These days, everyone is getting in on the scarf trend. And not just during winter. People are wearing scarves year round now. They’re collecting a bevy of colors, patterns, fabrics, and styles.

Now, this is good and all — but this poses a threat to our perfectly organized homes. Once your scarf collection reaches the double digits, how can you keep them tamed and manageable?

Read on for 4 ways to keep your scarves organized:

1. Scarf Hanger

Hanging your scarves takes zero drawer space and it displays them nicely for easy access. They do sell “scarf hangers” that have holes to thread your scarves through. But honestly, I think these are a waste of your hard-earned cash. Instead, just drape or knot them across the bottom bar of a regular hanger.

Another option is to get a four-bar hanger that will let you store extra scarves without taking up space width-wise.

If hanging up your scarves, it might be wise to keep them under a clear plastic dust cover to protect them.

2. Scarf Drawer

Now, if you have drawer space available, this is probably your best scarf storage option. Especially if your scarves are valuable or made of fine materials like silk, it’s best to keep them folded or rolled up in a drawer where they won’t become snagged, stretched, faded, or destroyed by pets. Rolling them is especially good because they won’t get creases.

Even if you don’t have a dresser drawer available, you could get a plastic tub with drawers for your scarf storage; this can sit tucked away in a corner or in your closet.

Whenever storing scarves in a drawer, make sure they are first clean. Storing a scarf that has food debris can attract bugs and other unwanted creepy crawlies.

3. Scarf Rod

If you have the right spot for it, you can suspend a tension rod and use shower curtain rings to hang your scarf collection. This is a perfect solution if you have a large collection, and you want to be able to see everything you have without having to navigate around clothes or sift through a drawer. Again, as with scarf hangers, be careful if your scarves are valuable. This method won’t do as much to protect them as a drawer.

4. Scarf Display

Perhaps you love your collection so much you want to display them as room decoration. Scarves are great for adding a pop of color or a splash of pattern to a room. You can display scarves on a headboard or foot board (like in the photo), draped on a chair, or even hung as a stand-in curtain. Although this is a pretty solution, remember that your scarves will be subject to damage from the sun, dust, and pets.

Do you have any tips for scarf organization?

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Image sources: Organizing Made Fun, Scarves Dot Net, A Yellow Bicycle

Last time I wrote, it was all about organizing your handbag. After reading the post, I realized that wallet organization deserves much more than a casual mention. You carry your most valuable possessions in your wallet — money and identification — so shouldn’t you keep it organized and clear of clutter for quick and easy access?

Now’s the time to empty that wallet (take everything out!), and walk through these wallet organization tips with me.

Now that everything is out of your wallet, let’s sort through the things that don’t belong:

• Receipts. Having receipts in your wallet is inevitable on a daily basis. However, it’s very important to clean these out at the end of each day. Not only do they clutter up your limited space, but their ink can stain fabric or leather. Create a file at home for receipts that you need to keep and shred the rest.
• Social Security Card and Passport. You should not store your social security card and/or your passport in your wallet. That’s practically asking to have your identity stolen. Memorize your social security number, and store these forms of identification somewhere secure
• Cards you don’t use frequently. Cards you don’t use often could include many different kinds: credit cards, gift cards, loyalty cards, business cards, etc. Create a spot at home for each of these types and only carry them when needed.
• Junk. You know what I’m talking about — things that simply don’t belong. Movie stubs, candy wrappers, Chinese fortunes, shopping lists, and random doodles are things that often end up in my wallet, but probably shouldn’t be there.
• Small change. Obviously, you’ll want to carry some change with you. However, there’s no need to carry dollars worth of pennies and nickels. I like to keep a jar of change at home where I can throw in extra change and take it out later as needed.
• Overboard photos. Go ahead and carry one or two photos of loved ones in your wallet, but there’s no need to carry your kid’s photos from grades K through 12.

