Q: I’m curious how you keep all your decorating ideas and images organized. Do you hold on to every magazine and catalog with a great design idea? If so, how do you organize them? Do you cut out images, keep everything electronic, or scan photos? I always collect inspiring decorating ideas but then lose track of them or let them create clutter. Love the blog! – Lindsay
A: Great question. I used to have piles of torn-out pages and loose tear-sheets from glossy shelter magazines stacked everywhere, waiting to be sorted. A few years ago I decided to simplify and created what I call “the ultimate magazine”: a single 3-inch binder filled with clear plastic sleeves containing my favorite inspiration images. It’s easy to flip through, far less cumbersome than loose stacks, and it keeps everything protected and portable.
To make it even more useful, I organized the binder by category. Typical sections include interior inspiration, curb appeal and exterior ideas, holiday decor, art I love, furniture and layout inspiration, and DIY projects. That way, when I’m planning a specific project—say, a living room refresh or a front-porch update—I can quickly find a handful of reference images without rifling through piles or scrolling endlessly.
In addition to a physical binder, we keep a digital inspiration folder on our computer desktop. The folders mirror many of the same categories as the binder, and we store screenshots, downloaded images, or scans there. A small but critical habit: we rename files with the original source when possible, so if an image ends up on the blog or is used in a project we can properly credit or revisit the source later. Consistent file naming and a few subfolders go a long way toward avoiding digital chaos.
For magazines we can’t bear to part with, we keep full issues on display or in easy-to-access spots. We’re the proud owners of every single issue of certain favorites, and they’re stacked intentionally on the hearth or on a side table where they can be browsed and enjoyed. Keeping some physical copies visible doubles as decor and as a ready resource when you want to leaf through print inspiration.
We also tuck a selection of treasured magazines into woven or leather baskets near reading nooks—small collections arranged in the sunroom, den, or beside a comfy chair. That makes it easy to pick them up, flip through ideas, and return them to their tidy spot. It keeps the house feeling curated and prevents magazines from spreading into random piles.
Admittedly, our system isn’t perfect. Sometimes pages get tucked into the binder with a note to sort them later, and the digital folders occasionally need a cleanup. But overall the mix of a well-organized physical binder, curated magazine displays, and labeled digital folders keeps inspiration accessible without letting it overwhelm the household.
If you’re starting from scratch, here are a few practical tips: choose a single storage method that feels sustainable (physical, digital, or a hybrid), create clear categories, use durable sleeves or folders to protect tear-outs, rename digital files with sources, and keep a small number of favorite full issues out for easy browsing. Over time you’ll refine the process to match the way you plan projects and gather ideas.
Curious which magazines we enjoy most? We keep a few go-to titles on rotation and several vintage issues we love for entertainment and design inspiration. Those favorites are part of what makes our library useful and fun to browse.