6 steps to consider when designing a kids closet

Kid's closets are an interesting challenge.  They are often the smallest closets in the house and you are trying to hide the most items in there.  I hear many parents say, "it is just a kid's closet, they don't need anything fancy".  We understand where they are coming from, but disagree with that way of thinking.  A child's closet is the "organization training wheels" to teach your kids a few important life skills at an early age.  For this blog we collaborated with one of the owners of California Closets Texas Hill Country, Jill Siegel.

1. Make sure you have enough shelves:

Here is the big question-What hangs and what folds?  Depending on your child's stage in life, the answer could be very different to this question.  With smaller kids you tend to fold more of their tiny clothes. The older they get, the more you hang.

2.  Make sure there is a place for dirty clothes:

Think of this closet design as teaching your child one of the more important life skills you can teach-organization.  There is a place for everything and everything has its place.  Where do the dirty clothes go?  Where do the clean clothes go? There is no doubt the answer to this question when you take the time to plan ahead.

3.  Make sure there is plenty of room for toys:

Kids are more likely to put things away if there are specific places for their toys to go.  Create shelf spaces in your child's closet that are fitted for specific items, such as bins for putting smaller toys and larger openings for some of their larger toys.

4.  Plan for your closet design to adjust as your child grows:

No matter the size of your child's closet, organization abilities should grow with your child as their wants and needs change.  As an infant you may need more shelf spaces for folded clothes, blankets and diapers. As a toddler you need more space for toy organization and a few additional hanging clothes. Finally, as a teen the need to organize toys goes away and gives way to the need for drawers to hide large folding items and shoe bins.

5.  Make it fun:

Closets don't have to have drab white walls and painted shelves, they can be fun like the photo below.  Take your child's closet and make it a space they want to spend a little time in.  They will enjoy all the fun little details you can add for personalization.  There are no set in stone rules here.  If your child has 10 dress-up outfits with matching plastic shoes, plan a space for them that they can reach.  Your child will enjoy knowing where all of their favorite things are and you will enjoy a cleaner room.

6. Don't forget to add your organization accessories:

Take advantage of all of the fun organizational items available when creating your child's closet.  The more fun you make it, the more likely they are to use it properly.  A few examples of items that are available include sloped shoe shelves and wire drawers. You can also take it that extra step and add down lighting and glass shelves so some of your areas can appear as decorative display.

Who says teaching organization and life skills can't be fun?  We think California Closet's concept for children's closets is well thought out, creative and fun.  Our advice to you if you are thinking about hiring a professional to organize your child's closet:  Find a designer that has kids and understands your goals and growth plans.  Thank you to California Closets for providing the wonderful photography above and thank you to Jill for all the great advice for creating and organizing your child's space.

Are you looking to update your child's space, but the thought of touching it makes you swoon, we are here to help.  Our design team has collaborated with California Closets on many different occasions and would love the opportunity to work with you on yours.  Give us a shout.

Click here to see more blog posts by Paula Ables Interiors.  

5 Tips to get organized for Back to School

With the kids starting back to school, this is the perfect time to get everyone organized!  

Consider the following home updates to help with all the back to school madness:

1. Prepare the entry Point

   • Wherever your family comes and goes is bound to be one of the messiest places in your home. The kids throw their backpacks down, everyone leaves their dirty shoes sitting out and stacks of coats are piling up.
   • Consider mounting wall hooks or installing a shelving unit so that everyone has their own designated cubby and tabletop to set things on. This way everything will be tucked away.

2. Post a Schedule

   • Invest in a large calendar for the kitchen or a common area.
   • OR consider putting chalkboard paint on a wall that everyone passes—there you can write upcoming events, to-do’s for the kids & fun messages! We love this idea.

3. Clean out the Closets

   • As the kids grow they need to be getting rid of and donating things that no longer fit them. Before you go back to school shopping, help them clean out their closets so you know exactly what they need when you shop!
   • Also clean out any old school books from last year so things don’t pile up and their storage drawers are clean and organized for this school year.

