So it turns out I’m Monica Geller. I get questions like those pretty regularly:
- Q: “I was hoping you could tell us how you organize your crafty supplies…mine seem to be spread all over the house!” – Chris
- Q: “Can you give us a peak at how/where you store your craft stuff? Is it obvious that I’m kind of hoping you have a secret Monica Geller closet?” – Katie
And my answers are usually all strained and sputtery like this:
- “Our craft closet is a GIANT mess (and it’s in the guest room so they can peek in there and scream). Everything is piled into a few baskets, and there are even some paper grocery bags going on, so I should probably get on that. I’d love to organize it and share the details with you guys!”
But ladies and germs (oh my gosh, I just turned into my dad for a second there), I finally got annoyed enough to do something about it. So here’s how I tamed the previously untamable chaos that was “the craft closet” (*cue the spooky sound effects*). Here’s my shameful but kind of hilarious before shot of the guest room closet. I swear I didn’t mess this up to have a better after, it actually looked like this for months.
And here’s the “how you like me now” after. In the always applicable words of Jay Z… “GET YOUR DANG HANDS UP.” Ok, you might be at work, so I’ll just wave mine around for you.
Why are my craft things in the guest room closet anyway? That room has the prettiest view in the house, along with gorgeous afternoon light – so I’d love to creep in there and sew/paint on Sunday afternoons. I’d also love to eventually bring in a dresser or desk that can accommodate my sewing machine so the room can truly multi-task (we do host guests occasionally, but we love using rooms more often if we can).
Let’s get a little closer to the chaos first though, shall we? Does it not look like The Rolling Stones stayed here and trashed it like a truly fabulous hotel room? Except with more hello kitty.
This is the view if you stepped into the closet and turned right (there’s a little alcove in there that got just as full of floor-covering junk).
Not to mention all the craft supplies that had collected downstairs on the dining table (which actually looked a whole lot messier, so to see the true before shot of this in 3D you can check out this house tour video).
The first step of any organizing project of mine involves chocolate. So I had a few Hershey’s Kisses (dark, don’t try to tell me that milk chocolate is as good as dark chocolate because we’ll get into it) and then I got down to business. First I dumped out the paper bag that had a ton of craft supplies in it since our move 7 months ago. Yeaaaahhh… it was time.
Next, Clara helped me assemble one of my two secret weapons for this closet: a Raskog cart from Ikea. Initially I had planned to buy a bunch of those plastic bins and drawers at Target, but I realized that buying two larger and more substantial (not to mention cuter) items might help me keep things under control better for the long haul. Storage areas like garages and attics tend to spiral out of control for us – especially if we use a bunch of cheap plastic systems that can get overfilled, jammed, and broken, so… know thyself.
Then I took a few days off the project (painting the nursery jumped to the top of the list) but eventually I turned my focus back to The Closet Of Doom and brought in this folding shelf that we’ve had for 8+ years (it’s originally from Bed Bath & Beyond I think) for that alcove on the right. I figured going vertical instead of spreading things out all over the floor made a lot more sense.
The other Ikea item we bought was this white five-drawer cabinet, which I spotted in the as-is section for 25% off. I totally played it cool you guys. Just kidding, I sprinted over and grabbed it like the hamburglar making off with some tasty treats. The fact that it had five awesomely smooth (read: non-plastic) drawers of various heights made it perfect for supplies like paints, brushes, sprays and paint pens – and the already assembled thing was a total bonus. I actually think it’s cute enough to be out of the closet, along with the cart – so perhaps down the line if I get a little sewing desk going on the other wall of this room I can slip the cabinet under it with the cart next to it or something.
