7 Ways to Organize Your Home

(Updated 1/16/22)

Happy January!

As much as I love decorating for the holidays, there's something fun and refreshing about getting it all put away and starting out with a clean slate. As I type this, I'm sitting here thinking about my laundry room & drop zone, trying to get motivated to get things organized and cleaned up. I guess that’s why they truly call it a drop zone because everything gets dropped off here! I've also been in the mood to declutter and get my kids game and book coset organized as well! I’ll add that to my list and get to it soon, right?

I bet that a lot of you have cleaning and organizing on your New Year’s Resolution lists as well! So, this week I've created 7 ways to help you organize your home. There's no better time than now to start your year of right and get organized.... right?!

I've also included a list of my "Top Ten" favorite products to help you get organized as well. Enjoy your week!

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“Being organized isn’t about getting rid of everything you own or trying to become a different person; it’s about living the way you want to live, but better.”
— Andrew Mellon

7 Ways To Organize Your Home

1. Ottomans with a storage compartment or a storage bench are a great way to keep your home looking cute and stylish and provides an awesome place to store toys, magazines, or whatever else seems to collect in your rooms.

2. Decorative storage baskets are a fun way to store items and can be tucked away in closets, corners, or storage shelves. they come in so many colors, patterns, and various rectangular sizes. I love using them in my kids closets and in our pantry with my kids snacks!

3. Cupboard organizers such as divided trays are great for keeping your papers separated instead of just stacking them on top of each other on a shelf.  It helps me keep piles separated for each of my kids.

4. Desk spaces sometimes seem to be a catch all for all the mail and school papers. I love using the multi-level letter holders, as well as little pencil organizers with small compartments for erasers, paper clips etc. Magazine file boxes are also an easy way to keep papers and magazines accessible but organized.

5. Drawer dividers are great for keeping your pencils and pads of paper separated, so you can actually find what you're looking for.

6. Message centers are a lifesaver for keeping me and my family organized. There are many different areas you can place them and ways to use them. Meal planners in the kitchen, calendar with family schedules, a place for keys, mail, important notes. You can place these in your kitchen, office, or by your back door all in easy to reach areas.

7.  The last item I love is bookshelves or bookcase units that have rectangular openings. These are so fun for mixing and matching storage baskets. Just fill up your storage basket and slide it into the shelf. Pretty basket, pretty shelf, and the toys are hidden away.... Perfect!

 

What’s Your Interior Design Style? Take my Style Quiz to find out! Then get links to shop your favorite pieces!

Top 10: Home Organization Items

Getting organized doesn't have to be boring or ugly! Make it fun with some items that will really change up your space and serve a great purpose as well! Here's a few of my favorite items for this week’s Top 10. Enjoy!

Favorite Home Organization Products

Click the images below for shoppable links and create this look in your home!

 
 

Summary

I hope this week I've given you some fun ideas to get you organized and your year off to a great start. I truly wish you a fantastic year!

I offer Interior Design Services both virtually and locally. If you have a space you need some help with please Contact Me. I would love to help you!

-Jessica Harris

 

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The 9 Best Areas to Decorate for the Holidays

As the holidays are fast approaching are you getting a little ansy? You want to decorate your home, get it all festive for the upcoming seasons, but your a little unsure as to what the best way to do that is. You see so many fun holiday decorations, but you get a little overwhelmed on how to put it all together....... you don't want your home to look like a holiday bomb exploded, right!

Funny story.....When my husband and I were first married I don't think he realized how much I decorated for the holidays... especially for Christmas! Our first Christmas season together he came home (I'd put the decorations up during the day) and he told me it looked like Christmas bomb had gone off! We lived in a very small space, so I took that as a compliment :)

So this week I wanted to help give you a little guidance and direction on some of the key areas to decorate and some tips to make it look good!

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“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers”
— Anne of Green Gables

The 9 Best Areas to Decorate for the Holidays

1. The Front Porch: This is the ideal spot to make huge holiday statement to your guests, both those who drive by those who come in. Mix some cornstalks, pumpkins, and a cute bench with some fall inspired pillows and you are set. And Don't forget the wreath on the front door!

2. The Entry or Foyer Table: This is the next best area to make a fun Fall Décor impression, bonus you get to look at it everyday as well! Add some shiny candlesticks with some fall colored candles, a fun burlap banner, and some cute little pumpkins.

3. Fireplace Mantle & Hearth: This a key area to add a fall feeling to your home. You can either add a few fun pieces to your already existing mantle décor, or start with a clean slate and totally deck it out!

4. Open Shelving: Most of us have an entertainment center or bookcase that is the focal point of our Living Room, and most of them have open shelving. What a fun place to add a little Fall flair to your space. I suggest adding some fun pieces to your existing shelves, and clearing out a few shelves and starting from scratch.

