Unless they are singing the song, how often do you really hear someone say, "I like to move!"?
The last time I moved I was only 19 years old with little to my name, yet I still remember it being stressful. Everything from the process of home building, packing, planning, shopping, moving, unpacking.... I am exhausted just thinking about it all over again.
I get asked quite frequently for organized moving tips, and although I think I know what I would do if I were to pack up our family and move, actually having the experience doing it is entirely different. However, Megan of The Homes I Have Made is a moving wizard. She has moved her family numerous times and has learned many useful tricks along the way. She is here today to share how she eases their moving pains.
Happy Spring, iHeart readers! I am so thrilled to be back here today sharing another organizing project. While I love getting my hands dirty and creating unique organizing solutions, today I’m going to share a bit of a different organizing task. My family and I are just a few short weeks away from our next cross-country move. As a military family, moves are both expected and frequent (in fact, this will be move #6 for us in just under 10 years). Even though we do them often, it doesn’t mean they are effortless or stress-free. There are so many tasks, chores, errands, and plans that need to be carefully organized and managed when you uproot and move your entire life. While I would love to share all of my moving tips and tricks, it would be enough content to fill a 10-part series. So instead of telling you how we pack our boxes or label our inventory sheets, I want to share how my husband and I organize the logistics of our moves, as well as keep track of all of our important moving/life paperwork…all in a two-part paper+digital system we’ve developed over the years!
Probably like many of you, I am a passionate list-maker. Lists help me remember important to-dos, prioritize tasks, and feel accomplished when I get to line through completed items. If there’s one time in life to make a list, it’s during a move. The amount of things to do and keep track of is seemingly endless. Years ago, my husband created an Excel spreadsheet that detailed every single, minute task we needed to complete during the moving process. With each subsequent move, we pull the old spreadsheet and update it with current tasks and pertinent information. In my day-to-day life, I am a pen-and-paper kind of girl; however, our family master moving to-do list is the one case we go completely digital.
The digital spreadsheet is not only something we can use over and over again (key for people who move frequently), but it also allows us to modify and update the list without having pages and pages of written and scratched-out items. Our spreadsheet is organized by Action Item, Person Responsible, Deadline, Location, and Additional Notes. By having these categories on an electronic list, we can easily sort by priority, person, and due dates, as well as delete out and add in items as necessary. My husband and I review the checklist together each weekend in the weeks leading up to our move to ensure we are staying on top of deadlines. We also share it via Dropbox so we can update it in real time!
I love having our master to-do list electronically, but we also rely on two other paper systems to keep our move organized and on-track. With the stack of important move-related paperwork growing on my desk, I knew it was time to assemble our moving binders!
One of the first things you learn as a military spouse is there are a few things you never ever, ever send inside moving boxes: jewelry and personal documents (birth certificates, passports, marriage certificates, etc). These things should be carried with you as you travel from one home to the next. While bringing a locked filing cabinet on the journey would be ideal, it’s also not very practical. So before embarking on each move, I assemble a binder of all of our very important family documents.
Binders are convenient, but you typically don’t want to punch holes in these special documents. My go-to solution is clear page protectors…specifically the ones with the fold-over top so items can’t slip out. You can get them in the full-page size (ideal for powers of attorney, wills, and medical files), as well as segmented versions (great for passports, shot records, social security cards, etc). By having everything singled out into individual pages, finding specific documents is quite easy! You’ll note I kept the outside of the binder relatively un-assuming so that people won’t immediately know what is inside; and we are extra diligent about keeping this binder in hand (while traveling) and locked up (in hotels) at all times.
The other binder we keep handy at all times during our move is our Moving Binder! Although we are a digital society, there is still so much paperwork associated with moving, and we’ve found a dedicated binder is the best way to keep it all sorted, handy, and easy to find!
Sure I could have just thrown everything into a binder with a few dividers and page protectors and called it a day; but I love pretty organizing solutions and handy printables about as much as Jen does, so I spent a rainy afternoon pulling together this fun binder to keep us organized in style! All the colors and graphics were pulled from a free digital scrapbooking set: Color Me Spring from Elle Designs.
I didn’t have any dividers on hand, so I made a quick set…much easier and cheaper than running out to the store! I started by designing the divider shapes in the Cricut Design Space software and cutting them from 12x12 cardstock.
To reinforce the holes, I covered the edges in clear packaging tape and then trimmed the excess down with a paper cutter and scissors.
I punched holes with a 3-hole punch and added text also using my Cricut Explore. In about 20 minutes, I had dividers ready to rock in my binder!
With my dividers made and my printables printed out, my binder came together super quickly and is ready to be vigorously added to over the next few weeks. Let me show you just how we stay organized moving from one state to another!
In the front of the binder, I keep a simple Notes sheet for jotting down quick reminders, notes, phone numbers etc. I also include a simple 3-hole punch for adding items while we’re on the road!
Our binder is split into four categories:
HERE
Behind the "Here" tab is everything related to our current home and the packing up of all of our stuff. This is where we keep: our current lease, housing inspection/checkout sheet, official inventory lists from the packers, our personal inventory of expensive items (specifically electronics with serial numbers), local utility company names/numbers/accounts/passwords to terminate services, and personal packing lists. For thick, bulky items, I use page protectors for ease and accessibility.
THERE
Behind the "There" tab is everything we have or will need as we move into our next house. This is where we keep: our new lease, inspection sheets, floor plans, utility company names/numbers to setup new services, a running list of Needs/To Buy for the new house, local area information (closet grocery store, pizza place, pharmacy etc) and more.
