Friday Finds: A Few of My Favorite Design Books (and the chance to win one!)

3 Comments August 28, 2015 Maria

Happy Friday, all!  How has your week been?  Are you enjoying the cooler temps?  Kids back in school?  Some time to yourself? A resounding “yes” from me to all of the above!

Today, I thought I’d do a roundup of some of my favorite home design books for Friday Finds.  These titles give me great inspiration for my own home and client projects, so I thought they might do the same for you!  Here are my top 4…

1.  Elements of Style, by Erin Gates — Erin Gates has an amazing blog with the same name.  She’s been blogging for over SEVEN years!  I don’t even think I knew blogging existed seven years ago!  She has a mostly modern aesthetic, but also incorporates antiques and elements of traditional pieces into her designs.  This book is filled with wonderful essays on decorating, life, renovating and ideas that you can easily incorporate into your home.  The photos are stunning, as well.  I LOVE, love, love her blog and book.  I think you will, too!  Check them both out:  www.elementsofstyleblog.com

Elements of Style provides many examples to help you figure out your design aesthetic.

A beautiful entryway decorated by author, blogger and designer, Erin Gates.

2.  Design Mom, by Gabrielle Stanley Blair — I recently wrote an entire blog post about this book because I just love it so.  This book is unique and wonderful because it’s devoted to creating a stylish and functional home for families with children.  The photographs are beautiful, inspiring and page after page demonstrate the possibility of marrying style and children in a home.  The Design Mom blog is also wonderful, and I particularly love the home tours feature that enables you to peak into the homes of other families to see how they’ve cultivated a habitat with children.  Check it out– http://www.designmom.com

Design Mom – How to Live With Kids: A Room-by-Room Guide By Gabrielle Stanley Blair

A stylish family home that six children occupy!  (This is the author’s Oakland, CA home.)

3.  Remodelista by Julie Carlson — If you love Scandinavian design ( think IKEA & clean modern lines), this is the book for you!  The book features tours of 12 homes that are at once unique, yet share the common thread of curated, minimalistic style.  The photos in this book are beautiful and have a tone of serenity and quiet calm, reflecting the style of homes they narrate.  The author also shares design ideas and remodeling/renovating wisdom, in addition to resources they “swear by.”  The book is really lovely and I use it as my coffee table book in my office.  This is another book that stems from the author’s blog, called, you guessed it, Remodelista.  The blog is also wonderful so check it out:  http://www.remodelista.com

Remodelista: A Manual for the Considered Home, by Julie Carlson

Samples of pages from the book.

4.  domino: The Book of Decorating, by domino editors, Deborah Needleman, Sara Ruffin Costello and Dara Caponigro — This design book hails from the editors of the design magazine, domino (no capital).  If you have a bohemian, romantic and/or eclectic style, you’ll love this book.  It’s full of colorful images (REALLY colorful!) that highlight such aesthetics in modern homes.  The book also provides great tips and resources for how to translate this style in your own home.  Check out these examples:

The book cover and samples of the book’s contents. I love how they explain design concepts in such detail.

Other images from the domino book.

So there you have it!  My top four favorites at the moment.  I’m waiting on the release of some new ones as well, so look for another similar installment closer to the holidays.

Now for the FUN part….

Win ONE of these books (you’ll pick).  Here’s how: subscribe to the Bring Home Order blog by next Friday, Sept. 4th. and then you’ll be entered in the drawing for one of these beautiful books!  Subscribing to the blog ensures you don’t miss a post because they’ll be delivered to your in-box in the form of an email.  To subscribe, simply enter your email address in the “Subscribe” field on the Bring Home Order homepage.  If you already subscribe, you’ll automatically be entered.  The winner will be notified by Monday, Sept. 7th via email.  Start thinking about which book you’d like to have!

Do you have any favorite design books?  Comment here…I’m always looking for great recommendations!

Have a great weekend, all!

~Maria

 

Dylan’s Bedroom Makeover

1 Comment August 26, 2015 Maria

Earlier this summer, I revealed my daughter, Sydney’s, bedroom makeover.  To read about that project, “Tween Bedroom Makeover,” click here.

