CREATIVE WAYS TO ORGANIZE YOUR MAKEUP STASH

Makeup is every girl’s best friend.

Admit it: You are obsessed with it too! Whether you use it to cover blemishes, highlight your facial assets or solve complexion issues, I know makeup is your secret sanctuary when it comes to boosting your confidence.

Don’t you hate it when you can’t find your favorite lipstick or your go-to shade of eyeshadow? From the number of products you own, from primers, to powders to lipliners, I understand that tracking down one specific product from a number of items can be very frustrating.

So if your makeup collection is in need of a major fix, these simple hacks and solutions will get you back in order.

Keep your brushes in jars or drinking glasses.

You can reuse jars, or buy mason jars for your brushes.

In the same way, lipsticks and other tubes look so glam in these acrylic holders. Simply add faux pearls.

via AliExpress

For powders, use a narrow holder similar to the one below.

You can actually make use of a pencil case to hold all these in. I do like the one in the photo  because there are dividers.

via Aliexpress

Remember, the important thing about organization in whatever room it may be is to have a system. That means have categories. Keep the same/similar ones together. That way it will be easier to put things back the way they should be and also help you in easily finding the makeup you need. Some categories that can help get you started: brushes, lip glosses, lipsticks, eye makeup, blushes, face powders, primer. If you have a huge collection, you can even sub-categorize them, for instance, lipsticks can be segregated according to brand.

Finally, corral your collection into separate bins, even going so far as to labeling it for easier access and use.

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DESIGNER SECRETS TO MIXING INTERIOR STYLES

It's not often that we find purists of one design style. After all we are human, and humans are complex. So we gravitate towards two or three design styles. But how do you mix them without looking like a big mess?

via Pinterest

First, think of your shell – that means your walls, floor, ceiling. Use a single style for your shell. For instance, a good design mix is industrial chic. That would mean a warehouse base with large expensive windows, raw cement floors, and exposed ceiling. Pair this with glamorous and traditional but chic furniture. The combination of raw and sophisticated furniture and accessories makes this a design statement.

Second, stick to a color palette. Use furniture and furnishings that are in the same color palette.

Third, try contrasting styles. My mentor's abode is primarily Filipino with touches of the classic. He makes this work by using predominantly one style and adding a few pieces like his silver Egyptian chairs. A mix of 70/30 is a good ratio to work with.

Lastly, don't be afraid to mix patterns together. The rule is to always follow your color palette for a sophisticated outcome. It adds a designer touch to your space!

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GET YOUR AIRBNB BOOKED IN MINUTES THIS HALLOW'S EVE

It is that time of the year again where most of us just could not wait for Christmas! But before that, we still have Halloween to deal with. For those whose apartments are up on Airbnb, decorating your place according to the current season is a good strategy as well. And because we are just as festive as you are, we have a few tips for your easy décor transitions!

Go colorful.

Follow the color palette of the corresponding season or holiday to invoke that warm feeling. It will definitely add a wonderful surprise for your guests. For one, when it’s Halloween and fall season, try warm tone-colored throws and curtains in fiery oranges, neutral browns, and golden yellows.

Go fun.

Add more fun Halloween accessories to your place such as mini jack-o-lanterns and a few bat cut-outs. Want to level this up? Pull out a carving knife and go decorate your pumpkin! This is something easy to do and yet adds that drama you can't get from fake plastic ones.

Afraid you might mess that up? Simplest way to do it is by using markers! Go get drawing! You can even use the pumpkin for some cream of squash after! 

But if you’re not into the festivity and would rather be more subtle, a scented candle helps your guests get a feel of autumn. 

Give some candy!

Yes, it's almost Halloween and who can resist these? The wonderful thing is it won't even cost you an arm and a leg, and your guests will embrace that thoughtful gesture you made.  Place your colorful sweets in a white bowl so your colors can stand out. Impressing your guests is certainly one thing that should be foremost in your mind! 

Bonus.

People rent out your place when they have a vacation or perhaps for business, add a local souvenir from your town or city--something for them to remember. For an extra oomph during Halloween season, print a local horror story on paper you can leave near the bedside for your more adventurous clients. Warning! Not everyone likes Halloween so this may not go well with some guests. 

More Secrets!

Thinking about it, you can even go all out and change your photo ads for the Halloween season. Take photos of your added seasonal decor and see your place booked in minutes!! After all, I haven't seen any place in Airbnb decorated for the season... That might change when you guys post! Won't that be a really good come-on?!

Then after the fall and Halloween, we meet winter and Yuletide! 

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A WHOLE NEW WORLD

For long-time homeowners with a relatively big family, it is a no-brainer that your kids must have their own bedrooms. But time will come when they will have to go to college or start their own families. And when that time comes, the house might feel a little bit lonely.

However, there will always be ways to have more fun even without your grown-up babies, starting with fixing your home!

For one, you can start decluttering your kids’ rooms. Remember though that you would still want them to have a place when they come home for the holidays. Switch the twin-sized beds into queen-sized ones that will also be perfect for when guests come over to your house.

Moreover, if you’ve always wanted a home office that’s not in your living room or dining area, use one of the now-empty rooms! If you and your partner will be retiring soon, it will be a perfect chance for you to have your own separate office or creative space at home. Time to invest in a desk and a comfortable chair that will not hurt your back.

