How to Organize Sports Balls

(via Spacehoppas Sports Facility)

Yesterday, I helped a client tackle her sports closet (pun intended).  It was packed full of equipment but as we sorted through, we realized that most of the space was consumed by sports balls.  Lots of basketballs, a few soccer balls and a handful of baseballs and tennis balls, totaling close to 50 altogether.  In one closet!

There has got to be a better solution for storing athletic balls indoors rather than shoving them in a closet.  Of course, my first direction was to pare down the number of balls, moving out any old, childish or deflated ones.  And when we were looking at a much more reasonable number, I suggested a few different options:

This chute is vertical and holds up to 4 basketballs.  You can mount it on the wall OR directly to the basketball post, keeping them on hand for a pickup game.

This holder is individual and comes in different sizes for a football, soccer ball or basketball.  Then you can pick the one(s) you need and have a bit more flexibility with where to place it.

Chances are that basketballs aren't your only problem with sports equipment clutter.  This rack can hold  lots more than just sports balls.  And notice the great detail on the netted bag- it has a top AND side opening so you can grab a ball from the bottom without digging too deep!

In the end, I think we're gonna go with the chute, since the closet has built-in shelving to use for other sporting goods.  And she'd like for her front hall closet to hold more than just athletic gear.  Even if you don't have a closet, you could adapt your mudroom to house some sports equipment, too.

Tell me, Appleshiners, how do you organize all your basketballs and such?

Architectural Digest Home Design Show

Recently, I visited the Architectural Digest Home Design Show, not just to look around but also to support my very talented friend, Dwayne, and his gorgeous interior design firm, RDYC.  He was selected by DIFFA for their Dining by Design exhibit- congrats!

It was fun afternoon (especially since it was particularly cold and rainy outside) and I wandered about, finding plenty of organization inspiration and snapping a few photos along the way.

Of course California Closets had an enviable closet display.  I really like the natural, wooden shelving with glass shelving and cabinets- it's so light and airy.  I could totally see myself getting ready in that closet.

I like these little stools.  The soft colors are so pretty and they could double for an end table or extra seating.  Multi-tasking furniture is key for small space organization.

How gorgeous is this shelving unit?!  My taste usually doesn't go towards earthy elements but the simple beauty of this piece is stunning.  And the height allows for more shelves = more organizing solutions.

Shadow box shelving units are all over the place but I've never seen them assembled like this before!  They made the most of a corner space, taking storage vertical and maximizing wall space.

Remember my post on using a frame to hold sunglasses?  This company has a streamlined version of that concept.  Board by Design makes an iWear Rack so compact and attractive, you could place it right by your front door and never forget your sunglasses again.

I had a lot of fun with this little weekend activity.  

Tell me, Appleshiners, what are you up to this weekend?

Picking the Right Storage Bench

One of my favorite tips for keeping a small space organized is finding a piece that can multi-task.  Using a storage bench for your entry way, mud room, bedroom or any other room is like adding an extra closet to the space.  And we all know how precious closet space is.

This classic, wooden bench has built-in cabinets.  Place it in your dining room, as it's perfect for hiding servingware and extra place settings.

(via Organize.com)

The tailored look of this nailhead upholstered bench is a gorgeous choice for a sophisticated bedroom.  It can serves as a linen closet, housing your extra blankets and second set of sheets.

(West Elm)

I like this subtle color this fabric can add to a room.  And the deep chest can store all your board games, perfect for family night fun.

(via Home Decorators Collection)

Talk about multi-tasking: this bench has both cubbies underneath AND shallow storage on top.  You can even pick out your own baskets or bins to add color and streamline the organized look.

(Real Simple via Bed, Bath and Beyond)

 A storage bench that acts as a true seating area.  The grander scale of this furniture would make a lovely statement in your foyer and use the underneath bins for shoes, outerwear accessories and the kids bags.

(via Brookstone)

Tell me, Appleshiners, how would you use a storage bench?

Cool Furniture for Small Spaces

Look at me, hanging out on that cool couch....that turns into a bed!  It's my dream come true: the ultimate space saver that's both practical and trendy.  

