Categories: Shopping; DIY & Crafts

-620950868

Create Your Perfect Home Office

By mswen
updated about 1 month ago

These days, most homes have a computer. Many of us work from home, spend time on the internet, and even pay all of our bills online. And rather than sit on the couch or have everything spread out over the dining room table, your life will feel a hundred times more organized if you create a dedicated space for yourself. Think you don't have room? Or can't afford it? Think again - there are so many great ways to incorporate an office area into your home, no matter how big or small, regardless of your budget. Let me show you.

Start with the How & Where

Whether you have a dedicated room or just a sliver of your hallway for an office space, before spending a dime on anything it’s important to figure out a plan:


  1. HOW do you plan on using your office?  Simply as a place to pay bills and check e-mail?  Or for doing crafts, running a business, writing that novel, wrapping gifts?
  2. WHERE is the best place to fit your office area?  Depending on how you’re going to use it, you may only need a small nook, or you may need a room (or part of one).

Once you’ve got the basics established, pour over magazines and the internet to find inspiration.  Peeking into other people’s office areas will give you tons of storage techniques, decorating ideas, and an overall sense of how you’d like your own space to look and feel.  As yourself these questions:  What do I like about this room?  What makes it so appealing?  What colors am I drawn to?  Do I already own similar pieces that I can use to create this look? 

Widget_dugko9qmtocpcbjzrieghj

Even if your office space is just a corner of your living room, you can still make it totally functional. However, because it’s in such a visible spot, it’s even more important that the space be organized and free of clutter.

Widget_bpthnsnkvi1zwq4i9kszjt

A desk doesn’t need to be crammed full of junk. Sometimes, all you need is a simple table and a chair with enough room for the basics.

Widget_dyuvhilf5ifiozwr7acxwe

Even if you do have a lot in and around your office area, keep the look cohesive with coordinating storage bins (like these wire baskets) and style of decor (in this case, photographs).

Widget_bxkcsyom5pd6uqy-vubbhf

An unused nook or part of your house should be the first spot you look for when considering where to put your office. Not only are you not wasting any space, but these are often going to be the quietest areas of your home.

Widget_cfx5q4qapp5ih_gzsa1zu5

Keep your stuff vigilantly organized by making sure that everything has its place. And storage doesn’t have to be ugly: note the wrapping paper-covered metal file cabinets!

Widget_d4tcw1yd1cpjpuizs0xzwg

An office doesn’t necessarily mean paperwork and staplers. Your office need may involve a place for your crafts or hobbies. The same tactics apply: keep it organized, neat, and pretty.

Clever office space ideas

Think you don’t have enough room for an office? Think again. Martha show you how how hidden spots in your home can be turned into fully-functional spaces.

Get creative

Having an office or desk space doesn’t mean that you’re required to use one of those plastic revolving office caddies or that you need to have a certain amount of wall or shelf space to make it work.  The rule is, there are no rules.

These days, home office options are endless – so look at your newly-carved out space as a blank slate.  There are millions of ways for you to help make the best of what you’ve got, both bought [see some goodies in the column to your right] and DIY.

Before running out and spending a ton of cash, first look around to see if you can re-purpose anything you’ve already got into using in your new digs.  An old dresser can store paperwork, ribbon, and those 74 user manuals.  An unused wastebasket is perfect for tall rolls of gift wrap.  The options are endless.

Widget_cwrlbgl4hhhjfrcu8qkhg-

Old canning jars clamped to wood eliminate the need for little drawers to hold all of those little tidbits.

Widget_da28ygdq5pszwogatetr5o

Embroidery hoops can be turned into mini (and totally adorable) corkboards.

How to make your own

Widget_atkpacm0tjb5gy2jv4hdd5

Drill jar lids to the underside of a shelf and you’re freeing up both desk and drawer space.

Fun office-y links

Widget_cxwntgnkna-pzqh-lrxab-

It’s like freaking MacGyver.

Top 10 Office Supply Hacks

You’ll never look at binder clips the same way again.

Cool, printable office paper - it's free!

Old-school lined paper, graph paper, even music paper – whatever your writing needs call for, you’ll find it here.

Widget_bhupxbunpdmqdlttjheabq

A thoughtful print from Advice to sink in slowly.

Not your typical office inspiration posters

...they’re actually cool. And no photographs of mountains or people jumping out of planes.

 

Get shopping!

Once you decide what you need, there are unlimited places to stock your office with the best and most helpful gadgets and furniture - and you don’t have to go to office-specific stores to buy them.  Here are some spots where you can get the most bang for your buck.