The rest of the stuff in the closet are things we previously had – like that hanging fabric cubby thing (from Ikea years ago) and that ceramic planter where I shove all of our wrapping paper and tissue paper. And as for the rolling cart…
- the top bin has various art notebooks and pads along with a few canvases and a rolled up placemat that I’d love to use as a stencil someday
- the second bin has wood items (dowels, wood plaques, various pieces of scrap wood, and even a few wood slices for future projects)
- the third bin has all of my heavier crafting artillery (staple gun, glue gun, various accessories for them like staples and glue sticks, nailheads, etc)
The hanging cubbies are devoted to gift wrapping stuff, like:
And the wooden shelf thing that I shoved in that corner alcove is now housing all of my fabric in old Ikea bins from a few years back (yes, I have TONS of fabric thanks to Clara’s photo project, even though I’ve made her a quilt, a birthday banner, a table runner, a beanbag, and all sorts of other random things… so… I smell more projects). Most of it used to be piled in the storage room but it feels so much more organized and accessible right here. There’s also room for the sewing machine to sit on the floor in front of it, but I thought I’d leave that in the guest room for a hot second because I’d love to set it up in there to encourage myself to actually sew with it. So we’ll see if I can figure something out soon. If not, it’s back in the closet for him.
But let’s get to my favorite part. The drawers of our slick little white cabinet. The top drawer is full of various acrylic paints (along with some small containers of varnish/sealant, and some ceramic paint).
The second drawer houses all of my brushes, stamping tools, paint pens, and colored sharpies.
The third drawer contains various test pots of paint (I use these guys surprisingly often for random projects like this, this, this and this) along with a few larger cans of spray sealers.
The fourth drawer has all of my art store supplies, like my oil paints, watercolors, watercolor pencils, charcoals, and a few random things like a small set of markers and clothespins.
And the fifth drawer is where I have stampers, ink pads, stickers, decals, washi tape, and other supplies like twine or string.
Oh and that top shelf of the closet has a wire bin (from Target about 3 years ago) full of fabric pouches. Apparently I have a hoarding problem with those, but I love them for keeping Clara’s toys contained (all of her plastic animals in one, all of her tiny legos in another, etc). They’re also sweet for “wrapping” various gifts for friends in two seconds flat (no tape or ribbon required). And the blue box up there has been my sewing box for years. It has thread, needles, extra bobbins, scissors, a seam ripper, etc.
I’m also planning to add a few hooks on the inside of the door so guests can hang things there since the bar is full (we rarely host anyone with things on hangers, so those should do the trick).
Yes I’m still waving my dang hands around. It’s pretty unbelievable that such a ridiculous mess of a closet is currently home to 0.00 chaos. But you might want to check back with me in a few months. These things can go one of two ways…
Does anyone else have tips for organizing craft supplies, gift wrapping paraphernalia, or tons of fabric? Who else is channeling Monica Geller with a closet full of insanity? Let’s commiserate.
Patti says
Ikea has the best storage furniture hands down! My husband works from home and all of his stuff is stored in various Ikea pieces. One organizing tip to store gift bags, I open up my prettiest one and store all the others inside of it. (I do this with handbags too, using my largest tote bag to store them.) Then I just put that on my highest shelf out of the way. Also the best time for me to organize is when I get angry at the mess. This way I’m ruthless when deciding whether or not to keep things. Works for my clothes closet too!
YoungHouseLove says
Sounds awesome Patti!
xo
s
robyns says
I love the alex drawer series, I have the cousin of that unit the wider one with casters. It houses about half of my ribbon stock. It’s so awesome to open the drawer and find exactly what I’m looking for, at least half of the time anyway. And I also love the way ikea furniture smells. Or maybe that’s the sweet smell of organization….either way, I’m breathing deep!
Brittany says
I really, genuinely like this post. It’s inspired me to do something about my mess of “organization.” It looks really nice Sherry.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Brittany!
xo
s
Kate says
So impressive! I am a sucker for a good, organized closest. When things go awry in my life, I tend to start organizing my closets…but that’s my issue. :)
I did have a suggestion for all your bags that you have hanging. I have a larger bag that I put all mine into. I used to use just one of the larger bags that I had accumulated, but a few years back found a pretty “decorative” large gift bag at Paper Source that was on sale. Now I have all my bags in that one bag. And that larger bag is hanging from a hanger. It help give the illusion of a decluttered closet, but still allows me to gather bags of all shapes and sizes. And the bag is pretty to look at so it makes me happy.
