Organizing Tips for an Older Home

One of the best parts of the work we do at Help You Dwell is getting to visit so many different types of homes across Knoxville and surrounding areas. Oftentimes, our clients will reach out because they live in an older home with little storage and lots of organizing challenges. And we love a good challenge!

Edenvale, my childhood home

Growing up in a home built in 1857, where my parents still reside, has given me a front row seat watching my mother’s ingenuity in utilizing various types of furniture to create order in our home.

Now, at Help You Dwell, we have had the great pleasure of working in dozens of homes facing similar challenges. Here are some of our favorite solutions for homes designed before IKEA, Amazon, and Home Goods made it way too easy to fill our homes to the brim!

Have a wall? Add a hook or two!

One common necessity missing in many older homes is an entryway closet. Without that convenient spot to hang coats, purses, backpacks, or leave your rain boots, the entryway can become a cluttered mess, scattering these all over the house.

Instead, we’ve installed a few systems to best utilize the entry space and make the most of that area. And let’s not forget the tried-and-true hall tree, which can whip an entryway into shape in a jiffy.

Bookshelves are our friends.

I’ve lived in a 4 different homes built before before 1930 and have come to realize the great versatility, function, and beauty of a good bookshelf. A bookshelf can do much more than hold books because of the many options of decorative baskets and bins available these days to match any design style. They also come in so many different sizes and styles that you can find what you need to fit just about any space.

We’ve used bookcases in kids’ rooms for toy bins, easy-access clothing, collectibles, and books. They’ve been incorporated into kitchens for storing excess items when cabinet space is limited. One area that can greatly benefit, but isn’t often considered, is the landing at top of the stairs. This can be a great way to store linens in cloth baskets if you’re lacking a linen closet, or it can be a catch-all for electronic accessories, toiletry refills, or other items that need a home.

Another helpful aspect of using bookcases is their versatility - they aren’t permanent fixtures. As your season of life changes, so do the items in your home. Bookcases allow you to easily adjust and adapt to honor those changes.

Cupboards, Armoires, and Dressers… oh my!

Another go-to for creating order in an older home is to use a beautiful heirloom, an antique piece, or a practical furniture item to store a variety of items.

As my children have grown older, I’ve repurposed one special red dresser in various ways. Initially, it held their clothes; later, it found use near our kitchen for their plates, cups, and more. For a brief period, it served as a bedside table, and its final role in our home was storing art supplies. Another versatile piece we have is an antique meal bin. Ours currently houses our pup’s food.

We’ve helped to convert armoires to office supply storage, used antique cupboards for overflow kitchen storage, and filled dressers with family games, puzzles, bed linens and table linens.

Help You Dwell loves to honor the history and character of an old home. Being resourceful with the pieces you already own, or thoughtfully considering the next piece to bring into your home, can be game changers for creating organization within your space.

We’d love to hear about some of the creative ways you’ve stored your belongings as well! Please share your ideas in our comments below or share a challenge in your home that we can help you with.

We can’t wait to help you dwell!

Savoring the Season: Simplify Your Celebration

Hosting can be stressful. The familiar worries always seem to creep in: "Do I have enough food? Is the table set perfectly? Have I accommodated everyone? Is everyone having fun? Am I even having fun??" 

The list of worries seems never-ending, and if you've ever played the role of the host, you've likely felt the nagging sense of worry that threatens to overshadow the joy of being surrounded by our loved ones. Well I am here to remind you, a shared meal or any gathering for that matter doesn't need to be fancy or stressful – It's about connecting, sharing stories, and creating lasting memories.

Image - Texture Photo

The key to an enjoyable gathering lies in simplifying the process. You don't need to strive for perfection or overwhelm yourself with the details. Instead, focus on the privilege of being able to gather with loved ones, an experience that should never be taken for granted.

Space Planning: 

Before you start setting the table and sending out invitations, begin with a practical task that will ease the overall process. Take the time to declutter and organize your pantry, fridge, and freezer. Clear out expired snacks and consider using those bags of frozen veggies to create a hearty stew or use the frozen fruit in your holiday pie. By freeing up this space, you'll not only make the day of your gathering less stressful but also ensure there's plenty of room to store leftovers!

