Hiding in Plain Sight

Hello there and I hope you had a wonderful weekend! Ours was equally relaxing and productive, just the way I like it. :) I normally host the before and after link up today -- if you'd like to link up please check back tomorrow! I'm pushing it back one day to participate in this fun post. 

I'm joining in with a group of bloggers today to share some of our favorite organizational tips and how we've simplified our homes -- all to celebrate the release of my friend Melissa's new book, Make Room for What You Love: 

Isn't that the sweetest book cover? Melissa blogs at The Inspired Room and we've known each other for years. I'm thrilled for her! 

As I mentioned, a few of us (OK like 30 of us) are joining in to share some of our favorite tips and organizing solutions with you today to help kick off her book release. Melissa shares how to really focus in and figure out what you love, simplify, then organize those items that mean the most to you. 

It hits home for me because I've been looking at decluttering, and therefore organizing, differently over the past year. I've realized the joy in only filling your home with what you love and need. That's why this book spoke to me -- I have very little tolerance for random stuff we don't need anymore. I find the more I go through and the closer I get to "done" I feel like I'm on the edge of something really really amazing for our family. 

Do you ever feel like you're almost to the point of getting your act together? Ha! Most of my life I've never even felt close, but lately it's just…right there. So close I can taste it. I keep telling myself I just need one more week to get through the last bit of clutter! Without any responsibilities. Or plans. Or naps. THEN, I'll get there. 

Honestly I don't think I'll ever completely have my act together (it keeps life interesting) but I do feel like our home is a much happier and relaxing place because I've been able to purge so much and streamline what we use. Now here's the thing though -- we do still have stuff. I like stuff. But what we have we LOVE. We just love a lot of things. :) 

I do like those things to be put away where I don't see them all the time. And every once and awhile, I like a few empty shelves where those items live. Not to add more stuff -- but for room to breathe. I call my favorite storage in the house "hiding in plain sight." Spots that are nice to look at but they pack an organizational punch. 

I know I talk about these built ins a lot but I have to tell you, they're not only pretty, but they hold a TON of stuff!: 

My Dad and I built these bookcases and we used basic kitchen cabinets as bases. They are only 12 inches deep but you can go here to see how much I keep in those cabinets. It's seriously fabulous. 

Another one of my favorite spots for hidden storage and organization is my dream come true -- the window seat in our kitchen: 

There was no way I could just close up all of that open space -- I knew it had to be functional somehow. The seat lifts up and hides our larger (and rarely used) appliances and serving dishes. This seat is dreamy for more than one reason! ;) 

I have quite a few dressers and consoles in our home -- all were found on Craigslist over the years. And  most of the dressers in our house do not hold clothes: 

One dresser holds craft supplies, one is dedicated to office supplies and this one holds most of my tools and paint supplies. I love that you'd never know they all hold such practical items and look good doing it. :) 

If you've been around these parts for awhile you know my love of organized spaces has grown over the years, but my loathing of cords has run deep for some time now. I hate cords. Bleh. When we built a new fireplace for our family room years ago I used more kitchen cabinets to hide all the stuff I didn't want to see: 

These cabinets were reworked to be a little deeper so we could fit our TV components inside. I added the metal mesh so they could breath without seeing every little thing inside. (You can see how I replaced the doors here.) 

Not only do they hide the electronics, but they hold a bunch of other stuff too. I think adding these to either side of the fireplace was one of the best decisions we've made in our home: 

There you go -- just a few of the ways I hide all the stuff. :) It's pretty from the outside but easily accessible and super functional. I love when form and function work well together -- it doesn't need to be either or! Do you have any favorite ways to hide the necessary stuff in your house? 

Be sure to check out all of the other talented ladies joining me today! I can't wait to see what they share: 

Don't forget you can pick up Melissa's new book here. It would be a lovely little addition to your Mother's Day gifts! 

Here are all of the links so you can click around: 

Eleven Gables / Craftberry Bush / At the Picket Fence / Julie Blanner / Beneath My Heart / Thrifty Decor Chick / Emily A. Clark / Reluctant Entertainer / My Sweet Savannah / Domestic Fashionista / At Home In Love / 320 Sycamore / Sunny Side Up / Happy Happy Nester / The White Buffalo Styling Co / Sweet and Simple Home / Finding Home Farms / In My Own Style / Fox Hollow Cottage / The House of Silver Lining / Infarrantly Creative / Fieldstone Hill Design / Shabby Nest / Today's Creative Life / Sarah M. Dorsey Designs / Just A Girl / Southern Hospitality

Have a great start to your week! I will be back tomorrow with the May Before and After link up, just a day late!

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