Just a suggestion.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for all the suggestions guys! So helpful!
xo
s
Ashley says
I love organized craftiness! I just did this exact same thing. I’m on maternity leave (baby girl expected any day now) and needed a little control in my life. My craft closet is also in our guest room, so I was always hopeful that our guests wouldn’t open the closet. Now it looks a lot like yours. I also had an old hanging shoe rack (the kind that hangs from the bar with little cubbies) which was perfect for organizing my left over quilting fabric and fat quarters. They are all sorted by color and folded so neatly in the little shoe slots…it makes me a giddy craft nerd. I support leaving the sewing machine out. I find myself much more into the follow through on projects if there isn’t a bunch of set up time.
Tove says
Be still my beating heart! How I wish I had room for all that wonderful craft stuff, for the moment my apartment is in an awkvard state of I-don’t-know-what-I-want and thus have to wait with the organizing (hey, I have an excuse!) and buying new awesome things. Lucky you!
Marcella says
As always, you are an inspiration. We always have some serious crafting going on…. Here is my question(s)for you:
1) Clara- is she that well behaved that you can leave paint accessible like that? Granted my daughter is only 31 months but our craft paint is on the top shelf of a locked cabinet behind a gate. My gal enjoys the “poo-poo noises” that paint tubes make. Also, don’t get me started on the epic sharpie battle if 2013…. So, do you lock the closet? Scream and rant when paint gets all over? Or have you learned some Jedi mom trick that I haven’t discovered yet?
Thx.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! I wish I had a Jedi mom trick, but I just think all kids are different. We fully went into parenthood expecting to put those locks on every lower kitchen cabinet door and drawer – only to have a child who never (I mean never) went in there. Seriously, just like Burger is only interested in human food scraps (he doesn’t eat plants or walk through our paint, etc), Clara seems drawn to her own toys and play-things (she could care less about our boring grown up stuff). But every kid is different, so putting one of those kid-proof knobs on the door and keeping it closed could solve it for you if your child is more curious. The Barnacle might be a whole new ballgame…
xo
s
Krysta says
I love the color of the Raskog cart & how well it ties with your sewing box.
Marianne in Mo. says
I mostly sew, but will try ANY craft at least once! ;-) As a result, I have a multitude of stuff. Used to have a whole 11’X12′ room in the old house all to myself, but now share a 10’X11′ room with hubs office. He built me a simple desk, with three cubbies on each side that are big enough to hold clear storage tubs with lids. I keep fabrics in them. A rolling 4 drawer chest (plastic) holds paints, glue guns, markers, etc. I have additional totes in the basement of things from the old room that I barely use, and have slowly been using or getting rid of to my kids or friends. I’ve gone down from 12 large totes of fabric ALONE, to just three, not counting the four in my desk! I have a whole group of companion fabrics I got for cheap when the store I worked at closed. Intend to someday make a complete set including drapes for one of our guestrooms, but am overwhelmed with what should come first!
Maybe I need to go eat dark chocolate first…LOTS of it!
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, dark chocolate is the key. Haha! Good luck Marianne!
xo
s
Gwen says
So awesome! GREAT job.
I’m pregnant too (due in June), and I have been cleaning out closets and organizing/downsizing like a madwoman! Nesting is in full effect. lol
Deena says
I just did the same thing with our coat closet back in November! I live in Texas, so members of our family literally have 1 coat each, so it was a pretty much unused closet. So, now it’s our wrapping and craft closet.
I have the door rack system from Container Store that others have posted for wrapping supplies (well, the beginnings of it at least).
The biggest “HOORAY!” moment was when I realized that we had an extra 2×4 Expedit Shelf (like the one you had in your old sunroom… http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60255588/#/10103088) and that it fit vertically in the closet. I also had cloth bins from target that fit into each cubby, so there was a lot of organizational squealing happening as everything found a home. Ha! My sewing machine even fits comfortably in one of the little squares in the Expedit. It’s a miracle!
YoungHouseLove says
THAT. IS. AWESOME.
xo
s
Shea @ The Fogue Abode says
I just love that little night stand in the bottom picture. Is that a luggage rack with a tray on top? I’m digging the green colors.