Widget_ckyjaf711kvao95xjpgghh

Pretty file totes from Galison would be great for bills or magazine tears.

galison.com

Feminine, functional office supplies about at Galison. Check out their memo mouse pads and way-pretty file folders.

Widget_ayb2wiqxfeoajhqtpmzqri

A GALANT desk from Ikea is adjustable and perfect for minimalist spaces.

IKEA

1 Ikea Way, Stoughton, MA 02072

Ikea’s minimalist style and can’t-be-beat prices are perfect for small spaces and anyone working on a budget. Ikea also has fabulous storage solutions, as well as great lighting and decor options. And looking for frames to decorate a bare wall or two? Ikea’s are cheap and sleek.

Ikea’s minimalist style and can’t-be-beat prices are perfect for small spaces and anyone working on a budget. Ikea also has fabulous storage solutions, as well as great lighting and decor options. And looking for frames to decorate a bare wall or two? Ikea’s are cheap and sleek.

Widget_bb-qnzwpzmv5zjy0ypkbhw

Confuse your 13-year old nephew with an old-school phone like this one sitting on your desk.

oldphoneworks.com

In the ultimate gesture of recycling, Old Phone Works restores vintage phones back to their former glory. They’re an incredible, one-of-a-kind (and usable) statement piece to add to your office decor. (Too pricey? Check Urban Outfitters [below] for a similar look.)

Widget_bx8xblarvje6d8jfw8xsa_

Pottery Barn’s Bedford modular desk components make for one organized office.

Pottery Barn

122 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116

Pottery Barn’s office offerings have exploded, starting with their genius furniture-like filing cabinets. Mix and match products to create a totally customized office space, and guaranteed you’ll feel more productive when you’re ready to get working.

Pottery Barn’s office offerings have exploded, starting with their genius furniture-like filing cabinets. Mix and match products to create a totally customized office space, and guaranteed you’ll feel more productive when you’re ready to get working.

Widget_byad5rns5exlndilre2qls

The awesome T desk chair from West Elm.

West Elm

160 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215

West Elm pairs sleek, of-the-minute design with accessible prices. Their modern and sturdy furniture is streamlined and basic enough to fit in with almost any decor.

West Elm pairs sleek, of-the-minute design with accessible prices. Their modern and sturdy furniture is streamlined and basic enough to fit in with almost any decor.

westelm.com

Widget_dto0w7hqxhvyyn3emn9l8l

The Architect table lamp from Target makes for stylish lighting.

Target Stores - Pharmacy

Somerville, MA 02144

Shop Target for great storage solutions; decent, durable office furniture; and great (inexpensive!) lighting. They also carry a large selection of stationery and office supply goodies.

Shop Target for great storage solutions; decent, durable office furniture; and great (inexpensive!) lighting. They also carry a large selection of stationery and office supply goodies.

Widget_afkhx9jlzjobdbg4l8nc_h

This little magnetic birdie, along with other unique gadgets from See Jane Work, make your desktop pretty and functional.

seejanework.com

Sure, there’s always Staples. But if you’re looking for office supplies that look as good as they function, See Jane Work has them all.

Widget_bfiu9wumba1pb6stnupq3y

Semikolon document boxes from The Container Store keep messy bills and loose papers at bay.

Container Store

27 Boylston Street, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467

The Container Store is the grandfather of home organization stores, and has single-handedly turned unsightly storage stuff into stylish goods to handle clutter in pretty much every room in your home.

The Container Store is the grandfather of home organization stores, and has single-handedly turned unsightly storage stuff into stylish goods to handle clutter in pretty much every room in your home.

Widget_ar0zir2vho75xo6bkokcwg

This handy keyboard vacuum at Urban Outfitters keeps crumbs at bay.

Urban Outfitters

361 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02115

Shop Urban’s for fun and totally kooky gadget-y things, great rugs, and cool lighting.

Shop Urban’s for fun and totally kooky gadget-y things, great rugs, and cool lighting.

Widget_avrosg3hfld7zxdsy-scmk

These magnetic cork pincushions from MoMA can stick to the side of a file cabinet.

momastore.org

The MoMA store is chock full of the coolest, most modern accessories ever. And while you think you’d have to pay an arm and a leg for such fab design, mostly everything is affordable.

Where to get organized

Brought to you by Guidespot.com Copyright 2008 - Local Matters Inc.

Suggested Guides

  • Boy, I love Ikea
  • Have a Seat: Couches, the Greater Boston Guide
  • Denver Design Hotspots
  • My Favorite Websites-A Guide to Surfing The Net
  • BART Stop Spotlight: Embarcedero
  • Guidespot After Dark: The Ladies of Guidespot