IKEA BYOF Event Recap {Charlotte, NC}…

Last Saturday, IKEA stores nationwide held their BYOF (Bring Your Own Friend) event.  It was a code red weekend.

Code red: Over 8,000 visitors were expected to visit the store in one day

I was asked to give two organizing presentations throughout the day.  Woo hoo!

Love the banner. I spy… 🙂

Time to dress the part.  Makeup, hair, the works! 🙂

Getting ready for my big day!

I arrived and the parking lot was packed!

Packed house for the BYOF event!

My parents were inside shopping so I met up with them an hour and half before my first presentation.  The Charlotte store recently made some changes to their Marketplace.  All renovations were complete and their Spring line was front and center.  Thanks IKEA for inspiring me to redo my entire apartment!  😉

I love these colors! And that rug?!

I headed upstairs to get my organizing on.  The topics were home office and closet organizing.  I prefer to have an interactive discussion so I made sure to ask questions like, “What is your biggest challenge when it comes to closet organizing?”  I love hearing the responses, but most importantly, I want to make sure the audience is getting something out of my presentation.

Lights, camera, ACTION!

Apparently I like to move around and make funny faces! 😉

“Excuse me, could you speak up?”

Suggestions on home office organizing:

• Set up storage and use wall space.
• You need to store all sorts of items in a home office from paper to pens to paper clips.  Have storage options available so it is not out and in the way.
• Use cork boards to keep track of invitations, bills to be paid, and store coupons.

Suggestions on closet organizing:

• Display it and you will wear it.
• Use consistent hangers to cut down on the visual clutter.
• Insert pool noodles (aka floats) into boots to keep them upright.

There were some other suggestions but those were the most talked about. 🙂

And look who came to see me…

Why yes that is Dwell by Cheryl! 🙂

Yes that is a thrift store dress.  Banana Republic — from Goodwill — $5. 😉

It was an awesome day filled with great ideas and conversations.  Who is ready for another Pure & Simple Organizing & IKEA Charlotte session? 🙂

Until next time…

Guest Blogger {Dwell by Cheryl}…

 

Charlotte masquerades as a big city, but it really is a small town.  Everyone knows everyone.  I first met Cheryl through Twitter and we decided to have coffee to get to know one another.  When I arrived, Cheryl exclaimed that we actually know the same people … my boyfriend’s family kind of people.  Raymond’s sister-in-law is Cheryl’s co-worker and friend.  I said, “You are Beth’s coworker who started a design business on the side!”

We felt destined to meet. 🙂

Cheryl is the mastermind behind Dwell by Cheryl Interiors.  Business woman by day.  Interior designer by night.  Her work is fabulous!  And her blog posts are equally inspiring!

Closet Confessions:  Organization Meets Design

After contemplating a topic for Jennifer’s blog for days, I finally decided what better place is there in a home to merge form (design) and function (organization) than in a closet.  Of course, it begins with organization but I’m a firm believer that it shouldn’t stop there.

I must confess that I’m a complete closet junky.  Sure it’s where you store you’re apparel, but it can also be a pretty cool place to hang out.   I totally hang out in my closet; I talk on the phone in my closet, I’ve even been known to snack in my closet.  I know, I know, guilty as charged.   Nevertheless, if you’re going to have a hangout worthy closet, there are a few simple ways to create an inviting space.

Add a little color.  I’m a big fan of wallpaper, particularly in a small space.  In my first home, I used this pink and green Hawaiian floral because it screamed happy to me.

{Source}

Not into wallpaper?  Try a bold color on the walls.  The bottom line is, the closet is your chance to let your hair down.  Why not canary yellow or passion purple or bubble gum pink?

Add some drama.   Nothing says drama like bling, so go all out and install a chandelier.

And don’t let the bling fool you.  You’d be surprised how many fabulous and inexpensive chandeliers you can find on Craigslist, at local thrift stores, and garage sales.

I found this lovely lady at a consignment shop for $20.  It’s huge and by removing the crystals and throwing them in the dishwasher, and adding a coat of spray paint, I had a $25.00 crystal chandelier that could easily be mistaken for one eight times that amount.

Lastly, if you’re going to have a hangout worthy closet, add a place to sit.  A seat in the closet gives you a resting spot to get inspired to put together those fabulous outfits.   It also just makes you want to linger a little while.

Finally, just in case you’re thinking, “I don’t have a large walk in closet so none of those ideas will work for me.”, remember it’s not about the size of the closet.  It’s about making the space you do have your own.

Happy decorating! Want more closet ideas?  Check out this post Dwell by Cheryl.

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I love organized and “pretty”.  These ideas are great for both!  If you liked today’s post, then please leave a comment below.  We would love to hear from you!

Until next time…

Inside The Organizer’s Home {Purses}…

Hello! Happy Happy Monday! 🙂  I’m slightly weird in that I actually enjoy Mondays!  This was my second weekend “off”…in a row mind you.  Two days off does a Jennifer good. 🙂

Okay…second edition of Inside The Organizer’s Home!  Today’s topic:  Purses!  You get a little surprise too…a shot of my closet. 🙂

Disclaimer:  I have since purged a few things since taking these pictures.  So the closet actually looks a little better!

PURSES

I don’t own a lot of purses.  Truthfully, I don’t own a lot of any “one” thing, but I think displaying stuff is the best way to organize it.  Remember last week’s post about jewelry?  Showcase those earrings!  I honestly feel that way about most anything you own.  If you liked it enough to buy it, then you should like it enough to display it.

Examples: earrings, necklaces, purses, shoes.  Make getting ready in the morning more fun!

Okay — back to the topic.  I personally organize my purses by hanging them from a tension rod.

Organizing purses using a shower curtain rod

I bought a shower curtain rod from Target along with a few shower curtain hooks.  Voila!  This method will not work if you have more than 10 purses {the rod will fall}.  How do you organize your purses?

Bonus:  shot of my closet. 🙂

An organized closet

More to come next week!

Until next time…