In Plain Site

I love planners and calendars! I've got one on the fridge, in the office, in my purse, at work, and on my phone. As long as they all stay updated, they are a wonderful aid to keep your life running smoothly. 

These are some super charged calendar systems. 

images via Pottery Barn

I'm sure with a little creativity and searching, you could put together your own "schedule station". With a set up like these you'll be on top of everything! Contact Divine Order if you're interested in creating your own schedule station!

Where do you keep your planner?

Home office - Discrete Storage

I love a good organizing challenge. Tackling storage for a home office is one good challenge!

Paper just comes with the office territory and many let it get the best of them. A good desk that stays well organized is the first step in keeping a tame office. Other ways include filing systems, paper trays, and bookcases/shelves.

Metal filing cabinets are just ugly. Period, but they offer such great filing space it's hard not to use them. Fortunately, many office supply stores and even home furniture stores offer filing cabinets with wood finishes to look more like furniture than a nasty hunk of metal.

Not a big fan of wood finishes? Look at these options:

image via Ballard Design

 

 I've got a weakness for wicker.

image via Pottery Barn

It's an ottoman and you can pick your fabric!

image via Ballard Design

This is a more manly option but double check the dimensions first.

image via Serena and Lily

Loose papers that have not find a permanent home in a drawer, filed away still need designated trays or bins. Make sure the container stays shallow as to avoid too many papers from piling up. My preference is wire just because it allows for me to keep an eye or how deep my pile is getting. 

image via Pottery Barn

 

 images via Ballard Design (1, 2, 3)

Books shelves are always fun to throw into an office. 

There's this statement piece.

image via Restoration Hardware

Or something more traditional.

image via Pottery Barn 

Cubbyholes are fun too.

image via Pottery Barn

Ready to tackle your office yet? I am! Just remember, even though you may have all these pieces that doesn't mean your office is clutter free. A tidy home office does take some time to maintain and a good system is necessary in order to keep paper piles and stress away.

Home office - The desk

It seems that more homes now have designated office space. However, for those of us that can't just buy a new home with that space or knock out a wall to add one on, we have to get creative.

Depending on the about of space you have, there are a couple of option desk wise. You can go the traditional route of executive desk.

image via Pottery Barn

Or settle for something that could be used as a general work area with plenty of open space to avoid paper clutter.

 image via Ballard Design

A hutch or secretary is always a great alternative if space is limited. With many options finding a piece that will blend in with the rest of the shared room is easy.

image via Pottery Barn

A fourth and somewhat new (to me) option is the hidden desk. It's another piece that can be used if the office is sharing space with another room but with a unique twist.

 Love the hidden storage!

images via Home Decorators

Which desk do you prefer or have in your home office?

Betty's Home Office

Over the Christmas break I was able to help Betty organize the space she uses for her home office. Both she and her husband work out of her home and were in need of some serious help!

This space was a little unusual in that it was actually three space: laundry room counter, storage closet, and desk hutch. The hutch looked great so we moved right on to the laundry room counter tops.

Before organizing of any sort began, I asked Betty to place all paperwork into containers. This made moving things around a lot easier without me worrying I would lose important documents. 

This space had some very deep cabinet drawers that were full to the brim of this and that. Once sorted, these drawers can now store items that are easier to get to as you head out the door. For the counters I was hoping for a space that would better help Betty get in and get out of the office without having to use a majority of her time looking for what she needed, when she needed it.

The storage closest was a space that had been used to put things out of site as it sat in a bedroom. With a new piece of furniture coming in its place, there was no option but to clean it out and sort what was inside.

 Before.

After. Look at all the beautiful counterspace!

 Deep drawers can be difficult to keep organized. Great options are containers that keep things in one place versus piling up.

 Before. The cabinet was being donated so there was so options are re-organizing.

    After. Empty and clean.

I am very proud of Betty and the energy she put into making her spaces more organized. I think I even wore off on her a little bit, she was going through drawers and counters left and right even before I had left!

Looking forward to the next project Betty asks me to help her with!