In the past, this type of bed was a dark and dowdy contraption (with a name that rhymed with 'urphy').  Nowadays, Resource Furniture has transformed the hideaway bed into a modern living room layout.  And they didn't stop there; they have console tables that stretch to seat 14 people, bunk beds that double as an office and coffee tables that triple as a desk for one or formal seating for 10.  

I was so excited to go to their event this week and take a grand tour of the showroom.  My most favorite piece was their beautiful sofa which happened to turn into a bed.  Fantastic!

First, you have to remove the many throw pillows (their fabric selection is gorgeous and plentiful).  And note the ample storage space underneath the couch.  Very cool.

Then simply pull the shelf down to open up the bed.  It acts as the support for the frame and the best part is, nothing on the shelf gets disturbed.  Even those glass vases remain untouched when the bed is fully functional.

And there you have it!  One, two, three steps from a cushy sofa to a snuggly sleeping arrangement.  It's a Queen size bed, too, and I swear that mattress is more comfy than the one at my apartment.  (Or maybe I was just giddy from the demonstration.) 

Regardless, it's a great way to save space in a small apartment, guest room or vacation home.  And it's sleek, efficient and easy on the eyes. I had such a lovely time at their event and can't wait to see what design they'll come up with next.


Tell me, Appleshiners, where would you use a bed like this?


PS- I hope everyone has a happy holiday!  If you're planning on joining family and friends for a yummy dinner, use these great carriers to get your food there unharmed and in style.

If you're hosting a get together, here are a few ideas for extra seating in a small space.

If your list of things to do is overwhelming, take a few deep breaths and follow these tips on how to make the most of your time.

And, most of all, I hope you have as much carefree fun as she does here.  Happy weekend, everyone!

Appleshine: Coat Closet

Hi friends!  This week, I Appleshined a coat closet.  My client was already halfway there with good intentions (note the matching hangers, wicker baskets and large bins) but needed a little direction in order to complete the look.

The main goal was to get everything off the floor, except for shoes.  And I even limited those to 'utility shoes' like sneakers, rain boots, snow boots, etc.  Anything else (ie- nicer) went into their bedroom closets.  Luckily, the green bins were a perfect size for the job and the bendable material allowed for a little give with the odd shoe sticking out.

The baskets on the top shelved housed outerwear accessories like gloves, scarves, hats and umbrellas.  I arranged the jackets by seasonal weight, the lighter, warmer-weather jackets in the front and the heavy, winter coats in the back.  The kids coats were moved into their own sections in the family mud room.

Like I said, all the key tools were there but needed that organizational finesse to make it functional.  Sometimes, it just takes a little extra time to think through the flow of the space to create a truly organized system.

Tell me, Appleshiners, what tricks do you have for organizing your coat closet?

PS- Check back tomorrow for a very cool post on some very cool, space saving furniture!

Organization Inspiration

Remember this post about using organization as artwork?  One of the concepts stuck with me: picture rails serving as shoe racks.  Here are some similar images:

(House to Home)

(House to Home)

(Living in a Nutshell)

I like the idea of treating your shoes like artwork.  Putting your belongings out in the open reminds you what you have; things won't get lost in the back of a closet if they're on display instead.


Tell me, Appleshiners, would you use picture rails to hang your shoes?


I hope everyone has a great weekend!  Maybe you'll get some errands done.

If you're going to a dinner party, here are great ways to carry your food with you.

This before/after of a home office will inspire you to do a little pick-up around your home!

Appleshine: Boys Playroom

Yesterday, I organized a boy's playroom.  There wasn't much purging needed as there was re-organizing the toys, games and books.  

He's reading more chapter books now so I kept only his favorite storybooks on one shelf, making room for another matching bin to hold small action figures.

It'd been awhile since things were moved around.  He was a little older (and taller) now but the 'big-kid' toys were still out of his reach.  I moved all the board games low to the ground where he could read the labels and pull them out himself.  The higher shelves were for arts/crafts, science kits, beads and other toys that required adult supervision.

The clear plastic shelves were disorganized and without system.  I resorted all their contents and switched some things around, making sure all the smaller items were contained while some bigger items were moved out to his toy bin.  In the end, it wasn't a major transformation but it was enough tweaking to give him easy access to his favorite toys.  And what kid wouldn't be happy with that?

