When we first moved into this house my scrapbook desk, shelves, and computer shared the guest room. It worked, but after a year or so I moved stuff into a small empty bedroom upstairs. Ever since then I have had grand plans of showing off this space on my blog because I just plain love it. But then I'd start a project and the piles would grow, eventually I'd find the time to organize and get through about half of the clutter, and then it would grow again, and so forth and so forth.
Basically, my visions of getting this room to a state of neatness where I felt I could take pictures to show it off have never materialized.
Then my mom asked me to take a few pictures of my workspaces & decor for an article she was doing on Blissful. I'm always happy to help. So to get my room picture ready I employed the following tactic -- Move piles from point A to point B - take a picture of A - return piles to A. Move piles from point B to point A - take a picture of point B - return piles to B.
So, because I don't see a massive overhaul of this room in the near future (maybe a project for next fall?) I'm sharing the pictures I do have. Because this is as good as it gets.
You come into the room and on the right wall you see this:
I love this work table from IKEA -- it's a stainless steel kitchen island, the UTBY. I use it for stand-up work. Love the open shelves, the industrial look, the sturdiness. The bucket/rail system and picture frames are from IKEA. Baskets are from assorted locations.
I love love love this black scroll frame. In fact, I have 2 of them in my house. I got the idea for the photo collage from Heidi Swapp's blog yonks ago. The top wood frame includes several phrases and sentiments from Ali Edwards for encouragement in the creative process: it is ok // embrace imperfection // simplify // don't make it more complicated than it needs to be // have fun // celebrate the everyday // share yourself. tell your story.
The bottom wood frame includes a quote and a little piece of ric rac: Every morning is a fresh beginning. Every day is the world made new. Today is a new day. Today is my world made new. I have lived all my life up to this moment, to come to this day. This moment - this day - is as good as any moment in all eternity. I shall make of this day - each moment of this day - a heaven on earth. This is my day of opportunity. -Dan Custer
Then in front of you and to your left I have two desks that come to an L-shape with the printer in the corner. The right desk (not pictured) holds my computer. And the left desk has more crafty purposes.
Desks and shelves are from the Container Store. I tried to keep the room mostly neutral - white, black, cream, grey - and add a few punches of red and pink. I had plans to make a new cover for the vinyl machine, but I changed my mind. The blue will stay.
And in case you were wondering . . . . . wall color: Mascarpone (Pottery Barn) and black chalkboard paint.
Ironically enough, my mom's Blissful article was titled, "How to Organize Home Office Clutter." I definitely need to take her advice and put it into action. I especially like this tip
Helpful things to gather before tackling the project -- A friend - that can help you stay on track and to have fun conversation with. Even the worst jobs seem better with a friend to help.
Love it. Does someone want to come over and be my de-cluttering friend? :)
