About

The Closet That Taught Me the Whole House

Our first house had one good closet and nowhere near enough of it. I spent a weekend building a shelf to fix that, and somewhere between the stud finder and the third trip to the hardware store, I realized the problem was never really the closet. It was that I had never learned how a house is supposed to work before you decorate it: where things go, how big they should be, and what holds up.

My name is Lydia Elliott, I write every post on Elise Home Styling, and this site is what that closet started. It is organized the way I actually move through a home, from the rooms you relax in, to the systems that keep them from falling into chaos, and out to the yard.

The rooms you live in

Living Room and Bedroom are the “sit down and enjoy it” rooms, and my posts here are split between ideas and honest answers. In the living room that means choosing paint colors, deciding whether a sectional beats two sofas, whether your rugs should match, and the unglamorous maintenance nobody pins, like cleaning a wool rug or dry-cleaning sofa cushions at home. In the bedroom it is mostly curtains and calm: how to hang them, whether they should touch the floor, thermal versus blackout, plus decorating a large wall, styling a nightstand and how often you really need to change the sheets.

The systems that keep it all working

This is the heart of the site, because it is where that first closet led. Storage & Organization is one of my largest categories, covering closets from a DIY shelf to a full master-closet layout, garage storage and shelving, mudrooms and drop zones, laundry rooms, home offices, and small-space tricks for apartments. Kitchen sits right beside it, because a kitchen is half decoration and half storage: cabinet styles and door types, how to update or order custom cabinets, pull-down shelves, counter depth and countertop materials. If a room only works when it is organized, you will find it in one of these two.

And out to the yard

Outdoor is my largest category, and the one I have the most fun with. It runs from quick wins like deck accent lighting and deck planters to bigger projects: flagstone patios, attached awnings, curb appeal, landscaping for small yards, pole barn and detached garages, and full backyard plans. It is where the organizing brain meets fresh air.

What I am, and what I am not

I am not an interior designer, a contractor, an electrician or a professional organizer. I am a homeowner who got tired of guessing, learned by doing, and now writes down the sizes, the comparisons and the steps so you do not have to learn them the slow way I did. Standard measurements are a starting point, not a promise: yours vary by home, brand and region, so I always tell you to measure your own space. When a job involves wiring, gas, or anything structural, I say so and point you to a licensed professional.

If a fact or a measurement in one of my posts is wrong, please write to me. I will check it and fix the post.

A few things off the shelf

I still own the first closet shelf I built, and it is slightly crooked, and I keep it on purpose. I cannot walk past an organized pantry photo without stopping, and I have strong, unsolicited opinions about drop zones by the back door.

Before you build, drill or dig

Everything on this site is general information from my own experience. It is not professional advice, and I am not a builder, electrician, plumber or structural engineer. Please treat these points as the minimum.

Measure first: standard sizes vary by brand, model and home. Measure your space, your doorway and your delivery path before ordering cabinets, furniture or large items, and check the return policy.
Walls, shelves and heavy builds: before drilling for closet systems, shelving, cabinets or wall decor, check for studs, wiring and pipes, and use anchors and hardware rated for the full loaded weight. Anchor tall shelving and furniture to the wall, especially around children.
Electrical work: deck lighting, kitchen lighting and any new wiring or outlet should be installed by a licensed electrician and meet local code. Use outdoor-rated fixtures and GFCI protection outside, and turn off the breaker before you start.
Patios, decks, garages and digging: flagstone, pavers, decks, awnings and detached structures can be covered by permits, setbacks, frost depth, drainage and homeowner association rules. Check them first, hire a professional for anything structural or attached to the house, and call 811 before you dig.
Cleaning and refinishing: test cleaners and finishes on a hidden spot, ventilate, wear gloves and a respirator when sanding, and never mix cleaning products. In a home built before 1978, assume paint may contain lead until a test says otherwise, and do not sand or scrape it.
Non-toxic materials: “non-toxic” and “food-safe” claims vary by product, so check the manufacturer’s certifications yourself rather than trusting a label alone.
Window cords: blind and curtain cords are a strangulation risk for young children. Keep them out of reach and follow current child safety guidance.

Affiliate disclosure. Elise Home Styling is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy through one of my links I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change what I write or what I tell you to skip.

About Lydia Elliott:

Full name: Lydia Elliott
Role: Founder and writer, Elise Home Styling
Email: [email protected]
Based in: Des Moines, Iowa
Pinterest: pinterest.com/elisestyling
Contact page: elisestyling.com/contact
Background: A homeowner who learned how a house works by organizing and fixing her own, starting with one overstuffed closet. No formal design or trade credentials.
Focus: Storage and organization, kitchens, outdoor projects, and living room and bedroom ideas
Writing since: 2026