I love to be organised and find lots of inspiration from instagram and books. This blog shares with you my top 5 books for home organisation.
During the Pandemic, sales online in garden centres, DIY stores, supermarkets ( including wine!) have soared as many of us have used the Lockdown Year to redecorate and use the space in our homes more effectively. Dining rooms have turned into classrooms, kitchen tables have turned into offices, gardens (and parks when we were allowed) turned into mini holiday venues if only for an hour or two!
Lockdown 1.0
One of the first things I did during Lockdown 1.0 was declutter every cupboard in my kitchen – rock and roll I know!! It sounds crazy but actually having a little head space and time to think “that really doesn’t work there and I have a solution” as opposed to “that doesn’t work there but I don’t have the time or the inclination now to figure it out” I hope I’m not alone!
If you follow me on Instagram you may have seen the progress I made – a year on and thanks to a busy household, a new declutter and reorganisation was required as we evolved as a family. More on that next week!
Remove the packaging and using jars to store your products. These jars are from The White Company
Clear the clutter so you have room to see the potential in front of you.
Syd and Shea McGee
The Pandemic increased our need for Netflix and neat homes!
I wonder what you’ll remember most about the Covid years as we look back in 3 or maybe even in 10 years time?
During the summer months, my decluttering turned to makeover projects and we also discovered Netflix – please don’t judge, hehe! Pre-covid, I spent every evening driving to and from Swim training with my children – if you are a swimmer or swim parent, you’ll totally understand that watching any television is an absolute luxury! Netflix pre-covid was something that sounded great but again, no head space to think about organising or when we would watch it – oh how times have changed – for now!
Lots of DIY projects, general faffing and giving the rooms a little refresh each season certainly helped over the summer during Lockdown!
With Netflix and more time on our hands, came the discovery of programmes that were just up my street – organisation and decluttering your home. Wow has this craze really taken off! I’m always having a little faff at home with my husband asking “OK, I give up, where have you hidden….?”
Or, “that’s nice, is it new?” No, I’ve simply moved said item from another room!
My top 5 books you’ll need for creating a beautifully organised home.
Instagram and Pinterest have been invaluable for inspiration and clever storage ideas as have the following 5 books, that have inspired me to make our space more effective and as Marie Kondo would say “Spark Joy!”
“To truly cherish the things that are important to you, you must first discard those that have outlived their purpose. To throw away what you no longer need is neither wasteful nor shameful.”
Spark Joy was the first book about tidying I’d ever bought, years ago. It seemed a little odd, we all know how to tidy, yet the cover first drew my attention, then flicking through the pages. I knew it would be useful.
Marie has introduced us to her now world renown KonMari tidying method, which is to focus on what you want to keep, not what you want to get rid of.
This book covers every room in the house as well as a wide range of items including photographs, cutlery and valuables. The book is one of a kind. It inspired a family game we lovingly call “yes, no, go!” when I was helping the children declutter their rooms when they were much younger.
Ask yourself if something ‘sparks joy’ and suddenly it becomes so much easier to understand if you really need it in your home and your life. When you surround yourself with things you love you will find that your whole life begins to change.
I bought this book literally two weeks before we went into Lockdown last March, not only does it look beautiful on the coffee table but Nikki has shares her wealth of experience and best advice for how to create an organised, beautiful and welcoming home. Nikki developed and honed her five essential steps to an organised home through her experience working as a professional organiser. In her book, Nikki teaches you to: assess your home to transform the spaces within to enhance your lifestyle; declutter and curate your possessions to keep what is useful and meaningful; clean with efficiency, adding an element of pleasure to everyday tasks; organise so you can find what you need, when you need it; and beautify and decorate to create a welcoming atmosphere for family and friends. (Imagine when we can finally welcome family and friends to our homes again!)
If there is anyone that I would love to come and spend a few days at my home to help me style and yes, OK adopt as a friend, it would be Shea. Her style and flair for knowing what looks amazing where and how to turn an interior vision into a reality, is second to none. Having watched the Dream Home Makeover series on Netflix, practically back to back whilst decluttering my home office, I can honestly say that I loved every single makeover and home Shea and her team created for their clients.
Make Life Beautiful is a real behind the scenes account of how this powerhouse of a couple first met and turned their dreams into a reality.
Sharing golden nuggets of how they prioritised their values, defined their goals and put their dreams into action, going from not having a penny to their name to becoming interior design superstars, all while following their motto to “make life beautiful.”
I love this book, the back story of how the McGees met and how they built such a successful company but also be inspired to build an authentic life by applying design principles such as embracing the process and finding the balance.
