Hey y'all! I'm back. Soooo sorry I haven't blogged in almost a year! (What a year it's been too!)
To be honest, I had some ideas of things to blog about, but once it got to be a couple months since I had written last, I just kept up the trend of putting it off. I've been spending more time on my Instagram profiles and updating them as well as working on my website. So blogging? Yeah, no. Didn't happen at all. 😜
But I'm back and plan to get back into this with some fun things this summer!
I've never shared anything about my "work space" and since it's where I spend a lot of my time (considering I work from home) I decided to snap some photos and share it with y'all!
I added some tips as well as where some of the pieces are from. I will be sharing a couple of the pics on my instagrams too! {personal: @tayliz19 + bijou: @bijoustyling - come join me over there!)
• The whole space •
The desk is actually my husband's. It's from Office Depot, and he brought it with him to the marriage. 🙂 He never uses it so I "taylored" it out. Ha, get it? Like tailor.. 🤓
The chair I received from my late grandmother's condo. I love the retro vibe it has, and also that it reminds me of all the times I visited my grandma over the years for Christmases or summer vacations. The chair sat in the room my sister and I always slept in. So it's really a special piece for me!
Let's start on the left (of the desk) and work our way to the right:
• Photos you don't just love, but that you love to look at. •
Since a lot of people like to have a photo out of their loved one or family, I suggest using a photo that makes you happy every time you look at it. It will be good for you when work seems to be over whelming to remember why you work hard.
The photo is a wedding photo that I still to this day adore. It reminds me that I know my husband will carry me through life with him, but in order to do that, I have to cling to him and trust that he won't let me go.
• Lighting is everything in a room, and especially in an office (area). •
Using a lamp for creating warm lighting when you need it will make sitting at your desk way more cozy than harsh overhead lighting.
Natural window light is always a good idea when you can use it!
I inherited the beautiful little Waterford Crystal lamp from my late grandmother. I love lamps. Yes like Ron Burgundy, but I seriously love lamps and using lamp light over overhead lighting any day! And the size was perfect.
• Coffee mugs. Because, well, coffee inspiration! •
I bought the mug a few years ago at The Cullinary Stone in Coeur d'Alene (Idaho) and though I think it's adorable, I don't use it often for drinking because it doesn't have a handle. So keeping it here I am able to see it daily and it just adds to the simple and happy design theme of my work space.
Alright, now onto the inspiration gallery:
• Little bits of you, your life and your likes. •
First off, I don't believe this is the best way I could put this gallery together. The bold colors need to be balanced more equally. So why haven't I fixed it before sharing these photos? Honestly, I just like the look of the design of it, as far as the sizes of the cards. Whenever I do this again I will do it differently.
Also, I only used tape as to not damage the walls because this is not our house/apartment, and I'll do a bit more when we get our own house.
The Birmingham post card is by the awesome and super sweet graphic designer Holly Hollon based here in Bham! { hollyhollon.com }
The "Dream big.." print and the blue branches print are both from Scarlett & Gold. They have an amazing selection of prints, shirts, phone cases and a few other goodies. They are based out of Auburn, AL (War Eagle!) but are available online. I highly recommend you check their stuff out! { scarletandgoldshop.com }
• Using random cool pieces that other wise would be crammed in your junk drawer.. •
The black and white geo print is actually the back of some invitations I ordered and used for a Bijou Bash in March! I had some left, and the back looked cool so I used it as a backdrop for adding a couple of Polaroids from the same party.
The white card on the top right corner is the front of a thank you note leftover from our wedding thank yous. It is the logo we used on everything for our wedding- an A & a T for our initials. I love the design and probably will continue to use it for the rest of my life to represent Austin and me!
And finally, the green card is Kate Spade. It came with a KS purse I received for Christmas, and well, I think it's pretty much perfect for my gallery here!
Back to the bottom:
• Keeping things organized and clean. •
I don't know a better tip for a desk! Keeping the items on your desk organized and in clean order are one of the better ways to help you get your work done, and in less stress! I know some people like to work in their mess, but y'all, I am not one of those people! My desk can and does get messy now and then. Heck, I had to clean it up a bit to even take these photos! However, I try to clean it up often. So every morning when I sit down, I'm actually happy to sit down at my desk and get to work. It makes a difference!
The wire file basket is one of those dollar items from Target. They have great organizational items for uber cheap.
The honey jar I bought on a mission trip to Hawaii in high school. After finishing the honey, I kept the jar and it's been my handy pincels and pen's home ever since. I love it because it's a unique piece. Something that only I would have and not sold in Target.
• Great gifts from your mom. •
The coaster was a stocking gift from my mom over Christmas, and, well it couldn't be more true. 😂 She found it and 3 other different hilarious coasters for my husband, sister and brother-in-law for each of us, at the local shop in downtown Cd'A called Into The Woods, located on Sherman Ave.
• Mixing the lovely with the lively. •
Plants are good for creating a more lively work area, and a plant that doesn't "shed" or lose leaves all over your desk is even better. (Keeps you from having to clean up constantly!)
The palm tree was a purchase I made last summer after seeing it multiple times on a sidewalk all lonely at one of our grocery stores in town. I knew it needed a home and some TLC. And somehow, I've managed to not kill it....yet. (I am terrible with plants! 🙈)
•••
Well that is my workspace! I hope the tips help someone out who may be currently trying to create a new space, or updating their current space. I think it really comes down to 3 things:
• Make it unique to you so that it feels comfortable and inspiring to what you do in that space.
• Keep it organized and clean in order to help you keep things on track and in order.
• Don't worry about spending tons of money on trendy items that everyone has. Just mix and match pieces you love. And don't be afraid to change things up every once and awhile to keep it fresh!
Thanks for reading!
xo,
t.
