Drowning no more, a New Office is complete!

I really enjoyed helping this family take this space from piles of stuff that they didn't know what to do with to an area where there is now a space for everything. They were so frustrated with not knowing what to do in here that not only did they give up on organizing their office items but they allowed kitchen and garage items to end up in here as well. Just allocating those items to their rightful spaces really made a difference.

Here is where things were when we started:

This is to the left of when you walk into the room:

This homeowner is very handy so phase 1 was for them to get some things handled--remove the left file cabinet from under the desk to open that space, remove the armoire that was too dark, short and limiting in this space and build shelves. I provided exact specs and materials but instead of having to bring in an handyman that would require payment, he was able to do all this himself! He also agreed that the monitor was too large and that they wanted a wall mount monitor so that was handled prior to my arrival as well.

The use of these walls were so needed and finding homes for all the small items and creating zones was the top priority. I organized their file drawers years ago before they had 2 kids and they have kept up this system rather well.

Here are the new shelves completed! Behind the curtain is the other file cabinet and lots of storage for scrapbooking and family memory items.

The use of a Family Resource Binder, as well as binders for other often referred to resources, helped group together all the paperwork that had no home or always seemed to be left out. Drawers that can sort and house their office items complete this area along with bins and baskets that group together crafts, projects and decor items.

Part of the wall solution was a track that displays their son's artwork and an organzing system for their pens, stapler and craft items. All the little papers that come in now have a home with the clips. Most people need coupons and gift cards on clips as that is what some seem to have piled but each family has to create clips based on thier needs. This family has 4 clips for 4 things--internet log in info, tax deductible receipts, bills and events. One mistake made when trying to make your space 'perfect' is to not allow spots for the 'stuff' that you don't want there. Everyone's 'stuff' is different. In my home, it's the seemingly bags full of receipts that my husband manages to pull out of his pockets and won't allow them to be tossed as he 'needs to go through them'. In this home, it is small tools and items that need to go to an outside shed. If a spot isn't allowed for these items, they will just get piled. I have a pretty container that holds the receipts and this home now has a fun bin. Sure, he needs to put things away when he uses them and no we don't want to 'enable' a stasher, BUT we also want life to be lived without make a big hoopla over a screwdriver. SO, if he leaves it somewhere, it goes in the bin and he knows that the next time he goes out, he needs to take out whatever is in the bin. Finally, we needed some pretty things! A big part of this was to sew two skirts, one to go under the shelves and another for the side of the desk to hide the filing cabinet and the large bin that remained, full of kids color books and other large craft items. Then we added many things to tie it all together through pops of color! Flowers, great artwork that was being stacked in a bin created by their 4 year old and fun tags! These things aren't 'needed' but they sure take the space from boring to fun!!! And wouldn't you want to put your stuff away when all your bins and baskets are so cute?

Here is this area, complete!

The space to the left of the entry into this room didn't need too much. The book case blocked their laundry room door and made it difficult to move around so we switched it out for something a bit smaller. Their son's backpack now has a home, their bulletin board is a bit more organized, and they have a spot to set things like a purse or library books or item to return or anything that they need to handle that day. The fun bin for shed items is right there and is easy to take with him. Here are some fun side by side "Before and After" comparison shots! I know they were thrilled when it was complete and it was a rewarding project to see such a large transformation!