Cut it out!

I have a super cool furniture re-do on the way tomorrow, and yes, it does involve white paint. While the paint is drying, I thought I'd show y'all another way I cut down on clutter and organize both my brain and the roost.

A few years ago I started keeping an idea book for our future dream home. Every time I see a room arrangement, color pallet, or decorating idea that I love, it goes into the book.

I use an old three-ring binder from high school.

Here is my somewhat chaotic system. As soon as new magazines arrive, I get out any magazines lying around from previous months and take my scissors to them. As I cut out things that inspire me, the clipping go straight into one of the manila folders above. Depending on how much time I have, the clippings either hangout in the folders for awhile, or I put them right into my idea book. As soon as I've finished clipping a magazine, it gets passed on to someone else or donated to my school's art department. The goal is to have zero piles of dusty magazines lurking in the corners of the roost.

The inside of my idea book is super simple, the clippings are just arranged by category with little notes. Because we will be building from scratch, we'll get to choose every little thing that goes into our home. As much as I love this, it can be an overwhelming thought! The idea book gives me a visual reference for everything from shingles to door knobs.

In some sections, like bedrooms, I've chosen pictures based on feel and texture more than furniture or room layout.

In other sections, it's pretty clear that I know exactly how I want to decorate one day. I've cut out over seven pages of white kitchens over the past two years!

I've also got about five pages of blue-grey bathrooms with bead board.

I even cut out storage ideas.

Near the back of the book I have ideas for holiday decorating and craft projects.

I also cut out source information for things like paint colors, flooring, and even local antique stores.

The very last pages of the book are inspiration pictures. If I see a picture I would like to step into for awhile, it goes into the book. These could inspire a color scheme or a mood for a future room. Plus, they just make me smile when I look at them!

I have another book like this in the kitchen that I use to store recipes. I hardly ever open a regular cook book, because most of my favorite recipes have been handed down or torn out of magazines.

Anybody else have an idea book or another way to keep paper clippings organized?

<3

Hattie