Once you remove the clutter, here’s what should be left in your wallet:

• Driver’s License. Obvious.
• Cash. I recommend only carrying the cash you’ll need for a given day. That way, you won’t be at too much of a loss if your wallet is stolen.
• Credit/debit card[s]. Again, only carry the one[s] you use.
• Frequently used cards. If you have a gift card or a grocery store rewards card that you use with frequency, it doesn’t hurt to carry this in your wallet. However, if the store  allows you to enter an alternate ID (like a phone number), I recommend doing that.

Finally, you can only be as organized as your wallet allows you to be. Here are my wallet recommendations for him and for her:

• For him, I recommend a classic, bi-fold wallet. As most guys carry their wallet in their back pocket (where it sustains damage from sitting and movement), I recommend purchasing a sturdy material like leather that will last. The wallet above has a full-length compartment for cash, as well as spots for identification and credit cards. It also has a handy removable insert, which would be perfect for storing a photo or driver’s license.
• For her, I recommend something larger, like the tri-fold wallet above. Women tend to carry more in their wallets, as they often do more shopping and running around. This wallet has spots for change, a checkbook, cash, cards, and a transparent spot for your photo ID. A wallet like this one could even be used as a clutch when you don’t need to carry an entire handbag.

Do you have any further tips for wallet organization?

Image source: A Pretty Penny

Does your purse lend new meaning to the question: “What’s in your bag?” Does your satchel’s contents call for caution tape and a hazmat mask? Are there five months worth of Starbucks receipts floating around in your clutch?

If you answered YES to any of these questions, it’s time to get your handbag organized.

Oftentimes, handbags end up being a dumping ground for anything and everything you pick up while you’re out and about. And, if you’re like most people, you let these things accumulate until you either can’t handle it anymore, or you switch to a new handbag. This is bad for a number of reasons: A heavy purse can lead to back problems, illness-causing germs can grow in a handbag, and it’s hard to find what you’re looking for among the clutter.

As an organization-obsessed fashion blogger, I’ve picked up some great tips on how to organize a handbag. Here are my top six:

1. Cleanse — When your bag becomes too messy or heavy to  handle, it’s time to go through it and get back to carrying just the basics. Dump everything out of your bag. Throw away all trash, or shred documents that have your personal information: receipts, expired coupons, candy wrappers, ticket stubs, etc. For those random things that end up in your purse, but don’t belong there, put them where they belong. Personally, I always end up with a rogue fork or spoon in my bag. Collect loose change and put it in your wallet. Speaking of your wallet, go through it as well, throwing away any trash in it.
2. Sanitize — Now that you’ve narrowed your purse down to what you need, wipe your things off with antibacterial cloths. This may be TMI, but the bacteria on bathroom floors often end up in your bag; these can cause diarrhea or the common cold — just being real here, ladies!
3. Organize — It’s time for my favorite part: putting things back where they belong! Personally, I like a handbag that has several pockets and sections (this satchel is one of my go-to bags because of its many pockets.) to organize all my necessities. But no matter where you store things, make sure they’re in a convenient spot for easy access.
4. Bags within bags — One tip that really keeps me organized is having smaller bags within my big bag. American Apparel has a line of different sized pouches that are perfect for this. Or, if you’re on a budget, you could use a set of cosmetic bags for the same purpose. Things that I put in their own perfectly sized pouch are: makeup, lip products, business cards, and coupons. My husband thinks I’m crazy, but I’m telling you, bags within bags works!
5. Maintain — Now that everything is organized, all you have to do is maintain your newly organized purse. Personally, I like to go through my bag when I get home each day. I throw away trash and make sure everything is ready for the next time I run out the door. I’ve found that taking advantage of the new trend in emailing receipts helps to cut back on bag clutter.
6. The Switch — So you bought a new bag — exciting day! I used to have a terrible habit of transferring the necessities to a newly purchased purse, leaving the old bag full of stuff. I recently cleaned out all of my purses in storage, and you wouldn’t believe the things I found: dollars worth of change, a year’s supply of chap stick and toiletries, enough pens and sticky notes to open an office supply store, and gift cards (score!). Rather than doing this, go ahead and clean everything out of your old bag when switching to a new one. Trust me, this will cut your chap stick purchasing by at least half.