YoungHouseLove says
Yes! We found the base (already green like that!) at a secondhand store a few years ago, and then topped it with a leather tray from Target that we adhered with some 3M velcro from underneath.
xo
s
Anu says
This looks great! I am too in the process of organizing phase of my entire house this winter.
The white set of drawers is Alex. if you put casters on the unit, you could even roll it in & out of the closet. Also it becomes an instant rolling cart for your sewing machine (kept on top of it)
YoungHouseLove says
Love that tip!
xo
s
Karin says
you are such an inspiration! and you get so much done so consistently on practically a daily basis. I’m having a vicarious blast watching you transform your new home into beauty. think I’ll go clean out our guest closet now (also full of wrapping paper, Christmas decorations, etc.)
I wince a little every time I see your kitchen floor- I do believe it is the same linoleum my parents had installed in our kitchen, It was groovy back in 1966- now not so much. Can’t wait to see how you will replace it.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, thanks Karin! I can’t wait to tackle that too!
xo
s
Kaitlyn says
Ohhhh my gosh! Sherry, this is exactly the inspiration I need to get my office organized! I only have one little corner of the room, but those shelving units look like the PERFECT (and pretty!) solution. Now I just need to get started…and maybe get some Hershey kisses in the process…
YoungHouseLove says
Wahoo! Good luck Kaitlyn!
xo
s
Colleen A. says
I NEED to know if that white Ikea five-drawer cabinet has a name and if it is still available. I have been looking for something exactly like this to help me organize my crafts that currently sit in organized chaos called ‘plastic bins’. I can never find what I need, so I end up buying items unnecessarily only to discover later that I now have them in duplicate and triplicates.
YoungHouseLove says
I believe it’s called Alex and it comes in a bunch of sizes. They definitely still sell it (we just got it along with the cart).
xo
s
Timothy says
i pretty much do the same thing you do. i have actually that exact same cart from ikea except in gray and i have a big set of thrift store draws and also a few shelves with boxes holding all my craft supplies.
taylor says
You may have already answered this question but I couldn’t find it – do you know the name of the white cabinet from IKEA with the five drawers? I would love it for my son’s room….
Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
I believe it’s called the Alex series (it comes in a bunch of sizes).
xo
s
Catherine says
Looks good! Love a nice closet :-) So I can’t help but comment on the large amount of gift bags! I used to have quite a collection myself and then I gave myself permission to start using them the way I would reuse a grocery bag (have a sweater a friend left on a playdate, give it back to her at school pickup in a gift bag! etc) and now I have only 3 gift bags. I actually moved the gift bags by the grocery bags in the back hall closet. I think bags are so gift & occasion specific – they need to fit the size and theme of the gift – that a gift bag can linger in a closet for YEARS! How silly! Also glue on old gift bags goes not necessarily hold when you try to use it later. Anyway, you have a nice dedicated space for all those gift bags and I’m just a stranger on the internets…. so obviously I am not offended if you ignore me ;) But I found it mentally freeing to get rid of all my gift bags! In my new giftbag freedom-ness, I prefer to use kraft paper with a pretty ribbon – good for all seasons and is recyclable.
YoungHouseLove says
Really smart! I love that!
xo
s
Angel says
Great looking closet!
My main take away is that dark chocolate definitely beats milk chocolate!
YoungHouseLove says
Amen, sista.
xo
s
Stephanie @ Whole Health Dork says
Seriously impressive! Definitely giving me closet envy and inspiration. We don’t have as many craft supplies, but I would love a place for wrapping supplies (instead of the basement).
Oh, and no argument from me here. I completely agree that dark chocolate is far superior to milk. ;-)
Lori says
Team Dark Chocolate all the way, yo!
I am a working artist in addition to being a book editor, and I have a whole studio, part of which looks like your before closet. I also have an obsession with tiny drawers, thus a 50-drawer library card catalog that holds all my beads and similar small stuff, and another similar cabinet with 12 card-catalog-sized drawers, 12 larger drawers, and one giant flat-file drawer than I’m in the middle of restoring with that Restor-a-Finish you recommended a while back — brilliant stuff, that. What fits in those drawers is well organized, but the rest is, um, not. I finally sat down and drew up a plan with some new furniture and a new layout that will give me the storage I need. One of my goals is having less plastic storage — that always seems to fall apart, and I like the aesthetics of wood and metal more anyway.
