I’m hoping that these pics of my main office closet someday serve as the “before” photos in a “before and after” makeup storage situation with a happy ending.
The clear bins all stacked up here are from The Container Store and purchased piecemeal over the past few years.
At least the bins are all stacked up now because they used to be literally strewn about, which was not the best use of space.
I finally consolidated them in the closet a couple weekends ago, but they’re still not totally organized.
They used to be though, sort of, when they were strewn about, before I stacked them in the closet. The improv Post-It labels used to correspond to the products in the drawers, but I got progressively more sloppy and moved some stuff around, so now I have to redo everything.
Thankfully, Post-Its are removable! (I like these Post-it Super Sticky Removable Label Pads.)
Now I just have to reorganize what’s in the drawers, and I’ll be set. The current system is sorted by brand first, then type of product, but that may change.
I’m thinking about sorting by color or formula, but I don’t know if that’ll work better. I haven’t figured it out yet…
*bows down at the altar of the makeup god*
gosh karen, if i have the responsibility of organizing that, i’d have a heart attach everyday. and nothing else gets done.
I’ve thought about doing by brand or by color. But I so far I’ve stuck to organizing by type of product, then brand. I do however, go through and clean things out every month or so and just get rid of things. If not, I freak out about how much I have! I keep mine in plastic drawer organizers that I found in my neighborhood at the side of the road. Because I’m classy like that 😉 Although the office supply freak in me really wants to add Post-It notes to the mix now!
“runs out into the night!”
The first step to fixing the problem is photographing it!
Seriously, you are on the way to cross-referencing all the stuff. Two thirds look halfway there.
You could try color families.
I await the happy ending. Honestly, I think it will come together by spring (more sunlight).
I’d keep the Chanel stuff together though. Karl would say “you just gave up!”
I need to come and rob this closet some time 😀
Drooling over that collection of Chanel palettes…
Holy crap girl! I’m also drooling over the Chanel palettes.
Gosh!! that’s a LOT of stuff!! Managing so much must be a pain! #bblogger problems!
I just wanna go shopping through yo’ stash 🙂
I tried organizing my much smaller collection by colour but it was hard to find things and reorganize when I had to add in new products. I switched it back to by product and brand eventually.
I second that. Organizing by color was a horrible mistake. Right now, I organize by type, then brand and thats enough for my small(er) collection.
Maybe I have to admit that “I organize…” isn’t exactly right. Is is more like “I plan to organize… someday”.
Thanks! I won’t go there — it was a consideration for my small stash!
I’ve been waiting for you to do a post like this for a long time! I have seen a couple of your posts about makeup storage but I always wondered what you personally did. I used to just leave everything hanging around my dresser, but late last year I got sone drawers from Michael’s (“Melmer”) and I’m starting to outgrow that too. I have so much stuff from subscription services that are lower end that I don’t use much and tons of deluxe samples and I just don’t know if I should keep them 🙁
My mom said I could come over to play. Is that okay?
Please?
I love organization posts, you always find new ideas!
Personally, I have an ikea malm dresser and I am trying to stay confined to it, least my love for the next new shiny thing to pop up means that I have things going unloved for long stretches of time! But it is hard hehe
Now THAT is organized. I would looooooove to sniff around in that stash of yours 😀
Jealousy doesn’t even begin to describe my feelings… lol
I think this is a really good solution! I can’t tell you how itchy I am just imagining all that product and the decision-making it would involve to use any of it. That said, you are a total pro and it seems like this is a great system for storing and locating things. You are so good at remembering product names and colors that pretty much any way of organizing would work for you. Color might be nice but it would require a lot more subjective sorting (is this more peach or more coral?). 🙂
Girl, you need like 10 of those Ikea Alex drawer units 😀 I couldn’t imagine trying to organize SO much beauty products!
My collection is much smaller than yours, which makes me feel good (and a little less guilty) but much more unorganized, which makes me feel bad, lol! Originally I stored it by type of product in some white particleboard drawers from the craft store (no see through, nobody needs to know what a hoarder I am!) That way when I needed something, say, a new night creme, I knew where to grab it. But with all the awesome holiday sets I have bought, it needs to be reorganized!
