Reader Space: A Home Office to Heart

I have always believed that when you take the time to create a space that you love, then you will naturally be more happy within the walls of your home.  And when you think of the spaces that you spend the most time within, or do chores and work within, those should take top priority {kitchen, laundry room, office...}.  Chores and bill paying are not known as the most delightful tasks, but when you are doing them within a space that makes your heart flutter, it makes them much more tolerable, or dare I even say, enjoyable?

Abby of Just a Girl and Her Blog, has been a long time reader and she knows how to bring a smile to my face every time she stops by.  After checking out her recent home office makeover, I noticed that it fit her sweet personality perfectly!  And I am guessing that her new space makes her want to work and I imagine that once she finished it she suddenly found all sorts of "bills to pay" and "budgeting to do" and "craft projects that haaaad to get done".... You know, anything to spend time in her fresh new space!


What is the main function of this space?

"I do all of my craft projects on the desk side of the room, and I photograph them there, too.  The open wall leaves room for photo backdrops, there's a nice big desk space for crafting, and I was able to tuck a little bit of drawer storage underneath the desk for easy access.

The other side of the room is storage central, keeping everything I could possibly need for all of my crafting and project endeavors!"

Any superstar tips for keeping it organized? 

"Labels, labels, and more labels!  I am a major labeler in the first place, but when it came to my office and allllll of those craft supplies, I wanted to make sure I knew where everything was!  I added adhesive bookplates to all of the baskets and bins so that I could clearly mark their contents...

...and all of the smaller containers were labeled with vinyl letters that I cut with my Silhouette!

Since everything is labeled and organized, I can easily find what I need when I need it-- no more searching around!"

What items did you find were essential when organizing the space, and why?

"I think having the right storage pieces for my needs was huge.  I decided on open shelving so I could see and have easy access to everything, but then incorporated a lot of baskets, pails, trays, and other storage vessels so that everything had its own designated space.

The cube unit is perfect for holding fabric in the bins while also leaving room for books and magazines.

And while mostly everything found a spot on the shelves, there were a few things that were better suited for drawer storage, so I used a small set of drawers under my desk to hold those things.  Each drawer got a label, a pretty chevron liner, and was organized with appropriate trays and separators."

What did you do to go the extra mile and "Make it Pretty"?

"Everything!  I live in a house with ALL boys, so this was the one room that I knew I could make as feminine and pretty as I wanted!  Along with adding decor pieces like scrappy bunting and beautiful art prints, I tried to even make the little details pretty.  I added crown molding to regular bookshelves to make them a little fancier, and I also attached wrapping paper to the backings for an extra ‘pop’ of color."

What items did you DIY to stay on a budget?

"The pegboard project was our biggest DIY. I had found an old pegboard in a building that belonged to my parents' non-profit; it was not pretty!

Since it was headed for the trash, I brought it home and cleaned it up, painted it, and added some trim, and it was a whole new piece!

Now all of my ribbon, paint, and markers can be out in the open and accessible, but are still organized and look neat and tidy in the space!

My desk chair was also an old trashed piece that I got for free and made over with some paint and a stencil."

How has this space impacted your life for the better?

"It is so amazing to be able to have a pretty, organized space of my own!  Working on blog projects is easier because I have everything I need at my fingertips, and it's also more fun because my space is beautiful and inspiring rather than a dark, dingy wreck!  I feel like I can now have my own little getaway whenever I want.  And I LOVE my boys, but sometimes I just want to be girly, and this space is perfect for that!" 

Let's take a look at what a little love can make in a space:

So sweet right?  A little paint, a little patience, a little color, some great upcycling and a lot of storage and Abby's office now welcomes her whenever she is ready to use it.

Abby's new home office now feels bright, fresh and open!  She gained storage by adding in bookcases and utilizing the wall space for her pegboard.  Paint and pretty paper make everything shine and sticking with a basic color scheme doesn't over complicate anything.

A huge thank you to Abby for letting me share her beautiful new space!  What I wouldn't give to snag some of that natural light from her!  Looking for more details or sources?  Abby shared much more of the process over on her blog here. 

ATTENTION!!  Want to be featured in a Reader Space edition?  Have an awesome organizing story to share?  I am looking for projects that have made a positive impact to your life, big or small.  They can be anything from an organized drawer or cabinet to an entire room.  Please submit your story and photos to iheartreaderspace@gmail.com, and I would heart to feature them right here on the blog!!  Photos should be high resolution and unedited.  Please include a description of the project, including any costs, inspiration, and how it has changed your life and routine for the better!  Oh, and no worries my friends, we will NEVER judge "before" pictures because that just wouldn't be nice!  Only love goes on at this blog!