In our moving binder, I always include the measurements of all of our furniture, rugs, and other large household items (all measured before we pack up, of course!). Quite often, we are able to get into our new house well before the moving trucks arrive. By having exact measurements of our large items in hand, we are able to get a good start on the floor plan. In turn, this allows us to get settled faster because we are able to tell the movers exactly where to put items instead of having to play musical furniture for days!
IN TRANSIT
Behind the "In Transit" tab is all the information we will need or acquire as we literally travel from our old home to our new home. Depending on the distance we’re moving, there is a potential to live “on the road” for days or even weeks without a home or our belongings. Quite often, there are many different hotel reservations, tourist attraction reservations, and more to keep track of. To keep me from constantly scrambling through my phone for the right reservation or address, I like to keep all of our destination points on one handy sheet. We also track all of our traveling expenses, and tuck our receipts into another page protector so we can file claims on the other end.
When all of your belongings are packed into boxes on a truck driving across country without you, it can be very unnerving when you can’t find your passport or your new landlord’s phone number. We’ve found that corralling all of our personal documents and move-related paperwork into two easy-to-keep-track-of binders keeps anxiety at bay and the right information at our fingertips at all times. By setting up these systems weeks before the movers are set to arrive, I now have a landing spot for everything and anything that comes into our hands!
While I would love to show you what I’m doing right now behind the scenes at my house to literally get ready for the movers to arrive, I’m living in a state of somewhat-controlled chaos! I hope you enjoyed this broad-range glimpse at what all is involved in a long-distance move and our techniques for staying on top of all the moving parts. While each family who moves a lot has their own tips and secrets they’d swear by, I’m pretty sure we’d all agree that proper planning and good organization can make the difference between a bumpy move and a smooth move!
Thanks again to the lovely Jen for having me stop by today. The next time I am here, we will be moved into our next house so I will have lots of organizational and home décor projects in the works! Be sure to stop on by and follow me as we transition to our next “new” home over at The Homes I Have Made!
Hello! I am Megan, an exercise and nutrition professional turned stay-at-home mom and DIY blogger. I am married to a U.S. Marine and currently reside in Eastern North Carolina, my 5th home in 9 years! My focus is renter-friendly, movable décor and organizational projects that are high on style and function yet low on complexity and budget. Armed with creativity, ingenuity, a can-do attitude, and a strong Type A personality, I have become a pro at making each and every temporary living space an organized, functional, and well-styled home for my family! You can get all of my DIY, organizational and crafting ideas on my blog The Homes I Have Made.
The last time I moved I was only 19 years old with little to my name, yet I still remember it being stressful. Everything from the process of home building, packing, planning, shopping, moving, unpacking.... I am exhausted just thinking about it all over again.
I get asked quite frequently for organized moving tips, and although I think I know what I would do if I were to pack up our family and move, actually having the experience doing it is entirely different. However, Megan of The Homes I Have Made is a moving wizard. She has moved her family numerous times and has learned many useful tricks along the way. She is here today to share how she eases their moving pains.
Happy Spring, iHeart readers! I am so thrilled to be back here today sharing another organizing project. While I love getting my hands dirty and creating unique organizing solutions, today I’m going to share a bit of a different organizing task. My family and I are just a few short weeks away from our next cross-country move. As a military family, moves are both expected and frequent (in fact, this will be move #6 for us in just under 10 years). Even though we do them often, it doesn’t mean they are effortless or stress-free. There are so many tasks, chores, errands, and plans that need to be carefully organized and managed when you uproot and move your entire life. While I would love to share all of my moving tips and tricks, it would be enough content to fill a 10-part series. So instead of telling you how we pack our boxes or label our inventory sheets, I want to share how my husband and I organize the logistics of our moves, as well as keep track of all of our important moving/life paperwork…all in a two-part paper+digital system we’ve developed over the years!
Probably like many of you, I am a passionate list-maker. Lists help me remember important to-dos, prioritize tasks, and feel accomplished when I get to line through completed items. If there’s one time in life to make a list, it’s during a move. The amount of things to do and keep track of is seemingly endless. Years ago, my husband created an Excel spreadsheet that detailed every single, minute task we needed to complete during the moving process. With each subsequent move, we pull the old spreadsheet and update it with current tasks and pertinent information. In my day-to-day life, I am a pen-and-paper kind of girl; however, our family master moving to-do list is the one case we go completely digital.
The digital spreadsheet is not only something we can use over and over again (key for people who move frequently), but it also allows us to modify and update the list without having pages and pages of written and scratched-out items. Our spreadsheet is organized by Action Item, Person Responsible, Deadline, Location, and Additional Notes. By having these categories on an electronic list, we can easily sort by priority, person, and due dates, as well as delete out and add in items as necessary. My husband and I review the checklist together each weekend in the weeks leading up to our move to ensure we are staying on top of deadlines. We also share it via Dropbox so we can update it in real time!
I love having our master to-do list electronically, but we also rely on two other paper systems to keep our move organized and on-track. With the stack of important move-related paperwork growing on my desk, I knew it was time to assemble our moving binders!
One of the first things you learn as a military spouse is there are a few things you never ever, ever send inside moving boxes: jewelry and personal documents (birth certificates, passports, marriage certificates, etc). These things should be carried with you as you travel from one home to the next. While bringing a locked filing cabinet on the journey would be ideal, it’s also not very practical. So before embarking on each move, I assemble a binder of all of our very important family documents.
Binders are convenient, but you typically don’t want to punch holes in these special documents. My go-to solution is clear page protectors…specifically the ones with the fold-over top so items can’t slip out. You can get them in the full-page size (ideal for powers of attorney, wills, and medical files), as well as segmented versions (great for passports, shot records, social security cards, etc). By having everything singled out into individual pages, finding specific documents is quite easy! You’ll note I kept the outside of the binder relatively un-assuming so that people won’t immediately know what is inside; and we are extra diligent about keeping this binder in hand (while traveling) and locked up (in hotels) at all times.