If you have a love of Interior Design and loved the Dream Makeover, I think you’ll love this too!
Regardless of where you are in your journey, it’s not about having all the answers – it’s about seeing the potential.
Clea and Joanna are literally girls after my own heart! I only found out about The Home Edit within the last 6 months care of Netflix and I’m kind of obsessed! Yes I’m the one who when I’ve completed a project, even if it’s a cupboard and no-one can actually see it, I feel the need to share with the family oh and maybe Instagram!! The Home Edit certainly Sparks Joy!
Again like all the books I’m sharing with you, it’s a beautifully photographed book. The Home Edit divided into three simple sections:
The Edit, The Assembly and the The Upkeep.
They are quoted as saying “if we can do it, so can you” and with this very handy guide – it’s certainly true. No you don’t need to go and buy zillions of jars, labels etc (and yes of course they have their own products, which are stunning!) but they key is having a system in place, bringing everything together, keeping things simply that can help you “conquer the clutter with style.” This book actually has a starter set of labels to help you create the look below in your fridge. Fabulous!
This book is basically part two to The Home Edit. Now you have the basic systems in place, Clea and Joanna talk you through how to harness these systems to all aspects of your life, not just your fridge and pantry!
Having used these systems for a number of months now (and I thought I was organised!) I can safely say that The Home Edit has made life simpler, less cluttered and it’s a joy to open any cupboard now. well, mostly, I still have a few to go, but I’m certainly in a more systemised place than this time last year.. it’s the little things that make the big things come together!
Scandi Rustic – creating a cosy and happy home – Rebecca Lawson and Reena Simon
I first discovered Becca and Reena who you may know as Malmo and Moss and Hygge for Home through Instagram and their beautifully curated feed of images of their cosy, Scandinavian style homes. Scandi Rustic is their first book and they reveal how to create a home that takes elements of Scandinavian design and introduces rustic natural materials and textures to create a Scandi-inspired interior that is cosy, relaxed and inviting.
Becca and Reena showcase the very best in Scandi Rustic homes, so whether you live in an urban apartment, a country cottage or a blank canvas new-build, this relaxed, sustainable, modern rustic style will work perfectly for your home. if you love this style, you’ll love this book!
Scandi Rustic – creating a cosy and happy home – Rebecca Lawson and Reena Simon
“Now imagine yourself living in a space that contains only things that spark joy. Isn’t this the lifestyle you dream of?”
I really hope you enjoy these books as much as I have. It really does make a huge difference having an organised home, whether it be your linen cupboard, kitchen, or the drawer in your console table in your hallway, not just because everything is in it’s place and easily found but I find having a clear decluttered space, I can work more effectively too, my brain is a little less muddled too! I have loved reading all the tips from each book and have adapted them to fit my home and lifestyle. Each book would make a fantastic present, without breaking the bank, for you or someone you know who loves feeling organised and having a practical yet stylish home.
Let me know which of these books is your favourite or perhaps you can recommend a book I haven’t yet discovered?
What’s next on the blog?
Over the next couple of weeks on the Blog, I’ll be sharing with you my kitchen pantry makeover, together with ideas to spring clean your home and garden ready to welcome your special guests back into your home post lockdown (fingers crossed!) I also have a couple of exciting giveaways to help you and am so excited to share with you on my instagram so do head over and join in the conversation! Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a Blog post – it’ll arrive straight to your inbox and I promise, no spam!
My Dining Room Makeover was a little up cycling mission during Lockdown. My plan was to transform the room, bringing it up to date whilst making the best of what we had.
A Mission that I might just be able to tackle, despite nerves. I don’t know about you, but I’m always the same with a DIY project!) Being being stuck at home during Lockdown, was the perfect excuse not to put it off any longer.
In my last blog, I shared with you the little things that bought the little things, “the finishing touches” if you like, to a Mission that I was working on during Lockdown. I’m sharing how I tackled the somewhat daunting Mission of revamping our dining room furniture..
You asked for details on the products used and how I went about it – so here it is!!
The Dining Room at the beginning of Lockdown.
The Dining Room is mostly used for entertaining our family and friends (those were the days!) not to mention homework and family meals in the Autumn / Winter months. The room needed to be light, practical and on a budget. We had purchased dining furniture years before and it was still in really good condition, so couldn’t justify replacing it. However the solid oak wood had an effect on the brightness of the room, it felt out of date..
You’re never too old to start learning, and you’re never too young to aim high and achieve great things.
Asa Hutchinson
First things first.
