When we bought our house last summer, the walls were dark purple with polka dots, and a High School Musical ceiling fan hung from the ceiling. I promptly painted the walls a nice peachy hue, and we replaced the fan (I'll miss you Troy!). Besides that, I hadn't done much in there. Although I used the office, it was getting unorganized and dusty, and I found myself spending more time on my laptop in our living room.
Last week, I decided enough was enough--we'd shoved Christmas wrapping paper and what-not in there, and it was time to claim my space. Mark my territory. Take back what was mine!
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| It's even a "corner office" with windows! |
So I spent an hour moving the stuff that didn't belong there to where it did belong. I used plenty of Windex to make the surfaces sparkle. I even shopped in my basement for framed pictures to hang on the wall.
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| Mama needs lots of room to spread out when writing. Yes, Sophie is under the desk. :) |
My old CD's--Usher and Rascal Flatts--kept me humming while I worked. And by the time I hung the last picture and vacuumed, I couldn't wait to start working in there again.
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| My new life motto, and a picture of the ocean I took on vacation years ago. |
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| I keep my hoard of Staples office supplies in the big closet! |
Candles, cute bins to organize things, and, of course, my bulletin board WITH CHOCOLATE attached all bring me pleasure.
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| Yes, my bulletin board has actual chocolate truffles pinned to the board. :) |
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| Phone, modem, and writing books--all within easy reach! |
What is your writing space like? Do you love it? If not, is there any way to make it more inviting?
Have a fabulous day!
Great writing space. Me? I just moved a month ago and am now writing amidst boxes...but...a new desk was my first priority for my new office. Every time I sit there and look out to the jungle...I'm happy. I just have to quit cleaning and putting things away and...WRITE!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Em! I would probably hike over to that little thing called the ocean every single minute of the day if I lived where you live! :)
DeleteOh I love your writing room! And I also love your chocolate sign stating you're not a quitter. That's awesome.
ReplyDeleteI have a desk I refurbished in the corner by my bed with my comfy office chair. Since I'm home by myself Mon-Fri it feels like my own room and it's cozy. At night, if I'm working I just pop in my ear buds while Tim watches TV. Most of the time it doesn't bother me. Sometimes, well...:)
Ha! Well, I'm so used to sharing everything with my family, I totally get where you're coming from. Most of the time it's all good, but then something snaps! :)
DeleteI love it - especially those windows! I use our formal dining room for an office. We don't have a dining table for this room so I have a desk and a huge comfy chair for reading. I love this room, but there is one downside to making your office in the formal dining room--no door!
ReplyDeleteOh, I did this too! We had a formal living room when we lived in Virginia, but we didn't have furniture so I used it as my office. And you're right--no door made it a major problem sometimes!
DeleteOH fun! And can I just say, I love that you listened to Usher. Hilarious! :) I do have a a writing room. (I live alone so it's not that hard for me to find space. Hehe.) But yeah, I love it. It's got my nice BIG desk, shelves with all my writing books and the novels that most inspire me, my old daybed (I don't care how silly it sounds, that bed is a symbol of dreams-come-true for me--a relic of my 13-year-old self), framed photos and a crazy, overgrown plant. :)
ReplyDeleteHold onto that daybed. You'll always find a use for it! I still have my dresser from when I was in sixth grade--we use it! It's comforting to have furniture from way back when. :)
DeleteBelieve it or not, I share an office with my husband since we both work at home. If one of us is having a noisy day, the other pulls out the headphones. But looking at it, I need to reclaim some of it from Christmas clutter as well! You've given me the inspiration I need to get started.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I'm not the only one who shoves things into the office when I don't want to deal with them. :)
DeleteThat's really cool you share your office with your hubby. My husband is really funny and I know I'd end up laughing all day if we tried that!
Wow, so neat and organized. I'm ashamed of what my office looks like, but this spring I'm planning a huge overhaul. I need more wall space (taken up by 8 feet of bookshelves).
ReplyDeleteOoo, 8 feet of bookshelves!! It's a dream come true!! Who needs wall space anyhow? :) Have fun!!
DeleteGreat space, Jill! We have a home office which I share with Hubby. I've got my own space, desk, and file cabinet. It's an office. Nothing fancy. I do get tons of work done there.
ReplyDeleteThat's the main goal, right? Getting tons of work done? Yeah!
DeleteLovely! You're motivating me to organize my space, too. :D I have a room to myself as well--it's absolute heaven.
ReplyDeleteGood! It doesn't take much for me to start piling things up in there. I have to be on top of it! Have fun with yours. :)
DeleteOh! Love! Though I am sad you got rid of the HSM fan;) My writing space bounces b/t 3 places. The living room couch, my grandmother's yellow chair in our bedroom, or our school room in the basement. Wherever my mojo can start working that day! One day though, I'm gonna have a study/library with huge windows and lots of books!
ReplyDeleteI know--what was I thinking getting rid of Troy?? I tend to work all over the house too. :) I'm with you. A library with huge windows and lots of books is a dream!
DeleteLooking good. I always write better once I clear away the ever-gathering dust bunnies behind my computer. I've been adding small decorative items to inspire over the past few months and I do believe they've been working.