YoungHouseLove says
Love that!
xo
s
Amanda says
Oh, this is completely inspiring. The closet in our guest room/craft room (yes, same for us) is Out. Of. Control. Maybe this weekend I will get on it!
But, speaking of the Clara photo project – and maybe you’ve already mentioned this and I didn’t catch it – are you going to do it again for #2? I did your photo project with my daughter (now 3.25), and now we are expecting her brother in July. I definitely plan on doing it again – it was SO fun! Family and friends loved the weekly photos, and the photo book that I made of her first year is priceless. I just can’t imagine though: 52 MORE yards of fabric?! I really am going to have to organize that closet…
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, we’d love to do a different spin on it for the bun (it might involve less fabric but a few other elements) but we don’t have it fleshed out yet. Hope we have it figured out by the time he’s here!
xo
s
Jennifer I says
I have a room that my husband has nicknamed “crap” room instead of “craft” room. It acculates a lot of stuff. One thing I like for organizing is to use one of those multiple pants holder hangers to hang ribbons from — put the pants bar through the hole in the center. I organize my gift bags the same way you do. : )
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, the crap room is hilarious.
xo
s
Ana Silva says
Okay this was hilarious. Your husband’s “crap” room comment. I just busted out laughing out loud. So funny.
Casey says
I keep all of my fabric in a 4 drawer filing cabinet. Fold each fabric over half of a hanging folder and it makes them all super easy to see and access. Then I painted the cabinet a fun color and added a pretty wrapping paper to the drawer fronts to make it “craft room acceptable”.
YoungHouseLove says
Really smart.
xo
s
Caitlin says
I store my gift bags by laying them all flat and sliding them inside the largest one. Then I slide that large bag vertically between the closet wall and a drawer cart I have. That would free up your bar space for guests. ;-)
YoungHouseLove says
Awesome tip.
xo
s
sarolabelle says
As I said in the other blog comment (sorry to make you do extra work)….I really want to see how you organize your pantry. Ours is just such a mess. I need ideas!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, no worries! I am building up momentum to tackle that. Someday…
xo
s
Sarah @ The Simple Home says
Love it! So simple, yet so perfect for the space. Do you think that you are going to do more in that room after the bun is born and situated? What are your color thoughts?
Sarah
http://www.thesimplehomeblog.blogspot.com
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, I can’t wait to paint the walls in there and hopefully build a really cool plush headboard (that ones from my NYC days 8+ years ago) along with adding the sewing table, etc. I think for color ideas we’re leaning towards something a little darker (it gets tons of light through a giant bay of windows and since the nursery and Clara’s room are light and our bedroom is dark it would be nice to have another moody room up there).
xo
s
Magen says
My hands are in the air like a very excited Kermit the frog (aka muppet arms). You just inspired me to turn my guest closet into a craft closet and set up a sewing desk in that room. Count down begins to when I am off work and I can begin organizing!
YoungHouseLove says
Woot! Now my hands are up again too!
xo
s
Liz says
I bought the taller version of the white IKEA drawers for the exact same purpose. I LOVE having a drawer for everything and everything in it’s drawer. (Cause drawer is really what Ben Franklin mean by place).
Sarah says
“John and me,” not “John and I,” since the pronoun is an object of a preposition in that sentence. :-)
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Sarah! Ever the copywriter, I just changed it to us. Haha! The “commonly perceived wrongness” of “John and me” just makes me all clammy inside. Yup, I’m weird.
xo
s
Heather Fritsch says
Your craft closet looks great! The Raskog cart is one of my favorite items in our home. My youngest son adores his “art cart” in kindergarten, so this past Christmas we bought the Raskog in the same beautiful blue for our two boys and turned it into their own art station. They love it and it sits perfectly next to their craft table.
Enjoy the fun of your newly organized closet!
YoungHouseLove says
Love that!
xo
s
Anthea says
I am a shameless YouTube beauty guru video addict and I had to laugh when I saw your IKEA drawers because I swear all the YouTube girls have that same drawer (or the taller version!) filled to the brim with their make-up collections.