Help You Dwell - Organize

At a recent project, our team had the pleasure of working with a client who frequently hosts and caters to large groups. Our goal was to set up this space to streamline her collection of baking & cooking supplies within her pantry. We were able to optimize this space ensuring that everything is accessible and thoughtfully arranged, just in time for the holiday season!

Embrace what you have: 

You don't need excessive decor or an elaborate tablescape to impress your guests. When it comes to holiday decor, less is often more. Start by choosing a simple and cohesive 'scheme' for your decorations. This can be as simple as selecting a color palette or a specific theme that resonates with the holiday spirit you wish to convey.

Skip the clutter! Avoid the temptation to clutter your space with unnecessary decorations. Overloading your home with seasonal decor can not only be overwhelming to the eye but can also make hosting more complicated. My favorite simple way to decorate your holiday tablescape is to take a step outside and scavenge for wildflowers, branches or dried leaves!

Whether you collect a few branches of evergreen, arrange acorns in a glass jar, or create a centerpiece with dried leaves, the simplicity of nature can be beautiful. These elements can be easily collected, and when the festivities are over, they can be returned to the great outdoors - now that’s an easy clean up! Remember: the key to a memorable holiday gathering lies in the warmth of your hospitality and the joy of your company. Simplify your decor, relax, and enjoy the festivities.

Let your friends help you:

Don't bear the full weight of hosting on your shoulders. Instead, invite your guests to participate and share in the responsibilities. After all, everyone has a favorite dish, and every good guest wants to contribute in some way. As the host, it's perfectly acceptable to delegate tasks!

Image - Texture Photo

By involving your guests in this way, you not only reduce your personal burden but also enhance the sense of togetherness and shared accomplishment. Hosting a memorable gathering becomes a collective effort, making the experience more enjoyable and meaningful for everyone involved.

Hosting should be a joyous and heartwarming experience, not a daunting or overwhelming one. By focusing on what truly matters – the connections we forge and the love we share – you can create a gathering that everyone will treasure. So, release the burden of perfection and enjoy the journey of hosting, a privilege that brings people closer and creates beautiful memories to cherish for years to come.

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The holiday hustle and bustle can sometimes get the best of us, but having a plan and keeping things simple can bring calm to the chaos of holiday party planning. If you need someone to help bring it all together, Help You Dwell would love to assist you in preparing your home for your next event.

Image - Texture Photo

We’ve still got availability on our calendar to schedule your holiday prep + takedown services this year. 

Let us Help You Dwell this holiday season.

Embracing Autumn’s Arrival: Transform Your Entryway For Fall

The arrival of autumn heralds a change in the air, the crisp scent of falling leaves, and a burst of warm colors that ignites our senses. It's the season of cozy sweaters, pumpkin flavored everything, and, of course, the perfect time to spruce up your home's entryway to reflect the beauty of fall! In this guide, we'll take you through some tips on how you can create a warm and inviting entryway that celebrates the magic of autumn.

1. Start with a Clean Slate 

Before you dive into any seasonal decorating, it's essential to start with a clean and clutter-free space. This is the ideal time to bid farewell to the items that accumulate by your entry way over the long summer months—expired sunscreen, old sunglasses, and summer toys—and either store them away or discard them. Give the area a thorough cleaning to prepare it for the upcoming season of indoor living.

2. Embrace Cozy Storage Solutions

As the days grow cooler, you'll want easy access to your fall essentials. Consider incorporating furniture with drawers or hooks to keep small accessories like gloves, scarves, and hats neatly organized. Creating a designated spot for these items not only adds functionality but also offers you the opportunity to rediscover those seasonal autumn accessories you haven't seen in a year! This simple addition will infuse a touch of autumn/winter fashion and cozy charm into your entryway.