The other binder we keep handy at all times during our move is our Moving Binder! Although we are a digital society, there is still so much paperwork associated with moving, and we’ve found a dedicated binder is the best way to keep it all sorted, handy, and easy to find!
Sure I could have just thrown everything into a binder with a few dividers and page protectors and called it a day; but I love pretty organizing solutions and handy printables about as much as Jen does, so I spent a rainy afternoon pulling together this fun binder to keep us organized in style! All the colors and graphics were pulled from a free digital scrapbooking set: Color Me Spring from Elle Designs.
I didn’t have any dividers on hand, so I made a quick set…much easier and cheaper than running out to the store! I started by designing the divider shapes in the Cricut Design Space software and cutting them from 12x12 cardstock.
To reinforce the holes, I covered the edges in clear packaging tape and then trimmed the excess down with a paper cutter and scissors.
I punched holes with a 3-hole punch and added text also using my Cricut Explore. In about 20 minutes, I had dividers ready to rock in my binder!
With my dividers made and my printables printed out, my binder came together super quickly and is ready to be vigorously added to over the next few weeks. Let me show you just how we stay organized moving from one state to another!
In the front of the binder, I keep a simple Notes sheet for jotting down quick reminders, notes, phone numbers etc. I also include a simple 3-hole punch for adding items while we’re on the road!
Our binder is split into four categories:
- Here – for everything related to our current home and the pack-out side of our move
- There – for everything related to our next home and the pack-in side of our move
- In Transit – for everything and anything we may need to reference or keep as we literally travel from one home to the next
- Miscellaneous – for everything and anything we might need to reference or keep while we are without our household goods (military term for “everything we own!”)
HERE
Behind the "Here" tab is everything related to our current home and the packing up of all of our stuff. This is where we keep: our current lease, housing inspection/checkout sheet, official inventory lists from the packers, our personal inventory of expensive items (specifically electronics with serial numbers), local utility company names/numbers/accounts/passwords to terminate services, and personal packing lists. For thick, bulky items, I use page protectors for ease and accessibility.
THERE
Behind the "There" tab is everything we have or will need as we move into our next house. This is where we keep: our new lease, inspection sheets, floor plans, utility company names/numbers to setup new services, a running list of Needs/To Buy for the new house, local area information (closet grocery store, pizza place, pharmacy etc) and more.
In our moving binder, I always include the measurements of all of our furniture, rugs, and other large household items (all measured before we pack up, of course!). Quite often, we are able to get into our new house well before the moving trucks arrive. By having exact measurements of our large items in hand, we are able to get a good start on the floor plan. In turn, this allows us to get settled faster because we are able to tell the movers exactly where to put items instead of having to play musical furniture for days!
IN TRANSIT
Behind the "In Transit" tab is all the information we will need or acquire as we literally travel from our old home to our new home. Depending on the distance we’re moving, there is a potential to live “on the road” for days or even weeks without a home or our belongings. Quite often, there are many different hotel reservations, tourist attraction reservations, and more to keep track of. To keep me from constantly scrambling through my phone for the right reservation or address, I like to keep all of our destination points on one handy sheet. We also track all of our traveling expenses, and tuck our receipts into another page protector so we can file claims on the other end.
When all of your belongings are packed into boxes on a truck driving across country without you, it can be very unnerving when you can’t find your passport or your new landlord’s phone number. We’ve found that corralling all of our personal documents and move-related paperwork into two easy-to-keep-track-of binders keeps anxiety at bay and the right information at our fingertips at all times. By setting up these systems weeks before the movers are set to arrive, I now have a landing spot for everything and anything that comes into our hands!
While I would love to show you what I’m doing right now behind the scenes at my house to literally get ready for the movers to arrive, I’m living in a state of somewhat-controlled chaos! I hope you enjoyed this broad-range glimpse at what all is involved in a long-distance move and our techniques for staying on top of all the moving parts. While each family who moves a lot has their own tips and secrets they’d swear by, I’m pretty sure we’d all agree that proper planning and good organization can make the difference between a bumpy move and a smooth move!
Thanks again to the lovely Jen for having me stop by today. The next time I am here, we will be moved into our next house so I will have lots of organizational and home décor projects in the works! Be sure to stop on by and follow me as we transition to our next “new” home over at The Homes I Have Made!
YAY! The Smooth Move Binder printables and Master Moving Spreadsheet are available for download here!
Hello! I am Megan, an exercise and nutrition professional turned stay-at-home mom and DIY blogger. I am married to a U.S. Marine and currently reside in Eastern North Carolina, my 5th home in 9 years! My focus is renter-friendly, movable décor and organizational projects that are high on style and function yet low on complexity and budget. Armed with creativity, ingenuity, a can-do attitude, and a strong Type A personality, I have become a pro at making each and every temporary living space an organized, functional, and well-styled home for my family! You can get all of my DIY, organizational and crafting ideas on my blog The Homes I Have Made.
Welcome to Week 5 of the One Room Challenge being hosted by Linda of Calling it Home. You can see our plans here and follow all of the progress here.
Thanks for the well wishes last week! I am beginning to feel better and starting to get a spring back in my step. And just in time because our room still has quite a bit of work ahead of it before the reveal in one week from TODAY!
The room and I have been fighting for a few reasons, but as I continue to layer in elements, things are starting to feel a bit more like home. Some days I feel like I have lost my way, and other days I walk into the space and just sit and smile. This past few weeks haven't always made sense, even to me. It has been a learning process trying to navigate a new layout while also trying to incorporate my goal of a colorful, happy, stylish, yet family friendly space. And I totally have been tackling everything backwards... but we were waiting on the biggest element for a single "hot" reason!
