Thursday, August 25, 2011

42 Basement Progress - An Organized Studio Desk

I mentioned recently that we are transforming an area in our renovated lower level, into a work studio for... me!!  I am SO excited to have a work space, since, well, IHeart to work and have big plans and dreams.  Yes, I am a dreamer, and need a space to fit that dream.

Since I am now blogging and working on Etsy orders in this space, it needed to be upped in the function department.  The desk needed to be filled with goodies and ORGANIZED!  My favorite part! {Sorry for the awful lighting/photos.  There is zero natural light in this area, ever.}


The cords on the floor need to be organized too, but I haven't tackled that yet... clearly.

The only item I purchased for this little organizing project was my favorite drawer organizing must have {broken record broken record broken record}, acrylic drawer organizers.  I mean, I use them in the kitchen, why wouldn't I comply in my desk space?  I will say, however, I did not spend $25, I have the online receipt to prove it, I spent $18.53.  The prices on Amazon seem to change a lot.  I think they also have all sorts of options at The Container Store and other online organizing stores as well.

Anywho... the drawers to the desk don't have a before picture, because they were empty.  So here is the after filled desk drawers:


The smaller drawer is the perfect location for me to stash away my paint decks when working on Style Tiles.


And the drawer is filled with all sorts of my favorite, everyday office supplies!


The box in the top right corner tucks away a couple of granola bars in case my tummy starts rumbling, since I am about as far away from the kitchen as I can be.  So there is an office tip for you, it's OK to put some munchies in your workspace.  I said so.  Just make sure they are concealed so potential rodents and/or kidlets don't get to them first.

I already had the ceramic egg crate to organize my itty bitties, I just moved it down from our closet office to my new space and it fit perfectly in the drawer.  There are even push pins in there, I guess that means I need something to push those pins into, I will get right on that.


And then the dear drawer organizers.  Sigh.  They truly are my bff organizing supplies.


They keep everything from rolling around and the guarantee the whole desk drawer won't become a messy slew of random items.  So there is another tip for you, by keeping your items containerized in your desk or drawers, it's nearly impossible to add new without taking away old or rearranging.  When everything has a place, it's easy to put things back where they belong.  Then, the crazy messy hodge podges never happen.  Well, in theory they shouldn't happen I guess!

Down below is the computer tower:


Nothing too exciting going on there, I just keep a cord run through on the shelf as the perfect station to charge up the iPad.

I keep a blanket and winter boots near at all times, because, wow, it's cold down there and my toes can barely take it.


Everything is coming together nicely.  Until I turn my head and look over at my work table....


In the spirit of "keepin' it real" for you, yes, I have a huge mess and it's a miracle I can find anything at the moment... ugh.


I still have bags on the floor and we absolutely have to come up with a bunch of storage for all my work supplies and tools.  Catalogs, paper, laminating supplies, binders, mailing supplies, oh my.

So for now, I will just face forward and enjoy the newly organized desk space, and pretend like those pile monsters behind me are just friendly happy purring kittens instead.


Anyone else been tackling their desk drawers?  Or any drawers?  We all know that I can't get enough acrylic drawer organizers, what one organizing product is your must have all time fav?

42 comments:

  1. I absolutely love that you keep granola bars in your desk! Any tips on how to keep the room bright since you don't have any natural light? I hate turning tons of lights on, but the room I'm moving my office to doesn't get much sun.

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  2. It's really coming together! I am taking a week-long "staycation" next week (before my trip to Russia with my mom!) with lots of organizing projects on the to do list. Without your blog, I'd be watching tv and loafing around all week, so thanks for all the inspiration! Can't wait to see the next set of pictures for this room!

    Keltie

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  3. I'm linking to you today! Hope you don't mind, you're way out of my league in basically every way, but I love your blog. ;)

    http://www.nearnormalcy.com/2011/08/im-one-of-those-awesome-housekeeping.html

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  4. I envy how organized you can keep everything. I have drawer organizers in my drawer but unfortunately some "un-named toddler" goes through and pulls them out and I lose everything that the organizers were holding. I've implemented a new rule that bans her from my office space although it often brightens my day to see her trot into the office area with a big smile on her face. How do you keep organized with little ones? Did you have the same problem when your precious ones were smaller?

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  5. I have been cleaning out drawers and cupboards because I am inspired by you!!! I can't WAIT for your posts each day!! So, I have been cleaning and purging to get things to fit in the beautiful clear drawer storage containers!! ....and my other new love...is...using clear mason jars for eVERYTHING. Again, you can see when you are running low and everything is cohesive! I used them for tea, coffee, hot cocoa and most of my baking supplies that couldn't fit in my Tupperware storage containers!
    Hmmmm, I wonder what drawer/cupboard I should work on today??????!!!
    Thanks for your inspiration!

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  6. I just love how organized the desk drawers are. & I want one of those ceramic egg crates.

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  7. I too love the ceramic egg crate!! Perfect for the little things : )

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  8. What Emily said! I should show you the mess my Studio has become...but that's just too scary to think about

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  9. Ikea sells a thing to tidy up cables (it looks a bit like a vacuum hose) and then you just have one tidy hose running with all your cable neatly running through it...

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  10. Your slipper boots are super cute! Where'd you get them?