I think your use definitely fits you perfectly! I really don’t see you hoarding 60 eyeliners and 20 blush duos in there. ;)
YoungHouseLove says
So funny!
xo
s
Paige @ Little Nostalgia says
So, my “craft closet” is actually my entire office and it’s CRAZYTOWN. Like, I should know how to clean up better as an adult, but I don’t. Things are semi-organized, but other stuff is just kind of… tossed in there. Bah! I promise it’s on my list of things to do.
Julianne says
Nice! I love the cheery colour combo of how everything works together, too. Stepping out to grab me some of those carts from IKEA! My favourite colour!
Andrea says
Oooohh I JUST organized my craft closet (also located in the guest room) and sometimes I go in there and open the doors to the closet and just stare. True Story.
I used one of those wire rack systems from Home Depot. About $100 later and my closet was lookin’ mighty fine.
Hey, not to knock your awesome wrapping paper storage method, but I saw something on Pinterest you might be interested in. You can use the plastic bag dispensers from IKEA to store wrapping paper rolls. But when I went to my local IKEA those were sold out so I bought 2 of these trash containers http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80182237/ for $4 each and they work even better in my opinion! Just a tip.
High five on getting organized! Nesting is in full effect I think?
YoungHouseLove says
Love that! Thanks Andrea!
xo
s
Chris says
You do not even understand how excited I am that you answered my question with this amazing post!!! Everything is so well-organized…must be so nice to open that door now! We’re making an IKEA trip soon and I might have to pick up that same white cabinet. But where can I get a guest room closet?? ;) (We have two bedrooms and a toddler…wait he doesn’t need a closet right??)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, you’re so sweet Chris! Good luck with your Ikea trip!
xo
s
Kendall Richards says
LOVE this! I have been trying to whip my craft room / guestroom into shape once and for all and that 5 drawer unit is EXACTLY what I need for a bed side table / storage. Do you happen to know the name of it??
Thanks!!
-Kendall
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, it’s part of Ikea’s Alex series (I think it comes in a lot of different sizes and shapes).
xo
s
Susan says
You have a good start-I would suggest drawer organizers for all those pens/markers/etc. The dollar store has everything you’d need ( just take drawer dimensions with you)and Ikea, too, has some great drawer organizers. We use the zippered soft cloth “baskets” in all our dresser drawers, and that makes putting laundry away a breeze.
My fave thing is a shoe organizer that hangs on the door. When we lived in OR we used it for gloves/hats/sunglasses/etc. Now we are in sunny SoCal (YEA!) and I’m going to use it on the back of the garage door for sunblock, beach stuff/water bottles,caps/hats, sunnies, and dog stuff( leashes, collars, funny dress up stuff).
Here’s my pinterest Organizing board-I’ve used most of these tips, and they’re easy to do! I would also do the sideways wire shelf in your closet to keep that wrapping paper in check…enjoy your organized space.
Susan says
oops-here’s that link:
http://www.pinterest.com/susanstargirl/organizing/
YoungHouseLove says
Wahoo! Thanks Susan!
xo
s
Michelle says
My craft closet in my sewing room was just as bad Sherry! Seriously, check out the pic:
http://theprojectdiary.blogspot.com/2011/09/summer-projects.html
I like the adjustable shelving systems because I will probably have to give up the room for a future kiddo. But in the meantime I use the closet for wrapping supplies and other crafty things.
PS: Sherry, I so want to help you with sewing lessions, because obviously sewing is my favorite (hence the whole room for sewing!) Maybe next time you’re in DC?? :)
YoungHouseLove says
You’re so sweet Michelle! Oh how I would love that.
xo
s
Steph Reiner says
Once upon a time my husband’s aunt gave us dark and milk chocolate for Christmas. I specifically hid the dark chocolate in the fridge under the cheeses because milk chocolate might as well be pooh. My husband knows I love the dark stuff and he usually eats all the milk choc for me but one dark stormy night, when my craving was at it’s highest, I discovered the dark chocolate had been eaten.