4. Stock the Pantry

   • Organize the pantry with snack bins, fruit & veggie bins, etc. With organized bins that are stocked up, it will be easy for the kids to pack their lunch or help themselves to a snack when they get home!

5. Organize YOUR office

   • While you’re doing all these things for the kids to get ready for back to school, why not take some time to organize your space? Besides, you’ll probably be getting more work done now with the kids out of the house, so you’ll want an organized area to work in.

Are you wanting to get a little more organized but not sure where to start?  We are here to help!  Give us a call and we can get you on the road to organization.

Click here to see more blog posts by Paula Ables Interiors.  

3 ways to create a Woman Cave in your home

 

Everyone has heard of the Man Cave.  The thought of this room often brings to mind pool tables, video games and stinky cigars...but how many of you ladies have thought of setting up a Woman's Cave?  The need for separate gender use spaces dates all the way back to our Kindergarten days.  Every kid has created a clubhouse at some point in his life whether it be a gathering of boxes taped together in the driveway, a blanket tent in the living room or an actual playhouse setting.  Once this space was created, there is often a sign added to the space stating NO (boys, girls, adults, etc.) ALLOWED!

When you think of the words "Woman Cave" what does it bring to mind?  Have you always wanted your own sewing room?  Craft room? Exercise room that inspires you?  Here are a few ideas to help spur your interest into a room you can call your own.

1. Craft or wrapping stations

You have a smaller house, but would like a space to add a wrapping station or craft area in your home.  You may not be able to pull of an entire room, but sometimes a closet within a room or room within a room will give you that coveted space without taking over your Master Bedroom.  Common items to use for this scenario are:  An armoire or a closet organizer.

2.  Dual purpose Guest/Sewing Room

You have a mid-size house with a guest room.  You do have guests visit every couple of months, but would like the room to be usable during the down times?  One way to make this room a multi-use room is by adding a wall bed.  This is not to be mistakenly associated with the old metal rod in your back sofa beds we were all forced to sleep on as children.  Times have changed.  The children that were forced to sleep on uncomfortable guest beds have all grown up and redesigned the system to make temporary beds more comfortable whether they be on a wall or folded into a sofa.

(room by Paula Ables Interiors, built by Design Theory/California Closets)

This room is an example of a guest room turn sewing room.  This particular client wanted a felt sheet to hang her quilting squares while she figured out the design.  Our solution was this great wall bed with the felt sheet rolled into the header above.  When the client is sewing, the room is large and spacious.  Everything she needs is within reach.  When the guest arrives, the machines and fabrics go away and out comes the beautiful guest bed with a nice fluffy mattress. So comfy you will have to start charging your guest rent to get them out of your house.

3.  Exercise Room

You have a large house and a couple of undefined rooms that have slowly become junk accumulation areas. This is a common issue for empty nesters. The kids are out on their own and the house suddenly feels twice the size it use to be. Instead of being sad that your little birdies have made nests of their own, celebrate the space and make it function for you. I don't think I was out of the house for more than an hour before my childhood bedroom became my parents new office space.

Follow my parents example and don't be shy.  Don't let those rooms sit idle, claim your new space.  Sharing a workout room in your house with your husband can be great, but women and men often have different fitness goals and it is hard to share equipment.  Make the space fit your exercise needs, whether it be yoga, karate or Pilates machines (they look surprising like old torture devises...just an observation).

The first step is to install the full wall to ceiling mirror, next decide what your flooring should be. Hardwood is easy to scratch and tile can often be too cold and hard on your legs. Consider installing a spongy rubber floor over your existing hardwoods/tile to help protect them from your equipment and protect you from additional strain and injury due to an unforgiving floor space. Once these two things are completed, bring on the exercise equipment.

