Welcome to the JuggleMum Blog Office. Every business needs an office and after overhauling my business this year, I decided to do the same for my workspace!
I’ve been self employed for a decade now and have always worked from a desk in a corner of my home which I earmarked as ‘my space’. It was an area that evolved as I grew into the space – a shelf erected here, a new cabinet there. But eventually it became cluttered and not fit for purpose. It was also a little tired looking.
In June I changed all that when I had a massive clear out and re-decorated! I chose a beautiful classic but modern wallpaper from Graham & Brown called Planking Ash as the starting point for the makeover then I picked a complementary paint colour. This lovely light grey on the walls is called Taylor’s Grey by Graham & Brown then I used a white B&Q paint on the ceiling and a white gloss on the skirting boards to bring together a very calm and professional feel to the room.
I already had the blonde wood Ikea desk and my leather chair from before but I re-positioned it in the new look office so that I had more space around me. Whilst I was packing up the old office to re-decorate, I took the opportunity to clear out unnecessary items and consolidate my stationery – it seems I had little stashes all over the place but now it is all organised in my filing cabinet. I have also created an area to house all my camera equipment – I have 2 tripods, some studio lighting, a camera, camcorder and various external hard drives so I like that the new area has them under lock and key!
A few months ago when I was working on my Father’s Day Gift Ideas post, I included an Ampersand from Graham & Brown and kept it as a fun accessory in the office! I was also offered some Frame Again pictures to review so these are now erected above my desk as a focal point. I like to be able to look up and see my hubby and kids when I’m working as they are the main reason I am working from home in the first place!
Here is a ‘Before’ and ‘After’ video tour of my office:
What you can’t see in the video is the little secret area I have under my desk so here’s a photo!
Out of sight, I’m keeping all the products that I’ve been sent for review on the blog so they are safe until I’m ready to use them. They are at the back in a plastic storage container with another container of scrap paper in front of them so no-one in the family can see my goodies and be tempted to use them before I get chance to write about them!
Also under my desk is the best shredder I’ve ever had in my life! The Powershred 73ci from Fellowes. This bad boy not only cross shreds all my paperwork so I can dispose of confidential documents safely, it will also shred CDs and credit cards! How fab is that?! I have it powered on all the time as I’m finding that I’m using it frequently and it just pops into standby mode when it’s not in use. It also has a brilliant safety feature where it detects if your fingers are on the shred opening and stops operation so there’s no chance of getting caught up in the blades.
Fellowes have a range of products especially for home workers, you can see more here. Next to the shredder is my filing cabinet with all my stationery and this was an item I had before and have re-used. So the elements of my new office and stockist details are:
Planking Ash wallpaper from Graham & Brown, £20 per roll **Currently on sale at £18 per roll!**
Taylor’s Grey paint by Graham & Brown, £30 per tin **Currently on sale at £27 per tin**
Ampersand from Graham & Brown, £45
Frame Again frames, £19.99 each **Currently on sale for £9.99 each**
Fellowes Shredder: Powershred 73ci
Fellowes Literature Organiser
I listed the Fellowes Literature Organiser last as I wanted to show you a little more about how I organise my workload and I swear by this system. For years I’ve had a basic concertina file on my desk with the days of the month numbered from 1-31 and what I do to maintain a clutter free desk is to decide what date I will tackle the job and place it in the relevant numbered section. Then on that date, I get out all the paperwork and do whatever needs doing on that day. It keeps me productive and my desk clutter free! Now I have this literature organiser, I have super sized my organisation! This literature organiser has replaced my old concertina file and I have numbered each of the slots with the days of the month. As there are 24 openings and up to 31 days, I have doubled up on some of the days so that each day of the month has a relevant slot!
Having all my work neatly filed in this unit and therefore out of sight allows me to be more productive than if I were weighed down with the visual image of a pile of paper on my desk. As they say: Out of sight is out of mind and as we only have any control over ‘today’ anyway, I don’t concern myself with whatever is to do tomorrow. I have faith that it will take care of itself.
So there you have it – my fresh new space to run my fresh new blog from. JuggleMum is 6 years old now here is the story of how it evolved but with my new look office and new look blog, the direction I’m facing is forward… Full steam ahead!
That is a really fab makeover! I love the literature shelves/organiser. I’ve been wanting one for years, but didn’t know what they were called to search for one!! Now I do 😀 I have a corner of my bedroom as my office – it’s a tiny space, but benefits from some good natural light, and it feels like a separate part of our bedroom.
Of course, I wish I had something more dedicated, but for now I have to work with what I’ve got! We are in the midsts of decorating the whole house, and I can’t wait to get started decorating my office space, and getting some of the clutter off my desk too!
Thanks for your lovely comment Michelle! I’m sure most people use literature organisers to organise their brochures and in schools and things but I love being able to super size my organisation!!!
wow . can you come make over my blogging office space .. That is beautiful I am very envious
What a fab makeover! I love how clean and fresh everything looks. My ‘office’ is the corner of the front room and I need some shelves up to help organise more. Well done, great room!
Your so equipped, I really need to sort my blogging space out. Great work lovely xx
I love those shelving units… I couldn’t live without my office!
So impressed by your beautiful office and your organisational skills. It has made me look round mine in embarrassment…..
Thanks for all the great comments! I do love my home office… For so long I worked in cramped conditions so it’s nice to have some space!!
Love your office it looks so calm and relaxing. x
I’m always intrigued to know how others work and I like the idea of filing the paperwork by day.
I adore your space. It is great having dedicated space to work from. I think the grey is very chic. My office needs a good old tidy out, which I am planning to try and get done over the summer
I have that very same shredder and it is a god send, so quick and so efficient x
What a great space and I just love the fellowes shelving. I could really do with something like that in my house
Wow, I need you to come over and sort out my life. That concertina/ literature organiser idea is inspired. And your new look office looks like a great place to work. I especially like the plank wallpaper!
I know- isn’t the plank lovely?! It feels very calming in here now!
I would love my own office, sadly at the moment its my laptop on my lap on the sofa
I used to have the laptop in bed a long time ago! Not really conducive to being very productive so I admire the amount you do from the sofa!!
Oh I love it! So very organised! You must really enjoy working in there now.
Loving your new look work space! 🙂 I would love to have a space like this at home!
Thank you. I do really appreciate it and love how it looks 🙂
What a fab makeover! I would love somewhere like this to work from
Love that wallpaper! And your organisation tool is genius. I’m not sure I could assign too many days in advance as I work on some tasks with quick turnaround.
Yes, the literature organiser really helps me with that – I have lot of different projects on with differing timelines both quick and slow burning so I don’t know where I’d be without this unit to help me keep track of just one day at a time!
ah I’d SO love to have an office! your’s looks amazing x
Your office space looks fantastic. I especially like the idea of a concertina file / literature organiser – what a brilliant idea!
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