I happily (and with relief!) finally finished Dylan’s bedroom last week – just in time for the beginning of school.   This room transformation was pretty dramatic and there were many issues to solve in designing this space. They included the following:

• Lego Storage:  My youngest daughter loves building cities and creating vignettes with her Legos, but my husband and I hate stepping on them.  (If you’ve never experienced stepping on a sharp Lego piece, consider yourself lucky!)
• Stuffed Animal Storage: Dylan has never met a stuffed animal she didn’t instantly fall in love with.  Over the years, she’s amassed quite a collection which was starting to take over her bed, leaving little room for her!
• Bunk Bed:  Dylan wanted a bunk bed, but we had spent a lot on her full-sized mattress so I didn’t want to part with it.
• Dresser:  I loved the size and quality of her dresser, but didn’t love the color.
• Color Scheme & Design:  The design and color scheme stemmed from a colorful painting we purchased this winter.  We decided to pick up the turquoise and grey in the painting and put these colors against white.

Dylan happens to love all things equine so as soon as I saw this painting, I knew she’d love it.

Here’s the BEFORE of Dylan’s bedroom – no judgement, please.  🙂

Before: Too many toys, not enough storage and in desperate need of some TLC (Tender Loving Cleaning)!

Dylan loves stuffed animals, but she had so many on her bed that there was barely any room for her to sleep there!   Notice the color of her dresser.

SOLUTIONS

After some internet searching, I found a bunk bed that had a FULL-sized bottom bed and a twin top bunk.  Yeah!  I also painted her dresser a soft, soft grey (BM White Stone).  We added turquoise stripes on one wall for drama (BM Blue Seafoam)  and a little interest to the ceiling with stars.  I wanted to change out her ceiling fan, but this room faces westward and gets very warm in the summer evening hours so we decided to keep it for now.  It really helps with temperature control.

Here’s the AFTER…

Bright and airy – this room is still a space for a young girl, but mature enough for her to grow into over the next few years.

The bunk bed was a budget find. And, the top bunk can easily be removed allowing for a single full-sized bed. I don’t know how long she’s going to be excited about a bunk bed, so this was a good option.

Now just a few stuffed animals reside on Dylan’s bed.

The zebra painting really stands out against the stripes. And, thousands of Lego pieces are stored in those 4 grey baskets! Baskets are great way to store things for kids because they make clean-up very easy.

We added interest to the ceiling with these grey stars.

I also added original artwork on the wall to the right of the window.  Dylan created this watercolor painting in first grade and I had it matted and framed in a simple black frame to coordinate with the zebra painting.

Even Dylan’s closet got an update.  I continued the stars from her bedroom ceiling into the ceiling and upper shelf area of her closet.  I also included this inspirational quote, which is so Dylan – both brave and kind-hearted.

 

Dylan’s American Girl Doll collection now lives in her walk-in closet, just underneath the hanging clothes. She can easily take it out to play with in her bedroom or play in this rather large closet (which she loves doing!).

I solved all of the issues that had previously plagued this room and was also able to repurpose many things, like the dresser, rug, full-sized mattress and the quilt.  It doesn’t always work out that way, but in this case we managed fairly well.  I did however, end up purchasing the bunk bed frame, a book shelf, mirror and having custom roman shades created for the windows.  And, the entire room and closet were professionally painted.  Small accessories like baskets were also purchased for the space, but these were quite affordable.

It’s amazing how much bigger the room feels now that storage solutions have been implemented and there is a clear floor.  Most significantly, the storage solutions work for Dylan.  It’s very easy to throw Lego pieces into a basket and call it clean.  And, the fact that her doll collection and accessories are in her closet means they don’t crowd out the floor space of the room.  She can also create a doll vignette and leave it set up in the closet with the door closed.  (Love that!)

Organizing kids’ spaces can be difficult because there are often many considerations: storage, safety, sleep and play.  I think we managed all of these issues in Dylan’s room and it’s now a creative and inviting space for rest, relaxation, reading and imaginative play.

How have you addressed your child’s bedroom design? What solutions have you employed to get around pressing issues?  Comment here!

Happy organizing,

~Maria

The Importance of Morning Routines

Leave a comment August 24, 2015 Maria

Happy Monday, everyone!  I’m back from spending a week away with my family and feel so refreshed and ready to get back to the work that I’m passionate about: helping others cultivate order at home, and in turn, create space for happiness in their lives.

Today, most schools in our area are beginning a new year.  That means that the slower aspects of summer will once again be tucked away, and families will return to more structured days.  One of the most critical periods of the day are our mornings.  They set the tone for the rest of our day and put us in a mental state for approaching our daily endeavors. So, it’s no surprise that morning routines are very important in ensuring that our day goes smoothly.