What is THAT?!
We installed a fireplace! Woot!
A big wish list item with the entire renovation of our kitchen and living room, has been to add a fireplace. I am about the biggest freeze baby in the history of Wisconsin, and have been dreaming of a fireplace for years. We had ordered one and scheduled the installation awhile back, but a lot had to happen with timing the HVAC work for the kitchen (same guys running gas lines for cooktop and fireplace). Without kitchen progress, we had no living room progress. Talk about cutting things close!
So, last weekend we started building our built-ins, including the surround for the fireplace insert to prepare for the installation process that took place this week Monday.
It is hard to show the room this week because it literally has become one giant hot mess. We had to move all of the furniture to make room to build the new unit, which is only about half done. Accessories are piled at the back of the room (right next to a giant pile of tools), waiting patiently to make this space feel cozy and warm. I haven't settled on a coffee table yet (nothing has felt "right"), but after popping in our dining room bench, I sort of love the idea of doing a nice cozy ottoman. We tried our beautiful wooden World Market table but it is just not scaled for the space, although the warmth of the wood was a great touch. So that element of the room is going to be a last minute mystery, even for me. And did I mention the built-in is only about 50% done?
The custom curtain panels have arrived from Tonic Living and they are sensational. Simple linen panels pleated and lined, adorned with a bold black banding. The moment they were up, the room felt so much more like a room. And it is crazy weird to have real grown up panels! Now to dig out my steamer....
But.... between the built-ins and the curtains, I may have made the wrong choice on the chair...
I looooove white, but I have a feeling it is going to get one more coat of paint before this room is said and done. I am OK admitting that not every choice I am making each week is going to work in the end result. I have always been one to move things around and make changes until they settle and feel right. I just have to do it in triple fast forward time for the room challenge. But let me just say, the chair is about as cozy as it gets and my reading experience has never been better. Mama is in love.
We have been taking an abundance of photos and are prepping a few tutorials for many of the projects that will end up in the final reveal next week, including the fireplace surround.
The room has always been longer than it is wide, so we were lucky to have room to spare for the 16" deep cabinets and shelves. They were built to mimic the height and style of the kitchen cabinets across the way, and once painted they will be one more element that marries the two spaces. Once painted they will also look much more cohesive as a whole and should melt away into the wall. I can't wait to get to a point of posting about a single giant space again so you can visually see what is happening between the living room and kitchen.
Now that electrical has been run and the fireplace is installed, we can finish with the building. Continuing with our around-the-clock schedule we actually just completed the tiling last night and it is pretty gosh darn lovely. Next up is mantle building, trim work, priming and then painting. I am on a mission to get everything done for the sake of next week's room reveal, Bryan is on a mission to get his TV mounted and his PlayStation hooked back up! #priorities
The built-ins/fireplace/TV unit has been our primary focus over the past week, so that means I still have a lot to finish up before I photograph the space this weekend (my goal is Sunday, yikes!). Send me lots of happy vibes and luck! Although we will probably have a few unchecked room "to do" boxes by the time of the reveal, just to know how far we have already come in a few short weeks makes us high five on a daily basis.
Before I get back to painting, let's take some time to check out the rest of the One Room Challenge progress. I wonder if anyone else is freaking out as much as I am that there are only a few days remaining... Sleep is overrated right? DUN DUN DUUUUN
Thanks for the well wishes last week! I am beginning to feel better and starting to get a spring back in my step. And just in time because our room still has quite a bit of work ahead of it before the reveal in one week from TODAY!
The room and I have been fighting for a few reasons, but as I continue to layer in elements, things are starting to feel a bit more like home. Some days I feel like I have lost my way, and other days I walk into the space and just sit and smile. This past few weeks haven't always made sense, even to me. It has been a learning process trying to navigate a new layout while also trying to incorporate my goal of a colorful, happy, stylish, yet family friendly space. And I totally have been tackling everything backwards... but we were waiting on the biggest element for a single "hot" reason!
What is THAT?!
We installed a fireplace! Woot!
A big wish list item with the entire renovation of our kitchen and living room, has been to add a fireplace. I am about the biggest freeze baby in the history of Wisconsin, and have been dreaming of a fireplace for years. We had ordered one and scheduled the installation awhile back, but a lot had to happen with timing the HVAC work for the kitchen (same guys running gas lines for cooktop and fireplace). Without kitchen progress, we had no living room progress. Talk about cutting things close!
So, last weekend we started building our built-ins, including the surround for the fireplace insert to prepare for the installation process that took place this week Monday.
It is hard to show the room this week because it literally has become one giant hot mess. We had to move all of the furniture to make room to build the new unit, which is only about half done. Accessories are piled at the back of the room (right next to a giant pile of tools), waiting patiently to make this space feel cozy and warm. I haven't settled on a coffee table yet (nothing has felt "right"), but after popping in our dining room bench, I sort of love the idea of doing a nice cozy ottoman. We tried our beautiful wooden World Market table but it is just not scaled for the space, although the warmth of the wood was a great touch. So that element of the room is going to be a last minute mystery, even for me. And did I mention the built-in is only about 50% done?
The custom curtain panels have arrived from Tonic Living and they are sensational. Simple linen panels pleated and lined, adorned with a bold black banding. The moment they were up, the room felt so much more like a room. And it is crazy weird to have real grown up panels! Now to dig out my steamer....
But.... between the built-ins and the curtains, I may have made the wrong choice on the chair...
I looooove white, but I have a feeling it is going to get one more coat of paint before this room is said and done. I am OK admitting that not every choice I am making each week is going to work in the end result. I have always been one to move things around and make changes until they settle and feel right. I just have to do it in triple fast forward time for the room challenge. But let me just say, the chair is about as cozy as it gets and my reading experience has never been better. Mama is in love.
