white house black shutters

enjoy the everyday and embrace a simple life

Home Office Storage and Organization

|

This month, Michaels asked me and the other Michaels Makers to organize an area in our homes. Our office/craft area has long been a neglected work in progress, so first I decluttered the room, then added finishing touches that solved problems in the space.

bright, colorful office makeover

I have been needing a dedicated office space. Not a bedroom floor, not a kitchen table, not a couch where I can get sucked into Netflix. An office where I can shut the door and have stuff not get moved around.

Here’s the room when we first moved in. It’s a small, narrow room only the width of a crib. But there are two gorgeous windows which let lots of light in, as well as a french door so I can see the kids make sure no one is killing each other.

Since it is a smaller room, I had to make the most of the space. I decluttered unused supplies and things that didn’t need to be in here; I got 2 bags out!

click for the after! before picture of office, large floor to ceiling windows

While I had a few options for the space, I wanted a desk smack dab between those windows to take advantage of all that glorious sunlight.

I found the desk and chair second hand at two separate garage sales, hung a pegboard from Home Depot, but could not find the right piece of thrifted furniture for our printer and my Cricut! My husband works part time as a realtor and between the two of us moving the printer around the house, we had papers and machines on the floor.

Here’s what it looks like now, looking from the opposite side:

office and craft room storage

I found this beautiful turquoise cart at Michaels.

Note: this cart is no longer available, but I found a similar one, if not the same, here (affiliate link): http://amzn.to/2jRLJEh 

office and craft room storage, printer cart

The printer goes on the top, my Cricut is on the next shelf, and paint is on the bottom. I’m probably going to have to move that paint because I’m pretty sure with 5 kids, it is a “creative” mess waiting to happen. The cart rolls so we can move it from room to room. And it’s sturdy!

cricut and paint storage, turquoise cart

I found the tissue paper flower kits at Michaels, they add a much needed PUNCH of color to the room. I have a few more packs to add in around the rest of the room.

Many of this I had on hand. The vintage clipboards feature prints from one of my favorite artists. The mounting hardware, hooks, and baskets (spray painted with chrome paint) were from Home Depot. The white, metal hanging file folder is from IKEA. The washi tape holder is two pegboard hooks holding up a rod.

Most of our art supplies are in the dining room and for kid use, but these are my fancy grownup things. 🙂 I grabbed extra mason jars and filled them with paint brushes, Prismacolor colored pencils, tubes of watercolor paint, markers, camera lenses, and an Instax instant mini printer + film.

office and craft room storage

Another previous issue with my storage: I could not find a spot for all the teeny tiny things! Tacks, nails, jumpdrives, 3M strips, stamps… now they all have their own little drawer. Like the matching cart, this organizer is also from Michaels.

Instead of using the mounting holes on the back with a screw or nail in the wall, I used pegboard hooks to hang this and the white file organizer.

small item storage, drawers, organizing

I’m really happy with how the space turned out and am excited to show you the rest of the room. That is, once I finish the nursery. It’s hard to finish things in here because usually when I get time away to work on it, the baby is sleeping! In here, haha!

office and craft room storage

Edit: A few readers have asked how it is working in here when she’s sleeping. When she was younger, it was great. But now she hears my voice or the slightest bit of key tapping and is ready for party time. She’s such a happy, alert, sweet baby! These days I’ll either squeeze in work while she’s playing on the floor or when she is nearby in our bedroom. Or I’ll hand her off to Doug. 🙂 

office and craft room storage, white with bright colors, pegboard

Inspired to organize your own space? Michaels has tons of products and storage supplies that can be used to decorate and inspire creativity in any room of your house or office.

IMG_5825long

If you don’t know where to begin, you can always take a look at some of the fun storage projects on Michaels.com. Or visit the other 49 makers’ ideas on The Glue String for tips on designing, organizing and decorating their favorite places.

What area of your home could use some organizing?

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Michaels Stores. I am one of their “Michaels Makers” project creators and was provided with store credit to purchase products to craft this post. All ideas and opinions are my own, and I only recommend products I use or would purchase. 

Comments

  2. I was wondering if the cart you use is sturdy encough for the cricut when it is in use. Do you have to transfer it to another table to use it or do just move the cart around? I’m find something small enough to keep my cricut on that would fit in my small space.

  4. HI, love this space!
    How was wondering, How do you use your cricut machine normally? do you take it out on your desk when needed?

    • Thank you! If I’m doing a big project I’ll use it on my desk. If I am using it for something small (usually the case), I pull it to the front of my shelf.

      Hope that helps! I am not a hardcore crafter, haha, and usually use my cricut for small things.

