It has taken a long time to get to this post sharing my teal Ikea home office transformation. I finally have it to the point where it functions as planned. Plus, some of the items were on backorder for over three months. This is the first time I have ever had an office in my home. It only took until I hit the age of 40, but hey, I have one now.
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All my years before this, I lived in apartments and a condo which left barely room for a mini desk.
ONE OF MY PRIOR OFFICE SETUPS
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Our new office used to be our eldest bedroom and sat as a storage room/guest for a few years until we finally decided to turn it into our home office.
My side of the office is what I will primarily be focusing on. The Ikea cube shelves inspired my design, and I built the rest from there using all IKEA furniture.
The last tidbit is me still redoing the binders. They are well on their way, but it will be a working process as I sort through documents and redo them. I wanted, though, to share the transformation with you guys now.
I hope this can share some inspiration to get you organized and inspired with all the systems I use inside my home to help me stay on top of paperwork. These include me:
- Home Management Binder
- Paper sorting system
- Filing System
Now let us get to the tour and design of my little happy corner.
Designing our office
As for the color of the office, this color was picked out by our eldest daughter when it was her bedroom. So we left it as is.
BEDROOM BEFORE TRANSFORMATION
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My husband was a little on the iffy side if we should keep the color because, well, it’s more on the feminine side, but the cost, time, and effort of painting a room all over again that was only painted less than 3/4 years ago just didn’t make sense.
I love the color personally, but of course, I can see why for a guy, this would not be his first choice.
If you are wondering what the color of the paint is, it is : Sherwin Williams -Misty Teal 2046-60
We separated the room by corners, and I first drew my design on paper. I wanted one wall to be a focal point for the cube shelving.
Here are some before pictures as we started moving things around and slowly building the IKEA furniture as we bought it.
And then we added the tall cube shelf to add height and dimension.
My desk belonged to my daughter, which she left, so I kept it from IKEA.
I have the following IKEA pieces to make up my side of the office.
And inside the large cubicle, I added the IKEA inserts.
1. KALLAX Insert with two drawers, white, 13×13 “
2. KALLAX Insert with door, white, 13×13 “
3. KALLAX Insert with one shelf, white, 13×13 “
4. TROTTEN Cabinet With Sliding Doors
Decorating with teal walls?
With such a bold color on all four walls, you need to find balance and not let the bold color overpower the room.
I kinda stuck to the 60-30-10 rule.
This means 60 is the main color in my example for all the walls.
The other main color choice was bright white furniture to balance out the dramatic backdrop of four teal walls. The rest was the 10, which is the decorations and accents.
I wanted to bring out a picture a friend gave me. A Nelson Mandela quote served as the perfect frame for my office.
The picture has gold accents, and teal walls can look stunning with metallic accents like gold, silver, or copper. These accents add a touch of glamour and sophistication to your decor—just enough bling, just how I like it.
Look, I am no designer, but make yourself a cool Pinterest board, and you can decorate your home like a pro too. Click on the link above to follow my Pinterest account if you love Pinterest as I do.
Choosing complementary colors, I was torn on my last complementary color. I loved the look of Fushia or Hot pink, but also Navy is the popular accent color for teal walls. The goal is to create a cohesive and balanced look.
And with my husband’s side, the navy color is the best choice.
His desk is glass with espresso legs and shelving. I plan to take certain office supplies and cover them as navy. For example, the pencil sharpener I have had for years is bright orange.
I have had that thing for so long; I am talking about twenty years now. I plan to cover it with vinyl like you would use for your circuit machine to make it look navy blue.
I will have to share how it went. Or if you are crafty, I would love to hear ideas. Share it in the comments below.
Get organized in the office
I will explain my paper filing and home management system in a bit. But let’s chat about all the things I used to get organized.
Organizing your office can help increase your productivity, reduce stress, and improve your overall work environment.
First things first, getting rid of the office clutter.