We have been taking an abundance of photos and are prepping a few tutorials for many of the projects that will end up in the final reveal next week, including the fireplace surround.
The room has always been longer than it is wide, so we were lucky to have room to spare for the 16" deep cabinets and shelves. They were built to mimic the height and style of the kitchen cabinets across the way, and once painted they will be one more element that marries the two spaces. Once painted they will also look much more cohesive as a whole and should melt away into the wall. I can't wait to get to a point of posting about a single giant space again so you can visually see what is happening between the living room and kitchen.
Now that electrical has been run and the fireplace is installed, we can finish with the building. Continuing with our around-the-clock schedule we actually just completed the tiling last night and it is pretty gosh darn lovely. Next up is mantle building, trim work, priming and then painting. I am on a mission to get everything done for the sake of next week's room reveal, Bryan is on a mission to get his TV mounted and his PlayStation hooked back up! #priorities
The built-ins/fireplace/TV unit has been our primary focus over the past week, so that means I still have a lot to finish up before I photograph the space this weekend (my goal is Sunday, yikes!). Send me lots of happy vibes and luck! Although we will probably have a few unchecked room "to do" boxes by the time of the reveal, just to know how far we have already come in a few short weeks makes us high five on a daily basis.
Before I get back to painting, let's take some time to check out the rest of the One Room Challenge progress. I wonder if anyone else is freaking out as much as I am that there are only a few days remaining... Sleep is overrated right? DUN DUN DUUUUN
Trademarked by Calling it Home
Happy surprises come in a variety of shapes and sizes. It could be the gift of coffee from the car ahead of you in the drive-thru. Or a friend randomly stopping by just to say hello. My personal favorite is when my kiddos pop up behind me and say, "Surprise hug!" while wrapping their arms around me. Random life surprises are amazing. But there are also ways you can create small happy surprises throughout your home. Those special little moments that make you smile day after day.
When I am picking up our home or even just grabbing for a pen, opening a drawer lined with decorative paper is sure to perk up my cheeks. Ditto for opening a painted or wallpapered closet. That instant pop of pattern and color in those common mundane spaces is always a win. I know it may not be that way for everyone, but on top of loving the prettiness of it, it really helps me maintain the spaces I organize.
I have lined our drawers with everything from gift wrap to contact paper to even wallpaper. When it comes to the kitchen and bathroom, nothing really compares to true shelf liner. In those spaces, it is ultra important to select papers that are durable and easy to wipe clean.
The folks at Chic Shelf Paper asked if I wanted to give their pretty patterned liners a try. Knowing we have an entire kitchen to organize, I started browsing their endless selection of colors and options.
You may have noticed when I recently organized our pantry, I added a dash of pretty navy greek key paper... Makes all the difference right?
Living in chaos of a renovation for months has been a little nerve wracking, so to bring a little normalcy back to life, I have been slowly unpacking and organizing our kitchen drawers. Today, I organized our "essential" drawer and thought I would walk through the lining process a little more thoroughly.
First, most would call this type of drawer a junk drawer. I decided it was more of an essential daily life drawer. Our home office is located in our lower level, yet there are just some things we reach for on a very frequent basis. Instead of running up and down the stairs every time we need a scissors, tape or a pencil, we toss office items into this drawer. Although other random items may be tossed into this drawer throughout the years, for the most part we prefer to have it contain the following daily items:
To get started, I always clean out the drawer with a vacuum and a rag. This prevents any bumps under the drawer liner.
I then lay out my tools; a large cutting mat, a straight edge (I just use a level), a slicer/craft knife and a tape measure.
Using the tape measure, I measure the bottom of the drawer for both length and width.
I then use the mat paired with my straight edge to slice the paper accordingly. Cutting papers can be really frustrating, and this has been by far the easiest and quickest way to get a nice, accurate cut.
The shelf paper I was using for this project is super nice and thick (twice as thick as typical contact paper). This also makes a world of difference in the ease of installation. The flimsier the paper, the more you will struggle with it sticking to itself and running the risk of bubbling.
The paper came with a squeegee for installation, but I haven't had to use it. It repositions beautifully so if I don't get it just right the first time, I can easily shift it and try again.
Then I just press it smooth and done!
Typically, I find the paper too pretty to cover all the way up. That is where the happy surprise comes in when I am grabbing for that ruler. It is also why I generally use acrylic organizers/dividers.
We still have a room of boxes to unpack, but the addition of this single drawer is sure to be handy as we keep trucking along.
Having worked with so many types of papers, I am pretty sure that the Chic Shelf Paper has been some of the easiest, most durable to work with. Plus, they have the largest selection I have seen. They have a new number one fan!
Below are a few of my favorite patterns... You can probably guess that I am scheming to find a place for those pink ones. At least a place where my boys won't give me the stink eye.
Because I want for you to be able to create those happy surprise moments around your home, I am partnering with Chic Shelf Paper to give you a $100 credit to their online store!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
From now through May 31st, you can receive 10% off your Chic Shelf Paper order of $50 or more with code ChicOrganizers.
Good luck all! And I would love to know what is a must have for your "essential" drawer?
Must be 18 years old or older. Open to US and Canada residents only. No purchase necessary to win. All rules and entries must be followed to be eligible to win. Winner will be selected at random using rafflecopter.com and will be announced on original blog post upon drawing. IHeart Organizing official giveaway entry rules can always be found here.
When I am picking up our home or even just grabbing for a pen, opening a drawer lined with decorative paper is sure to perk up my cheeks. Ditto for opening a painted or wallpapered closet. That instant pop of pattern and color in those common mundane spaces is always a win. I know it may not be that way for everyone, but on top of loving the prettiness of it, it really helps me maintain the spaces I organize.