All rooms can benefit from a fresh coat of paint and maybe an updated light fixture to compliment the new purpose of the space as well. If one or all of the ideas above sounds intriguing to you, but you can't decide which direction to go, give us a call. We love helping to create new personal spaces for our clients that fit their specific needs.

Click here to see more blog posts by Paula Ables Interiors.  

Decked out Dorm Room

This time of year a lot of kids are off to college for their first year in a new & exciting place! And while it's exciting for both the parents and the student, it's also nerve-racking, stressful, and even a little sad for everyone. You're sending your kid off to somewhere totally new, maybe far away from home, with a bunch of strangers and you just really hope they are complacent and happy--and your kid is really hoping this too! The best way to start off on the right foot? Create a comfortable living environment!

Help your child get settled in their new dorm or apartment and create an area where they will feel at home.

Below are some of our favorite Dorm Room essentials to use to design the perfect space for your child (or for yourself if you're the one going off to college).

(product details after the image)

Dorm Products List:

1. Navy Curtains - Urban Outfitters - Dorm windows typically aren't pretty so use these curtains to bring in color and provide extra privacy.   2. White Desk Shelf - Container Store - This shelf collapses so it's easy to move.   3. Table Lamps -  West Elm - With the harsh lighting of the dorm these accent lamps will create a much warmer atmosphere.   4. Cozy Bedding - Urban Outfitters - nice bedding is the quickest way to brighten your plain room and bring in your own style. Since you probably will only have this for a couple of years, don't spend too much! But don't cheap out completely...you'll already have trouble sleeping if sharing a room with a new roommate.   5. White Desk Chair - Overstock - Desk chairs don't have to be ugly or expensive. This white number is sleek and will modernize any space.   6. White Desk - Urban Outfitters -  a lot of dorm rooms now provide a desk, but if they don't you'll want to invest in at least a small table. There will definitely be nights you don't feel like going to the library and the desk will come in handy!   7. Mini Fridge - Home Depot - A necessity for all dorm rooms! You'll occasionally want your own groceries to help prevent that Freshman 15.   8. Tall Bookcase - Overstock -  If you can fit it, definitely consider purchasing a bookcase. You will be acquiring a lot more books and it will add an upscale accent.   9. Record Player - Urban Outfitters - Want to be the coolest new friend on campus? Get a record player.   10. Dishware Set - Urban Outfitters - Just like a mini fridge, dishware is a dorm necessity. An affordable set should get you all the way through College too.   11. Framed Pictures/Art - Urban Outfitters - Decorate the walls! Create a photo collage or buy a bunch of cool, inexpensive prints--it will make your place feel a lot more home-y.   12. Blanket - West Elm - A super soft throw will help get you through those long nights of studying.   13. Mongrammed Towels - PB Teen - if your dorm has a community bathroom, monogrammed towels are essential...then you'll know if someone steals your soft, fluffy towel.   14. Wall Shelf - Urban Outfitters - the more shelving & storage the better. And this one is perfect for a cool plant!   15. Accent Mirror - Urban Outfitters - Mirrors always make the room feel bigger & are great for putting by the door to look at on your way out to class!   16. Seating Poufs - West Elm -  you probably won't be spending too much time in your dorm, but you'll still want some extra seating for when your new friends come visit.   17. Floor Lamp - Urban Outfitters - Just like the table lamps, this will make your dorm environment much more pleasant & calming.   18. Sheepskin Rug - Pottery Barn - Something soft to put your feet on every morning, to make you want to get out of bed for class.   19. Blue Accent Chair - West Elm - If you can fit it, you'll appreciate this pop of color and a comfy place to sit when you need to read all those new books!

We hope this long list of items inspires you to create a dorm room where you or your child feel at home and relaxed!

Sometimes you don't know where to begin with moving in and creating a home away from home...so if you need help we would love to offer our professional advice! Feel free to reach out to us.

Click here to see more Blog Posts by Paula Ables Interiors.