Entryway Wall Shelf with Hooks

Entryway Storage Bench

Antique Cast Iron Wall Hanger

3. Create a Warm & Welcome Exterior

To set the stage for a warm welcome, add a touch of fall foliage to your porch or door. A fall wreath, a couple of potted mums, or some strategically placed pumpkins can instantly infuse your entryway with the spirit of the season. You don't need an overwhelming amount of decor to create an inviting autumn ambiance. A simple seasonal welcome mat is an extra touch of charm that your guests will surely appreciate.

Berries + Leaves Iron Wreath

Wooden Harvest Floral Wreath

Buffalo Plaid Check Rug

4. Decorate with Autumnal Flair

Petite Pumpkins: Display small pumpkins and gourds on shelves, tables, or even your entryway bench. Their warm hues and unique shapes add a touch of rustic elegance.

Candles and Lanterns: Place candles or lanterns with warm, flickering lights to create a cozy atmosphere. Scented candles with autumn fragrances like cinnamon and sandalwood or vanilla and apple spice can enhance your entryway experience.

Beaded Pumpkin Lantern Set

Amber + Vanilla Candle

Teak Pumpkins

Remember, the key to creating an autumnal entryway is to keep it simple and reflective of your personal style. Whether you prefer an eclectic rustic look or a more modern and minimalist approach, there are countless ways to infuse the warm feelings of fall into your home's entrance. With a clean slate, a dash of creativity, and a love for the season, your entryway can become a delightful reflection of autumn's splendor.

There’s no better time than now to get started on prepping your home to help create an environment that brings you peace before a busy season of holidays and hosting. Remember, bringing calm and order to your home is a process and we are happy to help you along the way!

CALL US AT 865.245.9080 OR BOOK OUR SERVICES HERE!

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Kitchen Renovation Survival Tips

When I think of a “kitchen renovation” my mind immediately goes to the fun finishing details like cabinet hardware, decor, and the blissful feeling of a “new” kitchen. We’ve saved funds for it, so let’s do it! Admittedly… embarking upon a full-scale kitchen renovation brought about a lot more to decisions and considerations than I was prepared for. If you’re about to begin a project at home, here are a few things I’d encourage you to think through before beginning.

• How can you prepare yourself (and whoever you share your home with) to live “well” during the transformation?

Kitchen- Ask your contractor up front and direct questions regarding how long you’ll be without cooking appliances or functionality. Get creative and consider alternative cooking methods - gas or charcoal grill, camping stove, a neighbors airbnb (we have the most generous neighbors in all the land), microwave set up in a different room, your basement, etc. You don’t have to eat out every meal to survive this, although a few takeout meals are entirely allowed.

Bathroom- Can you and your family members agree to share 1 bathroom for a period of time? Create a rhythm or rough schedule of shower times and who will need the space for what time each day. Create a makeshift “get ready” spot in another room of the house with a mirror, outlets, and natural light. Remember- this is not forever!

• What are the MOST important features of your project that you aren’t willing to budge on?

There are so many ideals when we consider a home project - gaining more space, adding storage, increasing functionality, improve hosting capabilities, etc. My husband and I narrowed down to 2 main priorities for our kitchen which provided good guardrails when making small and large decisions. We wanted to increase functionality and create a kitchen we could host in. Everything else was second-tier. This prevents everything from feeling like the most important thing when prioritizing budget and choices. If we were stuck on a specific detail or question- we could ask ourselves “Does it add functionality or improve our ability to host?” and if the answer wasn’t an obvious yes, we decided that was a low priority and cost decision to make which helped bring a little simplicity.

• Who can you trust to help you make decisions?

I personally found it tempting to want to google or create a poll for the whole world to chime in on some decisions, however, I’m so glad I didn’t. Do we really need the ideas and opinions of strangers guiding the decisions we make about our very own sacred home? No thanks. What I am glad I did, was invite a few close friends to speak into the project. I first shared my vision, the pain points, and our plans then asked if they see any gaps or have any suggestions. Select a very few trusted folks to do this with… too many voices can cause mental clutter and indecision. If you have a favorite designer or brand that you follow, stick with that for inspiration - not every influencer, trendsetter, or mom blog will be your vibe and that’s ok. Think of actual real places you’ve been and what you loved about those homes and consider what concepts you can take from them. Ask a friend in a season of life ahead of you what they wish they would’ve done differently in their own home.