5. Dining Table &/or Breakfast Nook: These spaces don't require a ton, just something simple that makes an impression. I love to use pinecones, leaves, candles all placed in a beautiful tray. A fall table runner will also be a great addition.

6. Pantry Door: Just a simple wreath on this sometimes forgotten door is so important to bringing that Fall feeling into your Kitchen. Its the room most of us spend a lot of our time in so you might as well add some Décor here too!

7. Kitchen Countertop or Island: Most of us have a few empty areas here where adding some Fall Décor would be awesome! So when your sitting there in your Kitchen making pies or sugar cookies, lets bring that season inside.

8. Stairway: Banners and railings are fun spots to add some Fall touches. Personally I have a large window with a wide windowsill in my Entry that I love to create some fun arrangements.

9. Coffee Table: Thisis another area that is often overlooked as a place to add those Fall touches to. You can keep it simple, similar to the Dining Table, just enough to make a statement.

What’s Your Interior Design Style? Take my Style Quiz to find out!

Get the Look: Fall Wreath

The "Iconic" Wreath on the front door is a key part to any Holiday Décor. I love wreaths so much that I also love to put them on my pantry door, in my stairway, on large windows, or even above my fireplace mantle. Wreaths come in all sizes and range from minimalistic styles to very "stuffed" :) Here's a few of my favorite Fall wreaths they are all from Wayfair.com and the affiliate links are posted below.

Fall Wreath

Top 10: Fall Décor Items

The best thing about fall decorations is that you can leave them up through the Halloween and Thanksgiving Holidays. Definitely a great way to save money! These décor items are some of my favorites. They give a little rustic farmhouse flair which I know a lot of people are loving right now! These products are all from Wayfair.com and the affiliate links are posted below. Enjoy!

Top 10 Fall Decor Items

Are you loving my Interior Design Style and want to start an online interior design project with me? Check out my design services and see how we can collaborate! 

Summary

This week I hope I've given you some great ideas on where to decorate for the holidays. There are so many happenings and get togethers' during the holiday season that sometimes it can be hard to really focus on the decorations and setting the mood in your home. I remember how excited I was when my mom would put out the decorations, so I've tried to do the same thing so my kids have those same memories. So good luck on letting that "decoration" bomb explode! :)

Feel free to share or pin this info for later use!

My job as an Interior Designer is to create amazing rooms for your home. Please Contact Me or email me at Jessica@jessicaharrisinteriors.com and I would love to help you create your "Dream" space! You can also visit my Services tab to see what is included in my Design Services. See you next week!! :)

What 'Design Topics' would you like to see me talk about in future blog posts? I'd love to hear from you, respond below.

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8 Ways to Save Money on Furniture

Updated 1/31/2022

Alright guys, so have any of you been pricing furniture lately.... it’s a good little chunk of change, isn't it?! And when we do invest in some nice furniture pieces like a sofa, recliner, or dining table how many of you want them to last a long time? I'm pretty sure that's most of you!  However, sometimes they don't always last as long as we'd like them to, or perhaps our kids decide to use them as a trampoline or notepad.  Styles of furniture also change pretty fast, which tends to leave our once perfect home feeling a little dated.

Well, this week I've got 8 Ways to help you Save Money on Furniture. Whether you're in the market for new furniture or trying to extend the life of your existing pieces I've got some tips that will help everyone out.

Photo Credit: Sophia Baboolal
“Life can be beautiful. It doesn’t have to be expensive.”
— Christine Louise Hohlbaum

8 Ways to Save Money on Furniture

1. When selecting large furniture items such as a sofa, recliner, or dining table go for neutral colors. Neutral colors are generally cheaper because the manufacturer can sell more of them. As colors and styles change its also easier just to switch out some accent pillows or a throw blanket to meet the current design trends.

2. Shop online. This allows you to compare prices between retailers, read product reviews, and become informed on all the options/upgrades that are available. Most places also offer free shipping on big ticket items.

3. When your local furniture store advertises a "BIG SALE" I suggest going to the store a week before the sale to check prices. Usually, the so-called sale price is more than the normal price because of how they mark up their items. So just be cautious of "SALE" prices.

4. I would recommend checking out Clearance Items, or Dented Items in a furniture store because they are priced to move. You can also get a great deal on their floor models.

5. Did you know that if you are nice to a salesperson, you could get a discount?! As a former salesperson, I can confirm that this is true :) I knew what the markup was, and how low I could discount the item and still make the store profit!

6. Thrift Stores, Flea Markets, Garage Sales. Estate Sales are all great places to get some great finds for a fraction of the cost. There are also Warehouse deals online, such as Amazon Warehouse Deals, where they have items that have been returned but are still in great condition.