  5. Where did your beautiful chair come from? I’d like one just like it for my office!

    • I bought it second hand! 🙁 If you’re in the Chicago area, I have seen a similar chair at a thrift store in Aurora, IL and at other nearby thrift stores. I guess it was a part of a dining room set, if that helps!

  6. Hello! I am sooo happy I came across your wonderful page!
    Random question but what kind of HP printer do you have shown in the pics? Also, is it inkjet or laser?

    Thank you so much!

    • It is an inkjet printer. I don’t have it anymore and couldn’t find it anywhere online, we bought it a while back. It didn’t work the best, I’ve since replaced it with this printer (affiliate link): http://amzn.to/2loSn8C. It is wireless and easy to print from our phones and computers! We’ve had it just over a year and have been happy with it. Sorry, wish I could help with the old printer!

  9. I just went to Michaels and bought the cart, however I’m wondering if there are different sizes of this same cart. Mine is 17.91 inches wide, and it was $89.99 the 60% off. The issue is, the Cricut is 23″ wide, so it doesn’t fit. Can you please tell me how wide your cart is?

    • I’m not home right now and can’t measure, but the carts this year are smaller than last year. 🙁 I bought one hoping to switch this one out and was surprised to see how much smaller it was. If your cricut is 23″, my guess would be that the cart pictured here is 24″.

  10. I love this cart!!! Can you please tell me the measurements for it? The stores around me are out so I’m going to try to build one!

  11. You have done a fantastic job! I adore the paper flowers on the wall, I’d like to dos something like this on my little girls bedroom wall – pinned for later 🙂

  13. I am so disappointed I missed the majority of the cre8ted space items. (Under normal circumstances I visit Michaels multiple times a week during the holidays.) I really want at least one of the rolling carts. Will more cre8ted space items be coming soon? Is the organizer with the little drawers in stores yet?
    I love the bright cheery space you created! Thank you for your time and for sharing your creativity.

  14. Thanks so much! I went to three Michaels and finally found the cart! Love it. Will send pictures later!

  15. This is great inspiration for the office I’m designing to have in place in my home by the end of March! It’s also a tiny space and seeing how you optimized your space with the peg board and a side cart is helpful. Pinning for later use…thanks!

  19. Your room looks beautiful, and I’ve been on the look out for a storage solution for my Cricut. That cart is perfect. Do you mind if I ask how much it cost before I trek to Michaels?

  20. Do you mind sharing the dimension of the peg board? I have the same desk and would love to re create something similar. Also where did you get those hanging containers from Michaels as well?

    • Just measured it, mine is 42″ wide by 48″ tall. I had my local Home Depot cut it to size when I bought it! You can find the mounting screws in a pack of accessories also sold there.

    • Oops, hit enter too soon! The hanging baskets are from Home Depot as well. They were black and I sprayed them with chrome spray paint. The little drawers are from Michaels, the hanging file basket is IKEA, both are hung using pegboard hooks. Hope this helps, tag me on social media or email me when you finish, I’d love to see your space! 🙂

    • Thanks so much for replying. I hope to get this project started soon. Will definitely tag you once I get to finish it.

  21. Where in the Michael’s store did you find the tissue paper flower kits, I looked and wasn’t able to find them? Thanks!

    • In my store, they were in the front near the Martha Stewart crafts line! It is near her paper crafting line, with glitter, glues, punches, etc. They offered a kit with pink and yellow, and one with white. I hope this helps!

    • Thank you, one more question…the carts that I saw at our Michael’s didn’t seems to have the faux wood…DId you add this or did it come that way?
      Jess

  23. It is just beautiful, great job, I love the cart and flowers too, were they premade or did you make them, are they hard to make?

    • Thank you!! 🙂 the flowers came in a pre made kit, but I made the turquoise ones with some tissue paper I had. Not very difficult at all! Maria and you would have fun making them.

    • I love the flowers and I’m doing a project right now that they would be perfect in!! Can you tell me where you got them, the pre made kit? Also, how did you make them? Are you able to show me the different steps involved? I’d sure appreciate it.
      Thank you!!

Instagram

  • Our life these days is so full of life, it leaves me with little to say. Today is a gloomy, tired, change out of pjs into clean sweatpants kind of day. I loved how the darkness came through in this. 💜💜 Second week of advent, O come Lord Jesus! (But not quite yet, I still have much to do... 😄) wooden nativity banner by @rough2rustic, candles linked on my profile under “advent candles”

About Ann Marie

Ann Marie Heasley

Hello! My goal is to help you seek beauty in your everyday life. Here I’ll share my experiences and offer tips on how to simplify, seek beauty, create a home you enjoy, or declutter through my annual #40bagsin40days challenge.

SUBSCRIBE

Sign up for updates and freebies.