Achieving an organized bag is as easy as that! Do you have any tips for bag organization?

Image source: The Bag Lady

Every woman dreams of having a Carrie Bradshaw closet — a  space as big as her master bedroom that’s full of beautiful clothes, designer shoes, and a jewelry armoire the size of a dresser. Sadly, this dream isn’t a reality for most women. In fact, my reality is from from this dream. I share a closet with my husband, and it’s not even a walk-in. It’s a built-in-the-80s-sized sliding door closet.

Despite my small space, I’ve managed to steal tips and tricks from these dream closets — and I’m going to show how you can too!

Lighting

This attic closet is simply amazing with its sloped ceilings and racks of clothes as far as the eye can see. Part of what makes this closet so great is the lighting. The skylights introduce an abundance of natural light, and the white walls, mirror, and reflective art on the slanted ceilings make this space simply glow.

Now, you might not be able to knock a window into your closet, but chances are you can add some lighting. After months of searching for clothes in the dark, I added a small light to our closet, and it makes all the difference in the world.

Shelving

If you have the room to add shelving to your closet, by all means do it! Not everything can (or should) be hung up. Shelves are great for shoes, pants, handbags, and delicate tops that shouldn’t be hung. If shelving isn’t an option, at least invest in a shoe rack and some organization tower tubs. Although these additions take up precious space, they’ll keep things organized in a way that helps you make the most of your items.

Organization

You know what makes this closet so beautiful? It’s not the roses or the Tory Burch shopping bags. It’s how organized it is! Even the tiniest closet can take organization inspiration from this beauty.

This woman has her clothes organized by style and color. Bright pants are hung over hangers on the top left. Shirts are on the bottom left. Long pants are organized on the top right, arranged by hue. Also, I love how all of the hangers are the same. This isn’t really necessary, but it’s much more aesthetically pleasing if all your hangers are the same color.

Beautifying

This closet is just pretty. Its chandelier, flowers, candles, mirror details, and coffee table books are enough to make anyone feel like a queen. And while this probably isn’t an option for you, there are ways to beautify the smallest of spaces. Take an afternoon to take everything out of your closet. Clean it with a damp cloth and dust everything off. Put some some delicious-smelling sachets in it, or add a nice-smelling bar of soap (this doubles as scent and moth protection!).

If you have drawers, add pretty drawer liners to them for color and protection for your clothes. If you have a walk-in, try adding a mirror to a wall or the back of the door; this is practical and makes your closet appear bigger. And if room allows, why not add a little wall art to your closet? You may be the only person who sees it, but that’s okay if it makes your closet feel more special to you!

Do you have any tricks for turning a regular closet into dream-worthy inspiration?

Image Sources:  Apartment Therapy, Cocobella Ballerina, Honey We’re Home, La Dolce Vita

When you’re in the midst of your AM rush, you need to know where to find your clothing quickly. Some of you may be thinking that a few quick steps to the closet will do the trick. That is, indeed, the first step.

Add garment dividers and your closet becomes more clear, particularly on those days that you barely have time to shower. And, they make it easy for you put things back where they belong. It’s a great labeling system for your clothes if you categorize them by type (e.g., pants, blouses, T-shirts, etc.) and/or color…or some other system that works for you.

Get pre-printed labels in English and Spanish.

Get your kiddos organized with their own garment dividers, too. You can use the Clutter Diet brand or a more kid-friendly version, like this one from SugarBooger. They come in a variety of designs, so you can choose a different one for each child.

Organize clothing by type, size, or day of the week.

