(finished office space)

A few days ago, I mentioned that I was beginning a project to reorganize, compress and move my personal office space and all related items from a spare bedroom, into a corner in my bedroom. Well, the project is FINISHED!

Today I began my office project by preparing the desktop; covering a board that I purchased yesterday at Home Depot. Using white contact paper, I covered a 60" board that will replace a pre-made, 7 foot countertop that I used in my previous office space. Have you ever used contact paper to cover a large item? UGH, that task alone called for patience and diligence!

I then tackled what seemed like an insurmountable task, to clear off the current desktop so that I could move the two filing cabinets to the bedroom, providing the base for the new desktop.
(previous office space)

After all was moved to the new location in my bedroom, I decided to cover a few more items with contact paper to tie the desk, shelves and ‘cubbies’ together.
('before' space in bedroom)

I also purchased some fabric yesterday, found at Wal-Mart for $1.50 a yard, to make a skirt for the desk base and various other projects that hadn’t been decided on yesterday! I bought 5 yards of each fabric; one, as you can see is a dark and lighter plum stripe and the other is a plum background with creamy flowers…sort of a ‘calico’ type pattern. After the desk was assembled, I began making the skirt by simply folding the fabric to the correct length then taking tucks around the outside of the desktop about every 4 inches and anchoring it with a thumbtack! Pretty darn EASY and CHEAP!

The next project I decided to undertake was to cover a very unsightly ‘varnished’ door that leads to a storage closet directly behind the desk area. I covered this door with the dark plum stripe (using DUCK TAPE to anchor it...I won't show you the INSIDE of the door and no one else will see it either!) I then hung a 22-pocket shoe organizer on the front of the door, to use for storing small office type items. I also covered the ‘header’ of the organizer with a strip of the coordinating ‘calico’ fabric. (Very cute and "custom made"!)

I tend to go ‘fabric crazy’ when it comes to making over a room or decorating. I find it SO easy to simply measure and RIP!!! I covered a black plastic 5-drawer chest (from Staples) that I have used for years and it now looks like it fits right in with the new office décor!

Another project I did was to make a ‘skirt’ for a shelving unit that I use in the 'dressing area' of my bedroom. Many years ago, I became spoiled by having a large walk-in “California” closet and since that time, I have stored all my clothes on shelves instead of in drawers. (MUCH simpler and easier!) Since moving to this apartment, I have used ‘make-shift’ shelving including an over the toilet organizer that I had used in a previous home. For over a year, I have looked at a huge empty and unsightly space under the shelves (where the toilet would be) and where now my laundry basket has fit perfectly. Today I now have transformed the ugly space into a cute shelf, complete with calico ‘skirting’ that conceals the dirty laundry! One cool thing about this project was that as I fooled around, trying to attach the skirt to the metal frame of the shelf, I could not, for the life of me, think what type of bracket or fastener I could use to attach and gather the fabric. I finally, after trying a few options, decided that I would simply TEMPORARILY use clothespins and then scout around for a different type of fastener in the future. Well, just as I moved on to another project, I found a long strip of the dark plum fabric and, "VOILA", I got the idea to wrap a fabric sash around the entire shelf and simply HIDE the clothes pins! (except I think one may be peeking through in the photo) I secured the wide sash with a big knot and cut the ends to make it look so pretty! It turned out very cute and I had to take a photo of that project also!

I THINK I have covered the basics of this project. The pictures probably don’t do the entire project justice...you are invited to come and see it in person!

I am very happy with the outcome of my new cozy bedroom office and it was SO inexpensive and easy! Oh..Another cool thing…I can now use my laptop at my new desk AND while I’m snuggled in bed, without having to even unplug the computer! YIPPEE! Isn’t life grand? It sure doesn’t take much to thrill me!

Hope you enjoy the photos of today’s project! My jaw is considerably better and I even forgot to take my meds at the scheduled time, which I guess is a good indication of no pain!