What I would give for a dedicated office space with a sleek, open airy bright look…
But I do enjoy having my office in the living room for convenience’s sake! As a blogger who is always checking email or a recipe online, having my office in the thick of our living space is very nice.
When we arranged our furniture, we tried to hide the office so it’s tucked away and not visible when people walk in the door
Matt has a desk (our former kitchen table) down in the basement, but he also has a laptop so he works all over
My desk was $80 at IKEA. I love it because of all the hook-ons to hold the computer and cords!!
Note the cord holder in the back
I’ve done the best I can to tame the wild cords
But..
But it’s hidden away!
Our remote sits in the nice little computer groove next to the couch
The shelves were a gift from JC Penny through a promo with BlogHer in 2008. They are perfect for me because I have both hidden and visible space.
On the top, I have things that I use daily
A cute holder just for my phone
Matching camera storage (I think I got these metal containers at Target a long time ago)
And another Pottery Barn organizer (this used to be at my office when I worked in PR so now we have 2)
It holds things I need to tuck away for a few days and use within the week, mailing supplies like stamps and pens
On top of my shelves I have one more catch-all basket for loose things that I need to access daily
On the bottom half, I hide uglier things
Including an office supplies basket, coupons, binders were I tear out Better Homes & Gardens ideas I love and recipes, plus my RD binder to hold all of my credential paperwork.
The office supplies are just this and that –
And that concludes all of the stuff that I reference daily.
Downstairs in the basement, we have our filing cabinet and printer. If we didn’t have a basement, these would have to go next to my computer (as they did in Charlotte). But since we had the ability to tuck them away out of sight of guests, they’re downstairs with Matt’s computer.
Also when we moved we considered getting a wireless printer/scanner/copier (they are only $50!) so we could both print, but actually, since our current wired version works just fine, I just email things to Matt to print. It’s not ideal, but it works.
Our filing cabinet was a bit of a mess when we moved, so I went through and removed/shredded anything that was simply unnecessary. I also scanned a bunch of stuff into my computer, which is also backed up through an automated back up service called Carbonite.
The filing cabinet has lots of tabs – the more tabs you have the better so you don’t have to hunt for things. Instead of “Tax Documents” create “Taxes 2008,” “Taxes 2009,” “Taxes 2010” so you can easily find what you’re looking for. We’ve also gone to paperless bills for all of our basic statements, which helps a ton! Hopefully soon the whole world will be paperless.
The last bit of paperflow I already talked about was our inbox/outbox
I normally sort mail and recycle the junk immediately and remove important things form their envelopes and recycle those and put just the bare minimum of things that need to be sorted in these slots. We each have a slot (front + back and left + right)
I get left for being a lefty!!
That wraps up the office!
Missed other Home Neat Home posts?
Upcoming posts include: Dish Storage (a challenge for this blogger!) and Budget organization (which is going to be hard since I need to find a way to account for privacy while demonstrating!) and Computer + Blogging organization! As well as a Furniture Guide, Cleaning Info and Systems in Action.
Guest Post Request!
I am no expert in cleaning! Especially GREEN cleaning. If you guys have good tips and products (homemade or not) that work for you, please email them to me with the email subject: CLEANING! to Katheats @ Gmail Dot Com. Include a hyperlinked blog address if you have one!
I can’t promise I will include them all, but I’m hoping to create a great collection of tips.
Happy Organization to you!
Christine says
Ahh yes! I was hoping for another Home Neat Home post soon! Your home is really beautiful — I really need to learn to throw out what I don’t need and simplify though…..
Dorry says
I love seeing your organization tips. We’re moving next month and I plan to re-do our home office (and I need a new desk!), so this was very helpful.
Kate (What Kate is Cooking) says
I love this series! I think having your office downstairs is neat- very accessible 🙂
Melissa @ HerGreenLife says
I definitely need to incorporate some of your organization strategies into my life! I’m sitting at our desk, and it is a MESS.