As you consider the new school year — or even if you don’t have children — having a morning routine increases your productivity and reduces stress.  Here are some ideas for cultivating a morning routine that will help you approach the rest of your day with intention and less stress.

• Express gratitude.   The expression of gratitude for another day puts us in a mental state free of struggle.  We are thankful for the ability and opportunity to spend another day with our families and friends, and to fulfill our life’s work.  It is impossible to be both stressed and grateful in the same moment.  Try it.  Cultivate gratitude by reading daily inspirational quotes or simply adopting a mantra that you will recite every morning.

• Be intentional.  A good morning doesn’t just happen.  Organized and successful individuals are very intentional about their mornings beginning with their wake-up time, to what they eat for breakfast, to the order in which they do things.  Think through these aspects of your morning and what you want to accomplish.  Adjust accordingly.  And, if something isn’t working, change it.  I found that waking up half an hour earlier than my children was critical for reducing my daily stress.  That 30 minutes of alone-time gave me the opportunity to express gratitude, shower, have my coffee and just be alone with my thoughts before I began my work as a parent.  Figure out what you need in the morning and be intentional about making it happen.

• Write out your “To Do” list.  There is SO MUCH power in writing out what you want to accomplish in your day.  The mere act of writing out a list, even if you have it all in your electronic calendar, increases your chances of accomplishing it.  Seeing your day in writing also helps you visualize when and how you will fulfill your obligations.  Visualization is a critical aspect of success.  Ben Franklin wrote out his day in hourly increments.
  

  Ben Franklin’s daily journal mapped out his day from wake up to bed. That is what I call being intentional.

   

• List your 3 daily “MITs.”  “MITs” are your “Most Important Things.” It’s very easy to get bogged down with all the details of your day, but if you have 3 MITs, it puts everything else in focus.  You know what is most important and that helps you prioritize your efforts.

• Do your hardest thing first.  Mark Twain famously wrote, “Eat a live frog first thing in the morning, and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.”  What he was referring to was the idea of doing your hardest task first.  While email, social media and other low-level distractions are tempting, channel your fresh morning energy into the most difficult task you have on your list.  After that, everything else will suddenly seem easier.

I have always loved the fall and the beginning of the school year, even when I ceased being a student.  I find that this time of year, even more than January, is a great time to refocus and set new goals.  I hope that this has inspired you to reconsider your morning routines.

Wake up early and be intentional about your day. That is productivity in a nutshell.

Have an awesome week!  ~Maria

 

Friday Finds: Brene Brown TED Talk, “The Power of Vulnerability”

Leave a comment August 14, 2015 Maria

Happy Friday, dear readers!  As another week of summer comes to a close and we get closer to the beginning of a new school year, holidays, etc., I wanted to share a link to an amazing TED talk given by researcher, speaker and author, Brene Brown.

Brene Brown primarily focuses on human connection and all that is related to our desires for and fears of losing this connection.  In particular, she studies shame and vulnerability.  Shame, she says, is “the fear of disconnection.”  It is our fear that if we are not _________ enough (fill in the blank…rich, skinny, smart, etc.), those that we love and care for will sever their connection with us.

Vulnerability is, “the courage to be imperfect.”  Brown’s decade plus of research has discovered that individuals that have the courage to be vulnerable, that is, totally open about their imperfections, do so because despite their shortcomings, believe they’re worthy of love and belonging.  It is this belief that enables them to live joyfully.  Embracing our imperfections and being open about them – being totally vulnerable – is the key to authentic, “whole-hearted living” as she describes it.

This talk resonated with me on many levels, but in particular, it made me think about my parenting.  I try so hard to be a perfect mom, and yet know I have many imperfections.  I raise my voice sometimes, I lose my patience, I’m distracted when my kids are talking to me, etc., etc. That said, I am also honest with my kids about my shortcomings and I apologize frequently.  I also still sing the Laurie Berkner song from my kids’ toddler years called, “I’m Not Perfect,” to them (which makes them cringe!).  But, all of these shortcoming do not mean I’m not worthy of my kids’ love and adoration.  They don’t mean I’m not a good mom or loving parent.  Our shortcomings as parents don’t make us terrible people.  They simply make us human and fallible, and that’s a beautiful thing.

