Out of sight, out of mind
This is a great solution for Classics & funs determined to hide everythingToday’s tip is about getting things out of site. “A handsome, vintage cabinet or sleek modern, console can cleverly hide everything from books and games to a flat-screen TV.” – Kim Myles, host of Myles of Style. As a Classic, I’m always trying to hide clutter out of site, so naturally I love this solution (and the proof is that my husband often accuses me of hiding his things, which is only half true). There are some types (Organics & Smarts) that need to be VERY careful with what they hide because out of site can often = out of mind for you.
In general, attractive solutions that are more open don’t bother Organics & Smarts as much as they do Classics & Funs. I use a buffet as my entertainment center,
Good for Organics and Smarts because it offers more storage than the average entertainment center and it’s all HIDDEN (I even drilled holes in the back so I could hide the cable & DVD boxes inside). One of my Smart friend also uses a buffet for her TV — I’d like to say she copied me but I totally “single white femaled” her apartment when decorating mine — yet she keeps her electronic boxes on top of her buffet. The extra clutter doesn’t bug her the same way.
The best solutions for Organics and Smarts, are those that are both open & hidden: A bin with the option of a lid (cover when company comes) or Magazine Holders. They hide the clutter of magazines and catalogs but pretty enough to be out in the open. One of our Organic Structure clients who has a gorgeous studio apartment has a ton of books, papers and magazine holders on a built in bookshelf that she hides with a curtain. Again, it’s hidden, but with one sweep of her hand, she can immediately see what’s on her shelves.
When a combo open & hidden solution isn’t an option (and you’re Organic or Smart), just remember to hide big categories together — this melds with the natural big picture thinker in you.