We’re moving in a few months, so I think I’ll wait for our new space to make any major changes. Until then, I’ll continue to work on getting rid of stuff so there’s less to move and organize when the time comes 🙂
Erin @ Big Girl Feats says
Home Neat Home is like an OCD-love-me-some-file-folders-could spent 400 hours in Staples-organizers crack!! Thanks, Kath!
Dani says
HA! Very well said.
Stacy @ Every Little Thing says
I love the white shelving! Perfect for office space.
Ashley over at the Edible Perspective did a GREAT green cleaning post.
http://edibleperspective.com/2011/01/detoxing-your-life/
Emily @ One Sweet Vegan says
We have our office set up in the living room also, but because of the layout of the room, it’s right across from the front door. If it bothered me enough, I’d move it into our bedroom, but since I’m on the computer all throughout the day, this just makes more sense.
I need to get that cord organizer from Ikea! Our cords are a tangled mess.
As usual, I love these Home Neat Home posts. Can’t wait for more!
Allie (Live Laugh Eat) says
If this series has taught me one thing it’s that I need to go out and buy some nice looking baskets…to hide all my stuff! Man you are an expert hider!
Joyce @ Flowing to Fifty says
Awesome organization! Especially with your workspace right in your livingroom. I can see how you wouldn’t want to work in the basement. I have a hard time with all the paper and have a “corner of shame” in my kitchen. I may look for cool baskets and holders like the ones for your phone and camera.
Katy (The Singing Runner) says
I am seriously in love with this series! It really makes me want to become more organized! 😀
Jessica @ The Virtual Scrapbook says
I love your cute little office!! It is nice to tuck it away but still have it in an accessible way. I’ve tried the office thing, but I’m with Matt – I’m a laptop on the couch worker!
Emily @ Savory and Savage says
Thanks for the tip about Carbonite – I am overwhelmed with paperwork – I just can’t seem to shred them or throw them out. But the idea of scanning the important ones and having a backup that is not connected to my computer is a great idea.
I can see a life without piles of paper in my near future 🙂
Leslie says
Do you have any trips planned to Oregon? I could really use your help on organization-and I know you’d love it here! There are tons of amazing restaurants in Oregon, as well as lots of beer and wine! We have a spare room (actually the only one that is organized) anytime you are in the Northwest.
Paige(Running Around Normal) says
Great tips! I hate wires every where!! We have the little zip ties to keep them under control. It works well!
Natalia - a side of simple says
If you ever need someone to house sit for you, I’m your girl 😉 Just sayin’…
Mary Catherine says
Hi Kath! This is a bit off topic but can you recommend a good Food Scale? I tried searching your site but can’t find an answer.
KathEats says
I have the Eat Smart one and it’s nice and durable – like it!
Katelyn @ Chef Katelyn says
Can I just say that your house is GORGEOUS. I love these organizational posts, I definitely need to work on cleaning my house!
Alaina says
My suggestion for wireless printers is not to get one right now. Let the technology advance a little more. I’ve had both a cheap and expensive version of a wireless printer and neither worked well. The printing was very hit and miss.
Holly @ Couch Potato Athlete says
I love your method of hiding clutter — I love baskets with lids that look pretty but also contain lots of junk.
We keep a pretty organized file drawer — only because I hate to go through a bunch of paperwork at once. I do a little bit each day, as bills come in and get paid, etc. But yes, I can’t wait for everything to be paperless.
Katherine: Unemployed says
I really like the color scheme you have going
[email protected] Sweet Life says
Very clever–love how you’ve hidden it from your entryway!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
I wish you could come to my house and organize! I’m really looking forward to budget organization, too. It’s a challenge to keep track of!
Lindsey says
I love these posts! I always thought I was extremely organized, but I see your office and I realize maybe not 🙂
Lu @ Done Dieting says
When I was much younger my mom always said marry an organized person. I believe that if she saw how beautifully you have your home she would raise her standards even more.
Ginna says
Wow I am amazed by how little stuff you guys have! Esp when it comes to the office! Where are all your books? We moved cross country last summer and downsized quite a bit but still have a lot of stuff. We have to have an office room there would be no way without it! Dont you guys have 2 guestrooms? And the wirelesss printers are so awesome! Totally recommend getting one!
