Recently the drawer that I use to store my cosmetics has become an unmanageable mess with bottles of lotion and hair product thrown haphazardly here and there because my daughter is late for school. And putting things back in their proper place is just so much work. No, it really is. Because I’ve just spent the last half hour repeatedly screaming, “YOUR SOCKS GO ON YOUR FEET.” Or telling my husband over and over again that the baby is in the fireplace.
And then I inevitably forget to throw away things that should be thrown away. Or more accurately, I get down to the last three drops of lotion, think I’ll eventually use those three drops, and then leave that empty bottle sitting at the bottom of the drawer for the next three years. Multiply this by about a thousand, and THIS IS MY LIFE.
I got the spring cleaning itch the other day, maybe because out of the ten bottles of lotion in my drawer I couldn’t find a single one that hadn’t dried up. Civilized people shouldn’t live this way. I mean, there are entire shows dedicated to people holding interventions for people like me. Why has my family not stepped in?
The accents in this bathroom are mostly dark orange like this:
So I found a fabric that would match the rest of the decor in the room, a heavy cotton with a small, dark orange coral print (for a total steal! $8.99 a yard!):
And then I measured and cut a piece to fit on the bottom of the drawer. Instead of gluing it or nailing it in place I used double-sided tape to hold it in place. This way, if the fabric gets dirty or I get tired of it I can change it out easily. Because if my family is not going to step in, then I have to do all the thinking.
Then the hard part: throwing things out. I had to really ask myself, Heather, have you even SEEN this nail polish since you moved into this house. No? GONE. This process alone cleared out half of the mess. What was left I gathered into groups, some free-standing, others arranged in small, clear containers. And now there is a designated place for everything. And now every time I open this drawer I get a huge smile on my face. It’s just, pretty.
You guys! I found a headband I totally forgot I had! WHO KNOWS what I’m going to find in those other drawers.
HGTV and Heather Armstrong (@HGTVHeather) invite you to our next “Watch with Heather” Twitter Party! We’ll be tweeting this Saturday during Battle On the Block. Join us at #watchHGTV from 10-11pm EDT for all the fun.
To make comments and/or replies, please follow @HGTVHeather and include #watchHGTV in your tweet
HGTV and Heather Armstrong (@HGTVHeather) invite you to our next “Watch with Heather” Twitter Party! We’ll be tweeting this Saturday during Battle On the Block. Join us at #watchHGTV from 10-11pm EDT for all the fun.
To make comments and/or replies, please follow @HGTVHeather and include #watchHGTV in your tweet
You know, lining the drawers with a pretty fabric instead of boring old contact paper totally had not occurred to me. The wheels are turning now….
(I have that same green pouchy thing — perfect size for an overnight toiletry kit!)
Oh my gosh. LOVE this!
Looks so nice. Fabric with double-stick tape is a great idea. I laminated scrapbook paper in a good colorway with clear contact paper & did the same thing. The contact paper was a lot of work–this is smarter!
So… I hope you didn't actually throw nail polishes away with the rest of your trash yet. I know most people don't know this, but nail polish is actual toxic waste:http://greenupgrader.com/11261/5-brands-making-to…
Lame, huh?!
I had no idea… thank you!
It drives me bananas when people throw batteries into the regular trash. Or in movies when they dramatically chuck their cell phone into the ocean.
Or the woman at the pharmacy that told me to flush unused pain killers down the toilet.
You know, if you're good with a needle and thread, you could use velcro stitched onto the fabric and stuck to the inside of the drawer. Then, when the fabric gets dirty, you could just throw it in the washing machine and not worry about dealing with the tape. If you were feeling particularly industrious, you could make several inserts like this, and change them out when you start to feel less giddy about the drawer.
It's amazing the difference a little organization and decorative fabric can make…the first draw picture made me think lots of stuff/a little chaotic. The second picture was pleasant and calming…now every time you go in that draw you'll feel relaxed…I'm off to change the energy in some of my draws
btw…Nice fabric!
the fabric probably should have been scotch-guarded, I imagine every bit of dust, powder and leaking bottles of lotion will stick to the fabic like glue! or for the truely anal-retentive, lay the fabric down then cover with a clear or frosted contact paper to protect it. Ok we can all go back to finding lint balls in our belly button now…
The clear contact paper is an excellent addition to this idea – now it all makes sense!
I once wallpapered in inside of a closet. I loved some of the wild, crazy damask prints that came into vogue a few years ago, but didn't have the balls to do a whole room in it. I chose to line the inside of my craft closet in an awesome damask and then install floating shelves to hold everything. That act of effort has made me keep that closet much more organized than had I just kept it plain. It's like my happy little nook!