Or maybe you've always wanted to have a man cave. Now is the best time to do it. How do you envision your ideal man cave? Are you a reader, a gamer, an art collector or maybe all of the above? A reader would need a comfortable lounge chair and a floor lamp. A gamer would dream of a bespoke entertainment center complete with surround system and acoustic walls (to soundproof your gaming from your neighbors or your wife unless she's a gamer too). An art collector needs some shelves, perhaps a few pedestals for that Cacnio sculpture and ideally, spotlights on the art pieces to give the right attention that they deserve.

Now you will have the chance to get started with that renovation you have been thinking of for a while now. Such construction is best supervised by professionals who can envision your space for you.

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REFRESH YOUR HOME FOR LESS

You may have reached a point in your life where you need to be in a new environment. And not just a new workplace, but a new home. Or you may have been offered your dream job and may require to relocate with your family. With this, you might need to have your current home available for rent or even for sale. But where do you start with leasing your home? Keep reading…

• Bathroom
  • One of the easiest parts to clean up is the bathroom since this only requires some scrubbing and bleaching. Also make sure that there are no chipped tiles, the plumbing works just fine, no leaks, and no moss or molds are forming inside. 

• Kitchen
  • Aside from plumbing, the kitchen requires more effort. Check all cabinet doors and drawer glides to see if they still work smoothly. An easy and cheap upgrade is to change cabinet knobs or pulls. To renew the overall look, have the cabinets painted. 

• Walls
  • Look out for cracks, chipping and fading on your walls, especially when you have utilized both paint and wallpapers. Again, the cheapest way to do it is to have it repainted. Stick to neutrals.

• Décor
  • To attract a wider pool of buyers/renters, choose neutrals for the walls and use patterns and textures on your decor. What does this entail? Have a color palette in mind, then, use patterns that follow your color scheme. This way, you can add some pizzazz to your home without making it look chaotic. Patterns can be introduced by adding throw pillows, throws, and a few key decor pieces. Moreover, indoor plants also work well as home decor and as cliché as it may sound, bring the outdoors in.

A final word: a styled home makes a deep and lasting impression on your potential buyer/renter. Keep all things organized. Remove clutter. Refreshing your home need not be expensive. It's simply a matter of taste and a few upgrades.

These are just a few of the things to keep in mind when you want to overhaul your home so you can put them on sale. Most importantly, don’t forget to consult with a professional so that your home will be at its best.

Check out my basic room design below for an upgrade to your interiors!

MY PENULTIMATE GUIDE TO FINDING YOUR DESIGN STYLE

What are design styles and why are they important? Styles in interior design are based on the history of art and architecture. One of the most difficult things when renovating or refreshing your interiors is finding out your style. Believe me, this is one I've struggled with myself. After all, there are plenty of beautiful images and styles that abound. Over the years, I've realized that our styles change and mature as we get older. What might have been appealing to us when we were younger does not look as good to us now. This is particularly important so that our interiors do not look like a Pinterest photo gone awry. Part of our training as interior designers is to know this so that we may apply the rules and make your interiors look cohesive.

So how do you know which one speaks to you? Which style can you actually stick to and love over the years?

These are some guidelines that can narrow down and help you:

What do you usually wear?

Check your wardrobe and look at what colors, patterns and style you have the most of. Fashion has a large influence on your life. Whether you like casual jeans and shirt for everyday or floral maxi dresses, this can reveal your taste in interiors as well.

What is your favorite outfit?

In line with your #OTD, this delves deeper into your sense of style. Why do you like this particular outfit? Is it the print, the cut? Is it your go-to-outfit for a date?

Look at interior design magazines, whether it's online or offline.

Check a number of magazines and either Pin the images or go arts and crafts and cut them out. My favorites are Elle Decor, House Beautiful. Locally, I love My Home, Condo Living or Real Living.

Focus on the feelings you want to evoke.

Why feelings? Because for a design to work effectively, you need to go deeper and find out what ambience you want to feel. Is it casual? Happy and bright? Elegant and sophisticated? Each feeling can lead to what design style you want.

Look at colors as well.

There are many color palettes available online. Check which ones appeal to you. Colors give you a feel of the style you're aiming for. If you're not sure about the colors, check your makeup (yes, I know, makeup!). What type of makeup do you usually do? Are you a bronze goddess or do you like doing smokey eyes more? What colors do you use? More on neutrals, brights, pale colors?

Create a moodboard.

Finally, take all these together and do it like we professional interior designers do. Make a moodboard. You can make one online or if you're feeling artsy, do it the old fashioned way and make a collage. Remember this means your moodboard will be composed of different images - fashion, favorite outfit, interiors, feelings, colors. Yes, I know you can't moodboard your feelings. Instead, either write it down or if you see a particular photograph that encapsulates that feeling, then that's what you place on your moodboard. 

Now, look at all your images together and get the keywords or key images that you think summarizes your look. Or another way is looking at everything and seeing what is common among your images. 

Finally, to find out what design style you fit into, subscribe to my newsletter for that FREE E-BOOK to finally turn out the noise and get to know the design that truly talks to you! Scroll down to the bottom to subscribe!