7. There's also good old paint or spray paint that can transform almost anything into something bright and fun again. There is paint available for every possible surface, from countertops to floors!

8. Sometimes the option of building a furniture piece can be less expensive than purchasing one already made. This is where the internet and Pinterest come into play with so many "How To & DIY" Tutorials out there. I'm pretty sure you could find instructions on how to make anything!

What Design Style will you get? Take the Quiz and find out! Then do some shopping with customized links to create the look in your home!

Top 10: Neutral Furniture Pieces.

Here are some of my Favorites for the Top 10 Neutral Furniture Pieces for the week. I wanted to give you some ideas of furniture items that are a great price, have a great shape and style (which will help it stay in fashion for a while), and have some great neutral tones to match almost anything. click the links below for more product info.

Top 10 Neutral Furniture Pieces

Are you loving my Interior Design Style and want to start an online interior design project with me? Check out my design services and see how we can collaborate! 

 

Summary

I hope this week I've given you some great tips to help you save money on your furniture purchases. Buying furniture can be sooo stressful and time consuming, right?! So, I hope you are able to apply some of my tips and help the process go a little smoother and bonus...... save money while you're doing it! Feel free to share or pin this info for later :)

If you would like Interior Design help, Contact Me or email me at Jessica@jessicaharrisinteriors.com and I would love to help you create your "Dream" space! You can also visit my Services tab to see what is included in my Design Services. See you next week!! :)

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10 Ways to Bring the Summer Indoors

So let me ask you all a question.... Who loves the summertime? Relaxing outdoors on your patio or porch, swinging on your bench swing, watching the sunset with your significant other. Sounds perfect right? But realistically most of us can't spend as much time as we would like to outside..... bummer right?! So to help ease your pain a little bit I've created the "10 Ways to Bring Summer Indoors" Last week on the blog we talked about "Updating Your Outdoor Space" and this week we'll focus on the Indoors.

Photo Credit: Birchlane.com

Photo Credit: Birchlane.com

Indoor Summer Updates

Here's some quick and simple ideas that will add a little Summer glam to your indoor living space:

--Paint & Wallpaper: Paint little pops of color on an accent wall or on the backs of shelving cabinets. Wallpaper is also coming back in a big way with amazing patterns and MUCH easier to remove!

--Bright, Beachy, & Thin Fabrics: Choose pillows and rugs that have bright colors, with a beach feel. Throws & blankets should be thinner. Draperies should be light, thin, and translucent. This will visually bring a breezy feeling into the room.

--Lamps: Here you have 3 options. You can either use something is bright and fun possibly with a fun summery pattern, you can use translucent colored glass in blues and greens, or something that has a beachy wood feel.

--Flowers & Plants: Fresh Flowers in a glass vase or jar are PERFECT for summertime! Succulents are also very popular and don't require a lot of water for maintenance (sounds perfect for my lack of green thumb). Potted plants, trees, and flowers, either real or faux are great for bringing the outdoors inside also.

--Pots: Speaking of plants make sure those pots are fun and bright!

--Décor Accents: For centerpieces or vases use fruits and veggies, either real or faux. I'm a huge fan of lemons and limes. Nothing more summery than those!

--Kitchen Accessories: Make that cooking a little more fun with a bright terracotta pot to hold your cooking utensils. Switch out your dishtowels for something with a summer vibe.  Mix and match your plates with fun summer designs.

--Window Flower Boxes: Even though these are outside you will have a great view from the inside as your cooking your amazing meal.

--Color Palette: As your selecting your fun summer accents try to stick with 3 basic colors to create your summer color palette. You can use various shades of these three basic colors. Check out my Pinterest Board for some inspiration.

--Beach Accents: For accent pieces on shelves, tables, or mantles use pieces that have a coastal/beach/nautical theme. You can also switch out your gallery walls with frames or wall accents that have that coastal feel. You'll feel like your not far from that pier on the coast!

What’s Your Interior Design Style? Take my Style Quiz to find out!

 

Get the Look: Summer Table Lamps

I talked a little about table lamps above and how I love the translucent blue colored glass. These are just perfect for bringing the summer indoors. I think that blue color immediately makes me think I'm right next to the ocean..... smell that salty ocean air?  Here's three different price options for you, one for every budget. These are from one of my favorite stores... Target! The affiliate links are below for you to get more info about each light before you make a purchase.

Get the Look - Summer Table Lamps.jpg

Low:  Artisan Glass Table Lamp http://bit.ly/28ZlnMW

Med: Cal Lighting Christi Glass Table Lamp http://bit.ly/28Zo7uD

High: Uttermost Hagano Glass Table Lamp http://bit.ly/28ZagSZ

Top 10: Bring Summer Indoors

This week for my Top 10 Bringing Summer Indoors I incorporated a beach inspired color scheme. I absolutely love the coastal look, with the blues, nautical elements, and weathered wood. Nothing says summer more to me than that! These items will allow you to feel like the beach is right outside the door as the wind billows through the curtains. These are also all items I found from Target...love them. There are affiliate links below with more info on pricing and sizes.