I have lined our drawers with everything from gift wrap to contact paper to even wallpaper. When it comes to the kitchen and bathroom, nothing really compares to true shelf liner. In those spaces, it is ultra important to select papers that are durable and easy to wipe clean.
The folks at Chic Shelf Paper asked if I wanted to give their pretty patterned liners a try. Knowing we have an entire kitchen to organize, I started browsing their endless selection of colors and options.
You may have noticed when I recently organized our pantry, I added a dash of pretty navy greek key paper... Makes all the difference right?
Living in chaos of a renovation for months has been a little nerve wracking, so to bring a little normalcy back to life, I have been slowly unpacking and organizing our kitchen drawers. Today, I organized our "essential" drawer and thought I would walk through the lining process a little more thoroughly.
First, most would call this type of drawer a junk drawer. I decided it was more of an essential daily life drawer. Our home office is located in our lower level, yet there are just some things we reach for on a very frequent basis. Instead of running up and down the stairs every time we need a scissors, tape or a pencil, we toss office items into this drawer. Although other random items may be tossed into this drawer throughout the years, for the most part we prefer to have it contain the following daily items:
- Screwdrivers in various sizes (as well as a temporary spot to toss extra hardware)
- Cutting tools; scissors and craft knife
- Paper clips, paper pad, highlighter, pens & pencils
- Sticky notes
- Tape
- Tape Measure
- Disinfecting spray
- Ruler
- Kleenex
- Shed key
To get started, I always clean out the drawer with a vacuum and a rag. This prevents any bumps under the drawer liner.
I then lay out my tools; a large cutting mat, a straight edge (I just use a level), a slicer/craft knife and a tape measure.
Using the tape measure, I measure the bottom of the drawer for both length and width.
I then use the mat paired with my straight edge to slice the paper accordingly. Cutting papers can be really frustrating, and this has been by far the easiest and quickest way to get a nice, accurate cut.
The shelf paper I was using for this project is super nice and thick (twice as thick as typical contact paper). This also makes a world of difference in the ease of installation. The flimsier the paper, the more you will struggle with it sticking to itself and running the risk of bubbling.
The paper came with a squeegee for installation, but I haven't had to use it. It repositions beautifully so if I don't get it just right the first time, I can easily shift it and try again.
Then I just press it smooth and done!
Typically, I find the paper too pretty to cover all the way up. That is where the happy surprise comes in when I am grabbing for that ruler. It is also why I generally use acrylic organizers/dividers.
We still have a room of boxes to unpack, but the addition of this single drawer is sure to be handy as we keep trucking along.
Having worked with so many types of papers, I am pretty sure that the Chic Shelf Paper has been some of the easiest, most durable to work with. Plus, they have the largest selection I have seen. They have a new number one fan!
Below are a few of my favorite patterns... You can probably guess that I am scheming to find a place for those pink ones. At least a place where my boys won't give me the stink eye.
 |
| pink fruit | ikat | scallops | greek key | aqua dot | black & white tile |
Because I want for you to be able to create those happy surprise moments around your home, I am partnering with Chic Shelf Paper to give you a $100 credit to their online store!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
From now through May 31st, you can receive 10% off your Chic Shelf Paper order of $50 or more with code ChicOrganizers.
Good luck all! And I would love to know what is a must have for your "essential" drawer?
Must be 18 years old or older. Open to US and Canada residents only. No purchase necessary to win. All rules and entries must be followed to be eligible to win. Winner will be selected at random using rafflecopter.com and will be announced on original blog post upon drawing. IHeart Organizing official giveaway entry rules can always be found here.
Hello and happy Monday friends! Did you enjoy your weekend? We started our built-ins this weekend so I will have some progress for you soon. I appreciate you hanging in there in-between bigger updates. With me not feeling well paired with working on some larger DIY's, posting has been a little more sparse. Hopefully things get back to normal in the next week or two around here.
As our living room comes together, I have been starting to think about some of the smaller touches. The living room will still house our television and components, so of course that also means we will have a few remote controls on our hands. I have tried boxes and baskets for remotes, but they always end up lost, so this time I thought I would keep things "clear" for everyone.
We have remotes of different shapes and sizes, so I was on the hunt for something that could accommodate those needs. Well, you know my love for acrylic. The moment I spotted a desktop organizer and saw all of the compartments in various sizes, I knew it was just what we needed.
And it was! Plus, knowing that it will live on a shelf near our television, I also wanted to be able to toss a few current magazines, a notepad and some reading glasses into the mix. Easiest solution ever; acrylic desktop organizer = awesome remote control living room caddy organizer.
You can find acrylic organizers just about anywhere these days. Amazon and HomeGoods are my "go to" spots, but Container Store and most office supply stores carry them as well.
All could have been left alone, but I spotted these little legs and couldn't wait to add them to the mix. You know, just to take things up a decorative notch.
Hello spray paint season! Oh, how I have missed you!!
Using my favorite gold spray paint, the legs instantly looked ultra glam.
A little clear E6000 glue later....
The glue cures pretty quickly and should provide an ultra strong hold. The legs are pretty universal and should fit most corners without issue. The possibilities are really endless, I have about three trays I am also eying up for this project.
Our TV shelves are not ready for me yet, but I couldn't help but toss a few items into the organizer to show how much it can hold and how versatile the storage can be.
Hopefully having all of the remotes in one easy to see and access place, will prevent us from losing them so frequently. OK, who am I kidding, they grow legs in the night and walk off no matter what. But at least they will look intentionally stored between uses!
As our living room comes together, I have been starting to think about some of the smaller touches. The living room will still house our television and components, so of course that also means we will have a few remote controls on our hands. I have tried boxes and baskets for remotes, but they always end up lost, so this time I thought I would keep things "clear" for everyone.
