10 Insanely Easy Ways to Update Your Kitchen Right Now

10 Insanely Easy Ways to Update Your Kitchen Right Now | redleafstyle.com

Inside: You don’t need a complete renovation to update your kitchen. Here are the easiest ways to change it up without killing your budget. Do you cringe every time you walk into your kitchen? Is it those 1960s wooden cabinets you haven’t had the budget to replace? Or, the yellow linoleum flooring you try not to look at? Or, the pile of dirty dishes in the sink? (Me too, friend.) You want to update your kitchen, but something always gets in the way. Money. Time. Effort. The kitchen struggle is real. Right now I’m living with my sister in her urban Kansas City townhouse. The townhouse has potential, but the kitchen looks outdated. It’s not awful exactly. But the cerulean tile backsplash gives both of our neutral-loving hearts palpitations. The veneered oak cabinets aren’t our style. And, you can’t even set down a cup without staining the laminate countertops. Sometimes we both want to torch the whole room. So, what’s stopping us from improving the kitchen? It’s the same reason you’re hesitating. It’s taking the leap. Kitchen remodels cost a lot of money. Shouldn’t you plan everything out? Pin tons of beautiful kitchens on Pinterest for inspiration? Have the...

Get Organized: A Collection of Home Organization Tips & Ideas

Get Organized: A Collection of Home Organization Tips & Ideas | redleafstyle.com

If your new year’s resolution was to finally get organized, don’t give up on that resolution just yet. (Statistics show that 80 percent of people who make a new year’s resolution Jan. 1 won’t stick with it by Valentine’s Day.) Get your whole house in order with my favorite strategies, tips and ideas for home organization. I’ll give room-by-room organization tips, plus cute storage ideas. From the bathroom to the office, here’s how to finally clear the clutter and get organized. 5 Ways to Use Wooden Boxes for Storage We all need to store stuff. Why not make it look good at the same time? Wooden boxes are one of my favorite creative storage solutions that serve a purpose and look attractive. You can pile just about anything in them and they make a jumbled mess of stuff much more easy on the eyes. Try these creative ways to use wooden boxes for storage. Stylishly Organize Your Home With Vintage Tins We often associate “storage” with dumpy, bulky plastic tubs and containers. When you work so hard to fill your home with items that fit your style, you might wonder why can’t storage do its job and look good too?...

How to Repurpose an Old Toolbox Into a Craft Caddy You’ll Love

When you’re crafting, do your supplies explode all over your work surface? One minute you’re crafting up a storm and the next you can’t even clear an area to work because you’re drowning under a pile of stickers, glue and paper. At least that’s my typical experience. Organizing craft supplies isn’t easy. From ribbon to pens to tape, craft supplies tend to be small, awkwardly shaped and plentiful. See how I used an old toolbox to corral my craft supplies into a convenient craft caddy. Corral your craft supplies An old metal toolbox is the perfect size for a craft caddy. It’s easy to move from room to room, which I tend to do when crafting. And this way I can keep all of the supplies for the project I’m currently working in one spot. Choose a toolbox with patina Sure, you could buy a plastic caddy from a dollar store, but where’s the fun in that? When it comes to the items in your home, it’s not always about simply being useful; It’s about being enjoyable, too. And, if I’m going to have my craft caddy sitting around the house, then I want it to blend in with...

These Are the Best Tips to Organize Your Home After the Holidays

Top 7 Tips to Get Organized After the Holidays | redleafstyle.com

Inside: Clear away the clutter with minimal effort. Here are the best ways to organize your home after the holidays. Post-holiday cleaning is the new spring cleaning. You’re already taking down holiday decorations, rearranging your kitchen or closet to make room for new items, and cleaning up after guests leave. So, what better time to organize your home? These seven post-holiday home organization tips cover areas most of us struggle with after the holiday craziness. The kitchen. The mail. Okay, everywhere. So, shake off that cookie and pie coma and get organizing. Top 7 Tips to Organize Your Home After the Holidays The organizing struggle is real. I’ve tackled every one of these tips. So, I know how long it takes to organize your home after the holidays. Taking down my holiday decorations took me four hours. Four hours. But I promise that the spacious and streamlined home you’ll have afterward is worth it. 1. Take down your holiday décor Time to undecorate! The rule of thumb is to keep your holiday décor up until the first of the year, but mine has already been down for days. It feels so refreshing to put away all of your holiday...

5 Ways to Use a Mason Jar

The humble mason jar has been having a serious moment. This vessel is everywhere. Mason jars have been transformed into light fixtures, wedding centerpieces and toothbrush holders. They’re being painted, stenciled, bedazzled—you name it Mason jar projects are so popular right now, I’ve even heard the word “overused” associated with them. But, to me, mason jars will never go out of style. How can they? They’re a classic. So, I was super surprised when I realized I haven’t ever written a post on just mason jars. (The shame!) My favorite ways to use mason jars are the ones that stand the test of time. The tried-and-true methods you’ll use over and over. You’ve probably heard of most these mason jar uses before, but I want to keep it simple and just celebrate some fabulous ways to use mason jars, without changing them too much. Here are my favorite ways to use mason jars. 1. Mason jars as votives Outdoors, indoors, doesn’t matter. Stick a tea light in a mason jar and you have an instant votive. Group several mason jars with flickering tea lights together to form an easy—and sparkly—centerpiece or just have one sitting on a table to...

5 Fun Storage Solutions for Your Desk

When I moved into my new house, I had a problem. The two bedroom home with no basement didn’t have room for an office. Before moving, I had said goodbye to my mid-century desk. So, at the new place, I didn’t need office space to hold a desk. What I needed was somewhere to put all of the books, office supplies, scrapbooking stuff, notebooks, stamps and other bits and pieces that had been living in my previous desk’s drawers. What my new house does have is a dining room. We’ll call it a dining room because I think that’s what it’s intended to be, but in all reality it’s an 11 ft. x 7 ft. opening with two doorways, one door and two windows. Not a lot of room to put furniture. Now, imagine a 7 ft. dining room table taking up most of that space. My boyfriend insisted on keeping his gigantic dining room table despite the fact that it’s way oversized for this house. (I’m actually fine with it—now!) I certainly wasn’t going to waste all that table space for “dining” when I needed desk space. So, I decided to turn the dining room—dining room table and...

5 (Possibly Ridiculous) Tips on Packing Up Your Home

Let’s start off by first stating that I am no expert mover. I’ve just done it a lot. You should also probably know that my methods of moving might not be for everyone. I don’t hire expert movers; I sweet-talk friends (preferably friends who own trucks) with promises of free beer. I don’t buy packing supplies. (I knew that tissue paper I saved for the past two years would come in handy!) My methods may be unusual, but I have picked up some tips that may help you if you’re surrounded by boxes and at a loss for how to pack. Here’s how I pack my home for a move. 1. Assemble your packing supplies One time I moved everything I owned in reusable bags. You know, the kind you take to the grocery store. Granted I did this move over several weeks, but it was still a bit extreme. I don’t recommend this. Get some boxes. Many stores will give them to you for free. You’ll be a lot happier if you have the supplies you need. There’s nothing worse than scrambling at the last minute trying to find something to put your stuff in. 2. Start with the...