Fashion Magazine Overload
Not only do you subscribe to the usual suspects — Vogue, ELLE, Marie Claire — but you also pick up the odd indie fashion rag for perusal. Sometimes it can be a real space-stealer. What to do? Curation. The key to keeping your mag stash under control is going through it constantly, and actually reading them! Or if you can’t, but recycle day is coming up, scan through an issue and tear out articles and fashion stories that appeal to you. For the fashion mags that you just have to keep (those $20+ indie rags from Europe), invest in magazine files and keep them organized by title. Buy several of the same style for a nicely streamlined look. It’s a much better option than keeping them stacked in the middle of your room. Alternatively, if reading periodicals is an important part of your life, you can get a stand-alone holder (or wall-mounted one) to keep them always in full view.
Who hasn’t ripped out an ad from Vogue‘s thick September issue and tacked it on the wall? It can certainly work, but if you want a slightly more grown-up feel, it needs an upgrade. Consider buying inexpensive picture frames and making a gallery wall. Another cool look would be to collect a ton of neatly cut-out ads and make a whole tile-like wall out of it (would be particularly cool for inside your closet; you can also do this to line dresser drawers). Another thing that lends this look a more grown-up vibe is simply using a corkboard to tack up all the inspiring imagery.
Too Much Makeup
Another issue for beauty mavens — too many beauty products! Too many spa-like potions, too many statement lipsticks, too many eyeshadows. It can be tough to keep up. It’s also tough to get rid of products when you realize they don’t quite suit your needs. It’s not exactly hygienic to donate mascara to a secondhand shop, although eBay could work if the product is high-end or in-demand. The key here is keeping a cool-looking display that gives the products the space they need. Make your bathroom shelves look like those of a high-end store with organization and thoughtful groupings; keep the colors and products you use most grouped on your dresser with a small bud vase for maximum glamour. Keep sporadic-use items out of sight in a dedicated drawer or a pretty box in the closet or under the bed.
