what I’m craving: a calm and organized home

Posted on 07. May, 2011 by in around the house

Neat and tidy.
A place for everything.
Everything off the floor…
I have never lived this way.
It would be the ultimate luxury.


via home designing


via house of turquoise


via urban comfort


via the decorista
(Mint and gold is my new color crush.)


via caitlin creer


via home designing


via design sponge


via ohdeedoh


via bolig magazine


via pure style home

Are you a tidy person? What is your secret?

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  • Pingback: How Do You Keep It Clean? « The E is for Erin

  • http://www.creolewisdom.com creole wisdom

    I have always lived that way.

    Well, not always. Here was my turning point: I was a messy, artistic kid (do those always go together?) and my first grade teacher yelled at me in front of the entire class about my messy, crazy desk that wouldn’t close. So it was public humiliation that pushed me :)

    I just like to be organized. It helps me and makes it so I can keep a million projects going. Either you have to be OCD organized or else totally chaotic in this line of work I think.

    How do I do it? Constant cleaning and then overhauls of certain spaces (closets, dressers, desks) every few months. I put away everything and pick up stuff often.

  • http://www.theliteratti.co.nz Sabrina

    Having fun things to put stuff in is a good way to go – I like to keep an eye out for inexpensive/colourful storage baskets, filing boxes, jars etc – then when I have them it’s much more tempting to put my mess in there (towels, electronic gadgets, kitchen bits & pieces). The less fun bit is getting in the habit of putting things away once you’ve used them, so they don’t build up in your living room or whatever :)

  • shelby

    i looove the grey sofa but then i saw the teal one. maybe i should just have a room of couches.

  • Paula

    I am totally in this cleaning frenzy. I love when I can finally get the dust picked up and the wood floors crumb/dust/smudge free!

    Bins for the kids’ toys are my saving grace. Also, putting away lots of toys so there are only a few out and then trading them out every few weeks.

    Cleaning clutter every night is what I do, but the dirt/dust—-well it pretty much hangs out with the rest of us!

    I love love the photos.

  • http://www.geekdetails.com/blog Amanda @geekdetails

    Like Erin, I too hate to clean and end up purging the house often. We don’t keep anything we’re not using and if it doesn’t have a home, out it goes.

    I’ve given up on the basement since that’s where stuff is currently going to die (either waiting for a garage sale or for me to find a place for it upstairs). By giving up the basement, I saved the rest of the house though.

    I’ve found baskets and bins work really well for me. I need stuff easier to put away than it is to get out. So sorting art supplies by type and then just tossing all the glues in one bin is working for me.

    We recently bought a “Mint” hardwood floor cleaner and it doesn’t do a good job if there’s stuff on the floor. Making sure it does a good job has made it so I pick up around the edges of the room more. No random stuff on the floor any more.

    I think that having a clean organized house is an going process. I’m constantly figuring out what’s working for us now and what isn’t and renovating/decorating/rearranging to fit our needs.

    Oh. I also lowered my expectations. Even those houses that you posted photos of don’t look like that most of the time if ever. Some stylist comes in, rearranges some stuff, and takes a photo. Most houses are just not going to look that put together ever. So if I lower my expectations of perfection, I freak out less.Not that my house is a mess, it’s just not perfect.

  • miss lynn

    ohmygosh.
    i want to be tidy,
    SO BAD!
    but i simply cannot do it!
    i have “grown up” enough
    to know that i have to have
    some organization in my
    life so my family won’t suffer,
    and i really don’t want to be
    those people who are late
    for everything and forget
    the little details, so i work
    my fool head off to be
    sorta average organized,
    but i don’t think i’ll ever
    live in these beautiful photos!
    happy day to you!

  • http://e-customcards.com Erin

    I hate to clean, so the key for me is minimalism. I am a big purger of unneeded clothes, toys, doodads that don’t have a home. Containers for everything left behind. And color. That’s my recipe!

  • mrsjaxies

    1. i actually woke up thinking this exact same thing–i want my house cleeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaan.

    2. i am also mad enchanted with mint and gold.

    3. judging from your facebook/twitter, you were up until like 8? you are such a rock star.

  • http://www.fruitful-design.com Ben Lueders

    That’s funny-

    my mom is not a very clean/organized person either. But every mother’s day/birthday she would ask for “a clean house and obedient children”. Obviously I couldn’t get her that second item, but several times I stayed up till 3 in the morning while everyone was in bed, organizing and deep cleaning the family house. To this day she talks about those times as being some of the best gifts she’s ever received.

    I hope you get what you want. Great pics!

  • chepkirui

    An inspiring post Megan. thank you!! I spend lots of time picking up, especially with a 20-month old in the house. And have very unorganized closets and drawers, so if worse comes to worse, I just hide the mess!!

  • http://Blog.easilydunn.com Jamie

    It takes so much effort and SO much time to keep our house tidied up. I have to clean everyday or it somehow just becomes a hot mess with the dogs and the baby and the never ending stream of friends (a band of 20-something lost boys) around. I keep waiting for it to become a habit or at least easier. But it’s definitely worth it when people stop and fawn over the house instead of staring at piles of mess and we can find things and dishes are clean…seriously the best feeling. It’s easiest for us to just clean things right away or put things up as soon as we’re done with them. And we designate one day a week to focus on a room and clean it well – Monday’s are kitchen. Tuesdays are bathrooms, Wednesday’s are bedrooms, Thursday’s living room and patio, Fridays are floors and laundry. Then we just wreck the place Saturday and Sunday but at least we have a damn good time doing it :)

  • http://www.ramblingsofgeo.blogspot.com georgia

    The 2nd one down reminds me of desperate housewives …

    I love the colour of the sofa in the pic below that…. :)

    I also would love to know the secret, my current method is stash and store…

    big ikea entertainment unit, with cubby holes stuffed with paperwork, etc – although recently i went through it all and decluttered, and it made me feel better!

    I cant have a clutter free home, my dogs like to clutter it up again, and make things a mess… there like kids! lol