KathEats says
We don’t have that many books. I’ve reduced our collection down to ONLY ones that we will actually read again and donated many of the rest. I think of books like clothes: if you don’t absolutely love it, let it go. We do have some on a bookshelf in the basement though, and if we had builtins I’d probably have more on hand.
Becky says
Wow, I completely disagree about books. They are my absolute lifeblood and I cannot imagine a house that isn’t full of books. Every time we move, at least 50% of our boxes are full of books. To each their own, I guess! (Full disclosure: I am a university post-doctoral researcher, so I know I’m a bit abnormal about my books!) Kath- do you and Matt have a kindle or nook? I know a lot of people who have downsized their books since buying an e-reader, but I just can’t bring myself to do that!
Lynsie says
I love your Home Neat Home posts! I actually took your advice and reorganized all my closets, thinking in my head “like with like!” the whole time!!
Natalie @ Will Jog For Food says
Great post! It really reminds me I need to get organized! I think I will be going basket shopping this weekend…
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey says
I love how organized you are. It puts me to shame.
Kath (My Funny Little Life) says
Your office corner looks totally lovely! I also have one, but it’s not that perfectly organized, and anyway I’m rather a take-the-laptop-to-the-sofa worker 😉 – I don’t own a big computer, just a laptop which is more practical for me at the moment. But I also like to have a corner where all the things I need frequently for working (researching / writing) and blogging are nearby.
Christine says
I need you to fly to California and help me organize my 900 square foot apartment that my husband and I have completely grown out of 😉
A Loyal Reader says
Dear Kath,
I love your house – you did a really great job with using the space you have. You’re very neat – but has anyone ever told you that you might be a bit OCD? I only ask this because I am a bit OCD and found myself envious of your remote spot on top of the computer….
(Please don’t take this too seriously, it’s bit of a joke. And as I said, I AM envious 😉
Matt says
I feel like “OCD” is thrown around too easily. Everyone’s got “their thing” about how something should be organized, or arranged, or how to perform some task. You should see me in the kitchen/bakery – I want everything done how I would do it! That’s not OCD, that’s human nature.
jane says
i agree-people love to toss terms around-like ADD-that drives me nuts! i am in no way organized, neat etc., but based on your description Matt, I am a little OCD-i like things my way!! some call me bossy…..ha! 🙂
KathEats says
Well I agree that OCD is a clinical problem that interrupts quality of life.
But of course I know that I have a tendency towards obsessive organization – but it makes me very happy and I don’t think it keeps me from enjoying life 🙂
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
Cute office space 🙂 We use a spare bedroom as our office, yet we still need a lot more room! We’re very greedy with office real estate. heh
Hope says
I love this post! You are so neat and organized. I really need to tidy and organize my desk at home. It’s a mess! At work my desk is neat and organized, you would think it would be same way at home but that is not the case. Thanks for these awesome posts 🙂
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat says
Love your office space Kath! I am a desk worker and I absolutely can’t get anything done if my desk is messy. Now I want to go home and organize my workspace to make it nice and pretty like yours!
Pat Kilmain says
I have some nifty cord wrappers I found at http://us.mybobino.com/ They come in several colors and sizes and really keep your cords neatly wrapped, yet are a snap to undo if needed. My other cord tamer, which I use for my curling iron and hair dryer, is the large size hair clip, the kind with a spring opening and curved teeth (do these have a name?) Since I use the hair stuff daily, I needed something really easy to take off and put back on. I just fold up the cord and corral it with the hair clip. I have no covered storage for these items so my DH mounted a holder on the bathroom wall, but the cords were driving us nuts. These work great!
I’m loving your organization posts. Thanks.
gas says
You can get long thin corregated hose and slit it lenghtwise and stuff your cables in that Try home depot or Ace hardware
dee says
these have to be my favorite posts of yours. 😉 i think i’ve starred each and everyone on my googlereader so i can go back and easily find them for reference. can’t wait for future posts.
ps. i’ve been looking for a hard drive to back most of my stuff. quick question – do you back up your computer on a hard drive and carbonite? or do you just use carbonite?