Declutter: Remove anything that you don’t need or use regularly. This includes old papers, empty containers, broken equipment, or anything just taking up space.
When we started, I still had a lot of things to declutter, such as paper notebooks. I moved away from them a while back and enjoy using my smart notebook. But man, I used a lot of paper notebooks in the past. And old habits are hard to break.
I also got rid of many pens we had collected over the years. You don’t realize how many things can sneak in gradually.
Categorize similar group items, such as pens, paperclips, and other office supplies. This will help you locate items more quickly when you need them.
I love using these containers for our pens, crayons, and pencils. I got them from the dollar section of Target.
I also have containers with sections to keep other office supplies. You can find these at Walmart, Hobby Lobby, and Michaels.
Use storage solutions: Use shelves, cabinets, and storage containers to keep your items organized and easily accessible. You can use a desk organizer to keep your pens, pencils, and other supplies in order.
Inside my desk drawer, I used the navy blue containers from the dollar tree. As well awesome from my target haul.
Create a filing system: I love using folders and labels to organize documents, bills, and other papers. You can use different colors or labels to distinguish between different types of files.
I am a huge fan of magazine file folders, as they create a streamlined look and come in many colors and styles.
⬅️Magazine file folders from Amazon
I have bought cheap ones from IKEA and plastic ones from Dollar Tree, Target, and Amazon.
The most expensive one from Target is the most durable. But the Amazon teal ones I now have in the office are well made, but you can’t put too much weight.
For example, the Target one is made of faux leather, is of great quality, and can withstand weight and wear and tear. You must choose ones based on their use to ensure they don’t fall apart prematurely. You will see what I am referring to if you keep reading and scrolling.
Keep your desk clean: I typically clean my desk regularly to maintain a neat and organized workspace. I use a dust cloth or a vacuum cleaner to remove dirt or dust.
Use digital tools: I have a few digital tools like calendars, reminders, and note-taking apps to organize tasks and deadlines. You can also scan your documents and store them digitally to reduce clutter.
These things can create a clean and organized workspace to help you be more productive and efficient.
Creating a paper sorting routine and system
Suppose you are anything like me, who sees an organized system and needs to know all the ins and outs to see if it will work for me.
First, let’s start with the magazine file folders and how this system works.
Daily Magazine File Folder, on top of my kitchen counter, I keep a daily magazine file folder. I touch this main folder daily when all the paperwork flows in. When I collect the mail, the kids give me all the artwork and papers to sign from their bookbags as a part of our afterschool routine.
Once a day, I place the papers I keep in this file folder until it is my weekly processing day. Every Monday, for the most part, I go through all the paperwork I have been collecting all week.
I move them downstairs to the office. Documents/bills can usually wait to be paid or processed later, so Monday works each week. When I find something urgent, I will process it immediately.
On Mondays, I will sort it out further. Things that need to be filed, shredded, and paid for and things that I may need to call on or process later.
Then I take the appropriate action. I shred when I have a few minutes here and there. I typically file on Mondays when I do the paperwork.
The system keeps the flow going, so documents are constantly moving, and I know where I am in the process. It has helped me eliminate the mountain that forms when you have no system.
You know, that one where you start flipping through pages of paper to find that one thing you know you had.
Or rush around looking for that paper you had to sign for the school before rushing out the door.
The paper filing system
I have one two-drawer filing cabinet where I keep all my files. It’s nothing fancy, and it’s made of plastic. For now, it will stay until I find something better.
I am considering upgrading the file cabinet to have Navy blue hanging file bins that will fit at the bottom of the cube shelving. I found some fire/waterproof ones I want to consider in an emergency, but they are pricey, so I will have to get those later.
⬅️The black file cabinet
One drawer has all the files in alpha order and is divided into sections, such as medical, utilities, credit cards/loans, etc.
The other drawer is long-term storage, and I keep my kiddo’s memories and those long-term documents just in case.