• How will you adapt as timelines, budgets, or plans change?

Inevitably things change… due to supply chain issues, weather, product availability, etc. When things change there is often a cost (involving literally money and also time). Be prepared for this. Your contractors and designers cannot anticipate EVERYTHING. Especially if your home is older, there may be unexpected plumbing or electrical issues that need to be resolved. One thing you could consider is to aim to schedule the demo portion of your home project while your family (or even just children) will be out of town. Do you have friends or family you could “house sit” for while they are away? Get creative (if your budget allows) with where you spend your days and nights during renovations.

• What do you hope to feel/experience in your new space?

Start with the end in mind. What memories do you hope to make in your new space? How will the space be used day in and day out? Build from that vision. If warmth, coziness, and comfort is important to you- carry that through your color choices. If simplicity, clean lines, and minimalism is your style- let that guide your decisions around new items that will fill your space. If character and story are vital, then take your time to collect and hunt for the right pieces to fit your new space. Take your time and remember that things that are worthwhile, can take time.

• What are some ways you can save your sanity amidst the chaos?

The biggest secret I’ll let you in on is this - HIRE THE EXPERTS. Seriously, most anyone “can” pack up their kitchen and unpack after completion… but what if there’s a better way? I’m talking about getting fresh eyes, extra hands, and thoughtful organizational experts to make suggestions on how to best utilize your newly improved space. On my own, I would likely just put everything back as close to the way I had it previously. However, when the HYD gals stepped in I was given fresh perspective and new ideas about how to best set up my space in a way that improves functionality and eliminates wasted space. We talked through how our space is used, what items I grab most, and the flow of our kitchen throughout the day. With minimal expense of new “organizing supplies” - we were able to give everything a spot, create zones, and implement systems that I can utilize every day.

A few other ways to save sanity- adjusting your regular routine from nightly baths for your kiddos to every other night - everyone will survive. Pick up pizza or Chick-fil-a more than normal, that’s ok too. Remember this is a season and it will end. Making some adjustments to our normal day-to-day can save a little time, sanity, and effort. I can personally say I don’t recommend (your husband) trying out a new diet (Whole30) while trying to expand your infant’s exposure to new foods in the middle of a kitchen renovation- but, we survived. Shamelessly, we used a lot of paper plates (apologies to the environment, we promise to be better as soon as we have a working sink).

We are nearing the completion of our kitchen renovation and we are already LOVING our new space (literally we gained square footage). So even though everything isn’t quite “finished”- we have functional appliances and beautiful cabinets and floors… aka we are finally cooking! Seeing the vision that lived in your head, come to life is a pretty rewarding experience. I’m so glad we lived in our home for a year prior to making any major changes like this. And it feels pretty darn good to know that we are utilizing our space well, thanks to the help of the experts. Everything in the kitchen has a “home” and the best part is, everything is accessible and functional.

1 Year Later

Our azaleas were showstoppers this spring.

One year ago my husband and I moved into our current home. A whole year later, I am flooded with gratitude as I reflect on the past year of living here.

I am obsessed with old houses, character, charm, quirks, etc. And our (old) house has lots of that, but what I’ve realized is that my gaze has shifted from the house itself to the life we’ve lived in it. There are so many moments I want to bottle up and remember forever, and they have less to do with the stuff and more to do with the people. That may sound obvious, but I am someone who LOVES to create a place (think- decor, pillows, candles, music, etc.) and it’s taken adding our baby girl to the mix for me to see how much less those things matter than I thought they did.

View from living room into dining room.

Back deck.