ReplyDelete~ Wendy
Same here! What is it about dust and clutter? It just saps my creativity. That's so cool you're adding personal touches to your space. yay!
DeleteOh you lucky girl!
ReplyDeleteI use the dining room table. But it's not just any dining room table. It's a Victorian era, sapele (sah-pee-lee) or as some deign to call it, ribbon mahogany. The dudes from Antiques Roadshow told me they'd never seen anything like it and to never, ever sell it, as its worth is completely unknown. Seriously, they did.
I can look out into my backyard and see the birdies and the chipmunks and the...snow covered barbeque.
See how I made that sound sooooo nice?
But really, my office is a cluttered table with a view of the coffee maker.
Oh, what a great story! You write on a one-of-a-kind, priceless table. Talk about inspiring! Who knows what crazy things happened around that piece? :)
DeleteOh, this is so timely. I have made some progress in the January-need-to-organize-things mode....but the mess is winning. I would send a photo but I'm afraid of the clutter police. Maybe I will do a before and after and then send it....might take me till December to finish, just in time to start again.
ReplyDeleteMy space is tiny, about 5'x8' which is why I have to do something fast!!
Okay, I am motivated...especially if it will increase my desire to be in here and write more.
Hi Jeanne! Yeah, I know what you're talking about. I walked right on by my office for two weeks because cleaning it seemed too daunting!
DeleteI want to see the before/after pics!!
I will share the pics...renovations begin this week
DeleteI posted before and after photos in an album on Facebook, Jill. Take a look:
Deletehttps://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.10151440697519111.503330.545314110&type=3
Feels good!
Love your writing space, Jill! :)
ReplyDeleteI, too, am blessed to have my own office, but when our children were small, my "office" was a little niche in the dining room.
My office now is done in a seashore theme--tranqui and inviting. I need to add bookcases though, and I'm also in the market for a new desk.
LOVE your chocolate picture!
Anything with water and the sea makes me smile. Your space sounds wonderful!!
DeleteJill, love your space!!
ReplyDeleteI spent some time between the holidays pitching and reorganizing my office. I used Christmas money to buy an L-shaped desk from Ikea. I either tossed or moved anything in the room and closet that wasn't mine and related to writing. After I finish sewing my curtains, I'll have to take a few pics.
Having your own space, whether it's a dining room table or a corner nook is so important, I think.
Thanks for sharing your room!
xoxo - Jenna
Ooo, look at you, getting organized and a new desk! Awesome!! It IS important to have your own space. I treasure mine! Enjoy!!
DeleteI took some "before" photos of my writing nook...I am determined!
ReplyDeleteYay!! Can't wait to see them!
DeleteWhat well-organized, spiffy writing space!! Lots of light, and the chocolate on the board? SCORE! I love looking out, so my desk is situated where I can stare out the window and be inspired. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteSame here, Donna--I love a view. All I have to do is turn my head and I can spy on the neighbors. Fun! :)
DeleteGreat space you have! We recently moved, and my office kinda serves as a spot for boxes, too, lol. Still working on it!
ReplyDeleteHa, ha! I know all about that! The office tends to be the storage room when we move too. :) Don't worry. You'll get your space back!
DeleteI love your new office space. Everything in there is so pretty, clean, and organized. You are a girl after my own heart. I hope you spend many happy hours creating in your special place.
ReplyDeleteI write in my little room. It has a bed, bookshelf, and computer on a vanity. I'm happy with it. It serves my purpose.
Aw, thanks, Nancy. You're such an encourager--I appreciate you!
DeleteYour little room sounds just right. :)
I love your glass top L-desk. I recently bought one for my home office as well and find that it works really well. I like your decorations. Simple and organized. A great place to work!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Wendy! I like it too--the glass forces me to clean more often, which is a good thing! :)
DeleteI did have a nook in my last house, but in this one I have the dining table. Although I take off a few days a week and spend the day in the State library. It's great, I can book a room (that overlooks the Brisbane River) and concentrate on work because there's nothing to distract me.
ReplyDeleteI am mulling over some plans now for an office... hmm... I'm sure we don't need that washing machine in that room...
Ha, ha! No, you don't need the washing machine there...priorities! :) I love the idea of going to the State library and overlooking the Brisbane river when you work. Amazing! Would love to join you!!
DeleteOh and I love your office space, fresh, professional but personal too!
ReplyDeleteThanks! :)
DeleteWell, your writing space reflects you. And I can see that you’re practical but fun at the same time. I like it. ; ) My writing space is made up of an old wooden desk and an office chair. Not much thought was really given into it, but it works for me.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Blake! It is practical and fun--I feel happy and productive when I'm in there. :)
ReplyDeleteAn old wooden desk and an office chair sound perfect! As long as they make you feel like working, right?
Your office is amazing!!! I can't believe you ditched the Troy Bolton fan though! ;) I have a built in desk in my family room that I write at or the couch. Not very private but it works okay I guess. :)
ReplyDeleteAs a writer, you should make your office space not just inviting, but more of inspiring. Also, the way we design or personalize our working space looks like reflects our personality. You know, it’s easier to work in a place that you are comfortable with.
ReplyDelete