As the school year approaches, don’t aim for perfect parenting — because quite frankly, it’s not possible.  Instead, aim for greater acceptance of your vulnerabilities, aim for cultivating more patience and compassion for your vulnerabilities, and aim for gratitude for this journey of parenting that challenges us in a way nothing else ever has or ever will.  Aim for loving yourself and your kids even more than you thought possible.

Here’s to a great new school year…

As promised, here’s the Brene Brown TED Talk:  “The Power of Vulnerability”

~Maria

P.S. I will be OFF next week, as I’m taking my kids to “Family Camp” for one last hurrah before school starts.  I’m looking forward to no work, electronics or phones!  See you the following week!

Back-to-School Series: Creating a Family Command Center

1 Comment August 12, 2015 Maria

Happy Wednesday, everyone!  I hope you have all been doing well and enjoying this week’s cooler weather.  Fall is definitely in the air, and I for one am so excited!  Fall is my favorite season for many reasons, including the beginning of school and a return to routines and structured schedules for my kids.

As my kids have gotten older, the number of commitments we have as a family have also increased.  Birthday parties, soccer games, Nutcracker rehearsals, riding lessons, etc. seem to multiply with each passing year.  Keeping track of all of these obligations can be really challenging and even stressful.  How many times do you get asked, “When is my recital?” or, “When is my project due?”  Who can keep track of all these things in their head?  If you can, please share your secrets here!  I have trouble remembering where I parked, much less remembering everyone’s schedules and appointments!

The Family Command Center

A great way to manage all of your family’s scheduling obligations, keep track of the week ahead and not be constantly asked about such things is to create a “Family Command Center.”  What’s this you ask?  Quite simply, it’s a place in your home where every member in your family – big or small – can reference to find out what’s going on.  This can be as simple as a large wall calendar with a board where items can be posted and referenced.  It can also be more elaborate, but the essentials include:

• A family calendar
• Printed schedules for both parents and kids
• Important notes
• “Week at a Glance” area

Extras might include:

• “What’s for dinner?” area
• “To Do” list
• Inspirational quotes
• Anything else that keeps your family sane!

Keep it as simple as possible because you don’t want to clutter the important stuff or make it difficult to clearly see the essentials.  Here are some examples…

This Family Command Center has a weekly “To Do” list, an area for posting important notes, a mail sorter, inspirational quotes and a place for everyone to store essentials upon arrival, like backpacks and jackets. SOURCE: http://www.thehomesihavemade.com

Easy and simple Command Center: inspirational quotes, calendar, and a sorter for items. SOURCE: http://www.howtonestforless.com

This Family Command Center works hard! SOURCE: oncreativehousewife.com

This one is my favorite because it’s functional and beautiful.  I love the accents of decor and inspirational quotes.

Location, Location, Location…

What’s important to consider is the location of where you’ll create this center for your family.  Ideally, the Family Command Center is in a highly visible place where every member, short or tall, can interact with it.  And, this is a place that is “alive” — that is, it’s constantly being updated and referenced.  No more asking mom or dad, “When is my soccer game?” or, “When are you going out of town for that work trip.”  It’s all here, and kids are empowered to reference and add to it.

Finally, I think the best way to make this station work hard is to meet as a family every Sunday and discuss the upcoming week’s schedules and obligations.  Take 15 – 30 minutes and discuss goals, appointments, meals, etc.  These 15 minutes can radically change the way in which your family launches into their week.  At the very least, you feel much more informed and at the very best, it becomes a weekly bonding family ritual.  (I feel another post coming on!)

I’m currently working on our Family Command Center and will share what I come up with in the weeks ahead!  We’ve had something in the past, but not nearly as powerful as what I’ve described here.

I hope I’ve inspired you to consider this as an option for your family.  Want more ideas?  Check out Bring Home Order on Pinterest, where I’ve created a board called, “Family Hub Center.”  Finally, if you already do this, please share your images with us and tell us how you’ve used your Command Center.

Enjoy!  ~Maria

Back-to-School Series: Where Will Your Kids Do Their Homework?

Leave a comment August 10, 2015 Maria

As school is quickly approaching, it’s a good time to start thinking about the new school year.  With the return of school comes the return of homework.  I know some of you are cringing at the thought of the battles and challenges that sometimes come with homework. But, let’s reframe this for both ourselves and our children.  Let’s create a space for our children to be able to do their homework that is organized and inviting.  With that, I thought I’d share some ideas for creating a “Homework Hub” in your home.  But, before we get the actual “hub,” let’s consider where your children will do their homework, first.