Have you ever wondered what to with bras that no longer fit you or that you don’t like any more but are still in good shape? Unlike your skivvies, you can actually donate your bras. Yeah, I know it’s hard to part with bras that you shelled out a lot of money for, but if you’re not wearing them, what good are they doing you? They’re really just taking up much needed space.

So, if you’re a gal or a guy who likes women’s undergarments and you have some bras you’d like to part with, check out your recycling options below. Don’t worry, that boob holder that you used to love will now be loved by someone else…or help with breast cancer research (October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month)…or help victims of human trafficking.

• The Bra Recyclers

• Athena’s Cup

• Free The Girls

• Soma Intimates *Donations accepted twice/year – Next donation scheduled for January 2012

• Support1000

• Breast Talk (UK)

Learn More

• Japan Recycles Used Bras Into Fuel

• Your bra can make a difference

• Ladies, let your girls hang free for a good cause

Kids and parents have their own idea about what “organized” means. Usually, I tell parents to relax if their children can find what they need with relative ease, even if mom or dad hates how “messy” the room looks.

On the other hand, when children start to complain that their stuff is lost or that they can’t tell the clean clothing from the dirty ones, then it’s time to take action. These pics from a recent client project really showcase the dramatic change that can be made…and maintained!

Goals: See more floor + decide what to keep and what to discard. Both parent and child were open to repositioning a few items. Notice that the green & pink cubes are now…

…stacked vertically and being used as a night stand. Why not repurpose something you already have instead of buying something new?

Children’s clothing & shoes can be color coordinated, too. For younger kids, this will be easier on mom or dad and older kids will be able to find what they want when they want it (read: leave on time for school).

Sarah Beckman is back to share a few tips on how to get the best bang for your buck when shopping for fall clothing.

As August ends and September begins, it’s time to start thinking about your fall wardrobe. Many use this time of year to evaluate what they have in their closet and decide what they need to get through the chillier months.

Follow these 5 tips as you build your fall wardrobe.

1. As you put away your summer clothes, make sure they are all clean before storing them. Clothes that haven’t been washed have deodorant, sweat, and other residue that attracts bugs. You’ll want to store your clothes folded up in containers with lids. If you leave clothes hanging for an extended period of time, they could become stretched out. Under-the-bed cardboard boxes and plastic tubs are great for storing clothes between seasons.

2. Now that you have space in your closet, you can start shopping for your new fall clothes! Keep in mind this fall’s trends as you go shopping for your new clothes: Plaid, lace, mod retro, mustard yellow, jade green, polka dots, plaid, and menswear are all wearable trends for this fall.

3. Trends in mind, remember to not buy items that are too trendy. The goal is to buy pieces that you can get a lot of use out of. So, for example, a pretty Oxford blouse fits into the menswear trend, but it’s also a classic piece that you can wear for years. Cardigans with touches of lace or polka dots fit into the trends, but these versatile pieces can be mixed and matched – and carried into future seasons.

4. As you shop, calculate the cost per wear for pieces you’re considering. To figure out the cost per wear use this formula:

Total price of item ÷ Estimated number of days you’ll wear it = Cost per wear

So, if you’re considering buying a really great, classic blazer that costs $200 and you see yourself wearing it 100 days per year for 5 years, it costs you $.40 per wear.  The initial investment in the jacket is expensive, but if it’s a classic you’ll wear a lot, the cost per wear is low.

In the same vein, if you’re considering buying a super trendy top that costs $20 and you see yourself wearing it twice, that’s a $10 cost per wear. So, even though the coat initially costs more, the inexpensive top isn’t as economic of a choice.

5. When shopping, also be sure to pay attention to washing instructions. Paying $15 for a top that needs to be dry cleaned once a month makes an inexpensive piece of clothing costly. If you purchase clothes that are hand wash only, will you be able to keep up with the maintenance of these? Ruining a piece of clothing due to not following washing instructions is a waste of an investment.