I tried convincing him it was okay and that my thighs should be thanking him anyway but deep down I was plotting a new hiding spot for future chocolates that might’ve included a secret lock/code, finger pad, and voice recognition.
Also, hamburgler. BAHAHAHA… I actually laughed out loud. Does McD’s even have those characters anymore???
Love it all and wish my craft closet was as stocked as yours. I have paint/fabric envy. Also, I might be a craft hoarder.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I love the dark chocolate scheming. That stuff is totally worth hiding. John and I bonded early on in our love of the dark stuff, so in our house I’d really have to hide it well. John is an animal about his dark chocolate…
xo
s
Rachel says
That white Ikea drawer thing is THE BEST. I have had one for a few years and it is going strong. You will love it forever.
YoungHouseLove says
SO happy to hear that!
xo
s
Amy says
Hi! On the subject of crafts, I saw one that made me think of you. On whatsurhomestory.com there is a tutorial about making clay barnacles. If you haven’t seen it, check it out. :)
YoungHouseLove says
So cool!
xo
s
Mariah E says
YES!!! I am soooo Monica!! I actually startled my husband with a loud “woohoo” when I read the title of your post! :)
A couple weeks ago I tackled our large bedroom/linen/craft/office/ONLY CLOSET IN THIS APARTMENT! From the door it looks like a standard closet (bar, one shelf above) but you can walk in to the right, like yours, except it is about 8 feet deep and then a 4 foot cubby to the left, under the stairs…..can you imagine yet the fantastic disaster that it was?!? ;)
But now, I can attest to that “rush,” it is beautifully organized and sorted into a couple of Ikea Algot “units-with-the-metal-mesh-baskets” and a plethora of multi-sized plastic bins, thank you Ikea’s “organization” sale in January!! Even all of my sewing machines (3!!) now have a spot to call home!
Great post, thanks for affirming I’m really not the only Monica out there! :)
YoungHouseLove says
I love the husband-startling wahoo. We need to start a Monica’s Anonymous meeting or something.
xo
s
Camilla @ Something Is Done says
This is so inspiring. I’m off to organize mine!
Mary Ann says
Is there an Ikea in the Richmond area that I don’t know about (I would so drive there from Newport News) or do you go to No VA? Love that turquoise cart. And love that you have the patience to let Clara help. I was never very good at that. Too impatient to get the project done.
YoungHouseLove says
I wish! We got to NOVA, usually only a few times a year when we’re there visiting family or friends.
xo
s
DonnaBoBonna says
Looks like a Mary Poppins kinda closet! “Practically perfect in every way”! As opposed to the before…the Lizzie Borden hot mess! You, my dear, are nesting! Xo
YoungHouseLove says
Ha!
xo
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Kelly says
We have a Guestroom/Craftroom, too. I have one of these http://www.homedecorators.com/P/Stanton_Single_Gate_Leg_Storage_Cart/920/
and a second, simpler cart from the same collection that we use as nightstands when it’s a guestroom but roll together for a project/sewing table. The drawers are the perfect size for craft supplies. We also have a butcher block table top from Ikea mounted on folding shelf brackets so it’s flat against the wall when not needed (guestroom) and makes a great large workspace when we do (craftroom). It almost looks like art when it’s folded against the wall.
YoungHouseLove says
That looks awesome Kelly!
xo
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ETB says
I was able to consolidate almost a whole bedroom closet’s worth of wrapping paper, bags, ribbon, etc. into a half of a small coat closet using the elfa door and wall rack system (originally designed for pantries). The large basket holds TONS of bags (I just organized by height) and takes up hardly any space. I got magnetic strips and attached mighty magnets to scissors, tape, etc. and stuck them on there for fast grabs, along with a magnetic pen holder for my sharpies and pens. I LOVE it.
YoungHouseLove says
Sounds amazing!
xo
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haverwench says
Never mind the closet, I’m in awe of the supplies. I’m nowhere *near* as organized about crafting as you are–when I get the urge to try a project, I usually go all MacGyver and start ransacking the storage room looking for something I can use. It’s a good way to come up with unconventional ideas, but I might actually get more done if I had, you know, stuff intended for the purpose.