When life gives you clutter, get rid of most of it, and then organize what you have left with the help of a few decorative pieces.
PRETTY PACKAGING: Baubles happen. Paper clips and decorative thumbtacks in the home office, and tea leaves and kosher salt in the kitchen. Sometimes they need to live on the counter for convenience and to free up precious drawer or cabinet space. Make sure these items take the stage in style with these cinnamon boxes made by work-at-home artisans in Vietnam. $10, One World Fair Trade, 104 Matheson St., Healdsburg, (707) 473-0880, oneworldfairtrade.net
REUSEFUL: This decorative item is made from recycled posters that have been wet, glued and coiled into a basket. If you’re not displaying this as an art piece, it could work as a receptacle for migrating car keys, a collection of remote controls, or the phone charger that everyone keeps stealing. While it won’t hide these items, it’s a landing area that doubles as decoration. $25, One World Fair Trade, 104 Matheson St., Healdsburg, (707) 473-0880, oneworldfairtrade.net
ELEVATED DESIGN: Use vertical space to your advantage and get your bottles off the counter, out of the cupboard and on the wall. A great looking solution for small space dwellers. $325, Cokas Diko, 1125 West Steele Lane, Santa Rosa, 707-568-4044, cokasdiko.com
RUSTIC CUBBY: Mary at Pederson Furniture recommends these rustic cubbies to help corral toys, crafts, shoes in an entryway or even linens in the dining room. Each drawer is fully removable so your supplies can go with you. $1019.95, Pederson’s Furniture, 707 5th St, Santa Rosa, 707-542-1855, pedersensfurniture.com
HANG IT UP: Nearly bare counters and tables are the stuff of minimalist dreams. Cultivate neatness by using your vertical real estate. These hanging planters put your flowers at eye level, freeing your table tops to hold high-priority items - like emptiness. $28, Artefact Design and Salvage, 23570 Arnold Dr, Sonoma, 707-933-0660, artefactdesignsalvage.com
MAKE ROOM FOR LESS: This how-to-tidy manual, by famed organizer and writer, Marie Kondo, is not for the faint of organizational heart. “Spark Joy” is the follow-up to the first book “The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up.” If you’re wanting a perspective overhaul and feel drawn to a minimalist aesthetic, this might be an inspiring read. (Note: I’m still trying to convince my family to fold their clothes Marie Kondo style.) And there’s a Manga version of this book, too, to appeal to the less than tidy teen. Ask your local bookstore to order it. $18.99, Copperfield’s Petaluma, 140 Kentucky St, Petaluma, 707-762-0563, copperfieldsbooks.com
When life gives you clutter, get rid of most of it, and then organize what you have left. With the help of a few decorative pieces, would-be clutter can be managed and even attractive to look at. Of course, select carefully because sometimes clutter storage becomes clutter. Taking the time to pick the right quality piece can protect against the I-suddenly-hate-it syndrome. Click though the above gallery for more information.