Once an item goes into the magazine folder titled “file,” I place them inside their appropriate hanging files when it is time to file.
And once a year, I clean out those folders. You can see the secrets to how I do this each year inside my decluttering ebook.
I typically keep all our tax information for seven years, and other files usually for one year. As for closed or paid accounts, I will keep those for two to five years just in case someone comes back with a discrepancy. I learned many years ago to keep back paperwork for those random reasons.
We have a small shredder inside the office we use when we are done with the paperwork we no longer need.
Binder System
My binder system is my home management bundle I sell inside my printables shop. If you have never seen my home management binder system, check it out in my store. It’s a done-for-you system for getting all your home management documents stored and organized. I have been using it for a few years as you can see the binders are looking a little worn.
In total, there are one hundred thirty-plus pages to help you.
- Savings trackers
- Take control of your finances and budget
- Personal goal worksheets
- Pantry trackers, weight trackers, important numbers and passwords, babysitting documentation
- keep track of ALL your essential household documents and freezer inventory
- Be prepared in case of an emergency
- Cleaning checklist
- Banking information
- The list of documents takes all those pesky things you have to remember and gets them down in an organized set and it and forget reference binder
Here are some of my binder breakdowns.
Auto Binders: Each vehicle has its binder, and after every repair or maintenance done on the vehicle, the receipts are filed inside the binder in date order from most recent to oldest.
It’s easy to review the warranty information for the repairs made.
Home Maintenance Binder:
The home maintenance binder contains all the receipts and paperwork associated with anything we repair or replace in the home.
The purpose is so that I can keep track of everything we have done.
It had come in handy when we needed to check on things or inventory how much we spent on repairs each year.
It also helps to create a budget idea of how much things may cost us for repeat services and budget accordingly.
Manual Binders: For every appliance, light fixture, large home utilities, and anything that comes with a manual or paperwork, I file them in plastic protectors. Each section is broken down into areas of the home.
I have used my binder system for almost nine years since I developed the idea. I like the time I have saved and love having reference binders to grab the information I need quickly. As the years have passed, I keep improving or making subtle changes to make it more efficient.
My husband has found it easy to get the information he needs even without me since I handle all the paperwork and finances in our home.
Organizing bulky or misc items in the office
Organizing bulky items in the office can be challenging, but there are several strategies I like to use to make the most of space and keep the office clutter-free:
Use storage containers: Invest in storage containers that can hold bulky items such as paper reams, binders, and office equipment. Clear plastic containers are ideal because you can easily see what’s inside, and they stack neatly on top of each other.
⬅️Plastic bins
I got these adorable stacking boxes that match perfectly.
Perfect for hiding loose items or even bulky items to keep the office looking neat but accessible to the things you need. I keep some of the kid’s stuff in there as well. Items I don’t want them to have easy access to. Like acrylic paints and special markers.
Adding storage and a bookshelf
I wanted to find a combination unit to hold our office printer, books, and other items. We ultimately decided to go with another IKEA piece. Yippy!
I secretly love IKEA, if you haven’t noticed.
This time a much larger unit that fits snugly inside the closet space of this bedroom.
The very top of the unit is just a decorative spot. The second from the top has our printer, and the third has books.
The bottom of the unit has locking sliding doors, which are perfect for putting things away.
It has ample space to put a couple of bins or boxes.
Additional storage for office supplies
So since I have quite a few other office supplies items, I needed some small drawers to store them in.
I have had this three-drawer unit for several years. It looks a little beat-up but still works.
Each drawer holds various things like velco tabs, index cards, binder clips, and other items.
Creating an organized office shouldn’t be difficult. With the right organization tips, you can make sure that your office runs smoothly, and that you actually enjoy spending time there! I hope this blog post has helped you find some new strategies to create an organized and efficient office space. What are some of your favorite office supplies? I love shopping for them just like when I was a kid shopping for back-to-school stuff and finding color pens with glitter. Share them with me in the comments.