The point of this comment is that I lined my cosmetics drawer with the scrap wallpaper. That also made me very happy. It's like my happy little drawer!
Very pretty. The fabric is fabulous. I love that Kerastase product. It smells so good!! I wish they made a perfume of it. I have a really hard time throwing that particular product out. I notoriously save the last couple drops of it for a special occasion.
I use the clear organizers too, but it hadn't occurred to me to line the drawers with fabric. I'm thinking this would be a GREAT solution to the toothpaste that constantly accumulates in drawers in the kids' bathroom.
Love the fabric liner idea. I used wallpaper scraps to line my bathroom drawers. The wallpaper is heavy enough that I didn't need to use glue, tape or other sticky stuff to keep it down.
Your fabric idea makes me want to line my open shelves with fabric … hmmm …
I love that you have the same cosmetics bag as me (from what? A Bath & Body Works promotion in 2008? I completely remember buying something I did not even want in order to get that awesome bag – in addition to loving the print, it's totally durable and looks (on the outside at least) the same as when I bought it (and I use it for travel, too – all the time).
Also, your drawer lining fabric is lovely, but (and I know I've now made this entire comment about the bag) with something laminated (like the bag! aha! full circle) (and like this:http://www.heatherbaileystore.com/product-p/ab-nj… although I think I like your pattern better in the space because it's simpler and small) , because I spill everything, ever, and constantly.
Wow, if i weren't planning to move soon, I would totally be looking online at fabric for this. Great post! (and lovely drawer!) Thanks!
Loving the fabric + double-sided tape idea. How clever!
Also, no judgment for linking to this article from your blog. Otherwise, I may not have seen this… Keep linking, please.
I totally have that headband.
Where's the Skin So Soft?!
Inspired to comment! I. Love. This. My love for it is especially impressive because I don't have a drawer that I treat this way (ha) but now I WANT ONE.
I agree with @Stacy above about the Velcro, but you don't even need to know how to sew. There are self-adhesive Velcros as well as sewing glue that works pretty great in moderation (I accidentally used too much and my fabric is stiff in some places, but if you use the recommend amount it doesn't stiffen).
also, there better be some Avon products in there or someone will get peeved!
Very cute! You really like Keratase products don't you?
That is an awesome idea! I am so going to do that. And I will consider throwing out the box of old cosmetics I have in my closet "just in case I ever need them again".
Yay on cleaning out old dried up bottles of lotion! but boo for reminding me of what I have to look forward to in my packing for an upcoming move. ____Also, I am totally stealing the fabric as contact paper thing and using IT EVERYWHERE! Every drawer will have pretty fabric in the bottom, maybe even a few with pockets of potpourri.____But I do have to say if $8.99 a yard is a steal, you need to start shopping elsewhere! Or you can just pay me to do your fabric shopping and I'll go buy that EXACT same fabric for $1.99 a yard and pocket the change.
Yeah, this is a really cool idea Heather. I understand the commenters wanting to use the velcro with the sticky, that is a good idea too…but me, I like to change stuff up, so prolly I would just change the fabric when it got grody. It's gotta be good for a year or more right?
Also, 8.99 a yard, when a yard does alot of drawers, seems like a pretty good deal to me, not for nothing. My thinking is pretty much like, you see it, you want it, it's reasonably priced, what are you really saving by driving around wasting time and gas trying to find that exact thing someplace else?
And hey-thanks for linking when you post over here
Alyxherself
Just out of curiosity Heather, how much make-up was actually in your cosmetics drawer? Not that I can talk, my cosmetics drawer exploded and took over half the bathroom.
Love that print! I saw something similar in a duvet and wanted it so much. Too bad I painted my bedrooms martini green and curaco blue.
Dude.
$8.99 is not a deal on fabric. $1.99 is a deal. Once I splurged and got Amy Butler fabric for $7.
Of course, I buy by the bolt. Then *everything can match.*
Thanks to Marilyn for the comment about nail polish being toxic … my reason for not throwing stuff out is that I'm not sure what to do with it — I feel guilty about it if I can't reuse or recycle in some way, so I just hang on to it. Next time I do a big clean out (Heather — You're a lightweight when it comes to junk if that photo is the best you've got!) I'll take any nail polish to the chemical drop off place (and buy the brands recommended on the site). Oh, and the fabric idea is cute too, which may inspire me not to let stuff build up so much!
Super cute idea! And I'm sure you can even look for fabric in the "scraps" section of the fabric store for a few bucks!
cool idea about using fabric!
<a href="http://www.thejerseyshort.com” target=”_blank”>www.thejerseyshort.com
RIP Love Spell, 2010. See you at the crossroads.
I'm a fabric junkie and I LOVE this idea. Be sure to prewash that fabric before using it to line your drawer. Or it most likely won't fit after you wash it.