KathEats says
I only use Carbonite
Becky says
Love Carbonite!
Anne @ Baking Me says
Your living room is so cute! I am in the middle of trying to organize my office right now, thanks for the great tips!
Jenny O. says
So, don’t laugh but in the last few weeks you’ve supplied me with two hints that are probably totally unintentional on your part, but have changed my life. 😉 First, you casually mentioned a dustbuster for your bathroom in a previous Home Neat Home. I don’t know why, in my 34 years, owning a dustbuster for cleaning up hair and such on the bathroom floor never occurred to me. But it didn’t. Now I am the proud owner of one and my bathroom has never been so clean, so effortlessly.
also, in a previous post you showed your bare minerals makeup ready to use, but sitting face down on a washcloth. Holy light bulb moment! I am always picking them up in the morning, looking at the bottom to read the label to make sure I get them in the right order. Now, I store them and use them face down, with the label up so I don’t waste time fumbling around to see which is the mineral veil and which is foundation. See? You’re a force for good! 🙂
KathEats says
🙂
Rebecca says
Ahh, the office. My downfall. I have a great space for an office, but I usually don’t work in there because I have three children to keep up with. Great idea keeping everything neat and tidy in the living room! I might just try that.
Christine (The Raw Project) says
My desk is near the kitchen too as a built-in nook and I love the convenience, but not always the lack of privacy. Ikea gadgets are wonderful for organizing, I have the cord rack under my desk for power adapters, USB hubs, etc. Great organizational post, thanks!
Baking 'n' Books says
You are well organized. I’m actually reading a book about clutter (actual and “life” clutter) and getting things in order. But I could never be as neat as you! I’m surprised you don’t have a laptop as a blogger though? What do you do when you travel?
I noticed a couple of cookbooks you have there too! Do you have a lot of cookbooks or stick to online?
KathEats says
I do have a laptop for when I travel, but I could never blog full time on it
KathEats says
Oh, and I love the concept of cookbooks but I never use them so I don’t have a lot
Baking 'n' Books says
I know. Too many books – and clutter. Smart.
Lee says
You always impress me with your clutter free organization! I really need to tackle our files this weekend! Thanks for the motivation.
Rachel @ The Avid Appetite says
Thanks for sharing this. My husband and I moved (sort of) recently and I’m struggling away to get organized. It is a process!
Amanda (tomboy that wears makeup) says
Holy Cow your organized! Good job. I need to do this.. My place is small and gets cluttered so fast. I work from home too. I live in a beautiful high rise looking over the ocean, but sometimes I want to move out in the country just to get more space…. hmmm… unless I organize like you can….
[email protected] says
I hope to replicate something like this when I’m finally able to give up my transcription job and make the transition to massage therapist after I graduate in October… I won’t need the giant desk I have now, although I will be keeping my dual monitor set up… I’m spoiled. 🙂
Holly @ Food, Make-up, Hair says
I know what you mean about the wires – they drive me crazy! I bought this neat cable/wire organizer at this site: http://www.thecableorganizer.com/ They are perfect for holding just about any wires or cables, can be cut to any length, and really easy to use.
Holly @ Food, Make-up, Hair says
And I love how you have a spot just for your phone! 🙂
Amanda- The Nutritionist Reviews says
It is definitely hard to keep an office clean and organized! Thanks for the great post.
Susan (Oliepants) says
With the recipes, the fitness tips and now home organizing tips – you are turning into a Martha Stewart! One stop shop! 🙂
Kristina says
“I am cute” on the phone holder… cracks me up.
Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) says
Kath I love this series. It just gets more and more awesome with each post!
I love all the baskets you have, the camera baskets, all your gear stashed in baskets.
Cleaning file cabinets regularly…yeah, i have bill statements squished into my file folders. I mean, what does one do with bill statements from 2009. It’s not like I need them, but i fear if i throw them out, i WILL suddenly need them 🙂
Lisa (bakebikeblog) says
Great tips Kath!!! I just cleaned out of office last night and it is looking so much better already!
