Helpful (& Free) Online Tools For Organization & Inspiration: Houzz & Pinterest

Organization: for some of us the word inspires fearful images of hopelessly large stacks of paper, boxes of pieces of life collected throughout the years, or mystery files gathered on various forgotten hard drives.

Whether looking to purchase a new home, taking on a kitchen remodel, or building a new home, organization can be the key to having your dream home become a reality. The good news is that, thanks to several new online tools, organization does not have to be the daunting task that it has the reputation for being.

Beautiful 0.68 Acre Home Site at Kukio | (MLS# 274677)

I have found two online tools in particular that are helpful for collecting ideas and sorting them into easy to access categories. Houzz.com and Pinterest are great ways to manage images, products, and ideas that you want in your home and even share them with your architect, designer, or real estate agent.

Houzz was created by a couple who wanted a more practical way to organize their construction contacts, their design ideas, and the products they liked in a manner that could be referenced again and again throughout the project.

My Houzz.com Profile | Perfect for collecting ideas and finding cutting edge designs

After creating a free profile, you can browse thousands of photos posted by professionals and fellow homeowners, and start collecting your favorite ideas into “Ideabooks” which you can then access from anywhere, anytime. You can even follow your favorite industry professionals to stay up to date on their projects and ask them questions about their products and designs.

Pinterest is another fantastic way to gather ideas, particularly if you are still trying to narrow in on your particular style. Similarly to Houzz, after starting a free account, you can build an unlimited number of “boards” on which you can gather photos from anywhere on the internet (or upload your own).

My Pinterest Account | Ideal for keeping track of images you like

I love using these as moodboards or inspiration to spring from when starting a new project. You can also follow professionals and friends whose style you love to help expand your style horizons.

How to Organize Your Ideas Online

Lastly, a few tips for organizing your ideas on Houzz or Pinterest:

1. First, brainstorm about categories you want to be able to search by (by room, by style, by product?) and make these the titles for your “Ideabooks” or “Boards.”

Choosing appropriate categories for your boards will help you access them easier later

2. Follow favorite brands, designers, architects and then look at the pages they follow. Chances are, you’ll find some new favorites!

3. When you save or pin an image, try to note what you liked about the photo in the comments so that you will be able to remember when you look back.

4. Once you have started to organize your ideas, share your Ideabooks or Boards with your builders, designers, or architects. All you will need is their email address.