We have remotes of different shapes and sizes, so I was on the hunt for something that could accommodate those needs. Well, you know my love for acrylic. The moment I spotted a desktop organizer and saw all of the compartments in various sizes, I knew it was just what we needed.
And it was! Plus, knowing that it will live on a shelf near our television, I also wanted to be able to toss a few current magazines, a notepad and some reading glasses into the mix. Easiest solution ever; acrylic desktop organizer = awesome remote control living room caddy organizer.
You can find acrylic organizers just about anywhere these days. Amazon and HomeGoods are my "go to" spots, but Container Store and most office supply stores carry them as well.
All could have been left alone, but I spotted these little legs and couldn't wait to add them to the mix. You know, just to take things up a decorative notch.
Hello spray paint season! Oh, how I have missed you!!
Using my favorite gold spray paint, the legs instantly looked ultra glam.
A little clear E6000 glue later....
The glue cures pretty quickly and should provide an ultra strong hold. The legs are pretty universal and should fit most corners without issue. The possibilities are really endless, I have about three trays I am also eying up for this project.
Our TV shelves are not ready for me yet, but I couldn't help but toss a few items into the organizer to show how much it can hold and how versatile the storage can be.
Hopefully having all of the remotes in one easy to see and access place, will prevent us from losing them so frequently. OK, who am I kidding, they grow legs in the night and walk off no matter what. But at least they will look intentionally stored between uses!
The fabulous duo behind DIY Playbook are back today to share a super sweet and simple project that anyone can do. I love that we are all so different when it comes to our lifestyles and our homes, yet today's topic is probably something majority of us have in common. Keys. Whether you only carry a few or a whole slew, Bridget & Casey are here to share how you can create the most fabulous set of keys around.
One of the things we truly love about reading IHeart Organizing, is the fact that Jen doesn't just show you amazing ways to organize your space. She always takes things to the next level... and makes them look stylish and cute too!
With that in mind we set out to organize one of our everyday essentials...
Our keys!
Most everyone has their keys on them every second they're out of the house, and it seems crazy that we hadn't given this item much of a thought in the appearance department.
I mean look at those keys above. That lanyard is from the mid 1990's, it's seen its fair share of public countertops & dirty floors, and has most definitely hung out with many crumbs in the bottom of countless purses. Yep, this lanyard had to go! But we didn't want to stop at DIY'ing a new keychain, we also had to organize all of those keys! This is a time when you don't want to channel your inner janitor. You don't need to always have every key to every lock on you at all times of the day. Not only is it a heavy nuisance, but when you have dozens of keys on a ring it can be really hard to find the important ones when you need them quickly.
So our first order of business was to create a lean, mean new set of keys. We said "bye bye" to all of the old keys and random plastic scanner tags we no longer needed, and pared it down to just the essentials.
Then, to differentiate and label the keys we got out a few beauty supplies. Yep you read that correctly... beauty supplies.
Turns out nail polish comes in handy in the DIY world too! Now, we're both officially awful at painting our own nails and we're so-not-trendy when it comes to cool paint colors. There's just no way these two non-fashionistas can pull off any trendy cool colors like navy, yellow, or mint green. Instead, we both only have boring reds & pinks in our nail polish collections. So, we visited the drugstore and picked up some fun, vibrant nail polish on the cheap! Only a couple bucks for all 3 of these bad boys.
Then, we "labeled" the keys with the nail polish. 3 light coats works just fine. We suggest letting one side of the key dry for 24 hours, then flip it over and do another 3 coats on the other side. Don't forget to paint the edges, too. (Tip: tape off the bottom and add a layer of clear coat to protect the paint even longer.) Also, you may want to write your new color code system down, perhaps in your smart phone. Pink = bottom lock, Blue = top lock, Yellow = back door, etc. Just until you get used to the new system.
Now that the keys were looking good it was time to create a new, more grown-up keychain.
Here's how to create a custom leather keychain...
SUPPLIES
Step 1: Cut a strip of leather so it is 1 inch wide and 8 inches long.
Step 2: This step may be confusing, and it's a bit hard to explain. The above graphic is what you want your end piece to look like. Here's how you can mark your piece of leather before you cut it.
Did you get all that? Sorry if it's confusing. We hope the graphic will help you along! You don't need to get these measurements exact. If you're a little off it will still work!
Step 3: Once you have all of your measurements, cut your leather. We used scissors, but you can also use a razor blade if you want to get the cuts perfect!
Step 4 (Optional): This step is optional, but oh-so-fun. We decided to take our leather keychain to the next level (because we're fancy like that) and personalize them with a leather stamping set. If you don't want to spend the extra money on the stamp set, no worries. You still have a bomb keychain! But we definitely recommend this $15 one if you want to splurge! All you need is a hammer. Press the letter or number firmly into place on the leather and give it a few good whacks with the hammer. Boom, your leather is engraved!
Step 5: Now time to use that scary looking leather hole punch tool.
You may be able to create a hole using another tool (perhaps a drill?), but we decided to go with the leather hole punch to create a nice clean hole. Fold your leather (like in the above photo) and punch a hole through all 3 layers.
Step 6: Loop your key ring on the end and grab your rivets.
You'll want to follow the directions that come with your particular set of rivets, but it's really pretty easy! You'll just need a hammer to secure your rivet shut.
So what do you think of our new-totally-grown-up-and-glamorous keychains?
We love the darker leather for our guys, and the lighter leather for us. A nice way to differentiate "his" vs. "hers" when you're grabbing your keys and heading out the door!
Because we had some leftover supplies (& we didn't want it to go to waste in our craft drawer) we also made a tassel for our keychain. You can get the full step-by-step tutorial on our blog at this post.