Location, location, location…

Where your children do their homework is probably most dependent on two factors: their age and their personality.  In our family, my children want to be at the kitchen counter doing their work so that they have access to my help (and snacks!).  They are still young enough that they want to be together and enjoy the noise of what’s going on in the kitchen as their backdrop.  But, older children may not want to work in a such a public space.  Kids with attention issues may find it difficult to focus while siblings and parents are engaged in other activities.  So, talk to your kids and consider their personalities when deciding where they will do their assignments.  If you’re lucky enough to have lots of space, you might designate two locations for homework – one that is quiet with limited distractions, and another in a more public space like the kitchen.

The Siegel Family homework area…

A Well-Stocked Homework Station

Once you’ve decided where your kids will work, stock it with the necessary supplies.  There are a variety of ways to go about this, depending on your physical space and storage options.  In our kitchen, we don’t have a lot of extra storage space, so we have a homework caddy on the counter at the bar area stocked with things like pencils, colored pencils, scissors, and some drawing paper.  For other supplies, like paper, glue sticks, tape, I have a portable shower caddy that can come out for work sessions.  Our kitchen table provides a large work area if necessary.  Here are some other ideas…

Here’s a fun way to organize necessary supplies for your Homework Hub. Blog Source: Momintimeout.com

I LOVE this Homework Cart using the IKEA Raskog cart. Source: Smashedpeasandcarrots.com

Your Homework Hub can be as simple as a little basket with necessary supplies. Source: The House of Wood

Another idea is to use one of my favorite organizing tools: a CLEAR over-the-door shoe organizer to store supplies. How clever is this?! Source: bowlfulloflemons.com. (Click image to be taken to tutorial.)

Love these homework spaces…

 

Homework & Family Hub – Source: iheartorganizing blog

Source: bhg.com

I hope this gives you some inspiration and gets you a bit more excited about homework!  Where do your kids do their homework?  How have you set up your homework area?  Share with us! We’d love to know!

Happy Organizing,

Maria

 

Friday Finds: “Design Mom”

2 Comments August 7, 2015 Maria

Happy Friday, everyone!  Today, I’m excited to share a book and blog that I recently discovered called, “Design Mom.”  Both are authored by Gabrielle Stanley Blair, mother of SIX children.  (Nope – that’s not a typo!)  I heard Gabrielle interviewed on a podcast and I was immediately intrigued with her commentary and reflections on designing a home with children.  The premise of her book and blog is that creating a home with children can be both beautiful and functional, and that we don’t have to give up design aesthetics when curating a family home.  Can I just say, “Amen?!”

Her new book, Design Mom – How to Live with Kids: A Room-by-Room Guide is filled with amazing photography illustrating how she and others have created homes that belong to both the children and adults living in them.  Here are some samples…

Source: Design Mom blog

Source: Design Mom blog

Source: Design Mom blog
(Can I just covet this entry way?!)

Source: Design Mom blog

Gabrielle has lived in 9 homes all over the world with children so she knows a little (ok, a lot!) about her subject.  It was gratifying to see many of the strategies and approaches I’ve been using and sharing with all of you in her book.  Some big take aways about creating a home with children were the following:

1. Have a big “work” table at home where you and your kids can work on projects, do homework and just create.  For most, this is the kitchen table, but for others it might be the living room coffee table or a separate craft room (if you have ample space).  It doesn’t really matter where it is, as long as it exists.  A large table that accommodates your entire family and lets your kids “sprawl” and “imagine” are what really matter.  Here’s my answer to corralling craft and homework supplies so that our kitchen table can be quickly cleaned up for dinner:
   

   Take and Create: A mobile art caddy that can be moved to different work spaces.

2. A “Family Calendar” is essential for survival.  Have one that is centrally located and available/accessible to even the tiniest members of your family.  For most families, the best location is the kitchen, but it can also be posted in a mudroom or entryway.  My supplement to this is to have Sunday night family meetings to review the upcoming week.  I think this is a powerful ritual for families, and launches both parents and children into the week feeling informed and empowered. (Look for a future post on this soon!)
   

