Office Nook Transformed
So one of the biggest downers about living in base housing is you really don’t get to pick your floor plan. Sometimes I wish they were completely uniform all across the country. That way you would know what to expect when you arrive at your next duty station. No such luck. When we moved here, we took our house site unseen. Sometimes you have to do that if you want a place to live right away. And since my husband was going underway within days of our arrival here, I picked a house I had never seen just so I wouldn’t have to move in by myself… with an infant. And I say “I” because really he could have cared less which house we choose as long as it had a garage 🙂
So this house, has all sorts of funny quirks and one of them was this little computer nook at the top of the stairs. It’s a decent little space but I didn’t see its potential at first. When we moved in I took a chunk of the dining room and set up a craft/office space. I mentioned in my 2013 Home Goals post, which you can read here, that I wanted to turn my upstairs storage closet into my craft room. Well, that’s really a two parter and this is the first part. This little built-in desk is right next to the storage closet that will be my craft room. My reasoning for doing so is two fold. One, my dining room is a cluttered mess and two, now that Miss P is mobile, I want to have a work space where I can watch her play safely. The dining room has no room for her play yard and this computer nook is right off her bedroom. So I can easily put her play yard in her room and she can play safely within my sight.
Our computer nook before had absolutely no function at all. For months it served as a catch all for many of the loose papers we have around here. That’s the thing with the military – tons of paperwork. See all those papers in the corner? This old computer hasn’t been touched in months. And my printer, oh what a paint that was. To print from my computer downstairs and have to run up here to take a look a document only to have it print incorrectly. I was constantly running up and down the stairs!
I wanted to make this space functional. An organized place where I can work without clutter, see my babe playing behind me, and still be fun!
I think I accomplished that with this little transformation. It was out with the old and in with the new in every sense.
For organization, I bought these little pails from the Target dollar section. I painted little chalkboard labels on them. They are great for holding anything. For now they are holding pens/pencils, washi tape , and chalk. Since I did the chalkboard labels I can change them out anytime I need to.
I created this little mail organizer. I have a lot of note cards and greeting cards that were just sitting in the pile of papers. I like to send little cards to my husband every other week, so having them all organized in this little metal tray is very handy. Also I love having them in plain view so when I’m thinking of a friend I can just quickly write them a note. Who doesn’t love getting mail? By the way, I picked up this little tray for $.50 at a yard sale. Good buy, huh?
This little basket came from Ikea. I spray painted it aqua for a punch of color and it’s perfect for holding my little notebooks. When I was downstairs I had my notebooks laying all over my desk and they were constantly getting buried.
I love love love this magnet board. I got it three years ago from Ikea. It was black up until yesterday and then I spray painted it metallic silver. The new color gives it a whole new look.
I framed a few book pages from one of my favorite books. Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum Series anyone? They are so light and funny making them perfect for this space. To tie into the metallic magnet board I went with silver frames.
Underneath, I framed a little chalkboard. Perfect for writing little notes and making lists. I totally imagine my husband and I writing notes back and forth here. I know, cute, right?
On the other wall, a couple family photos. No office space is complete without some family pictures.
Okay, and lastly, I really wanted to get my printer off the desk. It took up too much space. I picked up this cube from Ikea (can you see it peeking out?). It’s the expedit wall hanging cube. Now my printer is cozy in it’s new home on top of this cube. And are you wondering where I put all those papers? I filed them all away nicely in a little bin.So there you have it. My office nook makeover. I seriously love sitting at my desk now.
Thanks for visiting with me today, friends! Have a great week 🙂
This is such a great transformation. always amazing to see how a few things can make sucha huge difference in how we feel in/about an area. You did great! 🙂 You might even inspire me to (soon) get my desk act together.
This is such a cute, functional, & organized little space!! I love it!! Thanks so much for sharing & for linking up at the “Organize It” party!! 🙂
This space is so pretty and functional. I also like all of the personal touches that really make it yours!
