Organization + Function + Style = an inspired workspace

Over the last 15 years of organizing people's homes, I've seen my share of dreary, dark, dull offices. Why do we take the least liked space in our home and turn it into an office? If it's the smallest bedroom, the darkest part of the house, or the back of the cold, damp garage, and then we try and earn a living in it!

Clients say over and over, "I don't want to work in my office". They end up sprawled throughout the house, mail on the kitchen counters, bills on the dining room table and papers scattered everywhere. Enough, I say...

So, I've added a special product to my services - An Inspired Workspace™ - blending organizing with creative problem solving and style. My goal is to turn those awful offices into places where people want to be and are inspired to do their best work.

You can follow my new blog now at An Inspired Workspace™ and check out the details on my services at the All Things Home™ website. A new tab Inspired Workspaces will be up soon.

This is my office a few years ago. Not bad, functional, a bit dull with everything in paper bag brown and blacks, but not particularly inspiring...


This is my office in '08/09. I added some red boxes and magazine files, and organized my shelves a bit more...


This is my office today. I changed some supply colors to be more pleasing, I cut back on what I stored on my shelves and added a place for flowers and artwork, as well as a pretty dish to hold desk items - all of which make this a much more comfortable and fun place to spend time in.

Vertical filing

Papers and folders stacked horizontally don't get found, they just get lost. Keep papers and folders in vertical files, on your desktop, instead of in piles everywhere.

Moving crates

Traditionally, most homeowners use cardboard boxes for packing their possessions. A growing trend in home moving is using plastic crates, just as businesses do when they pack their offices. Crates are reusable and offer more protection than cardboard. After unpacking, the crates are returned to the moving company.

Check out Zippgo.

Cutting boards

Every so often I read about another test that debates the use of plastic versus wooden cutting boards. From my studies, I believe that any board that is not properly cared for and washed is a problem waiting to happen.

These are my rules for cutting boards: keep them super clean and do not cut meat or poultry on the same board as fruits and vegetables.

I also discourage my clients who have moved into new homes, from using the built-in cutting boards that often come with the kitchen. You don't know what the previous owner did with that board. Discard it and order a new one.

I like these flexible colored plastic pieces for using on top of a wooden board. You match the color to what you are cutting and they go right into the dishwasher after use. I get mine at Sur La Table.

Book jackets

Years ago I worked for an interior designer. I learned a lot from her. Some things she specifically taught me and some I picked up without realizing it. She loved black candles in silver candlesticks, and in her beautiful home they looked stunning. She also believed that only hard cover books should live in the public spaces of your home and that all book jackets should be removed. This last item always makes me nervous - yes, book jackets that are stained, torn and faded aren't very attractive.

However, in fits of cleaning and organizing I have gotten rid of several book covers that I now miss dearly. Every so often I come very close to reordering the books just to get the covers, but they're expensive books and I stop myself when I see the invoice total.

I now know that books in a bookcase may look better without jackets, but I think coffee table books still need them. Here's the book with and without its jacket. Clearly, I'd rather have the jacketed book on my table.

Closet organizing

Here's a quick way to organize your clothes closet:

1. Separate your dress/work clothes from your casual/exercise clothes.

2. Separate by type of garment - pants/skirts/dresses/blouses/shirts/tops

3. Separate darks from lights, heavy to lightweight, long sleeve from short.

Bring on the colors!

Well, my post a few weeks ago on bringing in flowers and color during these drizzly, rainy weeks, garnered a lot of comments. You want more suggestions for brightening up your homes...okay - I hear you!

So, here are some more ideas: bright pastels work great for cheering up the winter blahs - lemon yellow, lime green and sky blue are especially good.

Please note, I am not saying you need to go and buy things - I'll just bet that you already have some these items stashed away...



Bring out your colorful table linens - whatever you've got - mix and match them, throw them over the sofa if it cheers everyone up.



Pull out your most colorful sheets, blankets and bedding - even if you usually only use them in summer - bring them out now and pretend its summer!



Bring out your most colorful pillows and throws and toss them about.



Add colorful fruits and veggies to platters and put them out on the counters and tables...put your most colorful books up front on the shelves and replace plain candles with colorful ones.



Put out colorful guest soaps and towels in the bathrooms.



Serve colorful cookies!