Stacey (The Home-Cooked Vegan) says
You put my filing cabinets to SHAME. Mine are sooo all over the place and junky! I love these posts (in case I haven’t already said that!) They inspire me to de-clutter my home! Thanks Kath! And I love that pottery barn shelf. So chic! 🙂
Robyn @ Frugal 'n' Fit says
I love how there is dedicated space for all of the miscellaneous items, even your phone! Kath Organizes Real Good (KORG) 🙂
Melissa says
I’m thoroughly enjoying your organizational tips and it is inspiring me to get my house organized–although I have yet to begin!
Fancy says
I am the one who requested a post on cleaning—-THANK YOU KATH!!! Your Home Neat Home posts are so awesome and inspiring, please keep them coming! You’re awesome 🙂
Kathy W. says
Love these posts!
When you do the cleaning one, could you share if you do cleaning on certain days, or room by room, or just on an “as-needed” basis…(ever do the clock thing, where you go in a circle around the room starting at whatever 12:00 you pick??)
Susan Mc says
Ohhh great idea Kathy, I second this one! I am SOOOO loving the series Kath, I’m totally inspired to rethink my set-ups and to simplify.
But I’d love to know if you map out a rotation or schedule to maintain your wonderfully home neat home!
Hannah says
I can never get over how much I love your sofa/chair fabric coverings! (Whatever that’s called…)
[email protected] says
LOVE these posts. So inspiring.
jenna says
your house is so cute!
claire says
EEEEK! I love your home! So cute!
Diana @ frontyardfoodie says
I love your shelves that are half open and half closed! I need something like that. I have no shelves in mine or my husbands desk and I keep tupperware of office supplies in a closet and a small file box for important papers and it just seems like everything is disconnected being so separate!
JenATX says
yall have quite a few tape dispensers haha
Allison @ Happy Tales says
Suuuuch a great post, Kath! Thank you so much for opening up your home and sharing all of your tips and tricks with us, I know you don’t have to do it… so it makes me that much more appreciative!
ered says
Kath! I want to tell you about this thing called “Dropbox” http://www.dropbox.com/
which is totally free and lets my husband and I share files between his desktop (hooked to printer/scanner) and my laptop. We were looking at a way to sync the 2 computers but couldn’t do it without a *lot* of hassle because they’re 2 different operating systems so now we just use this. We keep our billbook this way as well so the updated version is always available to either of us and it’s handy if he’s on his computer and I need something he’s saved there (usually pictures from or camera) for me I’ll just have him drop it in. It takes like 2 seconds and shows up instantly on my laptop. I think you have to have internet on both computers to use it but it doesn’t seem like that would be a problem. Anyway–just wanted to let you know. I really appreciate these neat home posts!
KathEats says
I’ve used Dropbox! It’s pretty nice, but I think emailing does our job just as well with more direct results
ered says
ah! well I’m glad you know about it 🙂 I mostly use it for the picture transfers — we’re lucky to live in a world with so many options!
Valerie says
what wonderful ideas! i’m definitely taking notes here.
i’m curious where you got that black and white chair in your living room from? it’s absolutely lovely!
KathEats says
Thank you! Unfortunately the chair was custom made for Karen in the 90s
Patricia says
Do you by any chance remember the name/model of the IKEA desk? It looks to be exactly what I’ve been searching for. Thanks!
KathEats says
It’s the Galant line and it was only $80!
Jeanette says
Kath, here is my question for you.
What about paper work? I am DROWNING in a sea of papers. Everything from bills, explanation of benefits, art work from my son, my son’s school papers, phone notes….
What do you do with yours? What and where would be a proper storage for it all (because I’m ready to set a match to it!!)
Thanks!
KathEats says
I keep a lot of things electronically (backed up with Carbonite). If I have a nice hard copy (like explanation of benefits) I will save that in file boxes – we have one for household and one for taxes/long term – that I got at Target (green in color). But I never print something out just to save. I keep my computer files pretty organized.
I don’t keep bills – because you can download all of those electronically too. I have paperless billing for most things.
Art work I can’t speak for yet, but I imagine I’ll cycle through and keep the best stuff in a box somehow.
Phone notes should only be good for a day!
Jeanette says
Thanks, Kath!!