The reason this project was so daunting was that the task seemed so big, that and that we had invested in the furniture years before – what if I ruined it..?? Replacing it simply, wasn’t an option…
The only way of knowing was to get to work!
I sought the advice of The Cotswold Company having bought one of their sideboards at around the time we bought the table and chairs. I have to say, their customer service is second to none – nothing is too much trouble. We have several items from the Cotswold Company and they have really stood the test of time..
Did you know they helpfully offer a colour match suggestion of their pieces on their website, together with other helpful information. Unfortunately, the piece in question was no longer available, although I have linked a similar sideboard in the caption below.
Sideboard The Cotswold Company, Selection of Corinium Earthenware Trio from £9, faux white gypsophila and stems from £12 all from Neptune, Chiafron plant pot £3 Ikea.
Colour matching
I took one of the drawers from the sideboard to the Valspar paint service at B and Q where they coloured matched the paint perfectly.. Admittedly, the staff did look at me a little strangely, holding a drawer and wearing a mask, but they were fabulous and the paint matches to perfection.
Back home and the Dining Room Makeover Mission commenced..
Preparing the table and chairs
All 8 chairs were washed and prepped.. using the Valspar paint meant that I didn’t require any primer, hurrah! However, each chair did need three coats of paint, thankfully the weather was amazing and they dried quickly!
The table was another story.. After much debate, I decided to sand the tabletop, then treat it with lime wax and a neutral varnish to co-ordinate with the sideboard which I had completed earlier that month.. It was a mammoth task and despite knowing that it would look so much better, it was certainly a Mission in itself!
I used an electricsander which was fantastic and made light work of the sanding, not only did it work hard, but collected the dust too, a sure win!
Sanding the table top was more time consuming than I imagined but worth it!
Lime Wax
Once the sanding had been completed (admittedly it took a few days as I was fitting this project around the family, home schooling, Lockdown life – you get the idea!) I let the dust settle for a few days, literally and lime waxed the table top. I used Liberon Lime Wax, although there are many on the market, a very little goes a long way and it has made all the difference. Two coats were applied, using a soft cotton cloth as per the instructions. I then “sealed” the table and chairs with a coat of varnish which is specially designed for wood and painted surfaces and protects them with a highly durable, water and heat resistant film. A must on a heavy duty area such as a dining room furniture don’t you think!
Corinium candlesticks from Neptune, Boxwoord Urns from Charles Ted
The final part of my up-cycle Mission was to paint the legs and the sides of the table to match the chairs and sideboard. I had thought maybe the whole table would be painted the same colour but having decided to go ahead with the lime wax look, I’m really delighted with the end result.
If you read my blog last week, you’ll know what I used to complete the look of the room, bringing it all together with the help of home stylist Natalie from Neptune Weybridge.
Mission almost complete!
Almost there! Just the radiator cover, the glass pendant lighting and a larger rug to source and my Mission will be complete.. Truly thankful to my friend Helen for her daily check-ins, she was an absolute star..
I’m thrilled with how this Dining Room Makeover Mission has turned out, the whole feel of the room has changed. It feels lighter, brighter and more spacious. Now we just need to wait until we can have our favourite people over for a Dinner Party! Little did I know just how long we’d have to wait..
Please do let me know any questions you may have and any thoughts you’d like to share in the comments. Of course, feel free to share with any friends who would love this Mission.
In this blog I’m going to share with you the little details from my Dining Room Makeover and how I pulled it all together.
Lockdown for me has been perfect for getting so many Missions done that, in all honesty, I only dreamt of doing and yet it wasn’t quite so perfect for writing as I’d hoped! You might remember me relaunching my blog back in early April, I’ve been hopeless at writing since May, I guess my creativity has been more practical than working away on the laptop! (I blame the fabulous weather we had over the last 6 months and enjoying my children for that! Life is too short not to embrace it, don’t you think?)
Previous Mini Makeover Missions
The Linen Cupboard Makeover, which I completed in February, gave me the confidence and bravery to tackle bigger projects.. That might sound just a little bit silly but having only painted walls and fences in the past, this was big news to me!
I know what styles we love and those we don’t love so much.. Thanks to more time at home and apps like Instagram and Pinterest, I’ve found a real love for creating spaces in our home that as Marie Kondo would say “bring joy.” In a previous life, I simply wouldn’t have had the time to look up, let alone spend a few days sanding a dining table or a little faff rearranging furniture during a Power Hour!
Then this quote came to me and the rest as they say, is history.
“What if I fail? Oh my darling and what if you fly..?”