Are you loving my Interior Design Style and want to start an online interior design project with me? Check out my design services and see how we can collaborate! 

Summary

I hope these tips for bringing summer indoors have left you inspired to add something wonderful to your own spaces. And I truly hope you each get to enjoy as much time outside as possible. If you have any questions please contact me at Jessica@jessicaharrisinteriors.com. Or if you would like to schedule a design consultation, either in home or online check out my services page here. As always feel free to share this post on your social pages to save for future reference. Thanks Everyone!

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Updating Your Outdoor Space

Summer has finally hit us... like opening the door to a hot oven! It seems like it stays cold forever, and then out of nowhere BAM, 90 degrees. So with this heat wave I'm sure your spending more time outdoors, with kids, or just relaxing in the lawn chair sipping a glass of ice cold Strawberry Lemonade!

Since we are spending more time outside this time of year, I'm sure you've noticed a few things you'd like to replace or update to your outdoor living space. So I've put together a few suggestions to help you create your summer style!

Photo by zhudifeng/iStock / Getty Images

Easy Updates

Here's some suggestions of outdoor items that are simple and easy to update:

--Pillows: Inexpensive and updated to a new color scheme each year.

--Area rugs & Welcome Mats: A simple addition that will add some fun and flair to your cement or wood decking.

--Lanterns: Either on the table or on the ground, this is a great way to bring color and stability into your space.

--Pots & Planters: There are so many color options, shapes, and sizes. You can also use spray paint to reuse  your current pots.

--Furniture: Your base pieces such as a sofa, chair, bench, or swing, need to be neutral tones, because these are usually more expensive pieces and you don't want to have to replace these very often.  Side tables, ottomans, or chairs are a little easier to update and can always be painted or sprayed.

--Outdoor plants and flowers help set the mood for your space so I always suggest some bright colors :)

--Color Schemes:  For some fun color schemes check out my Pinterest Board for some inspiration. Right now the trend seems to be blues, reds, greens and golds.

--Motifs: Lemons, Watermelons, Pineapples are very trendy right now and can be found on almost everything from pillows, plates, and wreaths.

--Plastic Melamine Tableware: Is a fun and durable option to add some spics to your daily meals or weekend BBQ's

--Storage: Ottomans or Benches are a great way to hide away and store childrens toys, or pool supplies.

What’s Your Interior Design Style? Take my Style Quiz to find out!

 

Get the Look: Adirondack Chairs

I believe that the Adirondack Chair is a staple to creating the perfect outdoor style. They come in many colors and price ranges. Here's a little roundup of my favorite in blue. These chairs are all from Wayfair. Affiliate Links are located below the picture.

Low: Westport Adirondack Chair - http://bit.ly/22I3AOi

Med: Classic Adirondack Chair - http://bit.ly/1t0l5wN

High: Folding Adirondack Chair - http://bit.ly/1TQY3iX

Top 10: Summer Style Outdoor Essentials

I absolutely love finding my favorite pieces each week to help inspire you.  Here's my roundup for the week with the affiliate links posted below the picture.

1. Nolita Drops Throw Pillow - Wayfair -  http://bit.ly/22HZshc

2. Classic LED Lantern, Hot Coral - One Kings Lane -  http://bit.ly/1XvJOXl

3. Lemon Wreath - Wayfair -  http://bit.ly/1X6egXb

4. Round Planter & Stand - Wayfair -  http://bit.ly/1r9imjv

5. Verbena Bistro Set - One Kings Lane - http://bit.ly/1PdOc4C

6. Eastern Garden Stool - One Kings Lane - http://bit.ly/1X6dMAe

7. Lemon melamine Salad Plate - One Kings Lane - http://bit.ly/1UCp7oe

8. Isidora Indoor/Outdoor Area Rug - Wayfair -  http://bit.ly/1RUZJWe

9. Pineapple Pillow - Wayfair - http://bit.ly/1PdP6hA

10. Orleans Rocker, Aruba - One Kings Lane - http://bit.ly/1XvK1d2  

Are you loving my Interior Design Style and want to start an online interior design project with me? Check out my design services and see how we can collaborate! 

Summary

I hope you've enjoyed these tips for updating your Outdoor Living spaces. If you have any questions let me know: Jessica@jessicaharrisinteriors.com . I also offer Interior Design Services both online or in-home. Check out my Services here and lets get going on designing your space. As always feel free to share this post on your social networks, so you can refer to it later. Have a Great Day My Friends!

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