Hi Karen,
I loved seeing how you house your makeup collection! Mine’s in plastic shoeboxes (clear is so key!) organized by brand, mostly.
Hey Karen!
One of my favorite things I’ve seen for creating a clean look for alot of storage is mod-podging the cover of the drawer (either craft paper or fabric.
Here is an example: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/192458584048498829/
I would probably try to use more of a classic look, like a damask white print or stripes, myself. That way I wouldn’t tire of it for a good while. You could also look into inserting a cardstock made to fit, without affixing it to the surface!
Another cool idea would be making your own labels (that would look so beautiful), using the silhouette cutter. They could all match, or be quite different. I would personally make them similar 🙂 The labels look bright, clean and professional! I lovee to see how this cutter is used on iheartorganizing ! http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.com/
Organizing can be so much fun! or…maybe that’s just me?
I’d organize by brand then product type, then format (cream, powder, etc) then shade range. Seems like it’d be easiest to locate items that way. Very cool collection 🙂
Oh my gosh, Karen, can I PLEASE move in and you’ll adopt me?! This is incredible, now I feel way better about my few drawers 🙂 And if my boyfriend EVER says that I have too much makeup, I’ll just show him this post 😉
Love, Stefi
I would just LOVE to have even a fraction of what’s in your closet!!! You ever get tired of having so much or need help using it all, I will gladly take some off your hands! That there is a gorgeous sight!!!!
Hi Kristin,
After eight years of blogging, I’ve accumulated a lot! But it’s also a source of stress sometimes, like now when it’s a disorganized mess haunting my closet.
I clicked over to your blog, btw, and I effing love it! Your honest voice shines through in your writing, and I encourage anyone reading this comment to head over and read Kristin’s blog. She’s amazing!
Karen, thanks for gushing on me, it totally made my day!!! <3
When you get the organization thing figured out, less us know your system! I’m notoriously disorganized. I’m always looking for ways to be neater and more organized.
Can I show the photo of your closet to my DH? All my makeup fits into a 2 foot by 2 foot by 1 foot deep set of drawers cobbled together from IKEA. And he thinks I have too much! Except he really likes it when I wear makeup, even if he’s says it doesn’t matter. Because I always get a “You look nice, or pretty or good today” when I have makeup on.
Too many Chanel compacts to fit in a drawer is a problem I would love to have, lol. When my husband complains about my makeup collection growing, I’m going to send him to this post.
I wish I could live in that beauty closet. You would see me with a different face the back of hands all swatched out.You make my little closet look peanuts, small leagues which is good because I am doing a project no buy and a year long project 10 pan.
WOW, I’d love to look through your stash to see if you had a Chanel Notorious I could convince you to part with 🙂
Blog sale?
I just threw out lots of makeup that went bad…..sadly this does not last forever, especially liquid eye products. Be careful as old makeup can cause nasty infections. Because of pink eye I had to throw out most of my eye makeup 🙁
But on the plus side – amazing what you have accomplished! Looks great so far. Time for me to toss out my pretty boxes and get some serious clear boxes!
That is one epic collection!
To heck with Sephora and Ulta, I want to shop at your house!
I have a huge roll-top desk with my makeup stashed in it, plus a couple of train cases and a small shelf set for my nail polishes. I was feeling guilty because I’m starting to outgrow my desk. Now I don’t feel so bad.
Then again, I’m not a blogger… lol
do you hear a chorus of angels when you open that closet door?
I can come over and help you organize- what size suitcases should I
bring?
Seriously, take a couple of days to figure out what you want to do. Ask Tabs- perhaps he has some suggestions!
This looks like heaven! I love how you set this up and how everything is so organized. Nice!!
Impressive! 😀 My sash is not particularly impressive (fits in a shoebox, LOL!), but I may…have a spreadsheet with all sorts of info in it, because I am a big dork. 😀
A “beautiful” mess!!! 😉