My little table was one of the first items to be up-cycled during Lockdown.. I felt sick with nerves and had put it off for possibly about 3 years! It was a gift from my Granny when my husband and I moved into our first home together. It is so very special so the thought of ruining it put me into gridlock!
Before and After of the little table. Details: Marlowe Apple and Pear set Charles Ted Lewes Jug Neptune Aban Rustic T-light (medium, rustic gold) Nukuku
The Dining Room is mostly used for entertaining our family and friends not to mention homework and family meals in the Autumn / Winter months. The room needed to be light, practical and on a budget. We had purchased dining furniture years before and it was still in really good condition, so couldn’t justify replacing it. However the solid oak wood had an effect on the brightness of the room, it was out of date..
Once I knew how I was going to tackle the up-cycling side of the project, I set to clearing the room of the furniture. It gave me a real sense of what I was working with with regards to light and space. The Russian blinds and wall lights will stay for now. Having moved the table, we will need to have an electrician to help with rewiring the ceiling lights. We plan to change to 2 glass pendants creating more light, when the budget allows..
Cox and Cox Neptune Garden Trading
It really hadn’t occurred to me to add a rug under the table, until any lovely insta friend Helen from @my.victorian.house suggested it to me. Helen directed me to Ikea and yes, she was absolutely right! Adding neutral rug that was hardwearing yet comfortable to walk on, changed to whole feel of the room.
Natural Tall Seagrass Basket The Basket Company Weeping Fig Potted Plant and Hellested flat woven natural Rug Ikea
So with the soft furnishings, flooring, plants and windows catered for. It was onto the finishing touches. the fun bit! Obviously all of it is fun, but there were times the I wondered if I’d ever finish this room!
Danish Pyramid Candles each Triple slate coasters with 3 pyramid candles from Salcombe Trading Company. Marlowe Apple and Pear set from Charles Ted
When it came to adding the little touches of styling for the console table both in our entrance hall and dining room, I sought the help of Natalie, from Neptune Weybridge. I first met her at an event in February this year, where I had a wonderful time creating a Mood Board for our much thought about plans for our home. Covid has put that little gem of a project out of reach for now but if you follow me on Instagram, you’ll find lots of inspiration in my Highlights.
The Mood Board I created at the Neptune Weybridge event in February.
So where does Natalie fit in..? Natalie is Neptune Weybridge Home Designer and she’s an absolute star! Her role is to help bring interior design into your home.
Having booked a video call, due to Covid restrictions, we talked about my ideas and using the Mood Board colours and textures from the event, Natalie helped me figure out layouts and lighting, fabric and furniture ideas makes you happiest. This we edited down and gave me the inspiration to create a style that’s our very own version of a Neptune space.
Bronte Signature Candle Corinium Earthenware Trio and White Gypsophila Twig, white All from Neptune Weybridge. Aban Rustic T-light (medium, rustic gold) Nukuku Light; The White Company Sideboard: The Cotswold Company
Neptune’s Home Design Service
The Home Design Service is available in store and virtually, through video call – simply get in touch to book your free initial consultation and they will find a date and time that suits you best. Call 01932 901234.
The Home Design is an easier, less overwhelming way to bring interior design into your home. Natalie helped me style the gorgeous pieces I already had and shared with me ideas that would create the very space and feel we were looking for. She’s a real talent and an eye for detail; creating the perfect finishing touches. I’m very thankful, Neptune have a customer for life!
“I want my home to be that kind of place–a place of sustenance, a place of invitation, a place of welcome.” – Mary DeMuth
Natalie has given me the confidence to look at a room with a different eye, get creative and more than that, we have what feels like a new dining room, created on a budget and with what we have. All we needed was many hours of sanding and painting plus purchasing the paint, the rug and eventually the lighting. I really feel it’s made all the difference.
Sideboard from The Cotswold Company
I have to admit, it’s really rewarding having an idea, then day by day, when time allows, slowly transforming tables, a cupboard, then a whole room .. for me it’s about the baby steps!
If, like me, you’re a lover of Neptune and interiors, I’m hosting a giveaway this week with Neptune Weybridge. Simply head to my Instagram account to enter and on Monday morning you’ll be finding out if you are the lucky winner of the Bronte Signature Candle and the simply elegant Castleford Tall Bottle. They are gorgeous – you really won’t want to miss out!
I’d love to know what Interior Missions you’re working on right now. Any questions you may have, do let me know in the comments. Feel free to share with any friends who would love this Mission.
Spark Joy – Marie Kondo 