Chelsea, it looks amazing! I am working on my craft space right now and it is giving me fits!
looks great!
I love your transformation! I like how you added the cube to put the printer on top and save so much desk space.
KC
what a nice nook. Love the organization!
What a great space, Chelsea! I’m not surprised you enjoy sitting at your desk, I would too. I love that you painted the magnet board silver, it keeps the space looking clean and fresh. And that little tray works perfectly holding all of your cards, etc. It all looks so organized. You can check that one off the list, right? Have a great day!
Debbie
What a great use of a small space, waaay more organized that me! Looks beautiful 🙂
xoxo, Tanya
I love it, it looks fantastic! It seriously inspires me to get to work on our office. Seriously, our desk is nothing but a catch-all for all of the stuff we don’t want to put away. It needs some serious organization.
You make organization adorable! Your space looks so clean and cozy. I need to get to work in my office now!
Chelsea, that office nook is adorable! I’m working in re-decorating and organizing our home office and I hope I ended up with something as tidy and cute as yours!
This is so gorgeous. Love your style. I look forward to seeing you at My Dream Canvas. I am visiting you from Tuesday Treasures. Thanks Anu!
What a cute nook! Nice work!
You managed to turn an awkward nook into an awesome personalised space! Looks fantastic I really like the little pots so cute. I guess lots of houses are like that where the layout might not be exactly what you like but you’ve got a great imagination to turn it into something that works for you 🙂 Great job!
SO cute, I absolutely love it!!
This is such a great space, Chelsea! I’m so jealous. I love the little touches that you did 🙂
What a great transformation! Your nook looks airy, inspirational, happy and VERY well organized. Amazing job!
What an awesome transformation! I love your idea by corralling your notebooks in a fun basket. Mine are ALL over the place! Thanks for sharing. I’m a new FB follower. Would love for you to return the favor!
Visiting from Home Stories A to Z
~Emily
http://www.huckleberrylove.com/2013/01/aviation-themed-baby-shower.html
This turned out so cute! Love the framed book pages!
Spied you being featured over at TT&J.
FiiiiiYah!
You are on fire girl 🙂
Good for you!!
Love the makeover! Featuring tomorrow 🙂
XO
Kristin
Found your blog on pinterest. Super cute! Where did you get the chair? We have an office space/desk nook just like this and I would love to organize it like this. Thanks!
My computer cubby is in the same sized space! Hey, ya work with what you’ve got, right? Here’s the link if ya wanna check it out. http://rindymae.blogspot.com/2012/08/computer-cubby-makeover.html
this looks great! it’s so pulled together 🙂
This is beautiful! I love a white palette with little pops of color! I found you on the CSI Organization link-up. 🙂 Thanks for sharing your project!
~Abby =)
November 21, 2012 at 5:37 pmSince most of them probably have money stashed away, they should be working for free while Greece is in crisis.Only those who don’t have other businesses and have normal amounts of money should be paid. That is my personal opinion. Those who are corrupt should also be tried and thrown in jail. It doesn’t matter which country. Reply
Great job making use of a small space! It’s really smart to put your printer under the desk too. I put up a little shelf on the wall right above the desk for our printer and it gives me so much more room! Thanks so much for sharing this at The CSI Project!
Oh,I can soooo relate to living in military housing! You have made such a beautiful space here for your office! Putting the printer underneath the desk is a great space saver!
I love everything about this!! So clean and organized. And the seat cushion is the perfect splash of color! {AND…I have the same computer!} Have a fabulous week, Chelsea!
Loving everything about this, Chelsea. So clean and organized. And your seat cushion is the perfect splash of color. {I just got that same computer…loving it!}
Have a fab week!!
Ahh- It is Perfect!
LOVE LOVE LOVE all the organization! I need to do this too!!
Look great! I love the cushion on your chair!
You’re super talented! I’m a HUGE fan of Janet E! #StephaniePlum. LOL
ohhhh we would be BFFs! I can’t get enough #StephaniePlum!