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  11. I love this blog! I love to be organized, and even though I'm not as great at it as you are, I love seeing that there are people out there just like me! I don't necessarily organize my fridge into different containers, but drinks have a shelf, cheese has a shelf, etc etc. - Alyssa

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  12. I just found your blog and I'm hooked! you've got to be my kindred spirit in the organizing department...but my idol when it comes to photographing and blogging about it. :) Thanks for sharing all your ideas...loving them!! ><>

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  13. I love the ceramic egg crate. What a great idea! Your desk is looking great.

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  14. I love that your "mess" is still fairly organized!! You always make me want to get off the computer and get crackin' at my own home organization

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  15. Amazing job! Looks great!!! If you lived near me I'd love to hire you and fix my mess!!! LOL!

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  16. I have been tackling my kids' room (three kids to one room makes for a LOT of clutter and clothes!). We are doing away with dressers and going to shelves with baskets! The kids are excited about no more drawers and so am I...hubby is waiting to pass judgment on the end result ;)

    And right now I stare at my totally unorganized bedroom...our computer resides here and my computer desk looks NOTHING like your's! LOL...you would cringe if you could see it. I'm sure your readers would break out in hives...LOL!

    But I did implement your icecube tray earring holder idea...and I. Heart. It! Thank you!

    I will get to organizing my room AFTER I finish the kids' room :) Promise!

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  17. You are so sweet. Seriously, if I could only have a "mess" like yours. Let's just say, you wouldn't want to be me.LOL. Enjoy your new space and have fun taking the journey towards completion. It will be SO worth it when you're done. Says someone whose own dream space isn't yet complete:)

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  18. Hey Jen! Where is the white desk from?

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  19. Great picture. I love the new office of yours. I wanted to ask where do you get the one where your boot and printer is on top. What is it? I seen this in different place in your photo!

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  20. Holy cow--your desk is super super organized. Im looking for a small desk for our living room area. I thought about looking for a console table like what you have in your living room. Thanks for always inspiring!

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  21. Good for you! How nice to have such a great space. I love the organization of the egg crate dish. As far as dreams go, my motto has always been, "Go big or go home!!!"

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  22. I'm so stinkin obsessed with your blog!

    Are you on pinterest? I'd love to follow you if you are!

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  23. I saw acrylic desk and makeup organizers at Target today, and immediately thought of you!!

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  24. I am a new daily follower. You SO inspire me! I cleaned out all my kitchen cabinets yesterday thanks to you :)

    Our Growing Garden

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  25. Your blog has inspired me! I have started to implement many of your ideas & I can already see a BIG difference in the way our household runs. Thank you for the inspiration!!

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  26. What are you going to do with your old space you used?

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  27. I have redone ALL of my kitchen cabinets this week as well! :)

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  28. My crafting space is in the process of being redone and I cannot wait to get it all set up and organized! A place my toddlers and huaband wont mess up!
    And I had to LOL about the blanket and boots by your work area because I do that, too!

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  29. Awesome, awesome awesome! I SO needed this post to motivate me to do something about my desk!

    Many Blessings,
    Melissa

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  30. "huge mess"? i love it. you know you're an organizer when even your huge mess is very tidy! :) i'm loving your new me space...i have to live vicariously since my own space is still about 8 years away. [living with the in-laws while we got back to school. oh yeah.]

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  31. Hi Jen,

    I just found your lovely blog and I can't wait to start reading backwards! I'm moving house this week and will definitely be trying out some of your organisation tips at my new place. Thanks for a blog filled with great ideas!

    VY

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  32. Oh my goodness, this is amazing! I love organizing and just stumbled upon your blog and I am in love!! Thank you so much for featuring so many great organizing tips and tricks! I am a new follower!

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  33. @Abby's Mom - here is a link to the boots: http://www.dsw.com/shoe/sm+women%27s+anna+sweater+boot?prodId=208173

    Love them!

    xoxo,
    Jen

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  34. Where did you find the desk! Love it!

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  35. I love the clear chair!! Please share with me where you purchased! Thank you!

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    1. Hi Erin,

      The chair is from IKEA: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20115038/

      xo,
      Jen

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  36. We use a shoe bag on the back of the office door that has labeled pockets filled w/ office supplies: "Tape," "Pens," "Pencils, Erasers, & Sharpeners," "Permanent Markers," "Magic Markers," "Highlighters," "Staplers & Staples", "Paperclips," "Computer Ink," "Electronics" (this holds extra mice, thumb drives, calculators, etc.)... On our desk, we have only one fabric cube, where any misc. paperwork--or anything else that ends up on the desk--goes in a pinch when items need to be put away, but there isn't time (or energy). It also holds our Mail binder. That cube is not allowed to overflow. The desk has one very small (6"x4") organizer w/ just the essentials that I use daily: 1 or 2 pens, one stapler, one glue stick, post-its, a roll of tape, & a pair of scissors. We have only one file cabinet drawer by filing most items online and purging regularly. Bulk extra supplies go upstairs in storage. (In another office, I glued the "daily supplies" underneath the edge of the desk for easy-access, but out-of-the-way storage.) This method is great b/c anyone who visits the office doesn't see all of our supplies (since they're behind the door), last-minute drop-ins will still see a clear desk, as it only takes about 30 seconds to toss anything on the desk into the pretty fabric cube. We now nearly always have a clear desk.

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