Are you going shopping for new fall clothes this season? What shopping tips can you share?

About the Author

Sarah Beckman is a writer and editor at Affordable Scarves where she develops content on celebrity style. As a lover of fashion, she must keep her closet organized at all times!

Connect with Sarah: Web |  Twitter | Tumblr

This might be the time of year when many people start thinking about giving, but, really, you can give at any time during the year. And, you don’t have to go shopping to do it.

There are many people in your neighborhood and around the world who are in great need. So, go through your closets, bookshelves, garages, attics, supply closets, and any other place where you stash stuff you (1) never use, (2) don’t fit or flatter you or (3) that you forgot you had!

Don’t worry, collecting donations doesn’t have to clutter your home or office, and it can be very easy. Simply keep a basket or re-usable bag in your closet (or next to your bookcase or at the top of the stairs or on a shelf in the garage…you get the picture).  Every time you put something on that doesn’t fit, you don’t like anymore, or just isn’t flattering – even if you still like it – throw it in your basket or bag.

Take a few minutes and go look for things that no longer bring joy to your life or serve the purpose you thought they would. You’ll feel good about clearing out your space and actually be doing something good for someone else…maybe even an entire family.

Got shoes? My friend and colleague, Scott Roewer, is making a trip to Haiti in January 2011 to donate lots of them with Soles for Souls. He’s also collecting shoes throughout the year for a huge DC event. To find a drop off location, click here.

Washington, DC Image Consultant, Ketura Persellin, has a few budget-friendly ways that can help you look fabulous during the holidays.

You know you’re going to be getting greeting cards. And gifts for family and friends. But have you taken a few minutes to plan what you’ll be wearing for the holiday-related events you’ll face over the next six weeks?

Here are a few guidelines to get you ready to celebrate in style — without breaking the bank:

1.  Use what you have. You likely have some treasures hiding in your closet: a gorgeous ruby-red cashmere cardigan, a flirty velvet skirt or a beautiful charmeuse blouse. These are a great as a jumping-off point for your holiday outfits.

2.  Add sparkle. Those basics can form the foundation for not one, but possibly several holiday outfits. With a velvet skirt, you could wear boots and a turtleneck for a low-key family gathering. Then swap those out to up your glam quotient for a more dressy affair, a sequined or beaded top and some embellished shoes would be perfect. One of my current examples of very versatile clothes that can be styled many ways is J. Crew.

3.  Accessorize for interest and polish. Most of my clients, even those with closets full of gorgeous clothes, don’t have enough accessories. And you don’t need to spend a fortune to get them, but it’s quite possible you could benefit from some a few strategic, on-trend purchases.

Consider these ideas: restyle what’s already in your jewelry box (wear a few strands of pearls and chains rather than just one, or pile on the bangles); scour the bins at your local consignment and thrift stores; and visit affordable, trend-friendly stores like H&M and Forever 21 for items that will add a modern twist to the classics you own. These are good sources for a smaller, dressy, fun bag.

4.  Invest in one special piece — or one great basic. You may have some lovely basics in your closet but no stand-out special piece — a sequined shawl or sweater, a shoe in a great texture or color, or a skirt with really special details. Those are the things that will give you the unique style many women crave.

Or, you may have those, so you just need some up-to-date quality basics, like go-anywhere dark-wash denim trousers or an A-line neutral-color wool-gabardine skirt — versatile pieces that will take you through a variety of social situations.

5.  Plan ahead. Finding a quiet half-hour to play in your closet to see what’s there to make holiday outfits with — and what gaps you may need to fill. Then you’ll be ready for whatever the holidays send your way.

About the Author

Need help putting together a few dazzling holiday outfits? Ketura Persellin is an image consultant in Washington, DC, and surrounding suburbs, and she’ll help you find three to four holiday outfits using mostly what’s in your closet. Visit The Wardrobe Workshop for details.