   Family Command Center – Source: iheartorganizing blog

3. “Your walls should tell your family’s story.”  I LOVE this and feel so passionate about the walls of a home narrating the story of the individuals that occupy it.  Gabrielle advocates for displaying children’s artwork, family photos, memorabilia, maps and quotes.  One of my favorite features in our home is the photo wall we created on our stairwell:
   

   “Let your walls tell your family’s story.” ~Gabrielle Stanley Blair

   Check out the book and the blog.  This is a wonderful resource for all families – particularly those designing homes with children.

   

   Design Mom – How to Live With Kids: A Room-by-Room Guide
   By Gabrielle Stanley Blair

   Happy reading!  ~Maria

Back-to-School Series: An Organized Kid’s Bedroom

Leave a comment August 3, 2015 Maria

One of the best things you can do to help your kids get ready for the new school year is encourage them to declutter and refresh their bedroom.  It can actually be a symbolic act of starting anew: giving away outgrown books and clothes, rearranging furniture, tidying drawers and closets, and purging no-longer needed items.  It’s a great way to create the feeling of a clean slate.  Most significantly, a refreshed and organized bedroom makes getting ready in the morning and winding down at night a more pleasant experience.  It’s much easier to get dressed if you’re not digging through piles of clothes that don’t fit anymore or rummaging through clutter to locate your library book.  So, with that, here are some strategies for helping your child bring order to their bedroom.

A 3-Step Approach to Organizing Kids’ Bedrooms:

1) Purge and Declutter:  “Less stuff = less mess.”  This is a good mantra to remember because the single most effective strategy to instant tidiness is not having as much stuff to negotiate.  As you declutter, begin with categories that will be easy for you and your child to go through, like books and clothes.  Then, move on to things like toys and more sentimental belongings.  You don’t have to get rid of everything, either.  One strategy I use with clients is having their kids pick certain items that can go into temporary storage.  We fill one or two large, clear bins and then store these items in another space.  The families rotate the items in-and-out over time.  You’d be surprised how effective this is with kids.  It makes them feel so much better knowing their prized possessions are being stored away, as opposed to given away.  (Hint: Use CLEAR bins for easy & quick identification of contents.)

Places like Target, Walmart and The Container Store have several affordable options & sizes for clear storage containers, especially in August for Back-to-School organizing.

2)  “Toss & Tidy” — Make Baskets Your Ally:  If your children are anything like mine, they love to collect “stuff.”  And, based on some informal polling, managing the storage of things like legos, stuffed animals, and “randoms” is what most families struggle with. The easiest solution for kids to manage is throwing things into baskets.  You can use clear baskets for easy identification or decorative baskets to hide things.  If your kids or teenagers are able to simply toss something into a basket and call it “clean,” they are very likely to do it.  Here’s a personal example from my daughter’s room, which was plagued with legos and stuffed animals.  We used inexpensive baskets from Target to contain her collection and she hasn’t struggled with clean-up since.  It’s so easy to return items in these baskets when she’s done playing…and my husband and I love the fact that we don’t trip on piles of legos anymore.

Baskets make for an easy, “Toss & Tidy” approach to clean-up for kids.

Out of sight, out of mind…baskets are great for things like stuffed animals, legos, random items, etc.

This is what were dealing with BEFORE…unfiltered honesty here.

3)  Let Hooks Do the Pick-Up:  Just as baskets are a great solution for containing things, hooks are wonderful tools for getting items off the floor.  For most kids and teenagers, trying to fold something is not worth the effort, and using hangers is often a hassle.  A quick and easy solution is to install wall hooks in places like bathrooms, closets and in the main room area.  Hooks are great for things like sweatshirts, robes, pjs, bags and even wet towels (which in our house seem to never make it back into the bathroom!).  There are dozens and dozens of choices, both utilitarian and decorative.  Places like Home Depot, Target, Walmart, etc. have over-the-door and wall-instalation options.  The former tend to be better for older kids, while wall installation types give you more flexibility in terms of height and location placement.  You can also use free-standing coat racks, which are typically used for entryways.

So many options when it comes to hooks – and don’t forget the COMMAND adhesive versions, as well.

Most kids will appreciate a parent’s help with this project, especially if you’re going to brainstorm some ways to change things up.  Redoing my kids’ bedrooms was a wonderful bonding experience for us this summer — and I hope it is for you as well!  Considering a total redesign?  Read more about that process HERE.

Happy Organizing!

~Maria