of bracelets.

The dresser top also holds items I reach for daily when getting dressed... chapstick, lipstick, sunglasses, and nail polish. The pink tube is my latest style weapon... Say Hello to Longer Legs... You can read my review of the shoe inserts here.

So that covers jewelry...now lets talk handbags!

Turns out shower curtain rings make the best handbag hooks! My favorites are the S-hooks, but any will work. My only tips when choosing yours is to make sure they open easily so you can get your bag down without a struggle, and that the ring is wide enough for handbag handles.

My trick for organizing clutches is a letter sorter or lid rack! Are you a handbag collector like me?! I have a weakness for inexpensive, colorful ones... and now I can easily swap them out to accessorize my outfit!

If you've read any of my style posts... like {Five Ways} or {Day to Night}... then you likely recognize most of these pieces! They are all in heavy rotation.

I love adding jazzy jewels, like pearl cluster necklaces, tassel bracelets, and leopard cuffs to my everyday outfits... you can find them here.

Getting dressed has always been one of my favorite parts of a new day, and now I've upped my accessories game by being able to access everything in one spot. It's like my own little boutique every morning! Thanks for letting me share, and happy dressing organizing, lovebugs!

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Hi, I'm Cassie, a DIY and design-obsessed Texas girl, and lover of travel, fashion, sarcasm and Mexican food. When I'm not hanging with my sweet and funny family, you can find me kicking the '80s out of our home, one budget project at a time, on my blog Hi Sugarplum!