We are both loving our new keychains and instead of hiding them deep in our purses, we are keeping our keys out for all to admire!
"Hey There! We're Bridget and Casey, the best friends, Chicago gals, and editors behind The DIY Playbook. Even though we consider ourselves busy girls with full-time jobs, husbands, and never ending to-do lists, we believe there is always time to add personality to our homes. On our blog, we strive to inspire our readers to inject their sparkling personalities into their own spaces with affordable and attainable solutions. We heart Instagram, can't turn down a cup of coffee, have no clue what we're doing in the kitchen, and are beyond excited to be part of the IHeart Organizing team!"
One of the things we truly love about reading IHeart Organizing, is the fact that Jen doesn't just show you amazing ways to organize your space. She always takes things to the next level... and makes them look stylish and cute too!
With that in mind we set out to organize one of our everyday essentials...
Our keys!
Most everyone has their keys on them every second they're out of the house, and it seems crazy that we hadn't given this item much of a thought in the appearance department.
I mean look at those keys above. That lanyard is from the mid 1990's, it's seen its fair share of public countertops & dirty floors, and has most definitely hung out with many crumbs in the bottom of countless purses. Yep, this lanyard had to go! But we didn't want to stop at DIY'ing a new keychain, we also had to organize all of those keys! This is a time when you don't want to channel your inner janitor. You don't need to always have every key to every lock on you at all times of the day. Not only is it a heavy nuisance, but when you have dozens of keys on a ring it can be really hard to find the important ones when you need them quickly.
So our first order of business was to create a lean, mean new set of keys. We said "bye bye" to all of the old keys and random plastic scanner tags we no longer needed, and pared it down to just the essentials.
Then, to differentiate and label the keys we got out a few beauty supplies. Yep you read that correctly... beauty supplies.
Turns out nail polish comes in handy in the DIY world too! Now, we're both officially awful at painting our own nails and we're so-not-trendy when it comes to cool paint colors. There's just no way these two non-fashionistas can pull off any trendy cool colors like navy, yellow, or mint green. Instead, we both only have boring reds & pinks in our nail polish collections. So, we visited the drugstore and picked up some fun, vibrant nail polish on the cheap! Only a couple bucks for all 3 of these bad boys.
Then, we "labeled" the keys with the nail polish. 3 light coats works just fine. We suggest letting one side of the key dry for 24 hours, then flip it over and do another 3 coats on the other side. Don't forget to paint the edges, too. (Tip: tape off the bottom and add a layer of clear coat to protect the paint even longer.) Also, you may want to write your new color code system down, perhaps in your smart phone. Pink = bottom lock, Blue = top lock, Yellow = back door, etc. Just until you get used to the new system.
Now that the keys were looking good it was time to create a new, more grown-up keychain.
Here's how to create a custom leather keychain...
SUPPLIES
- Leather (We went with this light one and this dark brown one)
- Rivets
- Leather Hole Punch Tool
- Key Rings
- Stamp Set (optional)
- Scissors or Razor Blade
- Ruler
- Pen or Marker
- Hammer
Step 1: Cut a strip of leather so it is 1 inch wide and 8 inches long.
Step 2: This step may be confusing, and it's a bit hard to explain. The above graphic is what you want your end piece to look like. Here's how you can mark your piece of leather before you cut it.
- Mark 1/2 inch up from the bottom.
- Then mark 1/4 up from that, and 1/4 in from each side. Connect the marks, so you have 2 angled lines.
- Draw 2 straight parallel lines about 1/2 inches long
- Mark 1/4 up from the 1/2 inch and connect lines to the outside of the leather
Did you get all that? Sorry if it's confusing. We hope the graphic will help you along! You don't need to get these measurements exact. If you're a little off it will still work!
Step 3: Once you have all of your measurements, cut your leather. We used scissors, but you can also use a razor blade if you want to get the cuts perfect!
Step 4 (Optional): This step is optional, but oh-so-fun. We decided to take our leather keychain to the next level (because we're fancy like that) and personalize them with a leather stamping set. If you don't want to spend the extra money on the stamp set, no worries. You still have a bomb keychain! But we definitely recommend this $15 one if you want to splurge! All you need is a hammer. Press the letter or number firmly into place on the leather and give it a few good whacks with the hammer. Boom, your leather is engraved!
Step 5: Now time to use that scary looking leather hole punch tool.
You may be able to create a hole using another tool (perhaps a drill?), but we decided to go with the leather hole punch to create a nice clean hole. Fold your leather (like in the above photo) and punch a hole through all 3 layers.
Step 6: Loop your key ring on the end and grab your rivets.
You'll want to follow the directions that come with your particular set of rivets, but it's really pretty easy! You'll just need a hammer to secure your rivet shut.
So what do you think of our new-totally-grown-up-and-glamorous keychains?
We love the darker leather for our guys, and the lighter leather for us. A nice way to differentiate "his" vs. "hers" when you're grabbing your keys and heading out the door!
Because we had some leftover supplies (& we didn't want it to go to waste in our craft drawer) we also made a tassel for our keychain. You can get the full step-by-step tutorial on our blog at this post.
We are both loving our new keychains and instead of hiding them deep in our purses, we are keeping our keys out for all to admire!
_________________________
"Hey There! We're Bridget and Casey, the best friends, Chicago gals, and editors behind The DIY Playbook. Even though we consider ourselves busy girls with full-time jobs, husbands, and never ending to-do lists, we believe there is always time to add personality to our homes. On our blog, we strive to inspire our readers to inject their sparkling personalities into their own spaces with affordable and attainable solutions. We heart Instagram, can't turn down a cup of coffee, have no clue what we're doing in the kitchen, and are beyond excited to be part of the IHeart Organizing team!"
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