I'm wondering if you could laminate it or cover it with contact paper instead. Hmmmmm…..
love it thanks
This is a great idea – I'm knee deep in organizing myself, so this is right on time! Done & Done!
i cannot believe people are a) getting paid to write about re-organizing their bathroom drawers and re-lining it with wasted fabric, b) have the time and interest to read about re-organizing their bathroom drawers and re-lining it with wasted fabric, and c) are self-absorbed enough to take the extra time to respond to a post such as this when that time could be spent RE-ORGANIZING your own stupid drawers, purchasing less items that are probably toxic to your skin, your children and our environment and GET OUTSIDE MEET YOUR NEIGHBOURS, BREATH THE STILL CLEAN AIR, MAKE COOKIES WITH YOUR KIDS AND EAT HEALTHY TO PROTECT YOUR SKIN.
sheesh people. get real.
Justine, please. Step away from the keyboard. Go outside, meet your neighbors, et cetera, blah blah blah. Honey, you will feel so much better. So will I.
Agreed. I am organizing two houses to move into a third and gee! I never knew I could have made an HGTV blog out of ALL THIS ORGANIZING. (I normally don't write in all caps but just thought I'd make a point since this is Heather's motif.)
and yet you ticked boxes b) AND c) when that time could have been spent getting some meds.
c) are self-absorbed enough to take the extra time to respond to a post such as this when that time could be spent RE-ORGANIZING your own stupid drawers
Um, hello? Isn't this what you just did?!
just wanted to point out that justine's snarky comment complaining about people taking the time to read about reorganizing is the longest comment so far. so who is wasting their time? instead of pointing out other peoples' "faults" go do something positive. Good job looking like a cranky jerk.
i just moved into a new house and can't wait to try this or something similar out!
Along the lines of "everyone who disagrees with Heather is JEALOUS" when really, who the F cares about reading about reorganizing of drawers?! I really look to the web for such advice. HGTV Fail…
LMAO, Pennygirl. So why’d you READ it?
And Justine…well, I guess it’s not necessary to comment on the ironic stupidity of someone commenting on what other people should or shouldn’t be doing when they have just DONE it themselves!
She's getting paid for the stuff she writes on here, we don't. Who's the smart one now?
I like little ideas and tricks. Keep them coming Heather! xo
Since when is cleaning out a drawer and lining it with something (who cares what) a new little idea or trick?! I'm pretty sure people have been doing that since drawers were invented. This was pointless and rather useless.
I love the idea of using double-sided tape! This is great for me, because I always seem to have a bottle of lotion spontaneously combust in my drawer. I also wanted to say, I have the same green and leaf printed makeup bag for Bath and Body! I love how roomy it is!
Your "before" drawer looks pretty much like my "after "drawer. Were are the ramdon q-tips, , the broken eye pencils, the 14 bottles of hotel shampoo, the half used bar of soap, 37 hair ties, 3 broken necklaces, 8 single ear rings, a nail file from 1987, and my all time favorite the the odd cotton ball with hair stuck to it! I think you are pretty lucky if your "before" drawer looked like it does in the picture. Clearly I need help!
Inspired!
I have to ask: where is that green pouch with the leaves from? LOVE IT!
Looks nice!
Also? Glad to see that someone else under the age of fifty uses Pond's Cold Cream; I'm twenty-two and feel like I'm bertraying my young counterparts whenever I run out and have to buy more (which is often, I use hooker-amounts of mascara.)
I cannot believe you posted a picture with the tile that nearly crashed the internet. You are a brave woman.
That fabric is sooo pretty and I love the double stick tape idea. I just wish I had a bathroom drawer to line.
[...] saw this post today from my all time favorite and was totally inspired to do the same thing to our bathroom [...]
Hmmm. I'm glad I'm not alone. I routinely have to go through all my bottles of lotion/shampoo/conditioner/hair products etc and do the purge. I just take it to the local women's shelter…then they all have to have therapy for hoarding products
Parchment paper with fall leaves ironed in or even spring time flower petals might be cool too
wow! this is totally original design!!!
lining drawers with a pretty liner! what's next, organizing books on a bookshelf? how to use colored hangers in your closet? wake up, HGTV–you are getting ROBBED by paying for these inane, unoriginal posts.
Gotta say I didn't think the drawer was that bad in the first place. Sure it looks really good after, but I got a shelf in my wardrobe, another in my bathroom and two small drawers that make the first shot look pristine! Yes, obviously I need to get to purging ASAP but just saying Heather, it wasn't that bad.
I thought you snuck in my bathroom and snooped the "before" picture ! Really! Same little makeup bag and products! I like the use of the clear containers. Where can we find those?