Tell me, Appleshiners, what tricks do you have for keeping some toys accessible (and others out of reach) for young ones?

Also, check out this girl's playroom and another's bedroom for more kid-inspired organizing.

Read a Good Book Lately?

Sometimes we need to know when to say 'when'.  Deciding what items to move away from and when to do so can be daunting; so much so that we tend to push it towards the bottom of our to do lists. In Gail Blanke's book, Throw Out Fifty Things, she encourages you to push yourself through the psychological barriers that cause you to create clutter in the first place.  "If you want to grow, you gotta let go," is Blanke's mantra; that means eliminating the clutter (physical and emotional) that holds you back. 

I absolutely support this approach to letting go of items once they've served their value.  When we obtain an object, whether it was purchased, gifted or willed, we should accept it with the understanding that it will serve a purpose.  And when that purpose is served, it's time to move it out of our lives.  

Many people find it hard to let go of an item for one of these reasons: financial, emotional or practical.  Because we paid $$ for it, it was given to us by someone special or it could be useful in the future is NOT a good reason to keep any item past its expiration date.  I'm not saying there aren't exceptions to these rules- they're surely are (and good ones!) Although, generally speaking, one should assess the purpose value of an item and determine if that purpose is still valid.  

Discarding a material item won't remove your memory attached to it.  Even though that couch was your first big purchase in your first apartment (ahem, 3 apartments ago), it's simply taking up space in your new home.  And sure, those jeans might come back in style and you could possibly fit into them but, in the meantime, they're taking up space in your closet.  Maybe you're not ready to get rid of 50 things but try starting with 5...or 10...or 20.  Just start somewhere (I promise, that'll be the hardest part).

Maybe this book will help motivate you to move a few things out.  And these are good reads, too.  Or maybe they'll just get you thinking about it.  Either way, clearing out a little clutter makes ways for big things to happen- they might just need some extra room.

Tell me, Appleshiners, what have you moved out of your life lately?

Mud Rooms

It's a spot for all your outside stuff to reside while you're inside your home. Most are divided by family member, including room for shoes, bags, coats and other small items.  Cubbies and baskets are typical but some are simply a bench and coat rack.  I've found a few images of mud room concepts that I like:

This is one of the first mud room's that I Appleshined.  I kept it simple to go with their natural decor.  They'd already picked out these large wicker baskets to hold all the kids' shoes underneath.

This is a similar concept to the one above.  Here they use pegboards as the backsplash, which offers a little color and flexibility when hanging different items.

I love how a simple closet can multi-task from clothes storage to a desk to even a mud room.  Again, using baskets to store smaller items keeps the look clean.  And placing the shoes on shelving keeps them from clumping on the floor.

Centsational Girl did a great job with her entry way.  She used a basic storage bench and a few hooks; it serves it's purpose while still maintaining an artistic aesthetic.

Tell me, Appleshiners, how did you arrange your mud room?

Rainy Day Closet Raid

Well, ain't it a dreary day.  When the weather keeps you inside, why not plan a productive activity to keep you busy?

I sorted through my closet today, plucking out old pieces that I no longer wear.  In the end, it makes me feel like I have a whole new wardrobe.  I enjoy wearing everything left behind knowing it looks good on me and it's either the current trend or a classic piece.

If you're up for appleshining your wardrobe, here are some rules to follow:

1) Pull out anything that you did not wear this season, including items you tried on but didn't wear or anything you wore and felt not-so-great in.

2) Organize your remaining clothes by sleeve length, color and function.  When you go to grab a long sleeve spring sweater, all your options will be grouped together making it easier (and faster) to choose.

3) Bag up your old clothes for donation and remove them from your home asap.  Don't let them sit around and create more clutter. 

4) I realized I hadn't been wearing these because they needed to be hemmed.  Gather your clothes for the tailor and make an appointment this week.  When they're ready for pick up, it'll be like going shopping :)

5) If you're struggling with keeping or tossing an item, use this guide (from Mimi and Meg) for that extra nudge towards the donation pile.

Tell me, Appleshiners, what are your tips for appleshining a closet?