Question:
Hi Erica! I am also a crafter and have recently started my
own business. As of now, I run my
business from my kitchen table and as my business continues to grow, the clutter is becoming unbearable. My husband recently cleared
out and added on to our pantry and has made a 6.5' by 6.5' space for me to use as
my office/workspace! I’m excited but I
am not sure how to go about decorating my new space. I would like for it to be both stylish and functional. I need a
space to work as well as a space to run the business. Do you have any
suggestions?
--Yanik
My Response:
Hi Yanik! Thanks for emailing me your question! I really like coming up with "small space solutions," so I was very, very, very happy to answer your question! Like you, I run my business from a tiny
space and find myself depending heavily on surface area and storage space. I need a place to sketch, a place for my
computer and printer, a place to assemble my products, a place to store supplies, a place to wrap
packages…the best investments I have made have been a large workspace/desk, a comfy chair, and a
great storage system.
You are very fortunate to have a defined space—my “office”
is actually my bedroom! Even though your space is only 6.5' x 6.5', you have a
lot to work with, believe me. Let me
first summarize your pluses and minuses.
Pluses:
--You have a laptop (computers really can bulk up a small
space)
--Your business consists of items that don’t require much
space to assemble (which takes up far less space than say, furniture)
--You have light colored hard wood floors—I find that
working with light colored floors opens you up to a lot more color
combinations.
Minuses:
--Your craft work has lots of intricate parts so you need to
make sure that your office/studio has ample storage/organizational space that
is readily accessible.
--Converted pantry is a bit dreary and dark and small. You need a space that won’t make you feel
claustrophobic. You will need to choose items that give this cramped space a
sense of lightness.
I’ve sketched out a floor plan of your current space (sorry about the poor scan):
Let’s take a look at how to fill it up:
1. Cadman work
station (westelm.com)
Large workstation: 48"l x
30"w x 29.5"h $249.99
Corner unit: 30"l x 30"w
x 29.5"h $89.99
I love this workstation—not only is it inexpensive,
it offers up loads of workspace, is very stylish, well made, and timeless. Given the size of your space,
working in a corner desk station works best. There is a lot of surface space here so you can spread yourself out.
These units stand separately so you can move them about if you need to.
2. Oh! chair by Karim Rashid (thecontainerstore.com) $49.99
I happen to have this very chair in my office (two
to be exact) and I have nothing but wonderful things to say about it. It is a very comfortable chair, it comes in
a wide range of eye-popping colors, and it is very affordable. I’m suggesting
you purchase this color in the polar blue—this light and airy color will go
well with you small space.
3. Trig filing cabinet (cb2.com) $149.99
A great filing cabinet that can fit under your desk or right beside it.
4. Expedit Bookcase (ikea.com) $149.99
The bookshelf is perhaps one of the most important features in your office space. I like the this one from Ikea. I find that I depend heavily on my bookcase. It fits soooo much stuff and makes it easy for me to organize my supplies.
5. Wall decor (elly nelly ) $30.00 for a set of 7 stickers
I fell in love with these lovely wall stickers from elly nelly. I would suggest that you keep your walls a bright white color and use these stickers to liven them up.
6. Accessories: These items are completely optional but offer some quick suggestions as to creating more order to your office/studio
Fniss wastepaper basket (ikea.com) $1.99
Chris Notice Board (ikea.com) $1.99
Shelf accessories (thecontainerstore.com) $3.99 – $30.00
Total Cost: $719.95.
This cost does not include the accessories. The filing cabinet is
optional and there are many cheaper alternatives. You can purchase heavy duty plastic ones for about $15.00 for each
unit at bed bath and beyond, CVS, Staples, and many other places. Two of these
units will stack nicely under your desk. You an also buy file “boxes” and place them on your book case. These boxes are also very inexpensive and
can be found at the above mentioned places as well.
Well, I hope this helps you! Thank you so much for your question!
If you have questions that you would like answered, please do not hesitate to send them my way! I do receive quite a few questions so I may not be able to answer your question immediately. I try to answer two questions a month, but with time and experience, I hope to answer many more!