A safe, cozy, inviting home is still important to me. But some of my favorite meals of the past year have been eaten on paper plates at our ottoman in the living room or on our patio table we found at a yard sale. The shelves in the laundry room are not as tidy as they were when I was intensely nesting, and I’m ok with that. I’m learning that I can be settled and enjoy a place (our home) even when things are unsettled (think- unmade beds, chaotic refrigerator shelves, leaves on the floor in the entryway, piles of baby clothes to name a few). We all have heard that perfection isn’t the goal, and I’m just here as an honest control freak to say it again. Let’s enjoy our homes, the people in them, the neighbors on our street, and the smell of your favorite fall candle.

View from back of the house.

A year into living in this home, I’m more convinced than ever that we have the best neighbors in the world. In a culture of individualism and society filled with so much division, there is nothing sweeter than a kind neighbor. I wish everyone could have even just one neighbor like the ones we’ve gotten to know over the past year. They’ve checked our mail, cut our grass, brought us food, dropped fresh flowers at the door, shared yard tools, passed down baby clothes, taught us how to trim rhododendron bushes, made us cocktails, invited us onto their porches, laughed with us, held our baby, and so much more. The gift of good neighbors is one we did not anticipate and it’s been the sweetest surprise. Knowing you have people around you who care, is no small thing.

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If our walls could talk… they’d tell stories like these:

There were a lot of poopy diapers, but even more baby giggles.

Learning about the parts of our HVAC unit on chilly days with our favorite handyman.

Eating takeout on the living room floor because hand washing dishes is not for the faint of heart.

Hosting our first Easter and Mother’s Day on my husbands great-grandmother’s table.

Smoking lots and lots of meat and brewing too many pots of coffee.

Taking daily walks and learning the names of neighbors and their dogs.

Watching Premier league soccer on Saturday mornings.

Cleaning up baby food off the floor below the highchair.

Gathering friends to watch Wimbledon and eat breakfast casserole.

Pulling weeds and borrowing the neighbors lawnmower.

Having a glass of wine on the porch after the baby goes to bed.

Pots of soup and chili made in an outdated kitchen.

Folding laundry on the living room floor while baby girl does tummy time.

Making and remaking the guest bed for lots of family visits.

Inviting friends over to help us choose where to hang art on our walls.

This is the good stuff. It’s not perfect and not always easy. But I am so grateful for the beauty and meaning and abundant life we’ve experienced in this home over the past year. Now the same leaves we watched grow in the Spring, are falling to the ground and so it goes. Thanks for coming along for my reflective journey. Cheers to many more meaningful days in the places we call home!

Is Your Home a Reflection of You?

Photo by Brooke Phillips.

As we begin a new year, we want to encourage you to reflect on a few questions we often explore with our clients. The hands on “organizing” and “packing/unpacking” work we do is important, however the deeper work we do often has more meaningful implications than we can express through before & after images.

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Take some time to consider these questions:

What do you love about your home?

What are a few of your favorite memories or meaningful moments that have taken place in your home?

What do you hope others feel when they spend time in your home?

Does your home decor and style consist of your own selections? Or is it a combination of gifts from loved ones and passed down pieces from family members?

Where do you find inspiration for your home?

Who do you trust to help you make decisions about your home?

Where do you go in your home to find rest?

What are values that you’d like your home to reflect?

What do you wish you could change in your home?

Are there areas in your home that cause you to feel overwhelmed?

What is one improvement you could make to your space that would increase your enjoyment?

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Photo by Texture Photo.

Before we begin any home organizing project, we create space to listen first. This allows us to gain a more full understanding of why a client reached out to us and what hurdle they are hoping to overcome. Life is messy, complicated, and unpredictable - and our homes are often affected by the events and seasons of our lives. We remind our clients that feeling shame around the current status of their home is not helpful, beneficial, or necessary. Rather, we encourage them to dream again of what their space could look/feel/be like. We remind our clients that their home is never too far gone & there is always somewhere to start.

Do you have an area of your home you’re ready to reclaim? Our team is ready to help.

Start the conversation today.

Sidenote: Just as we are continually encouraged and inspired by our clients stories, our team is made up of strong, resilient, and talented organizers who each bring a unique set of life experiences that enable us to serve clients facing all kinds of challenges. Read more about them here.